Earliest Cretaceous cocoons or plant seed structures from the Wealden Group, Hastings, UK

We thank Jason Hilton (University of Birmingham) and Alan Spencer (Imperial College) for discussion. RG is a member of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Ancient Life (UMRI). We are grateful for the reviews of both Jorge Genise, and Duncan McIlroy whose comments and guidance greatly improved the manuscript.Postprin

Análisis molecular de los cambios evolutivos en poblaciones de Ophiostoma novo-ulmi

The spread of Ophiostoma novo-ulmi across Europe, North America and central Asia, resulted in the current, highly destructive Dutch elm disease (DED) pandemic, replacing O. ulmi, responsible for the first DED pandemic in the early 1900s. This process has resulted in a series of remarkable evolutionary and adaptive developments. Studies of O. novo- ulmi populations in the 1980s, especially in Spain and Portugal, showed the following: 1) that O. novo-ulmi initially spread across Europe as a series of genetic clones; 2) that deleterious RNA viruses were transmitted within the O. novo-ulmi clones; 3) that natural hybrids between O. novo-ulmi subspecies americana and subsp. novo-ulmi, emerged widely across Europe; 4) that there has also been a widespread emergence, across Europe, of natural hybrids between O. novo-ulmi subspecies americana and also subsp. novo-ulmi. The factors driving these changes have been examined by molecular analysis. Results show: 1) that the rapid change from clonality to genetic variability involved the acquisition of ‘useful’ mating type, vegetative compatibility type and other genes by O. novo-ulmi from O. ulmi via lateral (or interspecies) gene transfer; whereas ‘unuseful’ O. ulmi genes were discarded; 2) that the RNA viruses occurring in the O. novo-ulmi populations probably originated from O. ulmi; and 3) and that where O. novo-ulmi subsp. americana and subsp. novo-ulmi co-exist, natural hybrids are occurring very freely; in some areas most O. novo-ulmi isolates are already complex subspp. americana x novo-ulmi hybrids. These phenomena features are unique, and have considerable implications for the invasion history, successful spread and future behaviour of O. novo-ulmi.La expansión de Ophiostoma novo-ulmi en Europa, Norteamérica y Asia central provocó la actual pandemia de grafiosis, altamente destructiva, y reemplazó a O. ulmi, responsable de la primera pandemia de grafiosis a principios del siglo XX. Este proceso ha provocado una serie de destacables desarrollos evolutivos y adaptativos. Los estudios realizados en la década de 1980 en poblaciones de O. novo-ulmi, especialmente en España y Portugal, mostraron lo siguiente: 1) que inicialmente O. novo-ulmi se expandió a través de Europa como una serie de clones genéticos; 2) que virus deletéreos de RNA se trsmitieron dentro de los clones de O. novo-ulmi; 3) que híbridos naturales entre las subespecies americana y novo-ulmi de O. novo-ulmi aparecieron en muchas zonas de Europa; 4) que en toda Europa está surgiendo un gran número de híbridos naturales entre las subespecies americana y novo-ulmi de O. novo-ulmi. Los factores conducentes a estos cambios han sido examinados mediante análisis molecular. Los resultados son: 1) que el rápido paso desde una situación de clonalidad a otra con gran variabilidad genética supuso la aparición de formas «utiles» para el apareamiento, formas con compatibilidad vegetativa, y otros genes de O. novo-ulmi por transferencia lateral (o interespecífica) a partir de O. ulmi; mientras que se descartó la presencia de genes «inútiles» de O. ulmi; 2) que los virus ARN presentes en las poblaciones de O. novo-ulmi se originaron probablemente a partir de O. ulmi; y 3) que en los lugares donde O. novo-ulmi subsp. americana y subsp. novo-ulmi coexisten, los híbridos naturales se generan libremente; en algunas áreas la mayor parte de los O. novo-ulmi aislados son en realidad complejos híbridos subsp. americana x subsp. novo-ulmi. Estas características son únicas, y tiene considerable implicaciones para la historia invasora, la exitosa dispersión y el futuro comportamiento de O. novo-ulmi

Integrated chemo- and biostratigraphic calibration of early animal evolution: Neoproterozoic-early Cambrian of southwest Mongolia

Five overlapping sections from the thick Neoproterozoic to early Cambrian sediments of western Mongolia were analysed to yield a remarkable carbon-isotope, strontium-isotope and small shellyfossil (SSF) record. Chemostratigraphy suggests that barren limestones of sequences 3 and 4, which lie above the two Maikhan Uul diamictites, are post-Sturtian but pre-Varangerian in age. Limestones and dolomites of sequence 5, with Boxonia grumulosa, have geochemical signatures consistent with a post-Varangerian (Ediacarian) age. A major negative δ13C anomaly (feature ‘W') in sequence 6 lies a shortdistance above an Anabarites trisulcatus Zone SSF asemblage with hexactinellid sponges, of probable late Ediacarian age. Anomaly ‘W' provides an anchor point for cross-correlation charts of carbon isotopes and small shelly fossils. Trace fossil assemblages with a distinctly Cambrian character first appear in sequence 8(Purella Zone), at the level of carbon isotopic feature ‘B', provisionally correlated with the upper part of cycle Z in Siberia. A paradox is found from sequence 10 to 12 in Mongolia: Tommotian-type SSFs continue to appear, accompanied by Nemakit-Daldynian/Tommotian-type 87Sr/86Sr ratios but by increasingly heavyδ13C values that cannot be matched in the Tommotian of eastern Siberia. The steady rate of generic diversification in Mongolia also contrasts markedly with the Tommotian ‘diversity explosion' in eastern Siberia, which occurs just above a major karstic emergence surface. One explanation is that sequences 10 to 12 in Mongolia preserve a pre-Tommotian portion of the fossil record that was missing or removed in easternSiberia. The Mongolian sections certainly deserve an important place in tracing the true course and timing of the ‘Cambrian radiation

Are spherulitic lacustrine carbonates an expression of large-scale mineral carbonation? : A case study from the East Kirkton Limestone, Scotland

BP Exploration Co. is thanked for funding, and particularly the Carbonate Team for supporting this research and for fruitful discussions. West Lothian Council and Scottish Natural Heritage are thanked for allowing access and permission for sampling the site. The Core Store Team at BGS Keyworth is particularly acknowledged for their assistance. Mark Anderson, Tony Sinclair (University of Hull), and Bouk Lacet (VU University Amsterdam) are thanked for technical support. Anne Kelly (SUERC) for carrying out the Strontium Isotope analyses. Mark Tyrer is thanked for his advice on PHREEQC modelling.Peer reviewedPostprin

Glacial facies associations in a Neoproterozoic back-arc setting, Zavkhan Basin, western Mongolia

Diamictites, many of glacial origin, are globally distributed in the Neoproterozoic. Recently, two relatively thin diamictites in the Maikhan Uul Member at the base of the Neoproterozoic Tsagaan Oloom Formation from the Zavkhan Basin of western Mongolia have been identified as being of glacial origin. The Mongolian diamictites form a series of backstepping units within the transgressive systems tract of two major depositional sequences associated with sea-level changes. In each case the diamictites of the transgressive systems tract are abruptly overlain by deeper water, upward shoaling highstand systems tracts consisting of thinly bedded sandstones and shales in sequence 1 and thinly bedded, dark carbonates in sequence 3. The fact that the sequences conform closely to depositional models established at other localities suggests that all are related to major ice ages and that the depositional sequences they have generated provide a valuable tool for global correlation in this part of the stratigraphic column. Available stratigraphic and isotope geochemical information presented by Brasier et al. (1996, this issue) suggests that both diamictites are likely to be of Sturtian age. A riftogenic setting and Sturtian age for the diamictites provide a link with eastern Australia and western America. It is possible, therefore, that these diamictites formed during the breakup of a supercontinental assembly including Siberia, Australia and Laurentia c. 750-725 Ma B

A survey in natural forest ecosystems of Vietnam reveals high diversity of both new and described Phytophthora taxa including P. ramorum

In 2016 and 2017, surveys of Phytophthora diversity were performed in 25 natural and semi-natural forest stands and 16 rivers in temperate and subtropical montane and tropical lowland regions of Vietnam. Using baiting assays from soil samples and rivers and direct isolations from naturally fallen leaves, 13 described species, five informally designated taxa and 21 previously unknown taxa of Phytophthora were isolated from 58 of the 91 soil samples (63.7%) taken from the rhizosphere of 52 of the 64 woody plant species sampled (81.3%) in 20 forest stands (83.7%), and from all rivers: P. capensis, P. citricola VII, VIII, IX, X and XI, P. sp. botryosa-like 2, P. sp. meadii-like 1 and 2, P. sp. tropicalis-like 2 and P. sp. multivesiculata-like 1 from Phytophthora major phylogenetic Clade 2; P. castaneae and P. heveae from Clade 5; P. chlamydospora, P. gregata, P. sp. bitahaiensis-like and P. sp. sylvatica-like 1, 2 and 3 from Clade 6; P. cinnamomi (Pc), P. parvispora, P. attenuata, P. sp. attenuata-like 1, 2 and 3 and P. ×heterohybrida from Clade 7; P. drechsleri, P. pseudocryptogea, P. ramorum (Pr) and P. sp. kelmania from Clade 8, P. macrochlamydospora, P. sp. ×insolita-like, P. sp. ×kunnunara-like, P. sp. ×virginiana-like s.l. and three new taxa, P. sp. quininea-like, P. sp. ×Grenada 3-like and P. sp. ×Peru 4-like, from Clade 9; and P. sp. gallica-like 1 and 2 from Clade 10. The A1 and A2 mating types of both Pc and Pr co-occurred. The A2 mating type of Pc was associated with severe dieback of montane forests in northern Vietnam. Most other Phytophthora species, including Pr, were not associated with obvious disease symptoms. It is concluded that (1) Vietnam is within the center of origin of most Phytophthora taxa found including Pc and Pr, and (2) Phytophthora clades 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are native to Indochina.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Detecting ancient life : Investigating the nature and origin of possible stromatolites and associated calcite from a one billion year old lake

ATB acknowledges the hospitality of the North West Highlands Geopark in July 2017. DW acknowledges funding from the Australian Research Council via the Future Fellowship scheme (FT 140100321).Peer reviewedPostprin

Can Life develop in the expanded habitable zones around Red Giant Stars?

We present some new ideas about the possibility of life developing around sub-giant and red giant stars. Our study concerns the temporal evolution of the habitable zone. The distance between the star and the habitable zone, as well as its width, increases with time as a consequence of stellar evolution. The habitable zone moves outward after the star leaves the main sequence, sweeping a wider range of distances from the star until the star reaches the tip of the asymptotic giant branch. If life could form and evolve over time intervals from $5 \times 10^8$ to $10^9$ years, then there could be habitable planets with life around red giant stars. For a 1 M$_{\odot}$ star at the first stages of its post main-sequence evolution, the temporal transit of the habitable zone is estimated to be of several 10$^9$ years at 2 AU and around 10$^8$ years at 9 AU. Under these circumstances life could develop at distances in the range 2-9 AU in the environment of sub-giant or giant stars and in the far distant future in the environment of our own Solar System. After a star completes its first ascent along the Red Giant Branch and the He flash takes place, there is an additional stable period of quiescent He core burning during which there is another opportunity for life to develop. For a 1 M$_{\odot}$ star there is an additional $10^9$ years with a stable habitable zone in the region from 7 to 22 AU. Space astronomy missions, such as proposed for the Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) and Darwin should also consider the environments of sub-giants and red giant stars as potentially interesting sites for understanding the development of life