Integration of Morphological and Stratigraphic Information in Phylogenetics and Applications in Palaeontology

The role of the fossil record in Natural Sciences and its relevance in the investigation of the tempo and mode of evolution have been commonly split between a stratigraphic approach and a phylogenetic approach. A recently introduced methodology aims to integrate the stratigraphic and morphological information in phylogenetic analysis of fossil clades. In this thesis, a modified version of this new methodology is introduced and applied to the analysis of extinct clades of marine and terrestrial vertebrates. Furthermore, novel applications of this phylogenetic method beyond the mere reconstruction of ultrametric topologies have been explored and discussed. This novel method represents an innovative and useful tool in the following research areas: Quantitative estimation of the rates of phenotipic evolution among fossil lineages: the identification of heterogeneity in morphological transitions, and the estimation of “hot spots” of phenotype evolution, provide a testable framework for the investigation of the tempo and mode of Life history in the geological past. Realization of ultrametric frameworks for palaeobiogeographic inference, in particular for analyses requiring branch lengths in ancestral area reconstruction: this method provides a quantitatively-defined base for the integration of palaeogeographic models in the reconstruction of clade history. Comparison between the phylogenetic patterns among distinct lineages sharing palaeogeographic and stratigraphic ranges: this approach allows for testing whether environmental evolution constrained the biological evolution along shared trajectories. Inference on the taxonomic diversity among a sample of individuals collected from the same stratigraphic unit: this application of Bayesian phylogenetic methods uses, as terminal units, individual specimens instead of clades. This approach allows for testing taxonomic hypotheses in the fossil record. Auxiliary and independent test of stratigraphic relationships among fossil localities sharing the same fossil groups: this application stems from the previous approach, and provides testable hypotheses on the relative stratigraphic relationships among a series of fossil-bearing localities

a pliosaurid plesiosaurian from the rosso ammonitico veronese formation of italy

Plesiosauria is a clade of medium to large bodied marine reptiles with a cosmopolitan distribution ranging from the latest Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous. In Europe, the fossil record of Plesiosauria is mainly known from the Northern latitudes, whereas it is much rarer from the Southern and Mediterranean areas. Here, we report the first articulated skeleton of an Italian plesiosaurian, from the Callovian-Oxfordian deposits of the Rosso Ammonitico Veronese Formation of Kaberlaba (Veneto). The specimen is referred to Pliosauridae based on the large size of the skull, compared to the appendicular skeleton, the presence of the lacrimal, and a distinct anterolateral projection of the prefrontal into the orbital margin. Mandibular and vertebral symplesiomorphies support the placement of the Italian taxon among the "gracile-longirostrine grade" of basal pliosaurids. The Kaberlaba plesiosaurian represents the second reptile clade recovered from the Rosso Ammonitico Veronese Formation, after Thalattosuchia

CO2-free coal-fired power generation by partial oxy-fuel and post-combustion CO2capture: Techno-economic analysis

Among the carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies suitable for power generation plants, partial oxy-combustion coupled with post combustion CO2capture is gaining interest, since such a hybrid configuration could allow to reduce the size and enhance the performance of post-combustion CO2capture by operating combustion with air enriched with oxygen and reducing the dilution of flue gas. Moreover, partial oxy-combustion is a potential candidate for the retrofit of existing steam plants because it could be based on an almost conventional boiler and requires a smaller CO2capture section. This work presents the results of a comparative techno-economic analysis of a 1000 MWthpartial oxy-combustion plant based on an ultra-supercritical pulverized coal combustion power plant integrated with a post-combustion CO2capture system and geological storage in saline aquifer. In particular, plant performance is assessed by using simulation models implemented through Aspen Plus 7.3 and Gate Cycle 5.40 commercial tools, whereas economic performance are evaluated on the basis of the expected annual cash flow. The analysis shows that, for new plants, this hybrid approach is not feasible from the economic point of view and full oxy-combustion potentially remains the most profitable technology even if, in the short-term period, the lack of commercial experience will continue to involve a high financial risk

Emigración y retención de Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787) en un área marina protegida del Mediterráneo central occidental

This study describes the results obtained by applying the Arnason Schwartz multistate mark-recapture model to eight years of data collected in and around a small no-fishing marine protected area (MPA; 4 km2) in the central western Mediterranean. From 1997 to 2004, a total of 4044 specimens of Palinurus elephas (Fabr., 1787) were tagged and 317 recaptured. The most parsimonious model which best explained the data variability was that of a temporally constant rate of apparent survival and movement in each of the two strata. The absence of any temporal influence in the apparent survival rate inside the no-take area suggested that spillover and mortality are constant for each period of the study. The lower apparent survival rate in surrounding zones than inside the MPA (0.26 ± 0.04 (SE) vs 0.94 ± 0.03 (SE)) is presumed to be a function of fishing effort. A continuous movement of P. elephas across the boundary of the small MPA was also tested. This information on retention of lobsters in the MPA contributes to our understanding of the effect of introducing MPAs into a managed commercial fishery system.Este estudio presenta los resultados de aplicar el modelo multiestado de marcado y recaptura de Arnason Schwartz a una serie de ocho años de datos recolectados en el interior y alrededor de una pequeña área marina protegida (AMP) vedada a la pesca (4 km2) del Mediterráneo central occidental. Desde 1997 a 2004, un total de 4044 ejemplares de Palinurus elephas (Fabr., 1787) fueron marcados, de los cuales 317 fueron recapturados. El modelo más parsimonioso que explicó mejor la variabilidad de los datos fue aquel con una tasa temporal constante de aparente supervivencia y movimiento entre los dos estratos. La ausencia de influencia temporal sobre la tasa de supervivencia aparente en el interior del área protegida, sugirió que el “spillover” y la mortalidad son constantes para cada periodo del estudio. La menor tasa aparente de supervivencia en zonas alrededor de la reserva respecto al interior de la misma (0.26 ± 0.04 (SE) vs 0.94 ± 0.03 (SE)) se considera que es una función del esfuerzo pesquero. Un movimiento continuo de P. elephas a través de los límites de la pequeña AMP fue evaluado. Esta información sobre la retención de langostas en el AMP contribuye a comprender el efecto de la introducción de AMPs en un sistema regulado de pesquería comercial

Emigration and retention of <i>Palinurus elephas</i> (Fabricius, 1787) in a central western Mediterranean marine protected area

Este estudio presenta los resultados de aplicar el modelo multiestado de marcado y recaptura de Arnason Schwartz a una serie de ocho años de datos recolectados en el interior y alrededor de una pequeña área marina protegida (AMP) vedada a la pesca (4 km2) del Mediterráneo central occidental. Desde 1997 a 2004, un total de 4044 ejemplares de Palinurus elephas (Fabr., 1787) fueron marcados, de los cuales 317 fueron recapturados. El modelo más parsimonioso que explicó mejor la variabilidad de los datos fue aquel con una tasa temporal constante de aparente supervivencia y movimiento entre los dos estratos. La ausencia de influencia temporal sobre la tasa de supervivencia aparente en el interior del área protegida, sugirió que el "spillover" y la mortalidad son constantes para cada periodo del estudio. La menor tasa aparente de supervivencia en zonas alrededor de la reserva respecto al interior de la misma (0.26 ± 0.04 (SE) vs 0.94 ± 0.03 (SE)) se considera que es una función del esfuerzo pesquero. Un movimiento continuo de P. elephas a través de los límites de la pequeña AMP fue evaluado. Esta información sobre la retención de langostas en el AMP contribuye a comprender el efecto de la introducción de AMPs en un sistema regulado de pesquería comercial

Marine macro-litter mass outweighs biomass in trawl catches along abyssal seafloors of Sardinia channel (Italy)

: This study provides new insights onto spatial and temporal trends of seafloor macro-litter in the abyssal seafloor of Sardinian channel, in central western Mediterranean (Italy). Trawl surveys were conducted at depths between 884 and 1528&nbsp;m, thus focusing on one of the least investigated marine environments. None of the considered sites was litter free, with plastics being numerically dominant (57% of items), followed by metal (11%) and glass (16%). Recorded densities and weight ranged between 49.9 and 499 items km-2 and 1.4 and 1052&nbsp;kg&nbsp;km-2. In the most contaminated sites, the weight of the litter collected in nets represented up to nine times the biomass of benthic megafauna, and, overall, in 60% of hauls macro-litter mass outweighed the biomass collected. Moreover, we report that megafauna was observed to be more abundant in sites where macro-litter presence was more severe. More studies are needed to elucidate the nature of this correlation, with biota being more abundant in hotspots of accumulation of seafloor macro-litter

Pautas de movimiento de la langosta Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787) desde un área protegida en el Mediterráneo occidental central

Movement patterns of the spiny lobster Palinurus elephas were determined from 389 individuals (total tagged 5666) tag-recaptured inside a no-take area of the central western Mediterranean and its surrounding zone. High site association and limited movements in tagged lobsters was observed; 60.4% of lobsters moved less than 2 km from the centre of the area (site of release). No clear relationship between lobster movement pattern and sex or size was observed; however, it seemed that the largest males and females tended to be more resident, thus contributing to the rebuilding of the biomass of local lobsters. Most lobsters undertook migrations in the southwest direction. The increased availability of shelters and food towards the southwest could have contributed to the lobsters’ movement. The results of our research indicate that the small size of the protected area and the scale of the movement exhibited by tagged lobsters allows a proportion of the lobster population to move out of the protected area and become susceptible to capture in the adjacent fishery.Se determinaron las pautas de movimiento de 389 individuos de la langosta Palinurus elephas (total marcados 5666) marcados y recapturados en el interior de un área protegida (sin captura) así como de su área circundante. En las langostas marcadas se observó una elevada asociación al lugar de liberación, así como movimientos limitados: el 60.4% de las langostas se movieron menos de 2 km desde el centro del área de liberación. No se observó ninguna clara relación entre las pautas de movimiento de las langostas y su sexo y talla; no obstante, hay una tendencia a que los machos y hembras grandes muestren un comportamiento más residente, contribuyendo así al aumento de la biomasa local. La mayor parte de langostas mostró migraciones en dirección sudoeste. La mayor disponibilidad de refugios y alimento hacia el sudoeste pudo haber contribuído al movimiento de las langostas. Los resultados de este estudio indican que el pequeño tamaño del área protegida y la escala de movimientos mostrados por las langostas marcadas permite a una porción de la población su salida del área protegida y su susceptibilidad a la captura en la pesquería adyacente

Movement patterns of the spiny lobster <em>Palinurus elephas</em> (Fabricius, 1787) from a central western Mediterranean protected area

Movement patterns of the spiny lobster Palinurus elephas were determined from 389 individuals (total tagged 5666) tag-recaptured inside a no-take area of the central western Mediterranean and its surrounding zone. High site association and limited movements in tagged lobsters was observed; 60.4% of lobsters moved less than 2 km from the centre of the area (site of release). No clear relationship between lobster movement pattern and sex or size was observed; however, it seemed that the largest males and females tended to be more resident, thus contributing to the rebuilding of the biomass of local lobsters. Most lobsters undertook migrations in the southwest direction. The increased availability of shelters and food towards the southwest could have contributed to the lobsters' movement. The results of our research indicate that the small size of the protected area and the scale of the movement exhibited by tagged lobsters allows a proportion of the lobster population to move out of the protected area and become susceptible to capture in the adjacent fishery

Evidence of a new carcharodontosaurid from the Upper Cretaceous of Morocco

We report an isolated frontal of a large−bodied theropod from the Cenomanian "Kem Kem beds" of Morocco with an unusualmorphology that we refer to a new carcharodontosaurid distinct from the sympatric Carcharodontosaurus. The specimen shows an unique combination of plesiomorphic and potentially autapomorphic features: very thick and broad bone with a complex saddle−shaped dorsal surface, and a narrow vertical lamina between the prefrontal and lacrimal facets. This study supports the hypothesis that a fourth large theropod was present in the Cenomanian of Morocco together with Carcharodontosaurus, Deltadromeus, and Spinosaurus

Design, Test and Analysis of a Gyrotron Cavity Mock-Up Cooled Using Mini Channels

In 2016, we have designed, built and finally tested at the FE200 facility in Le Creusot (France) a planar mock-up mimicking the water-cooled cylindrical resonance cavity of the European 170 GHz, 1 MW gyrotron to be used for electron cyclotron plasma heating in ITER. The aim of the mock-up is the characterization of the cooling capability of the cavity. A Glidcop® target is heated with an electron beam gun with resulting peak heat fluxes relevant for the full-size cavity. Underneath the target surface, whose temperature is monitored by means of a pyrometer, a set of parallel semi-circular mini-channels, with diameter of 1.5 mm, allows the flow of pressurized water, entering the mockup at ~ 9 bar and 40 °C. Several thermocouples measure the target temperature, at different distances from the heated target surface. The experimental results show that the mock-up is capable to withstand a heat fluxes of 21 MW/m2, while the cooling system keeps the heated surface below ~ 400 °C, for flow conditions comparable to those of the full-size cavity. The test results are used to first calibrate the uncertain model parameters and then, with frozen parameters, to validate a previously developed CFD model, showing good agreement with the experiment. In view of its reliability, this model might eventually be a useful tool for the simulation of the full-size gyrotron cavity operation