| 1. |
- Qvarnström, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Multi‐proxy analyses of Late Cretaceous coprolites from Germany
- 2019
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Ingår i: Lethaia. - London : John Wiley & Sons. - 0024-1164 .- 1502-3931. ; 52, s. 550-569
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A total of 462 coprolites from three localities exposing Upper Cretaceous deposits in the Münster Basin, northwestern Germany, have been subjected to an array of analytical techniques, with the aim of elucidating ancient trophic structures and predator–prey interactions. The phosphatic composition, frequent bone inclusions, size and morphology collectively suggest that most, if not all, coprolites were produced by carnivorous (predatory or scavenging) vertebrates. The bone inclusions further indicate that the coprolite producers preyed principally upon fish. Putative host animals include bony fish, sharks and marine reptiles – all of which have been previously recorded from the Münster Basin. The presence of borings and other traces on several coprolites implies handling by coprophagous organisms. Remains of epibionts are also common, most of which have been identified as the encrusting bivalve Atreta. Palynological analyses of both the coprolites and host rocks reveal a sparse assemblage dominated by typical Late Cretaceous dinoflagellates, and with sub‐ordinate fern spores, conifer pollen grains and angiosperm pollen grains. The dinoflagellate key taxon Exochosphaeridium cenomaniense corroborates a Cenomanian age for the Plenus Marl, from which most studied coprolites derive. The findings of this study highlight the potential of a multiproxy approach when it comes to unravelling the origin, composition and importance of coprolites in palaeoecosystem analyses.
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| 2. |
- Gren, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Molecular and microstructural inventory of an isolated fossil bird feather from the Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark
- 2017
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Ingår i: Palaeontology. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0031-0239 .- 1475-4983. ; 60:1, s. 73-90
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An isolated, yet virtually intact contour feather (FUM-1980) from the lower Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark was analysed using multiple imaging and molecular techniques, including field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), X-ray absorption spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Additionally, synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM) was employed in order to produce a digital reconstruction of the fossil. Under FEG-SEM, the proximal, plumulaceous part of the feather revealed masses of ovoid microstructures, about 1.7 μm long and 0.5 μm wide. Microbodies in the distal, pennaceous portion were substantially smaller (averaging 0.9 × 0.2 μm), highly elongate, and more densely packed. Generally, the microbodies in both the plumulaceous and pennaceous segments were aligned along the barbs and located within shallow depressions on the exposed surfaces. Biomarkers consistent with animal eumelanins were co-localized with the microstructures, to suggest that they represent remnant eumelanosomes (i.e. eumelanin-housing cellular organelles). Additionally, ToF-SIMS analysis revealed the presence of sulfur-containing organics – potentially indicative of pheomelanins – associated with eumelanin-like compounds. However, since there was no correlation between melanosome morphology and sulfur content, we conclude these molecular structures derive from diagenetically incorporated sulfur rather than pheomelanin. Melanosomes corresponding roughly in both size and morphology with those in the proximal part of FUM-1980 are known from contour feathers of extant parrots (Psittaciformes), an avian clade that has previously been reported from the Fur Formation.
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| 3. |
- Lindgren, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Soft-tissue evidence for homeothermy and crypsis in a Jurassic ichthyosaur
- 2018
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 564:7736, s. 359-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ichthyosaurs are extinct marine reptiles that display a notable external similarity to modern toothed whales. Here we show that this resemblance is more than skin deep. We apply a multidisciplinary experimental approach to characterize the cellular and molecular composition of integumental tissues in an exceptionally preserved specimen of the Early Jurassic ichthyosaur Stenopterygius. Our analyses recovered still-flexible remnants of the original scaleless skin, which comprises morphologically distinct epidermal and dermal layers. These are underlain by insulating blubber that would have augmented streamlining, buoyancy and homeothermy. Additionally, we identify endogenous proteinaceous and lipid constituents, together with keratinocytes and branched melanophores that contain eumelanin pigment. Distributional variation of melanophores across the body suggests countershading, possibly enhanced by physiological adjustments of colour to enable photoprotection, concealment and/or thermoregulation. Convergence of ichthyosaurs with extant marine amniotes thus extends to the ultrastructural and molecular levels, reflecting the omnipresent constraints of their shared adaptation to pelagic life.
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| 4. |
- Eriksson, Mats, et al.
(författare)
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Polychaete palaeoecology in an early Late Ordovician marine astrobleme of Sweden
- 2011
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Ingår i: Geological Magazine. - 0016-7568 .- 1469-5081. ; 148:2, s. 269-287
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The post-impact Dalby Limestone (Kulcruse; Upper Ordovician) of the Tvaren crater, southeastern Sweden, has been analysed with regards to polychaetes, as represented by scolecodonts. A palaeoecological succession is observed in the Tvaren-2 drill core sequence, as the vacant ecospace was successively filled by a range of benthonic, nektonic and planktonic organisms. Scolecodonts belong to the first non-planktonic groups to appear and constitute one of the most abundant fossil elements. The polychacte assemblage recorded has an overall composition characteristic of that of the Upper Ordovician of Baltoscandia. Oenonites, Vistulella, Mochtyella and the enigmatic 'Xanioprion' represent the most common genera, whereas Pteropelta, Protarabellites?, Atraktoprion and Xanioprion are considerably more rare. The assemblage differs from coeval ones particularly in its poorly represented ramphoprionid fauna and the relatively high frequency of 'Xanioprion'. A taxonomic succession and changes in abundance and relative frequency of different taxa is observed from the deepest part of the crater and upwards towards more shallow water environments. The initial post-impact assemblage does not, however, necessarily represent a benthonic colonization of the crater floor. Instead it seems to be a taphocoenosis, as indicated by its taxonomic correspondence to the rim facies fauna recovered from Dalby Limestone erratics of the Ringson island. The Tvaren succession has yielded considerably richer scolecodont assemblages than hitherto recorded from the approximately coeval Lockne crater, possibly as a consequence of shallower water settings in the former area.
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| 5. |
- Lindgren, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Fossil insect eyes shed light on trilobite optics and the arthropod pigment screen
- 2019
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 573:7772, s. 122-125
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fossilized eyes permit inferences of the visual capacity of extinct arthropods1–3. However, structural and/or chemical modifications as a result of taphonomic and diagenetic processes can alter the original features, thereby necessitating comparisons with modern species. Here we report the detailed molecular composition and microanatomy of the eyes of 54-million-year-old crane-flies, which together provide a proxy for the interpretation of optical systems in some other ancient arthropods. These well-preserved visual organs comprise calcified corneal lenses that are separated by intervening spaces containing eumelanin pigment. We also show that eumelanin is present in the facet walls of living crane-flies, in which it forms the outermost ommatidial pigment shield in compound eyes incorporating a chitinous cornea. To our knowledge, this is the first record of melanic screening pigments in arthropods, and reveals a fossilization mode in insect eyes that involves a decay-resistant biochrome coupled with early diagenetic mineralization of the ommatidial lenses. The demonstrable secondary calcification of lens cuticle that was initially chitinous has implications for the proposed calcitic corneas of trilobites, which we posit are artefacts of preservation rather than a product of in vivo biomineralization4–7. Although trilobite eyes might have been partly mineralized for mechanical strength, a (more likely) organic composition would have enhanced function via gradient-index optics and increased control of lens shape.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Ahlberg, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Cambrian stratigraphy of the Tomten-1 drill core, Västergötland, Sweden
- 2016
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Ingår i: GFF. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1103-5897 .- 2000-0863. ; 138:4, s. 490-501
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Tomten-1 drilling at Torbjörntorp in Västergötland, southern Sweden, penetrated 29.85 m of Cambrian Series 2, Cambrian Series 3, Furongian, and Lower–Middle Ordovician strata. Lithostratigraphically, the succession includes the File Haidar, Borgholm and Alum Shale formations, and the Latorp and Lanna limestones. The drill core succession is described herein for the first time, with special focus on the biostratigraphy of the Cambrian Alum Shale Formation. In the Cambrian Series 3, through Furongian Alum Shale Formation, agnostoids and trilobites have been identified to species level and the succession is subdivided into nine biozones (in ascending order): the Ptychagnostus gibbus, Ptychagnostus atavus, Lejopyge laevigata, Agnostus pisiformis, Olenus gibbosus, Parabolina spinulosa, Ctenopyge tumida, Ctenopyge bisulcata and Ctenopyge linnarssoni zones. The succession is interrupted by numerous stratigraphic gaps of variable magnitudes, as is evident from the biostratigraphy and conspicuous unconformities.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Ahlberg, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Minnesord Sven Stridsberg
- 2020
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Ingår i: Geologiskt forum. - 1104-4721 .- 1104-4721. ; :105
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Annan publikation (populärvet., debatt m.m.)
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| 10. |
- Axheimer, Niklas, et al.
(författare)
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The middle Cambrian cosmopolitan key species Lejopyge laevigata and its biozone: new data from Sweden
- 2006
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Ingår i: Geological Magazine. - 0016-7568. ; 143:4, s. 447-455
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The middle Cambrian Lejopyge laevigata Zone is poorly exposed in Scandinavia. Both this zone, however, and the succeeding Agnostus pisiformis Zone are well exposed at a classic locality at Gudhem, Vastergotland, south-central Sweden. The sequences consist of finely laminated alum shale with scattered stinkstone (orsten) lenses. Three measured and sampled sections yielded a diverse fossil fauna, dominated by trilobites, in particular agnostoids, and the bradoriid Anabarochilina primordialis. Fossils are excellently preserved but restricted to the stinkstones. The L. laevigata Zone at Gudhem includes several geographically widespread key agnostoid species, notably Tomagnostella sulcifera, Clavagnostus spinosus, Glaberagnostus altaicus, Lejopyge laevigata and L. armata. The L. laevigata Zone in Scandinavia is here extended to include the traditional Solenopleura? brachymetopa Zone, and its lower boundary is defined by the FAD of L. laevigata. Trilobite evidence shows that the upper part of the Scandinavian L. laevigata Zone approximately correlates with the Proagnostus bulbus Zone of China and elsewhere.
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