Adam T. Halamski

Latest Famennian Brachiopods from Kowala, Holy Cross Mountains, Poland

Latest Famennian (UD-VI, “Strunian”) brachiopod fauna from Kowala (Kielce Region, Holy Cross Mountains, Poland) consists of eighteen species within 6 orders, eleven of them reported in open nomenclature. Characteristic taxa include: Schellwienella pauli, Aulacella interlineata, Sphenospira julii, Novaplatirostrum sauerlandense, Hadyrhyncha sp., Cleiothyridina struniensis. New morphological details of Schellwienella pauli, Sphenospira julii, and Aulacella interlineata are provided. The described latest Famennian brachiopod fauna is distinctly richer than that from underlying upper Famennian deposits (11 species within 4 orders). Majority of species from Kowala seem to have been adapted to deep water settings and/or poor nutrient availability. The stratigraphic separation between Planovatirostrum in the UD-III to UD-V and Novaplatirostrum in the UD-VI observed in Sauerland and in Thuringia is valid also in the Holy Cross Mountains. This is the first comprehensive report of a relatively diversified latest Famennian brachiopod fauna from surface outcrops of Poland.

Seed and pollen morphology in the Orobanche alsatica complex (Orobanchaceae) from central Europe and its taxonomic significance

Abstract. Micromorphology of seeds and pollen of Orobanche alsatica, O. bartlingii and O. mayeri, the central European representatives of the O. alsatica aggregate (Orobanchaceae) was investigated on the basis of 32 samples from 18 localities in Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Russia. Concerning seeds, the best taxonomic character is a narrow trough on external sides of radial walls of cells of the seed wall, which is always present and continuous in O. bartlingii, mostly absent in O. mayeri, and mostly present solely at wall segment junctions (vertices) in O. alsatica (individuals parasitising Peucedanum spp.; continuous in parasites of Seseli osseum). As for pollen, the exine sculpture is verrucate in O. mayeri, granulate in O. bartlingii, and granulate to scabrate in O. alsatica. O. alsatica parasitising Peucedanum spp. and Seseli osseum (host-related morphotypes) differ in seed shape, ornamentation and wall-perforation diameter. Variability of seed and pollen characters is high, and identical morphologies occur among the investigated species. The variation coefficient is too strongly correlated with the sample size to be a reliable estimator the taxonomic value of a character. Differences in seed and pollen sculpture, hosts and ecological preferences confirm the separation of the three examined taxa at species level.

Late Cretaceous (Campanian) leaf and palynoflora from southern Skåne, Sweden

Abstract A Late Cretaceous (Campanian) leaf megaflora from the Vomb Trough in southern Skåne, Sweden, has been investigated on the basis of collections held at the Swedish Museum of Natural History. The main plant-bearing locality is Köpinge, but single specimens originate from Högestad, Ingelstorp, Rödmölla, Svenstorps mölla and Tosterup. The fossil flora is dominated by the angiosperm (eudicot) Debeya (Dewalquea) haldemiana (Debey ex de Saporta & Marion) Halamski. Other dicots are cf. Dryophyllum sp., Ettingshausenia sp., Rarytkinia? sp., Dicotylophyllum friesii (Nilsson) comb. nov. and Salicites wahlbergii (Nilsson) Hisinger. Conifers are represented by cf. Aachenia sp. (cone scales), Pagiophyllum sp. and Cyparissidium sp. (leaves). Single poorly preserved specimens of ferns and monocots have also been identified. The terrestrial palynomorphs (the focus herein) clearly link to the megaflora, although with different relative abundances. The fern spore Cyathidites dominates along with the conifer pollen Perinopollenites elatoides and Classopollis. Angiosperm pollen comprise up to 15% of the assemblage, represented by monocolpate, tricolpate and periporate pollen and the extinct Normapolles group. The spores in the kerogen residue show a thermal alteration index (TAI) of 2+. The flora probably represents mainly a coastal lowland Debeya/conifer forest, and is similar to approximately coeval assemblages from analogous palaeo-communities described from eastern Poland, western Ukraine and Westphalia.

THE TYPE SPECIMEN OF DEBEYA (DEWALQUEA) HALDEMIANA REDISCOVERED

The rediscovered specimen MGUWr 7536p, one of the syntypes of Dewalquea haldemiana, is described. It is selected as the lectotype of Debeya (Dewalquea) haldemiana (DEBEY ex SAPORTA et MARION 1873) HALAMSKI 2013 and of Debeya (Dewalquea) haldemiana var. haldemiana. It is the most complete and best preserved known specimen of the species. It allows supplementation of previous description of the following characters: brochidodromous secondary venation; acuminate leaflet apices; variation of the petiolule length from 0 (leaflets subsessile) to 30 mm; ramified tertiary venation. Other species considered up to now to belong to the same subgenus possess percurrent tertiary venation; a doubt is therefore expressed about the validity of the present circumscription of Debeya (Dewalquea). Additonally, validation of the previously published name Debeya (Dewalquea) haldemiana var. angustifolia (HOSIUS et VON DER MARCK 1880) HALAMSKI comb. nov. is presented.

REVISION OF PROTOPTERIS AND ONCOPTERIS TREE FERN STEM CASTS FROM THE LATE CRETACEOUS OF CENTRAL EUROPE

Stem casts of tree ferns from the genera Protopteris STERNBERG and Oncopteris DORMITZER in KREJCI from the Czech Republic and Poland are revised. A new species, Protopteris maletinensis GREGUS et J. KVACEK sp. nov. from the Peruc-Korycany Formation (Cenomanian) is described based on material from Starý Maletin. Its morphological similarity to other species of the genus is discussed. The genus Protopteris and two species P. punctata (STERNBERG) C. Presl in Sternberg and P. singeri (GOPPERT) C. PRESL in STERNBERG 1838 are revised and emended based on biostatistical analysis (i.e, width/height ratio of leaf scars), as this character has proved to be quite stable and can be used in species recognition. Genera Oncopteris DORMIZER in KREJCI and Alsophilina DORMIZER in KREJCI with their types O. netwallii and A. kauniciana are revised. These two so far described genera and species are united and ascribed to the genus Oncopteris with the type O. netwallii. Protopteris, Oncopteris, tree ferns, Cretaceous, Cenomanian, Czech Republic, Poland.

Unusual brachiopod fauna from the Middle Triassic algal meadows of Mt. Svilaja (Outer Dinarides, Croatia)

Abstract. Ladinian deposits at Mt. Svilaja in Dalmatia (Outer Dinarides, Croatia) yielded an abundant brachiopod fauna of low diversity interpreted as a parautochthonous assemblage representing an ecosystem of dasycladacean submarine meadow. The fauna consists of four named species and one left in open nomenclature. The most common is the spiriferinide Flabellocyrtia flabellulum Chorowicz and Termier, 1975 (Spiriferinida) accounting for more than 70% of the material. The athyridide Cassianospira humboldtii (von Klipstein, 1845) is the only species known from elsewhere (Anisian of Southern Alps). The new species of Spiriferinida Thecocyrtella dagysii Halamski, Bitner, Kaim, Kolar-Jurkovšek, and Jurkovšek n. sp. differs from other representatives of the genus in having a deep ventral sulcus. Albasphe albertimagni Halamski, Bitner, Kaim, Kolar-Jurkovšek, and Jurkovšek n. gen. n. sp. is a new brachiopod that possesses a dorsal septum with an intra-septal cavity and dorsal submarginal ridges, both features in common with Aalenian Zellania Moore, 1855 from which it differs in lack of the ventral septum and of ventral submarginal ridges. They are interpreted as members of a sparsely recorded paedomorphic evolutionary line of terebratulides with secondarily lost loop, described formally herein as Gwyniidina Halamski and Bitner n. subordo and subdivided into newly emended Dispheniidae Grant, 1988 (Dispheniinae Grant, 1988 with the only genus Disphenia and Albasphinae Halamski and Bitner n. subfam. with Albasphe and Zellania) and Gwyniidae MacKinnon, 2006 (including Recent Gwynia and Simpliciforma). In contrast to previous interpretations, the trocholophe lophophore of Gwynia is interpreted herein as secondarily simplified.

Diversity of the Schizophoria lineage (Brachiopoda: Orthida) in the Lower and Middle Devonian of Poland and adjacent areas

The nominative subgenus of Schizophoria (Brachiopoda, Orthida) is represented in the Lower and Middle Devonian of Poland and of the western Ukraine by six taxa: late Emsian Schizophoria (S.) interstrialis, late Eifelian S. (S.) schnuri biscissa, early Givetian S. (S.) schnuri schnuri, middle to late Givetian S. (S.) schnuri prohibita ssp.n., middle Givetian S. (S.) parvaepunctata and late Givetian S. (S.) sp.n. (unnamed for lack of sufficient material). Morphotypes referable to S. (S.) schnuri biscissa and to S. (S.) schnuri junkerbergiana co-occur in the same outcrop (not necessarily in the same levels), wherefore the separation of these subspecies may be maintained only if they are considered as chronosubspecies (unverifiable on the studied material) but not as geographic variants (hypothesis falsified by the studied material). A lectotype for S. (S.) interstrialis and a neotype for S. (S.) parvaepunctata are selected. Punctae diameter and density (either an important systematic character according to some authors or devoid of such value according to other ones) were investigated: they show important within-individual and within-sample variation, wherefore they cannot serve to distinguish related species. On the contrary, punctae character combinations are sufficiently constant to help differentiate subgenera or groups of species. In the studied material, three clusters are distinguished on the basis of the punctae characteristics: S. (Pachyschizophoria) and S. (S.) parvaepunctata differ between each other and from all other investigated species of S. (Schizophoria); the latter are indistinguishable on the sole basis of punctae characteristics.KurzfassungDie nominative Untergattung von Schizophoria (Brachiopoda, Orthida) ist im Unter- und Mitteldevon Polens und der westlichen Ukraine durch sechs Taxa vertreten: Schizophoria (S.) interstrialis aus dem oberen Emsium, Schizophoria (S.) schnuri biscissa aus dem oberen Eifelium, S. (S.) schnuri schnuri aus dem unteren Givetium, S. (S.) schnuri prohibita ssp.n. aus dem mittleren bis oberen Givetium, S. (S.) parvaepunctata aus dem mittleren Givetium, und S. (S.) sp.n. (nicht benannt wegen des nicht ausreichendes Material) aus dem späten Givetium. Die zu S. (S.) schnuri biscissa und S. (S.) schnuri junkerbergiana beziehenden Morphotypi kommen zusammen an derselben Lokalität vor (aber nicht notwendigerweise in demselben Stratum), darum können sie nur als Chronosubspecies (nicht belegbar nach dem untersuchten Material) unterschieden werden, aber nicht als geographische Varianten (Hypothese widerlegt nach dem untersuchten Material). Ein Lectotypus für S. (S.) interstrialis und ein Neotypus für S. (S.) parvaepunctata werden ausgewählt. Der Durchmesser und die Dichte der Poren (nach einigen Autoren ein gutes taxonomisches Merkmal und nach anderen nicht), werden untersucht: Die Variation innerhalb eines Individuums und einer Probe ist bedeutend, darum kann sie nicht benutzen werden, um die verwandte Arten zu unterscheiden. Im Gegenteil, Porenmerkmalekombinationen sind genügend fest, darum kann sie helfen, um die Untergattungen oder die Artgruppen zu unterscheiden. In dem untersuchten Material werden drei Gruppen nach Porenmerkmale unterschieden: S. (Pachyschizophoria) und S. (S.) parvaepunctata unterscheiden sich voneinander und von den übrigen untersuchten Arten von S. (Schizophoria); diese können allein den Porenmerkmale unterschieden werden.

Frasnian Atrypida (Brachiopoda) from Silesia (Poland) and the age of the eo-Variscan collision in the Sudetes

ABSTRACT Frasnian (Late Devonian) Atrypida (Brachiopoda) from the Świebodzice Depression in the Sudetes (Silesia, south-western Poland) are revised. Three species are recognised. Kyrtatrypa barnimi n. sp. is the first described Late Frasnian species of the genus and one of the latest representatives of the genus before the atrypide extinction at the Frasnian-Famennian boundary. Pseudogruenewaldtia tschernyschewi Rzhonsnitskaya, 1960 is described for the first time outside the type area of the species, the Timan Mts. It allows to date the entire fauna to the Late Frasnian. Spinatrypa mariaetheresiae n. sp. is similar to coeval S. lambermontensis Mottequin, 2003 and S. rossica Rzhonsnitskaya in Rzhonsnitskaya et al., 1998 in having a high tongue (low in most representatives of the genus) but differs from them in ornamentation density. This species is represented by two morphotypes; an analogous dimorphism was described in some Spinatrypina Rzhonsnitskaya, 1964. A synoptic table of Devonian atrypides from the Sudetes is given. At present, given the lack of conodonts and unclear status of other diagnostic macrofauna, atrypide brachiopods are the best time markers giving a pre-Famennian terminus ante quem for the eo-Variscan collision of Bohemia and Saxothuringia.

Annotations to the Devonian Correlation Table, R220dm05: Poland; Holy Cross Mts; Łysogóry Region

A synthetic lithostratigraphic column of the northern (Łysogóry) region of the Holy Cross Mountains (central Poland) is given according to the standards of the Devon Correlation Table international project. It is based on conodont, brachiopod, and event stratigraphy (transgressive pulses) data.KurzfassungDie Lithostratigraphie des Mittel-Devon von Łysogóry im nördlichen Heilig-Kreuz-Gebirge (polnischen Mittelgebirge) wird als weitere Tabellen-Spalte der Devon-Korrelationstabelle hinzugefügt. Die regionale Stratigraphie stützt sich auf Conodonten-, Brachiopoden-, und Event-Stratigraphie (Transgressionen).

Is Myxomycetes (Amoebozoa) a Truly Ambiregnal Group? A Major Issue in Protist Nomenclature

Myxomycetes is one of the largest groups of protists belonging to Amoebozoa, with ca 1,000 species recognised and more than 4,000 names in use. Historically, myxomycetes were considered fungi or protozoans which, however, fell under the provisions of the former International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN), currently the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN). Attempts to apply the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) to myxomycetes were rare and inconsistent; thus, we argue that Myxomycetes is not a truly ambiregnal group (i.e. one falling under both Codes). Recently, nomenclatural novelties within Myxomycetes have been proposed using ICZN rules, and the application of zoological orthography to myxomycete higher-level taxa in the recent amoebozoan phylogenies is increasingly common. We summarise the consequences of application of either ICN or ICZN to Myxomycetes. In our opinion, nomenclatural stability within Myxomycetes is best served by strict application of ICN. Either treating myxomycetes as falling under ICZN or considering them an ambiregnal group would cause serious nomenclatural instability, mainly owing to the incompatibility of the two Codes as to the date of the starting point of nomenclature and to the appearance of numerous homonyms.