Fernando Barroso-Barcenilla

PALEOENVIRONMENTAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ''LO HUECO'' FOSSIL SITE (UPPER CRETACEOUS, CUENCA, SPAIN): PRELIMINARY STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSES ON CROCODILIANS AND DINOSAURS

ABSTRACT Stable isotope analyses (&dgr;18OPO4, &dgr;18OCO3, and &dgr;13C) are reported for the first time on crocodilian, theropod, and sauropod teeth from two stratigraphic levels (G1 and G2) from the late Campanian–early Maastrichtian “Lo Hueco” fossil site (Cuenca, Spain) in order to better understand paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental conditions existing in the Iberian Peninsula during the Late Cretaceous. Diagenetic alteration was evaluated using three tests: (1) consistent differences in enamel and dentine &dgr;18OPO4 values, (2) crocodilian &dgr;18OPO4 values consistently lower than dinosaur &dgr;18OPO4 values in agreement with the proposed latitudinal distribution between ectotherms and endotherms, and (3) a &Dgr;&dgr;18OCO3-PO4 value of 9.1 ± 1.7‰ for dinosaurs in accordance with the expected equilibrium fractionation between carbonate and phosphate in unaltered modern mammalian bioapatite. Calculated &dgr;18OH2O values are slightly higher in crocodilians compared to dinosaurs since semiaquatic ectothermic taxa &dgr;18OH2O represents local meteoric waters in a brief window of time when the conditions are favorable for apatite synthesis, whereas terrestrial endothermic taxa &dgr;18OH2O records ingested water year-round. Mean air temperature calculated using crocodilian and dinosaur &dgr;18OH2O values shows an increase between G1 and G2, which may be related to differences in the sedimentological setting and/or to a shift toward warmer conditions over time. Finally, the sauropod mean &dgr;13C value (−11.1 ± 0.2‰, VPDB) is in the predicted range for C3 vegetation.

Fossil assemblages and palaeoenvironments in the Cenomanian vertebrate site of Nazaré (West Central Portugal)

 References  Citations  Supplementary Data  Article Media  Metrics  Suggestions  

Nautiloids from the Muschelkalk facies of the Southiberian Triassic (Betic Cordillera, southern Spain)

The study of Middle Triassic (Ladinian) nautiloids from three successive ammonoid zones, and two sub-zones, of the Southiberian Triassic Muschelkalk facies (Betic Cordillera, southern Spain) has allowed the identification of the following species: Mojsvaroceras haasi Parnes, 1986, M. kummeli Parnes, 1986, Germanonautilus bidorsatus (von Schlotheim, 1820), G. tridorsatus (Böttcher, 1938), Grypoceras? quadrangulum (Beyrich, 1866a), Indonautilus awadi Kummel, 1960, I. privatus (Mojsisovics, 1882) and Picardiceras picardi Parnes, 1986. The possibly endemic Indonautilus innocens sp. nov. is described herein. Although some of these species have already been reported from the Betic Cordillera, most are described in detail and illustrated for the first time and their stratigraphical distributions determined accurately for this region. Of the nine nautiloid species described herein, five are known from the Germanic and Tethyan provinces and four are restricted to the Sephardic Province. The genus Picardiceras is typical of the Sephardic Province. It appears that during the Ladinian the Betic Cordillera was a palaeogeographical region for faunal exchange between Central Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:98032616-2778-439B-B6D4-D32BFF7CCB83

Revision and new data on the Coniacian ammonite genus Hemitissotia in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal)

The types of the species of the Coniacian ammonite genus Hemitissotia Peron, 1897, identified in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), which are currently held in the Wiedmann (Universität Tübingen, Germany) and Choffat (Instituto Geológico e Mineiro, Portugal) collections, have been revised and refigured. New specimens of the taxa Hemitissotia ceadouroensis Choffat, 1898, Hemitissotiaceltiberica Wiedmann, 1975b, Hemitissotiaturzoi Karrenberg, 1935, Hemitissotiadullai (Karrenberg 1935) and Hemitissotialenticeratiformis Wiedmann in Wiedmann and Kauffman, 1978 have also been presented. As results, H. celtiberica has been considered as a junior synonym of H. ceadouroensis, and the lectotype of this species and the neotypes of H. turzoi and H. dullai have been designated and figured. Additionally, the geographical and stratigraphical distributions of all of these species have been determined with precision, and several phylogenetic relationships between them have been identified, revealing morphologies that become progressively smaller and more depressed and ornamented (hydrodynamically less efficient), interpreted as an adaptative response to sea-level changes.KurzfassungDie Typen der Arten der Ammoniten-Gattung Hemitissotia Peron, 1897 aus dem Coniacium der Iberischen Halbinsel (Spanien und Portugal) wurden neu bearbeitet und abgebildet. Sie befinden sich heute in den Sammlungen von Wiedmann (Universität Tübingen, Deutschland) und Choffat (Instituto Geológico e Mineiro, Portugal). Neue Exemplare von Hemitissotia ceadouroensis Choffat, 1898, Hemitissotia celtiberica Wiedmann, 1975b, Hemitissotia turzoi Karrenberg, 1935, Hemitissotia dullai (Karrenberg 1935) und Hemitissotia lenticeratiformis Wiedmann in Wiedmann and Kauffmann, 1978, werden ebenfalls dargestellt. Dabei zeigt sich, dass H. celtiberica ein jüngeres Synonym von H. ceadouroensis ist. Der Lectotyp dieser Arten sowie die Neotypen von H. turzoi und H. dullai werden definiert und abgebildet. Die geographische und stratigraphische Verbreitung der erwähnten Arten werden detailliert dargestellt, wie auch die phylogenetischen Beziehungen. Sie weisen eine zunehmend kleinere, flachere und stärker verzierte Morphologie auf, was hydrodynamisch weniger effizient ist und scheinbare eine Anpassung an Änderungen des Meeresspiegels darstellen.

The Bargalló Teaching Methodology at the Early Twentieth Century: Contributions to Palaeontological Research and Geological Heritage

During the early twentieth century, the Professor Modesto Bargalló developed in Spain a teaching method that promoted the active participation of the students in their training, “discovering” the Nature by themselves, through practical field trips and classroom activities. His innovative methodology allowed not only the optimal training of several classes of future teachers at the Normal School of Guadalajara, but also the discovery of four new palaeontological sites: The Silurian graptolite site of Sierra Menera, the Eocene-Oligocene vertebrate site of Huérmeces, and the Miocene mammal and turtle sites of Chiloeches. The scientific legacy of Bargalló is also directly related to his relationship with two of the most important Spanish naturalist institutions: The Royal Spanish Society of Natural History (Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural), in whose proceedings he published his palaeontological discoveries, and the National Museum of Natural Sciences (Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales), to which he donated the fossil remains that were found in those sites. Another part of his rich geological heritage remained in Spain too, after his exile to Mexico (where he continued his intense teaching and scientific work), being nowadays held at the University of Alcalá, in the so-called Bargalló Historical Collection.

Seasonality and Paleoecology of the Late Cretaceous Multi-Taxa Vertebrate Assemblage of “Lo Hueco” (Central Eastern Spain)

Isotopic studies of multi-taxa terrestrial vertebrate assemblages allow determination of paleoclimatic and paleoecological aspects on account of the different information supplied by each taxon. The late Campanian-early Maastrichtian “Lo Hueco” Fossil-Lagerstätte (central eastern Spain), located at a subtropical paleolatitude of ~31°N, constitutes an ideal setting to carry out this task due to its abundant and diverse vertebrate assemblage. Local δ18OPO4 values estimated from δ18OPO4 values of theropods, sauropods, crocodyliforms, and turtles are close to δ18OH2O values observed at modern subtropical latitudes. Theropod δ18OH2O values are lower than those shown by crocodyliforms and turtles, indicating that terrestrial endothermic taxa record δ18OH2O values throughout the year, whereas semiaquatic ectothermic taxa δ18OH2O values represent local meteoric waters over a shorter time period when conditions are favorable for bioapatite synthesis (warm season). Temperatures calculated by combining theropod, crocodyliform, and turtle δ18OH2O values and gar δ18OPO4 have enabled us to estimate seasonal variability as the difference between mean annual temperature (MAT, yielded by theropods) and temperature of the warmest months (TWMs, provided by crocodyliforms and turtles). ΔTWMs-MAT value does not point to a significantly different seasonal thermal variability when compared to modern coastal subtropical meteorological stations and Late Cretaceous rudists from eastern Tethys. Bioapatite and bulk organic matter δ13C values point to a C3 environment in the “Lo Hueco” area. The estimated fractionation between sauropod enamel and diet is ~15‰. While waiting for paleoecological information yielded by the ongoing morphological study of the “Lo Hueco” crocodyliforms, δ13C and δ18OCO3 results point to incorporation of food items with brackish influence, but preferential ingestion of freshwater. “Lo Hueco” turtles showed the lowest δ13C and δ18OCO3 values of the vertebrate assemblage, likely indicating a diet based on a mixture of aquatic and terrestrial C3 vegetation and/or invertebrates and ingestion of freshwater.

The Krantz collections of palaeontology held at the University of Coimbra (Portugal): a century of teaching and museum activities

The University of Coimbra holds a large repository of palaeontological collections bought from European mineral dealers, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Among these specimens currently available at the Science Museum stand out three collections acquired from the Krantz house, between 1890 and 1913, for the Section of Mineralogy and Geology of the Natural History Museum. Their taxonomic diversity is high, as well as their geographic and stratigraphic wide-range origins, representing many classical locations and sedimentary formations of the European geology, and overseas countries. These collections have been used since long for teaching in practical classes of Natural Sciences at the University, using hands-on procedures. Together with other contemporary Krantz collections, known by several Iberian institutions, reveal an important heritage with both scientific and historical relevance that should be preserved, studied and reviewed from a scientific point of view.

Nautiloids From the Toarcian of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain and Portugal

A study of the Lower Jurassic nautiloids held in the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and the Instituto Geologico y Minero, Spain, and in the Universidade de Coimbra and the Museu Geologico e Mineiro, Portugal, has revealed the presence of numerous and diverse representatives of the genera Cenoceras, Ligeiceras, Ophionautilus, and Digonioceras in the Toarcian of the Iberian Peninsula. Specifically, the taxa Cenoceras robustum, C. fontannesi, C. semistriatum, C. astacoides, C. jourdani, C. toarcense, C. ciryi, C.? beirense, Ligeiceras fourneti, L. inornatum, L. anomphalum, L. jurense, L.? globulum, Ophionautilus sp., Digonioceras sp. 1, and D. sp. 2 have been identified and described, and their stratigraphic distributions have been determined for this region of southwestern Europe.