Luigi Cantelli

Neo-Alpine evolution of the Southern Eastern Alps

Abstract The Eastern Southern Alps, located to the east of the N Giudicarie Line, have been originated by polyphase compressional evolution of Tertiary age. The oldest structural system corresponds to the Mesoalpine (Eocene) and early Neoalpine (Oligomiocene) compressional events, which originated the Dinaric system (NW–SE trending) present in the NE side of the Southern Alps. The subsequent tectonic belt is the Valsugana structural system, ENE–WSW trending, Serravallian– Tortonian in age. The intense activity of this compressional event is documented both by stratigraphic and structural data and by fission track studies which indicate uplifting of some 4 km in the hangingwall of the Valsugana overthrust between 12 and 8 Ma B.P. The more external structures NE–SW trending are located in the Montello–Friuli zone which were generated by the Messinian–Pliocene compressions (whose principal stress axis is SE–NW oriented). Structural and kinematic links between the Montello–Friuli belt and the Giudicarie zone have been recognized by new analytical data documenting that the Schio–Vicenza fault system transferred compressive deformations to the Giudicarie belt, where, the previous structures (belonging to the Valsugana system) were strongly enhanced by the subsequent compressions. Since the Montello–Friuli belt and the Schio–Vicenza system developed during the Messinian–Pliocene Adriatic compressional event, the out-of-sequence tectonic reactivations in the Giudicarie belt have to be considered mostly Messinian–Pliocene in age rather than Tortonian, as previously proposed. This compressional Adriatic event produced wide deformations in the Alps, both internally, like in the Montello–Friuli and Giudicarie, and, very likely, also externally, as in the Jura and the frontal external French Western Alps. The three structural systems here described are clearly represented in a N–S trending balanced profile crossing the Central Dolomites, close to the Italian trace of the Central European Profile (CEP) where a seismic reflexion acquisition campaign is presently in progress according to the German, Austrian and Italian joint program of the TRANSALP Project. The crustal and lithospheric interpretation using available data (revision of previous refraction profiles) assumes strong indentation of the Adriatic lithosphere to the N coupled by southward delamination of the Adriatic crust, coherent with the setting of the upper crust shown in the balanced cross section. Similar indentation processes were recognized up to date only in the Western and Central Alps (CROP–ECORS and NFP20 Profiles).

New Information on Tataouinea hannibalis from the Early Cretaceous of Tunisia and Implications for the Tempo and Mode of Rebbachisaurid Sauropod Evolution

The rebbachisaurid sauropod Tataouinea hannibalis represents the first articulated dinosaur skeleton from Tunisia and one of the best preserved in northern Africa. The type specimen was collected from the lower Albian, fluvio-estuarine deposits of the Ain el Guettar Formation (southern Tunisia). We present detailed analyses on the sedimentology and facies distribution at the main quarry and a revision of the vertebrate fauna associated with the skeleton. Data provide information on a complex ecosystem dominated by crocodilian and other brackish water taxa. Taphonomic interpretations indicate a multi-event, pre-burial history with a combination of rapid segregation in high sediment supply conditions and partial subaerial exposure of the carcass. After the collection in 2011 of the articulated sacrum and proximalmost caudal vertebrae, all showing a complex pattern of pneumatization, newly discovered material of the type specimen allows a detailed osteological description of Tataouinea. The sacrum, the complete and articulated caudal vertebrae 1–17, both ilia and ischia display asymmetrical pneumatization, with the left side of vertebrae and the left ischium showing a more extensive invasion by pneumatic features than their right counterparts. A pneumatic hiatus is present in caudal centra 7 to 13, whereas caudal centra 14–16 are pneumatised by shallow fossae. Bayesian inference analyses integrating morphological, stratigraphic and paleogeographic data support a flagellicaudatan-rebbachisaurid divergence at about 163 Ma and a South American ancestral range for rebbachisaurids. Results presented here suggest an exclusively South American Limaysaurinae and a more widely distributed Rebbachisaurinae lineage, the latter including the South American taxon Katepensaurus and a clade including African and European taxa, with Tataouinea as sister taxon of Rebbachisaurus. This scenario would indicate that South America was not affected by the end-Jurassic extinction of diplodocoids, and was most likely the centre of the rapid radiation of rebbachisaurids to Africa and Europe between 135 and 130 Ma.

Natural and Anthropogenic Coastal System Comparison Using DSM from a Low Cost UAV Survey (Capão Novo, RS/Brazil)

ABSTRACT Scarelli, F.M.; Cantelli, L.; Barboza, E.G.; Rosa, M.L.C.C.; and Gabbianelli, G., 2016. Natural and Anthropogenic coastal system comparison using DSM from a low cost UAV survey (Capão Novo, RS/Brazil). In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 1232 - 1236, ISSN 0749-0208. In many cases, unplanned urbanization is the main factor that causes a decrease in coastal resilience. This paper compares the differences between the anthropogenic and natural coastal zone, based on the morphological dune reconstruction, using a low cost UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) survey and the photogrammetric reconstruction method. The study area is in the Northern Littoral of Rio Grande do Sul State, where the dunes have few man-changes and are adjacent to an anthropogenic zone with a highly modified beach/dune system. By photogrammetric reconstruction it was possible to obtain a high-resolution DSM (Digital Surface Model) and a high-resolution othophoto to analyse differences in morphology. Data acquired by UAVs are important to coastal managers and decision makers as they can collect high-resolution data and be used for Integrated Coastal Zone Management. Moreover this work propose a low cost method for obtaining a high-resolution data for researchers and local authorities.