Multiple sections at 13 localities in West Virginia and Virginia, that expose the Early Carboniferous (Late Mississippian) Bluefield, Hinton, and Bluestone Formations, were measured. Geological structures and paleontological occurrences were recorded. In situ rooted plants were compared with transported plant and animal assemblages from fluvially dominated terrestrial beds and interdistributary channel-dominated, bay-fill, marine beds in order to interpret the paleoecology of this subtropical Early Carboniferous coastal landscape. Interdistributary wetlands of the Bluefield, Hinton and Bluestone Formations resemble earlier swamps more than those of the younger Pennsylvanian. In both Hampshire (Late Devonian, Famennian) and Price Formation (Early Carboniferous, Toumaisian) coal swamps, diversity is so low that only one taxon of plant is present: Rhacophyton ceratangium in the Late Devonian and Lepidodendropsis vandergrachtii in the Early Mississippian. The presence of Lepidodendron veltheimii as the apparent sole occupant of these younger Early Carboniferous plant communities makes them most similar to the arborescent lycopod-dominated Price Formation swamps. Although many Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous) swamps were also dominated by tree lycopods, including species of Lepidodendron sensu lato, other plants were present as well. Thus, these Late Mississippian communities incorporate some features of both younger and older swamps and can be considered ecologically transitional between them. Swamps have been stressful environments for plant growth for as long as they have existed. This is manifested by their low diversity since the Paleozoic and continues to be true today. / Ph. D.

This thesis summarizes palynological and paleontological study of the middle part of the Cracow Sandstone Series which is divided into the Łaziska (Bolsovian) and the Libiąz Beds (Asturian). Samples were obtained from the borehole G5 Dab nearby Jaworzno from both coal and non-coal sediments. Palynological study confirmed the stratigraphical gap between these two beds by observation of dissapearance of nine miospore taxons at the bottom of the Libiąz Beds (Torispora, Converrucosisporites, Schulzospora, Gillespieisporites, Schopfites, Convolutispora, Cristatisporites, Tripartites, Cingulizonates). Different ecological demands during the coal and non-coal sedimentation were confirmed. The sedimentation of the Łaziska coal seams is characterized by alternation of lycospore and densospore phases which confirmes alternation of the contrasting plant assamblages with a predominance of the arborescent lycopsids Lepidodendron and Lepidophloios and sub-arborescent lycopsid Omphalophloios. Arborescent lycopsids preferred planar (rheotrophic) mires. Plant assamblages with predominance of the lycopsid Omphalophloios colonized drier peat swamps with fluctuating water level (ombrothrophic). Peat swamp vegetation in Libiąz Beds was damper with localy transitional phase with increased incidence of the genus...

The extinct insect group of Palaeodictyopteroida (Insecta: Palaeoptera) comprised mainly phytophagous species and occurred from Upper Carboniferous to Upper Permian. Megasecoptera is one of several orders of belonging to this group. Although, the order Megasecoptera comprised over 20 described families, morphology of some body structures are insufficiently studied. The present thesis deals with evaluation of new material comprising the extensive set of 76 fossil insect specimens from the Upper Carboniferous (Bashkirian) of northern China. The fossils having excellent state of preservation of the wings and other body structures provide new insights concerning the external morphology of Megasecoptera. All studied specimens were attributed based on wing venation pattern into two known megasecopteran genera within families Brodiopteridae and Sphecopteridae. The aim of the present thesis is examine the morphology and variability of wing venation of two newly proposed species Brodioptera sp. n. and Cyclocelis sp. n. from site in northern China. In addition the following methods of geometric morphometrics based on landmarks were used for comparison of venational characters: a comparison of centroid size, procrustes analysis, principal component analysis and thin plate spline. Variability of wing venation...

The aim of this thesis is an overall assessment of the hydrogeological conditions of the Český Brod Permian Carboniferous and overall the balance of upper groundwater aquifer in the northern part of the Český Brod Permian Carboniferous using a mathematical model. For the realization of the model was used ZABAGED data provided by the Czech Office for Surveying, Mapping and Cadastre, which is located in Prague 8 Kobylsích. The mathematical model was created using computer applications such as FeFlow 5. 2, ArcGIS for Desktop 10. 1 and Surfer 10. 7. 972. The result of this work is to evaluate the overall balance of precipitation, surface water and groundwater in the upper aquifer north of Český Brod Permian Carboniferous, respectively, in the hydrologic basin of the Upper and Middle Elbe, in the hydrological basin fourth Order river Vyrovka (HEIS.VUV.cz). The evaluation was done by comparing the data obtained from the studied opinions and based on data obtained from calculations of the mathematical model. The results of the mathematical model were also compared with the original model hydroizohyps, which was created based on the coordinates of the individual wells in a given area and treble steady groundwater levels, coordinate and treble levels of selected points on each watercourse. Before completing...

Previous studies have identified δ¹³C events in the Carboniferous that imply major shifts in the carbon cycle. However, inherent in this interpretation is the assumption that epicontinental seas are chemically representative of the global ocean. Our study uses stable isotope and trace element analyses of brachiopod shells to examine changes in climate and circulation of the North American epeiric sea. Formations were selected for study to provide shallow marine environments with geographic coverage of North America. These units include the Grove Church and Mattoon Formations (Illinois Basin), Glenshaw Formation (Appalachian Basin), Bird Spring Formation (Bird Spring Basin), and Oread Formation (US midcontinent). In all, 98 brachiopod shells were found to be well preserved based on screening with plane light and cathodoluminescence microscopy of thin-sections, and trace element analyses. Upper Chesterian Grove Church (Illinois Basin) samples have δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O averages of 1.1% and -3.1% respectively. These low values are interpreted as a local or regional effect caused by terrestrial runoff. Terrestrial influences are also suggested by the depositional environment: nearshore marine. Chesterian samples from the Bird Spring Formation at Arrow Canyon, Nevada average 3.7% and -1.4% for δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O respectively. The higher δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values, compared with samples from the time equivalent Grove Church, likely reflect the freer exchange with the Panthalassa Ocean at this most western edge of North America, and best represent open-ocean conditions. Samples from the Virgilian Ames-Shumway-Plattsmouth cyclothem show a progression of δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O enrichment moving west from near the Appalachians (1.9% and -3.8%) to the Illinois Basin (3.2% and -2.4%) and finally to the US midcontinent (4.2% and -1.5%). This is interpreted as the transition from nearshore, terrestrial influence with enhanced organic matter oxidation and lower salinity to well-mixed conditions with normal salinities and potential for seafloor ventilation and upwelling. This is supported by published sediment ΣNd(t) values from the Appalachian Basin (ΣNd(t) = -9) that increase further westward (ΣNd(t) = -6) due to higher influence from the eastern Panthalassa Ocean. Mass balance calculations based on the δ¹⁸O of the brachiopod shells suggest salinities of 25 and 31 psu for the Appalachian and Illinois Basins, respectively, assuming salinities of 34.5 psu for the US midcontinent. Trace element analyses do not show a systematic east-west trend similar to stable isotopes. In both time slices, spiriferids from the intermediately-located Illinois Basin are enriched in Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca relative to those in other basins. This Mg and Sr enrichment in Illinois Basin brachiopods suggests delivery of Sr-rich fresh waters and restricted circulation in that basin.

No description available.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T15:50:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGCS15DA028.pdf: 1781941 bytes, checksum: 5f132e93e6a30a44029e719a02f694d4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-04-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / For over a century of mineral coal exploration in the Santa Catarina Carboniferous Basin, many environmental damages caused by this activity are accounted, such as water pollution, vegetation destruction and disabling of large areas. In coal mining, the pyrite (iron sulfide - FeS2) contributes effectively to the acid drainage formation and metal solubilization in aquatic envoronment. So that, the selection of proper analytical techniques is needed for the quantification of a specific metal, and it is important to have an idea of the concentration in a given sample (expected concentration) using certified reference samples. Therefore, this study was conducted in two chapters: Chapter I presents and discusses the digestion analytical methods for Fe and Pb and reading for Zn in sediment and the procedures used for its validation; and Chapter II presents the characterization and results discussion regarding the presence of metal caused by coal mining activities in the matters of water and sediment of the Palmeiras River, located in the Tubarão Basin. Lower temperature variations and higher Fe and Pb recovery rates was observed in the digestion performed at a shorter time. The use of least squares background correction (LSBC) for Zn readings allowed to obtain values that are more accurate. In the water, there were increase in Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Mn, Zn, and Pb concentrations, due to the coal mining, while in the sediment, there were a reduction of Al, Mn, Zn, Cu and Pb concentrations, enabled by solubilization due to the low pH of the water / Ao longo de mais de um século de exploração de carvão mineral na Bacia Carbonífera Catarinense, são muitos os danos ambientais provocados por essa atividade, como a poluição dos recursos hídricos, a destruição da vegetação e a inutilização de áreas extensas. Na mineração de carvão, a pirita (sulfeto de ferro - FeS2) contribui de forma efetiva para a formação de drenagens ácidas e a solubilização de metais no meio aquático. Neste contexto, a seleção de técnicas analíticas apropriadas faz-se necessária, para a quantificação de um determinado metal, e também é importante ter uma noção da concentração em determinada amostra (concentração esperada), com a utilização de amostras de referência certificadas. Portanto, o estudo foi desenvolvido em dois capítulos: no Capítulo I são apresentados e discutidos os métodos analíticos de digestão para Fe e Pb e de leitura para Zn em sedimento e os procedimentos utilizados para sua avaliação; e no Capítulo II foi efetuada a caracterização e a discussão dos resultados referentes à presença de metais resultante da atividade mineradora de carvão, nos compartimentos água e sedimento, do Rio Palmeiras, localizado na Bacia do Tubarão. Observouse menores variações de temperatura e maiores taxas de recuperação de Fe e Pb na digestão realizada em menor tempo. O uso da correção de fundo por mínimos quadrados (LSBC) nas leituras do Zn possibilitou a obtenção de valores mais acurados. Na água, ocorreu aumento das concentrações de Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Mn, Zn, e Pb em função da mineração de carvão, enquanto que no sedimento, ocorreu a diminuição das concentrações de Al, Mn, Zn, Cu e Pb, propiciada pela solubilização devida ao baixo pH da água

In my dissertation thesis I made a revision of two selected groups of Lower Carboniferous arthropds from the Moravian Karst: trilobites and thylacocephalans. I studied their systematics, autecology as well as taxonomy. In the first part I mapped an occurrence of an atheloptic trilobite association in the Březina village vicinity. Based on a study the new trilobite association is erected. The second part is focused on the very first discovery of Lower Carboniferous thylacocephalan outside of US. Its specific carapace structure is studied. New species Paraconcavicaris viktoryni (Broda et al. 2020) is determined and compared to known species.

No description available.

Insect wings are very specific and unique structures in animal kingdom. Wing morphology is a result of long-standing complicated evolutionary process and until recently the way how the wings have evolved is not completely clarified. The flight ability is one of the most important event in insect history because it allows them to exploit new habitats, escape from predators or find the sexual partner. Here we present the newly discovered material consisting of Palaeodictyoptera immature wings from the Upper Carboniferous (Westphalian A) of Poland. This order became extinct in the end of Permian, however during the Late Paleozoic was remarkably diversified. Until recently, number of adult palaeodictyopterans have been described, however the immature stages are relatively unknown due to lack of suitable fossils. Immature wings present in this thesis have undoubtedly palaeodictyopterous affinities with atribution within superfamilies Breyeroidea and Homoiopteroidea. However, their familial assignment into Breyeriidae (morphotype A) and Homiopteridae (morphotype B) based on fore wing venation characters is not definite because of wing venation limits in early ontogenetic stages. The aim of the present work is a complex description of 14 new palaeodictyopteriids immature wings, and to point out certain important...