Giles Miller
Natural History Museum, London, Palaeontology, Faculty Member
Ocean-floor sediment samples collected up to 150 years ago represent an important historical archive to benchmark global changes in the seafloor environment, such as species' range shifts and pollution trends. Such benchmarking... more
Ocean-floor sediment samples collected up to 150 years ago represent an important historical archive to benchmark global changes in the seafloor environment, such as species' range shifts and pollution trends. Such benchmarking requires that the historical sediment samples represent the state of the environment at-or shortly before the time of collection. However, early oceanographic expeditions sampled the ocean floor using devices like the sounding tube or a dredge, which potentially disturb the sediment surface and recover a mix of Holocene (surface) and deeper, Pleistocene sediments. Here we use climate-sensitive microfossils as a fast biometric method to assess if historical seafloor samples contain a mixture of modern and glacial sediments. Our assessment is based on comparing the composition of planktonic foraminifera (PF) assemblages in historical samples with Holocene and Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) global reference datasets. We show that eight out of the nine historical samples contain PF assemblages more similar to the Holocene than to the LGM PF assemblages, but the comparisons are only significant when there is a high local species' temporal turnover (from the LGM to the Holocene). When analysing temporal turnover globally, we show that upwelling and temperate regions had greatest species turnover, which are areas where our methodology would be most diagnostic. Our results suggest that sediment samples from historical collections can provide a baseline of the state of marine ecosystems in the late nineteenth century, and thus be used to assess ocean global change trends.\r\n\r\n## Related materials:\r\nRillo MC, Kucera M, Ezard THG and Miller CG (2019) Surface Sediment Samples From Early Age of Seafloor Exploration Can Provide a Late 19th Century Baseline of the Marine Environment. Front. Mar. Sci. 5:517. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2018.00517\r\n\r\nMarina Costa Rillo (2016). Dataset: Henry Buckley Collection of Planktonic Foraminifera. Natural History Museum Data Portal (data.nhm.ac.uk). htt [...]
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The outer layer of the pollen grain, the exine, plays a key role in the survival of terrestrial plant life. However, the exine structure in different groups of plants remains enigmatic. Here, modern and fossil coniferous bisaccate pollen... more
The outer layer of the pollen grain, the exine, plays a key role in the survival of terrestrial plant life. However, the exine structure in different groups of plants remains enigmatic. Here, modern and fossil coniferous bisaccate pollen were examined to investigate the detailed three-dimensional structure and properties of the pollen wall. X-ray nanotomography and volume electron microscopy are used to provide high-resolution imagery, revealing a solid nanofoam structure. Atomic force microscopy measurements were used to compare the pollen wall with other natural and synthetic foams and to demonstrate that the mechanical properties of the wall in this type of pollen are retained for millions of years in fossil specimens. The microscopic structure of this robust biological material has potential applications in materials sciences and also contributes to our understanding of the evolutionary success of conifers and other plants over geological time.
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Research Interests: Geology, Paleontology, Biostratigraphy, Ordovician, Trilobite, and 3 morePermian, Fauna, and biozone
This is a reconstructed 3D image of a modern pine pollen grain, enabling to visualize the fine structure and density variations within the specimen. The voxel size is isotropic 40 nm, and the image size is 1900 x 1400 x 1260 voxels,... more
This is a reconstructed 3D image of a modern pine pollen grain, enabling to visualize the fine structure and density variations within the specimen. The voxel size is isotropic 40 nm, and the image size is 1900 x 1400 x 1260 voxels, stored in a simple raw format, 8 bit unsigned integers. The data was collected during experiment EV-314 at the beamline ID16A-NI.
The fossil record of terrestrialization documents notable shifts in the environmental and physiological tolerances of many animal and plant groups. However, for certain significant components of modern freshwater and terrestrial... more
The fossil record of terrestrialization documents notable shifts in the environmental and physiological tolerances of many animal and plant groups. However, for certain significant components of modern freshwater and terrestrial environments, the transition out of marine settings remains largely unconstrained. Ostracod crustaceans occupy an exceptional range of modern aquatic environments and are invaluable palaeoenvironmental indicators in the fossil record. However, pre-Carboniferous records of supposed non-marine and marginal marine ostracods are sparse, and the timing of their marine to non-marine transition has proven elusive. Here, we reassess the early environmental history of ostracods in light of new assemblages from the late Silurian of Vietnam. Two, low diversity but distinct ostracod assemblages are associated with estuarine deposits. This occurrence is consistent with previous incidental reports of ostracods occupying marginal and brackish settings through the late Silu...
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Research Interests:
The Ludlow Bone Bed (Welsh Basin) is a critical stratigraphic horizon and contains a rich assemblage of fish scales. Units above provide insights into the early evolution of animal and plant life. The bed has not yet been... more
The Ludlow Bone Bed (Welsh Basin) is a critical stratigraphic horizon and contains a rich assemblage of fish scales. Units above provide insights into the early evolution of animal and plant life. The bed has not yet been radioisotopically dated. Here, we report 207 secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) ages from 102 zircon (ZrSiO4) grains from the Ludlow (n = 2) and stratigraphically higher Downton (n = 1) bone beds. SIMS ages are middle Ordovician (471.6 ± 20.7 Ma) to late Devonian (375.7 ± 14.6 Ma, 238U–206Pb, ±1σ analytical uncertainty). Cathodoluminescence images show that the youngest ages appear affected by alteration. Chemical abrasion isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry (CA-ID-TIMS) U–Pb geochronology was utilized to improve precision. Detrital zircon grains from Downton yield 424.91 ± 0.34/0.42/0.63 Ma and from Ludlow 424.85 ± 0.32/0.41/0.62 Ma (n = 5 each, 238U–206Pb, ±2σ analytical, tracer or systematic uncertainty). These ages provide a maximum deposi...
Research Interests: Geology, Geochemistry, Paleontology, Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, UK, and 4 moreCA, Zircon, SIMS, and Welsh Basin
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The Middle Shale Member of the Amdeh Formation is interpreted to be of Early Ordovician age based on its trace fossils, stratigraphic context and a newly discovered fauna of conodonts. The member abruptly overlies the Lower Quartzite... more
The Middle Shale Member of the Amdeh Formation is interpreted to be of Early Ordovician age based on its trace fossils, stratigraphic context and a newly discovered fauna of conodonts. The member abruptly overlies the Lower Quartzite Member, which may be Early Cambrian, and passes gradationally-upward into the Upper Quartzite Member, which is probably Early–Middle Ordovician. The 542.5 m thick Middle Shale Member can be divided into two parts: a shaly lower part, and a sandy upper part that contains an influx of heavy minerals. Bioturbation by marine trace fossils is one of the most obvious characteristics of the member. The shales and sandstones are interpreted to be ofCruzianaandSkolithosichnofacies and represent shallow-marine shelf, shoreface, beach and coastal deposits. Sparse shelly fossils occur in the sandy upper part, principally bivalves, inarticulate brachiopods, ostracods and conodonts. The small assemblage of conodonts includes elements interpreted to be Tremadocian (Te...
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The Amdeh Formation is a 3.4 km stack of sparsely fossiliferous quartzites and shales which crops out in the Al Hajar mountains near Muscat. Here we describe the uppermost member (Am5) that can be dated biostratigraphically as Darriwilian... more
The Amdeh Formation is a 3.4 km stack of sparsely fossiliferous quartzites and shales which crops out in the Al Hajar mountains near Muscat. Here we describe the uppermost member (Am5) that can be dated biostratigraphically as Darriwilian and which is the outcrop equivalent, and probably the seaward continuation, of the Saih Nihayda Formation in the Ghaba Salt Basin of northern Oman. The outcrops at Wadi Daiqa and Hayl al Quwasim consist of 690 m of quartzitic sandstones, shales and bivalve-rich shell beds. Trace fossils referable to theCruzianaandSkolithosichnofacies abound. The member comprises storm-dominated shelf, shoreface and delta deposits. A number of new discoveries have been made in the outcrops: fragments of the arandaspid fishSacabambaspis, ossicles and moulds of the early disparid crinoidIocrinus, two new genera of conodont, an occurrence of the rare trinucleid trilobiteYinpanolithus, and palynological and sedimentological evidence of more continuous Floian–Darriwilian...
Research Interests: Geology, Paleontology, Sedimentology, Trilobites, Conodonts, and 3 moreIchnofacies, Baltica, and Acritarchs
Giant ostracode sperm date back at least 100 million years ago.
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Widely regarded as an imminent threat to our oceans, ocean acidification has been documented in all oceanic basins. Projected changes in seawater chemistry will have catastrophic biotic effects due to ocean acidification hindering... more
Widely regarded as an imminent threat to our oceans, ocean acidification has been documented in all oceanic basins. Projected changes in seawater chemistry will have catastrophic biotic effects due to ocean acidification hindering biogenic carbonate production, which will in turn lead to substantial changes in marine ecosystems. However, previous attempts to quantify the effect of acidification on planktonic calcifying organisms has relied on laboratory based studies with substantial methodological limitations. This has been overcome by comparing historic plankton tows from the seminal HMS Challenger Expedition (1872–1876) with the recent Tara Oceans expedition material (2009–2016). Nano CT-scans of selected equatorial Pacific Ocean planktonic foraminifera, have revealed that all modern specimens had up to 76% thinner shells than their historic counterparts. The “Challenger Revisited” project highlights the potential of historic ocean collections as a tool to investigate ocean acidi...
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<i>Cypridea</i> (<i>Sebastianites</i>) <i>fida</i> Krömmelbein, 1962 Fig. 3, 10a–c 1962 <i>Cypridea</i> (<i>Sebastianites</i>) <i>fida</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein, p.... more
<i>Cypridea</i> (<i>Sebastianites</i>) <i>fida</i> Krömmelbein, 1962 Fig. 3, 10a–c 1962 <i>Cypridea</i> (<i>Sebastianites</i>) <i>fida</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein, p. 460–462, pl. 57, fig. 31. <b>Diagnosis:</b> A <i>Cypridea (Sebastianites)</i> species with an almost horizontal, slightly saddled-in dorsal margin, consequently with a fairly high-lying posterior cardinal angle. From the valve middle the sulcus branches to the anterior, the antero-ventral, the postero-ventral and to the postero-dorsal. The areas of the valve which border the sulcus are thickened in an undulating way and with distinct pitted sculpture; all remaining valve areas without fine sculpture. Rostrum absent. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, SMF Xe 4203. <b>Paratype:</b> 1 carapace, SMF Xe 4204. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 1.15mm, height 0.72mm.
<i>Looneyellopsis</i> <i>brasiliensis</i> Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, 1971 Fig. 12, 8a–c 1971 <i>Looneyellopsis brasiliensis</i> n. gen. n. sp.—Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, p. 52–53, pl. 9, fig. 42.... more
<i>Looneyellopsis</i> <i>brasiliensis</i> Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, 1971 Fig. 12, 8a–c 1971 <i>Looneyellopsis brasiliensis</i> n. gen. n. sp.—Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, p. 52–53, pl. 9, fig. 42. <b>Diagnosis</b>: Carapace slanting-trapeziform, anterior margin broadly rounded, posterior margin more narrowly rounded, not "tailed". Coarse sculpture: broad, moderately deep median sulcus. Three node-like valve swellings on each valve in an upper row. Ventral margin with a broad, longish (approximately two-thirds of carapace length) wing-like expansion which can be thickened like a node, especially at the front. Fine sculpture: moderately coarse pore dimples. Left valve larger than right valve; the left valve with strongly raised angles. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, BfB 7819. <b>Paratypes:</b> Several carapaces, BfB 7820. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 0.56mm, height 0.33mm (no width given in original paper).
<i>Salvadoriella</i> ? <i>dissimilis</i> Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, 1971 Fig. 12, 1a–c 1971 <i>Salvadoriella</i> ? <i>dissimilis</i> n.sp. —Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, p. 45, pl. 8, fig.... more
<i>Salvadoriella</i> ? <i>dissimilis</i> Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, 1971 Fig. 12, 1a–c 1971 <i>Salvadoriella</i> ? <i>dissimilis</i> n.sp. —Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, p. 45, pl. 8, fig. 36. <b>Diagnosis</b>: A species questionably placed in <i>Salvadoriella</i> with the following peculiarities: carapace elongate, flattened semi-circular in lateral outline. The dorsal margin shallowly arched, maximum carapace height roughly in the middle. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, BfB 7809. <b>Paratypes:</b> Not deposited. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 1.22mm, height 0.63mm, width 0.40mm (from publication). (<i>length 1.22mm, height 0.60mm, width 0.45mm from specimen</i>).
<i>Petrobrasia capivarensis</i> Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, 1971 Fig. 11, 10a–c 1971 <i>Petrobrasia capivarensis</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, p. 40–41, pl. 7, fig. 30. <b>Diagnosis</b>: A... more
<i>Petrobrasia capivarensis</i> Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, 1971 Fig. 11, 10a–c 1971 <i>Petrobrasia capivarensis</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, p. 40–41, pl. 7, fig. 30. <b>Diagnosis</b>: A species closely related to <i>P. marfinensis</i> (Krömmelbein, 1965), the type species of the genus. Carapace fairly stocky and high-backed, in lateral view with flattened flanks. Fine sculpture in the form of little ridges forming a net, distinctly prominent on the anterior, posterior and ventral carapace surface, weaker towards the middle of the valve, absent on the actual middle of the valve and in the medio-dorsal area. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, BfB 7802. <b>Paratypes:</b> Several carapaces, BfB 7803. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 0.97mm, height 0.60mm, width 0.34mm.
<i>Petrobrasia vallata</i> Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, 1971 Fig. 11, 11a–c 1971 <i>Petrobrasia vallata</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, p. 42–43, pl. 7, fig. 32. <b>Diagnosis</b>: A... more
<i>Petrobrasia vallata</i> Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, 1971 Fig. 11, 11a–c 1971 <i>Petrobrasia vallata</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, p. 42–43, pl. 7, fig. 32. <b>Diagnosis</b>: A <i>Petrobrasia</i> species from the <i>diversicostata</i> -group with the following peculiarities: carapace in lateral outline well rounded, the posterior margin fairly bluntly truncated. Sculpture: a hook-shaped ridge accompanies the ventral margin for its entire length, turns off sharply in the antero-dorsal direction at the posterior margin and ends just before the centre of the valve. The area of the central muscle-field can be raised like a knob or short ridge (mostly on the right valve). The hook-shaped ridge encloses the central valve area, which is embellished with irregularly reticulate, slightly bent or sharply bent longitudinal ribs. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, BfB 7805. <b>Paratypes:</b> Not deposited. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 0.77mm, height 0.40mm, width 0.21mm.
<i>Cypridea bubonulata</i> Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, 1971 Fig. 10, 4a–c 1971 <i>Cypridea bubonulata</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, p. 22–23, pl. 3, fig. 12. <b>Diagnosis</b>: A large... more
<i>Cypridea bubonulata</i> Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, 1971 Fig. 10, 4a–c 1971 <i>Cypridea bubonulata</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, p. 22–23, pl. 3, fig. 12. <b>Diagnosis</b>: A large species of <i>Cypridea</i> (carapace length around 1.20 mm) with the following peculiarities: rostral region only moderately strongly developed: rostrum short, clearly bent backwards (yet not bent inwards), not protruding over the ventral line; rostral groove small; rostral sulcus weakly developed. Sculpture: fine pore-dimples on whole valve surface. Around 25–30 more or less strongly protruding roundish nodes, only seldom sharpened, appearing densely towards the valve edges and there smaller, whilst being more sparsely distributed around the central valve area, but there they are bigger. A more or less distinct group of three nodes situated in the eye-region. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, BfB 7782. <b>Paratypes:</b> Not deposited. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 1.19mm, height 0.74mm (from publication). (<i>length 1.13mm, height 0.67mm, width 0.55mm (from specimen)</i>).
<i>Cypridea minuscula</i> Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, 1971 Fig. 9, 12a–c 1971 <i>Cypridea minuscula</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, p. 18, pl. 2, fig. 8. <b>Diagnosis</b>: A very small species... more
<i>Cypridea minuscula</i> Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, 1971 Fig. 9, 12a–c 1971 <i>Cypridea minuscula</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, p. 18, pl. 2, fig. 8. <b>Diagnosis</b>: A very small species of <i>Cypridea</i> (carapace approx. 0.5mm long) with quite coarse pore-dimples on the whole valve surface. Left valve larger than right valve. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, BfB 7777. <b>Paratypes:</b> 3 carapaces, BfB 7778. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 0.50mm, height 0.34mm (no width given in original paper).
<i>Cypridea altilis</i> Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, 1971 Fig. 9, 11a–c 1971 <i>Cypridea altilis</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, p. 16–17, pl. 2, fig. 7. <b>Diagnosis</b>: A very large-growing... more
<i>Cypridea altilis</i> Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, 1971 Fig. 9, 11a–c 1971 <i>Cypridea altilis</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein &amp; Weber, p. 16–17, pl. 2, fig. 7. <b>Diagnosis</b>: A very large-growing species of <i>Cypridea</i> (carapace length around 1.85mm) with a highly-peaked dorsum and distinct saddling-in of the outline behind the dorsum. Rostrum small, strongly bent inwards, almost without a rostral sulcus. No coarse sculpture and no distinct fine sculpture of the valve surfaces. Right valve larger than left valve. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, BfB 7776. <b>Paratypes:</b> Not deposited. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 1.85mm, height 1.15mm, width 0.88mm.
<i>Petrobrasia zairensis</i> Krömmelbein, 1965 Fig. 9, 2a–c 1965b <i>Petrobrasia zairensis</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein, p. 68, pl. 2, fig. 9. <b>Diagnosis:</b> A large <i>Petrobrasia</i> species... more
<i>Petrobrasia zairensis</i> Krömmelbein, 1965 Fig. 9, 2a–c 1965b <i>Petrobrasia zairensis</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein, p. 68, pl. 2, fig. 9. <b>Diagnosis:</b> A large <i>Petrobrasia</i> species with very fine, often barely visible ridges or striations parallel to the lengthways margins. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, SMF Xe 5387. <b>Paratype:</b> 1 carapace SMF Xe 5388. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 0.90mm, height 0.47mm, width 0.34mm.
<i>Cypridea indiennensis</i> Krömmelbein, 1965 Fig. 8, 7a–c 1965b <i>Cypridea indiennensis</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein, p. 60–62, pl. 1, fig. 1. <b>Diagnosis:</b> A middle-sized <i>Cypridea</i>... more
<i>Cypridea indiennensis</i> Krömmelbein, 1965 Fig. 8, 7a–c 1965b <i>Cypridea indiennensis</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein, p. 60–62, pl. 1, fig. 1. <b>Diagnosis:</b> A middle-sized <i>Cypridea</i> species (carapace lengths between 0.8 and 0.9mm) with an extended rectangular lateral outline and more or less crudely biconvex in dorsal outline. The entire carapace surface with fairly coarse, rather irregularly distributed mesh-like pitted depressions. Short blunt spines are grouped together towards the end margins, clearly along the anterior margin along the length of the rostrum, otherwise sparse and irregular on the side flanks. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, SMF Xe 5375. <b>Paratype:</b> 1 carapace, SMF Xe 5376. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 0.87mm, height 0.53mm, width 0.43mm.
<i>Brasacypris ovum</i> Krömmelbein, 1965 Fig. 8, 4a–c 1965a <i>Brasacypris ovum</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein, p. 198, pl. 15, fig. 19. <b>Diagnosis:</b> See genus diagnosis, so far monotypic.... more
<i>Brasacypris ovum</i> Krömmelbein, 1965 Fig. 8, 4a–c 1965a <i>Brasacypris ovum</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein, p. 198, pl. 15, fig. 19. <b>Diagnosis:</b> See genus diagnosis, so far monotypic. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, SMF Xe 5369. <b>Paratypes:</b> 3 carapaces, SMF Xe 5370. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 1.26mm, height 0.88mm.
<i>Tucanocypris apiculata</i> Krömmelbein, 1965 Fig. 7, 10a–c 1965a <i>Tucanocypris apiculata</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein, p. 192–193, pl.13, figs 11–13. <b>Diagnosis:</b> A species placed in... more
<i>Tucanocypris apiculata</i> Krömmelbein, 1965 Fig. 7, 10a–c 1965a <i>Tucanocypris apiculata</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein, p. 192–193, pl.13, figs 11–13. <b>Diagnosis:</b> A species placed in <i>Tucanocypris</i> with elongate, very slim carapace. Without coarse sculpture. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, SMF Xe 5358. <b>Paratypes:</b> Left valve, SMF Xe 5359; right valve, SMF Xe 5360; 2 carapaces, SMF Xe 5361. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 0.90mm, height 0.46mm.
<i>Paracypridea maacki</i> Krömmelbein, 1964 Fig. 6, 11a–c 1964b <i>Paracypridea maacki</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein, p. 153–155, pl. 5, fig. 9a–c, text-fig. 10. <b>Diagnosis:</b> A smaller species of... more
<i>Paracypridea maacki</i> Krömmelbein, 1964 Fig. 6, 11a–c 1964b <i>Paracypridea maacki</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein, p. 153–155, pl. 5, fig. 9a–c, text-fig. 10. <b>Diagnosis:</b> A smaller species of <i>Paracypridea</i> with the following peculiarities: carapace an extended rectangle. With a flat, broad, indistinctly-bordered median sulcus in front of the carapace centre. A knob-like thickening in approximately the postero-median position on each valve. Irregular pore-dimples, mostly limited to the central field of the valves. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, SMF Xe 4821. <b>Paratypes:</b> 6 carapaces under SMF Xe 4822, 1 carapace SMF Xe 4823. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 0.96mm, height 0.55mm, width 0.53mm.
<i>Paracypridea elegans inflata</i> Krömmelbein, 1964 Fig. 6, 10a–c 1964b <i>Paracypridea elegans inflata</i> n. ssp. —Krömmelbein, p. 151–152, pl. 4, fig. 7a–c, text-fig. 9. <b>Diagnosis:</b> A species... more
<i>Paracypridea elegans inflata</i> Krömmelbein, 1964 Fig. 6, 10a–c 1964b <i>Paracypridea elegans inflata</i> n. ssp. —Krömmelbein, p. 151–152, pl. 4, fig. 7a–c, text-fig. 9. <b>Diagnosis:</b> A species of <i>Paracypridea</i> of the <i>elegans</i> group with dorsal and ventral margins strongly diverging towards the posterior and an inflated posterior carapace end. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, SMF Xe 4818. <b>Paratypes:</b> 3 carapaces under SMF Xe 4819. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 1.02mm, height 0.67mm, width 0.54mm.
<i>Paracypridea obovata macacoensis</i> Krömmelbein, 1964 Fig. 6, 7a–c 1964b <i>Paracypridea obovata macacoensis</i> n. ssp. —Krömmelbein, p. 142–143, pl. 1, fig. 1a–c, text-fig. 2. <b>Diagnosis:</b> A... more
<i>Paracypridea obovata macacoensis</i> Krömmelbein, 1964 Fig. 6, 7a–c 1964b <i>Paracypridea obovata macacoensis</i> n. ssp. —Krömmelbein, p. 142–143, pl. 1, fig. 1a–c, text-fig. 2. <b>Diagnosis:</b> A subspecies similar in its carapace outline to <i>obovata</i> <i>obovata</i> Swain, but with a more or less blunt spine in approximately the posterior dorso-median position on each valve. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, SMF Xe 4812. <b>Paratypes:</b> Not mentioned. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 1.25mm, height 0.76mm, width 0.54mm.
<i>Paracypridea elegans</i> Krömmelbein, 1962 Fig. 4, 8a–c 1962 <i>Paracypridea elegans</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein, p. 478–479, pl. 53, fig. 7a. <b>Diagnosis:</b> Carapace in lateral outline an extended... more
<i>Paracypridea elegans</i> Krömmelbein, 1962 Fig. 4, 8a–c 1962 <i>Paracypridea elegans</i> n. sp. —Krömmelbein, p. 478–479, pl. 53, fig. 7a. <b>Diagnosis:</b> Carapace in lateral outline an extended oval; posterior margin extending more widely at the top than at the bottom, where it appears rather trimmed off. Rostrum small, bent back towards the posterior; rostral groove insignificant; rostral sulcus not very marked. Carapace surface smooth. Carapace dimorphism as yet not demonstrable. <b>Holotype:</b> Carapace, SMF Xe 4165. <b>Paratypes:</b> 5 carapaces under SMF Xe 4166. <b>Dimensions:</b> Holotype, length 1.05mm, height 0.59mm.
The ocean bottom sediment collection at the Natural History Museum consists of over 28,000 lots consisting of many bottles, tubes, hand specimens and very occasional slides. It has worldwide coverage and was collected from 1844 to 2009.... more
The ocean bottom sediment collection at the Natural History Museum consists of over 28,000 lots consisting of many bottles, tubes, hand specimens and very occasional slides. It has worldwide coverage and was collected from 1844 to 2009. This data set is a slightly augmented version of the specimen records currently available via the data portal.
The Ocean Bottom Deposits Collection contains over 28,000 items derived from sea floor sediment collections. These include sediment residues in tubes/bottles/jars, hand specimens and slides. This dataset is a Darwin Core export of... more
The Ocean Bottom Deposits Collection contains over 28,000 items derived from sea floor sediment collections. These include sediment residues in tubes/bottles/jars, hand specimens and slides. This dataset is a Darwin Core export of specimen records available individually on the Data Portal with some additional information.
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This is a list of papers on ostracods authored by Prof. Robin Whatley that contain reference to specimens housed at the Natural History Museum. The list was compiled as preparation for a talk by Giles Miller at the Geological Society on... more
This is a list of papers on ostracods authored by Prof. Robin Whatley that contain reference to specimens housed at the Natural History Museum. The list was compiled as preparation for a talk by Giles Miller at the Geological Society on Monday 30th Jan 2017 at a meeting to commemorate the life and works of Robin Whatley. The list is by no means complete and is based mainly on data associated with the Aberystwyth University Microfossil Collection that arrived at the NHM in 2002. The dataset owner would be happy to hear of any additional papers that may not be referenced here.
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The files submitted here form the backbone to a 2018 collections assessment exercise at the Natural History Museum and support a methodology paper submitted to Museum Management and Curatorship. They include: a document to help define... more
The files submitted here form the backbone to a 2018 collections assessment exercise at the Natural History Museum and support a methodology paper submitted to Museum Management and Curatorship. They include: a document to help define collections units, an Excel spread sheet for gathering data about each unit, a Manual for scorers, a document listing and illustrating cabinet types with their suggested scores to aid consistent scoring, some screen shots of the internally available Power BI dashboard, item type and preservation look-ups and a list of numbers of specimens in the museum broken down to sectional level.
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The first oc cur rence of the cono dont Ancyrodella rotundiloba has been used ex ten sively for cor re lat ing the Mid dle–Up per De vo nian (Givetian–Frasnian) bound ary in sec tions world wide de spite many ar gu ments as to its pre... more
The first oc cur rence of the cono dont Ancyrodella rotundiloba has been used ex ten sively for cor re lat ing the Mid dle–Up per De vo nian (Givetian–Frasnian) bound ary in sec tions world wide de spite many ar gu ments as to its pre cise tax o nomic def i ni tion. These ar gu ments are sum ma rised herein and three ontogenetic se ries il lus trated from three sam ples across the Givetian–Frasnian bound ary within the Vorota For ma tion of the Kozhym River sec tion, Sub-Po lar Urals, Rus sia. Gen eral trends within the three ontogenetic se ries sug gest that the ra tio of basal pit width to plat form width in Ancyrodella pristina, and Ancyrodella recta in creases through on tog eny but the mor phol ogy of lat eral sec ond ary keel ex ten sions to the basal pit re mains con stant and is a use ful tax o nomic fea ture. Folds and col lars on the basal sur face oc cur only in the later stages of de vel op ment. The out line of the plat form within spe cies is vari able and con trolled ...
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The Rann Formation occurs as unique ‘exotic’ rafts in front of the Semail Ophiolite in the northern Oman Mountains. Its Ordovician age has been poorly constrained and it is often associated with the Ayim rock unit, which has been... more
The Rann Formation occurs as unique ‘exotic’ rafts in front of the Semail Ophiolite in the northern Oman Mountains. Its Ordovician age has been poorly constrained and it is often associated with the Ayim rock unit, which has been considered Devonian, Carboniferous or Ordovician by different workers. Here we present new trilobite and conodont evidence for the Ordovician ages of the three members of the Rann Formation, which includes the Ayim. The members are readily distinguishable on sedimentological and faunal grounds. The Lower Member comprises shales, quartzitic sandstones and thin fossiliferous shell beds. Large Cruziana are common, as is lingulacean debris and, at several horizons, possible hyolithids. Assemblages of graptolites, acritarchs, trilobites (Neseuretus cf. arenosus and Taihungshania cf. miqueli) and conodonts (Baltoniodus sp., Drepanodus arcuatus, Drepanoistodus sp. and Protopanderodus sp., Scolopodus sp.) are considered to range in age from Floian to early Dapingia...
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The Silurian biostratigraphy, lithostratigraphy, and facies of Central Iran including the Kashmar (Boghu Mountains), Tabas (Derenjal Mountains, Ozbak-Kuh), Anarak (Pol-e Khavand) and Kerman regions is reviewed and updated. The current... more
The Silurian biostratigraphy, lithostratigraphy, and facies of Central Iran including the Kashmar (Boghu Mountains), Tabas (Derenjal Mountains, Ozbak-Kuh), Anarak (Pol-e Khavand) and Kerman regions is reviewed and updated. The current state of knowledge of the Silurian in the Zagros Basin, Alborz, Kopet-Dagh and Talysh regions, as well as in a few areas scattered across the Sabzevar Zone, and the Sanandaj-Sirjan terranes is also reviewed. Silurian volcanism in various parts of Iran is briefly discussed. The end of the Ordovician coincided with a widespread regression across Iran synchronous with the Hirnantian glaciation, and only in the Zagros Basin is there a continuous Ordovician-Silurian transition represented by graptolitic black shales of the Sarchahan Formation. In the Central-East Iranian Platform marine sedimentation re-commenced in the early to mid Aeronian. By the Sheinwoodian, carbonate platform depositional environments were established along its north-eastern margin. I...
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Introduction In February 2014 we circulated and solicited responses to a Google Docs survey aimed at investigating stakeholder requirements from the GCG. The survey was not aimed specifically at GCG membership, but those managing... more
Introduction In February 2014 we circulated and solicited responses to a Google Docs survey aimed at investigating stakeholder requirements from the GCG. The survey was not aimed specifically at GCG membership, but those managing geological collections or with an interest in the management of geological collections. We circulated an invitation to fill out the survey on both the GCG and Natural Sciences Collections Association (NatSCA) JISCmail lists, on our Facebook and Twitter feeds as well as by e-mailing all members that we have on our 77 Miller, C.G. et al. 2014. Geological Curators' Group Survey 2014: results and a vision for the future. The Geological Curator 10 (2): 77-92. In early 2014 the GCG carried out an on-line survey to investigate: the present status of geological curators, potential networking with other groups, support levels for electronic delivery of our journal and newsletter, subjects requested for future workshops/training events, the need for a database of...
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The Mississippian Strathclyde Group of the Midland Valley of Scotland yields some of the earliest non-marine ostracods. The succession records shallow marine, deltaic, estuarine, lagoonal, lacustrine, fluvial and swamp environments... more
The Mississippian Strathclyde Group of the Midland Valley of Scotland yields some of the earliest non-marine ostracods. The succession records shallow marine, deltaic, estuarine, lagoonal, lacustrine, fluvial and swamp environments representing a series of staging-posts between fully marine and limnetic settings. Macrofossils and ostracods are assigned to marine, marginal marine, brackish and freshwater environments based on their faunal assemblage patterns. Key brackish to freshwater ostracods are Geisina arcuata, Paraparchites circularis n. sp., Shemonaella ornata n. sp. and Silenites sp. A, associated with the bivalves Anthraconaia, Carbonicola, Cardiopteridium, Curvirimula, Naiadites, the microconchid ‘Spirorbis’, Spinicaudata and fish. Many Platycopina and Paraparchiticopina ostracods are interpreted as euryhaline, which corresponds with their occurrence in marine to coastal plain water bodies, and supports the ‘estuary effect’ hypothesis of non-marine colonization. The success...
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Hairapetian, V., Ghobadi Pour, M., Popov, L.E., Männik, P. and Miller, C.G. 2017. Silurian stratigraphy of Central Iran – an update. Acta Geologica Polonica, 67 (2), 201−233. Warszawa. The Silurian biostratigraphy, lithostratigraphy, and... more
Hairapetian, V., Ghobadi Pour, M., Popov, L.E., Männik, P. and Miller, C.G. 2017. Silurian stratigraphy of Central Iran – an update. Acta Geologica Polonica, 67 (2), 201−233. Warszawa. The Silurian biostratigraphy, lithostratigraphy, and facies of Central Iran including the Kashmar (Boghu Mountains), Tabas (Derenjal Mountains, Ozbak-Kuh), Anarak (Pol-e Khavand) and Kerman regions is reviewed and updated. The current state of knowledge of the Silurian in the Zagros Basin, Alborz, Kopet-Dagh and Talysh regions, as well as in a few areas scattered across the Sabzevar Zone, and the Sanandaj-Sirjan terranes is also reviewed. Silurian volcanism in various parts of Iran is briefly discussed. The end of the Ordovician coincided with a widespread regression across Iran synchronous with the Hirnantian glaciation, and only in the Zagros Basin is there a continuous Ordovician–Silurian transition represented by graptolitic black shales of the Sarchahan Formation. In the Central-East Iranian Plat...
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The composition and state of the earth’s lithosphere through time has had profound effect on past and present biodiversity and will continue to do so into the future. Environments ranging from deep sea hydrothermal vents to active... more
The composition and state of the earth’s lithosphere through time has had profound effect on past and present biodiversity and will continue to do so into the future. Environments ranging from deep sea hydrothermal vents to active continental volcanic centres provide a wide range of ecosystems that have shaped the planet we know. Catastrophic events relating to movements of the lithosphere and events deep in the mantle have also caused major biodiversity changes such as mass extinctions. Our museum collections contain rock and fossil specimens collected from many of these environments and suites of samples specifically collected in order to better understand the evolution of our planet. Requests to carry out geochemical investigations on these samples are common and a large amount of data is generated as a result. Currently there are no natural history collections management systems tailored towards recording and delivering these datasets and the result is that the data is recorded ...
The apparatus of Vogelgnathus simplicatus (Rhodes, Austin, and Druce, 1969) is reconstructed from discrete elements from a sample of limited diversity from the Limerick Province (Ireland). The apparatus is typical of the order... more
The apparatus of Vogelgnathus simplicatus (Rhodes, Austin, and Druce, 1969) is reconstructed from discrete elements from a sample of limited diversity from the Limerick Province (Ireland). The apparatus is typical of the order Ozarkodinida and the P1 element was previously placed within Gnathodus. Here we assign it to Vogelgnathus by applying a multielemental concept rather than using P1 element morphology. The holotype and paratypes are re-illustrated and the species distribution revised based on published data. Vogelgnathus simplicatus ranges from the late Tournaisian to the early Viséan (Mississippian, Carboniferous), with common occurrences relating to the growth of Waulsortian bank complexes in a high-stand sea-level along the southern and western margins of the Laurussian landmass (Belgium, the British Isles, the Republic of Ireland, and USA). Vogelgnathus simplicatus appears to represent the rootstock from which deep-water and shallow-water Viséan species of Vogelgnathus evol...
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Hazards and disasters have occurred throughout Earth's History and thus the geological record is an important resource for understanding future hazards and disasters. The Earth Science Group (ESG) of the Consortium of European... more
Hazards and disasters have occurred throughout Earth's History and thus the geological record is an important resource for understanding future hazards and disasters. The Earth Science Group (ESG) of the Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF) carried out a “Hazard and Disaster Event Survey” to identify Earth Science collections in European museums that represent hazards and disasters throughout the geological record, and recent times. The aim is to use the collections within the survey as an educational and research resource that promotes the importance of museum collections for understanding past and future hazard and disaster events. The survey pinpointed a wide variety of hazards (e.g. earthquakes, volcanism, floods, impact events, etc.), representing a vast time span in Earth’s history (Proterozoic to Holocene), that are documented in the collections of the participating museums. Each hazard and disaster event has been described in terms of how they are preserve...