The fossil population structure of the cave bear from the Mokrica cave was evaluated to provide new data concerning the behaviour and mortality of this extinct species. Age at death was estimated for ...128 different individuals by analysing cementum increments, root formation and crown wear of left M1 teeth. After the frequency distribution of specimens through one-year intervals, the mortality trends can be estimated for various lifetime periods, and interpreted in accordance with data for present-day bears. The original death assemblage was presumably juvenile-dominated. Extremely fragile molars of less than 6 month old cubs did not get preserved. Yearlings are the most numerous age class in the fossil population from the Mokrica cave. Mortality drastically dropped after cave bears survived their first hibernation in the second winter. The lowest mortality rate was observed in the 9-15 years age group, when cave bears would be expected to be in their prime. The oldest age recorded by cementum analysis is approximately 30 years, which indicates that the maximum life span was similar to present-day bears. Study of dental tissues shows that the mortality in the cave was seasonally restricted – the majority of deaths in the cave occured during winter and in early spring. Sex structure of the fossil population has been studied on the sample of 750 canines. The significantly higher proportion of males in the group of older juveniles and subadults could be explained by the fact that the weaning period is more critical for males also in present-day bears. In young adults and prime adults the mortality was presumably higher in females. The sex structure of adult bears, especially in the sample of older individuals, indicates that the Mokrica cave was used as winter den mostly by solitary males.
During the Early Jurassic, a group of large, aberrant bivalves called lithiotids proliferated in proximal, shallow marine environments. These lithiotids formed bioherms and extensive biostromes in ...the western and southern margins of the Tethys Ocean as well as eastern Panthalassa. In the Central High Atlas of Morocco, Pliensbachian and Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) lithiotid and lithiotid-coral reefal deposits occur within carbonate and mixed carbonate/siliciclastic neritic depositional settings. This study describes the stratigraphic distribution, taxonomy, and architecture of these lithiotid-rich deposits.
The studied lithiotid and lithiotid-coral deposits from Morocco occur in sheltered, near-shore lagoons along tropical carbonate ramps and platforms. These facies are abundant in upper Pliensbachian strata as well as in the early Toarcian. The persistence and similarity of lithiotid-coral buildups across the stage boundary indicate that these ecosystems were not significantly affected by the Pliensbachian/Toarcian extinction in Morocco (at least, not until the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event). In both the upper Pliensbachian and lower Toarcian, lithiotids (Lithioperna and Cochlearites) are frequently associated with phaceloid corals (Retiophyllia in the Pliensbachian and Phacellophyllia and Archaeosmiliopsis in the Toarcian) and solitary corals (Haimeicyclus and Archaeosmilia) as well as other corals and bivalves (Gervilleioperna, Mytiloperna, Opisoma, and rare megalodontids); however, the spatial distribution of taxa is patchy. The close association of lithiotid bivalves and corals is rarely documented in the literature, and lithiotid-coral reefal deposits are rare. Thus, these Moroccan biostromes and bioherms that record the interaction of corals and lithiotids are of particular scientific importance. Furthermore, multiple generations and successions of lithiotid-coral framestones can be observed in both Pliensbachian and Toarcian strata, which provide insight into the evolution of these communities and their resilience to ecosystem perturbations. Despite the success of lithiotid-coral communities in the Pliensbachian and Toarcian, these ecosystems were decimated by the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event and never recovered.
•Analysis of lithiotid-coral biostrome structure, taxonomic composition, and ecology•Coral turnover but no lithiotid extinction at Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary•Lithiotids remain prolific reef builders in the early Toarcian (before OAE)•Only Lithioperna and Cochlearites lithiotids identified (i.e., no Lithiotis)•Refined depositional models for lithiotid-coral ecosystems
This brochure was published for the 50th anniversary of the Institute of Paleontology and contains three contributions. The first and the second contribution describe two paleontological sites (of ...Upper Cretaceous dinosaurs and Upper Jurassic corals, respectively), that were visited during a field-trip organized on this occasion. The third contribution is a brief history of the institute.
The Lower Jurassic beds of south Slovenia outcrop on a surface of several hundred km^ with their thickness in places exceeding 300 meters. They were deposited on the Dinaric Carbonate Platform. In ...them rich accumulations of characteristic bivalves occur that in Pliensbachian and Toarcian inhabited the wide interconnected shallow water regions of the western and southern margins of Tethysand the eastern Pacific. The most interesting are three large bivalve species:Lithiotis problematica, Cochlearites loppianus and Lithiopedalion scutatus.In addition, numerous other genera can be found: Gervilleiopema, Mytilus, Opisoma and Pachyrisma (with subgenera Pachymegalodon and Durga).The bivalves formed in the region of south Slovenia, in the prevailingly quiet environment of the restricted shelf, sea-bottom mats or biostromes. Their shells can be only rarely found in their growth position. The horizon with bivalves ("lithiotid horizon") in south Slovenia is attributed to Pliensbachian (Domerian). It isup to 75 metres thick and it almost does not pinch out. Within it individual lumachelles of bivalves occur which are from several centimetres to ten metres thick.They are almost exclusively associated with dark, micritic, in places marly limestone and bituminous dolomite. The biodiversity in lumachelles is very low. The intermediate beds that do not contain bivalves mostly consist of oolitic and biospariticlimestone. In this article some localities from various areas of the carbonate platform are described. Considered are paleogeographical and paleoecological conditions that permitted the existence of this typical bivalve fauna.
The aim of this study was to determine the sex, individual age, and season at the time of death of cave bears from Križna jama. The studied material was found during excavations in 1999 and 2001 ...conducted by Prof. Vida Pohar (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia) and Prof. Gernot Rabeder (University of Vienna, Austria). This study is a part of the broad-based, still ongoing reasearch concerning the structure of cave bear populations from different Slovenian sites (Debeljak, 2002; 2004; 2007; 2011) with the purpose of acquiring new data on the biology, behaviour, ecology, and mortality of this extinct species. Križna jama
Prispevek obravnava vse posamično najdene (izolirane) zobe jamskega medveda (Ursus spelaeus) iz mlajšepleistocenskega paleolitskega jamskega najdišča Divje babe I v Sloveniji. Se neobjavljeni ...arheološki ostanki pripadajo moustčrienu (več plasti) in aurignacienu (ena plast). Stalni zobje so bili obdelani s tafonomskega, paleockonomskega in paleoekološkega vidika. V tafonomski analizi smo primerjali predvsem rezultate različnih metod terenskega in kabinetnega dela. V paleoekonomski analizi smo se dotaknili vprašanja lova na jamskega medveda. V paleoekološki analizi smo obravnavali zapletene povezave med starostno in spolno sestavo fosilnih populacij jamskega medveda v času. Pri razlagi rezultatov analize smo si pomagali z etologijo in s posameznimi ekofakti, ki smo jih dobili s pomočjo pelodnih in sedimcntološko-stratigrafskih analiz. Za nekatere evidentno soodvisne spremembe v starostni in spolni sestavi smo predlagali alternativno razlago Bergmannovemu pravilu. Naša alternativna razlaga temelji predvsem na odgovoru na vprašanje, kdo je kdaj uporabljal jamski brlog: ali izključno dominantni samci ali izključno mladiči in samice z mladiči.
Erythrocytosis has a diverse background. While polycythaemia vera has well defined criteria, the diagnostic approach and management of other types of erythrocytosis are more challenging. The aim of ...study was to retrospectively analyse the aetiology and management of non-clonal erythrocytosis patients referred to a haematology outpatient clinic in an 8-year period using a 3-step algorithm. The first step was inclusion of patients with Hb > 185 g/L and/or Hct > 0.52 in men and Hb > 165 g/L and/or Hct > 0.48 in women on two visits ≥ two months apart, thus confirming true erythrocytosis. Secondly, polycythaemia vera was excluded and secondary causes of erythrocytosis (SE) identified. Thirdly, idiopathic erythrocytosis patients (IE) were referred to next-generation sequencing for possible genetic background evaluation. Of the 116 patients, 75 (65%) are men and 41 (35%) women, with non-clonal erythrocytosis 34/116 (29%) had SE, 15/116 (13%) IE and 67/116 (58%) stayed incompletely characterized (ICE). Patients with SE were significantly older and had significantly higher Hb and Hct compared to patients with IE. Most frequently, SE was attributed to obstructive sleep apnoea and smoking. Phlebotomies were performed in 56, 53 and 40% of patients in the SE, IE, and ICE group, respectively. Approx. 70% of patients in each group received aspirin. Thrombotic events were registered in 12, 20 and 15% of SE, IE and ICE patients, respectively. Congenital erythrocytosis type 4 (ECYT4) was diagnosed in one patient. The study demonstrates real-life management of non-clonal erythrocytosis which could be optimized using a 3-step diagnostic algorithm.
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