ALBERT

Description:    The scleractinian coral Cladocora caespitosa deserves a special place among the major carbonate bioconstructors of the Mediterranean Sea. Annual coral skeleton growth, coral calcification, and skeleton density of the colonial coral C. caespitosa taken from 25 locations in the eastern Adriatic Sea were analyzed and compared with annual sea surface temperatures (SST). The growth rates of the coral C. caespitosa from the 25 stations in the Adriatic Sea ranged from 1.92 to 4.19 mm per year, with higher growth rates of the investigated corallites in the southern part of the Adriatic Sea. These growth rates are similar to those measured in other areas of the Mediterranean Sea. The correlation between coral growth and sea temperatures in the Adriatic Sea is seen as follows: An X-radiograph analysis of coral growth in C. caespitosa colonies that are over 60 years old showed that higher growth rates of this coral coincided with a warmer period in the Mediterranean Sea. A positive significant correlation exists between corallite growth rates and SST and coral calcification and SST. A negative correlation exists between coral density and SST. Coral growth rates also showed a correlation with higher eutrophication caused by nearby fish farms, along with a greater depth of the investigated colonies and high bottom currents. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-15 DOI 10.1007/s10347-012-0306-4 Authors Petar Kružić, Laboratory for Marine Biology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Pavica Sršen, Laboratory for Marine Biology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Laura Benković, Laboratory for Marine Biology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    The dasycladale Clypeina helvetica was described and illustrated with six drawings by Morellet and Morellet (Bull Soc Géol Fr 4 o ser 18:102–105, 1918 ) from the “Bartonian” of the Helvetic Zone of southwestern Switzerland. Since then, C. helvetica has not been reported again neither from Switzerland nor from any other locality. Abundant material sampled from the Priabonian Diablerets Member of the Sanetsch Formation in the type area Lapis de Tsanfleuron permits a more detailed description of the species including biometric data and thin-section illustrations. C. helvetica is validated by the designation of a lectotype to serve as nomenclatural type. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10347-012-0311-7 Authors Felix Schlagintweit, Lerchenauerstr. 167, 80935 Munich, Germany Telm Bover-Arnal, Département de Géosciences, Université de Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland Ursula Menkveld-Gfeller, Naturhistorisches Museum der Burgergemeinde Bern, Bernastr. 15, 3005 Bern, Switzerland André Strasser, Département de Géosciences, Université de Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    New material collected in Albian and Cenomanian strata from Brazil helps us to better understand the structure of a poorly known dasycladacean alga, Holosporella nkossaensis P. Masse, in Bull Centr Rech Explor-Prod elf aquitaine, 19: 301–317, 1995 : each of its fertile laterals, which are regularly arranged in verticils along the cylindrical algal thallus, consists of a distally inflated primary bearing two vesicular ampullae in terminal position. These traits are not known in representatives of the genus Holosporella Pia, 1930 nor in any genera described to date. On this basis, we introduce the new genus Brasiliporella with Brasiliporella nkossaensis emend. nov. comb. as its type-species. We also discuss the systematic affinity of the new taxon: it is ascribed to the Tribe Batophoreae, and in a broader manner the current paleontological ‘interpretation of the concept’ (in French: ‘acception’) of the Order Dasycladales, with the creation of two new families and accordingly with the emendation of two other families. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s10347-012-0312-6 Authors Bruno Granier, Département des Sciences de la Terre et de l’Univers, UFR des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO), 6 Avenue Le Gorgeu—CS 93837, 29238 Brest Cedex 3, France Dimas Dias-Brito, Departamento de Geologia Aplicada, UNESPetro—Universidade Estadual Paulista—Rio Claro, IGCE, Caixa-Postal 178, av. 24 A 1515, Bela Vista, 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Ioan I. Bucur, Department of Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Str. M. Kogalniceanu nr.1, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania Paulo Tibana, Departamento de Geologia Aplicada, UNESPetro—Universidade Estadual Paulista—Rio Claro, IGCE, Caixa-Postal 178, av. 24 A 1515, Bela Vista, 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    This study analyses the rhodolith-bearing deposits in the largest and most rhodolith-rich outcrop of the Polish Outer Carpathian flysch, located in the Silesian Nappe, at the village of Melsztyn. The rhodoliths and sparse associated biota occur as resedimented components in a deep-marine succession of siliciclastic conglomerates and coarse-grained sandstones, deposited by high-density turbidity currents and debris flows. The sediment was derived from a fan-delta system located at the southern margin of the Silesian flysch basin. Stratigraphic data indicate that the succession represents the Upper Istebna Sandstone deposited during the Late Paleocene. The rhodoliths are composed mostly of coralline red algae with seven genera and eight species representing the family Sporolithaceae and the subfamilies Mastophoroideae and Melobesioideae. Rhodoliths show sub-spheroidal and sub-ellipsoidal shapes with encrusting, warty and lumpy growth forms. Lumpy growth forms show massive inner arrangements, whereas the encrusting growth forms are usually made of thin thalli and show more loosely packed inner arrangements. The rhodoliths grew on a moderately mobile siliciclastic substrate in a shallow-marine environment with a low net sedimentation rate. It is inferred that the growth of rhodoliths was favored during a relative sea-level rise. During the subsequent sea-level fall, the rhodoliths and associated siliciclastic deposits were resedimented by gravity flows into the deep-sea setting. The analyzed deposits, like other Paleocene–Eocene deposits of the Polish Outer Carpathians, provide no evidence of coeval widespread shallow-marine carbonate sedimentation along the margins of the Outer Carpathian flysch basins. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-21 DOI 10.1007/s10347-012-0302-8 Authors Stanisław Leszczyński, Institute of Geological Sciences, Jagiellonian University, ul. Oleandry 2a, 30-063 Kraków, Poland Bogusław Kołodziej, Institute of Geological Sciences, Jagiellonian University, ul. Oleandry 2a, 30-063 Kraków, Poland Davide Bassi, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Ferrara, via Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, Italy Ewa Malata, Institute of Geological Sciences, Jagiellonian University, ul. Oleandry 2a, 30-063 Kraków, Poland M. Adam Gasiński, Institute of Geological Sciences, Jagiellonian University, ul. Oleandry 2a, 30-063 Kraków, Poland Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    A rich association of calcareous algae is described from the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian–? Lower Aptian) deposits of the Taft Formation, located south of Aliabad (in the vicinity of Yazd, central Iran). The association mainly consists of dasycladaleans and bryopsidales (udoteaceans and gymnocodiaceans); additionally, rare “solenoporaceans” and cyanophyceans are present. Three new species are described: two are dasycladaleans ( Pseudoactinoporella ? iranica and Holosporella farsica ) and one is an udoteacean ( Boueina minima ). Many of the described and illustrated algae are mentioned for the first time from Iran. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-32 DOI 10.1007/s10347-012-0303-7 Authors Ioan I. Bucur, Department of Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University, str. M. Kogălniceanu nr. 1, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania Koorush Rashidi, Geology Department, Payame Noor University, 19395-4697 Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Baba Senowbari-Daryan, GeoZentrum Nordbayern, Fachgruppe Paläoumwelt, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Loewenichstr. 28, 91054 Erlangen, Germany Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    The Lower Ordovician (late Tremadocian–early Floian) Fenhsiang and the overlying Hunghuayuan Formations at the Chenjiahe section in the Three Gorges area of Hubei Province, South China, include four types of reef: microbe-dominated (lithistid sponge–stromatolite and lithistid sponge–calcimicrobial) reefs, and skeletal-dominated (lithistid sponge–bryozoan and bryozoan–pelmatozoan) reefs. The microbe-dominated reefs are characterized by the dominance of microbial sediments that encrusted and bound the surfaces of sponges to reinforce the reef frameworks. In contrast, the skeletal-dominated reefs are distinguished by bryozoans that encrusted frame-building sponges and pelmatozoans, and that grew downward to fill the open spaces available within the frameworks. A series of these reefs shows a temporal succession in reef type, with a decline in the lithistid sponge–stromatolite reefs and an increase in the lithistid sponges and receptaculitids within the lithistid sponge–calcimicrobial reefs in the Hunghuayuan Formation; the lithistid sponge–bryozoan reefs are common in both the Fenhsiang and Hunghuayuan Formations. These features of the Chenjiahe reefs are in marked contrast to other coeval reefs on the Yangtze Platform and elsewhere. Skeletal-dominated reefs first developed in the Three Gorges and adjacent areas, located on the central part of the platform. Likewise, lithistid sponges and receptaculitids first developed in the Three Gorges area and then expanded their range. In contrast, stromatolites declined over time, but remained abundant on a marginal part of the platform. The spatial–temporal distributions of these reefs on the Yangtze Platform reflect the initiation of the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event and its consequences, although influenced by local environmental conditions. The Three Gorges area was a center for the development of skeletal-dominated reefs, which were established earlier here than elsewhere in the world. These reef types and their spatial–temporal successions provide invaluable clues to the earliest evolution of skeletal-dominated reefs and their ensuing development during the Middle–Late Ordovician. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-16 DOI 10.1007/s10347-012-0308-2 Authors Natsuko Adachi, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Haidian, Beijing, 100871 People’s Republic of China Jianbo Liu, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Haidian, Beijing, 100871 People’s Republic of China Yoich Ezaki, Department of Geosciences, Osaka City University, Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, 558-8585 Japan Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    Bačinella irregularis was described by Radoičić (Bull Serv Géol Géophys Rep Serbie 17:87–92, 1959 ) as an alga incertae sedis. Based on material from the Lower Aptian of the western Maestrat Basin (Spain), the genus Bačinella with its various species is revised; an emended diagnosis is given as well as a detailed description. Bačinella is interpreted as an organism that excavated complex branching galleries into biogenic hard substrates, e.g., crusts of Lithocodium aggregatum Elliott (such as in the holotype specimen of B. irregularis ). Its morphology and boring pattern is comparable to that of modern filamentous-septate euendolithic green algae of the class Ulvophyceae. These forms, however, are microfilamentous (microborers) whereas Bačinella has a larger filament diameter. Nearly all of the “ B. irregularis” occurrences reported in the literature do not belong to this taxon, but represent irregular vesicular crusts (“bacinellid” fabrics =  B. irregularis auct. non) that display some resemblances with modern microbial mats. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-15 DOI 10.1007/s10347-012-0309-1 Authors Felix Schlagintweit, Lerchenauerstraße 167, 80935 Munich, Germany Telm Bover-Arnal, Département de Géosciences, Université de Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    Coastal sedimentary deposits including beach and dunes within the south-central region of the Gulf of California show a high percentage of biogenic components, up to 84%, derived from the fragmentation of organisms that, among other oceanographic factors, reflect wave energy and effect of seasonal winds. Our report shows that due to high-energy waves, coastal deposits on points or islands with a northern exposure contain massive biocalcarenite deposits derived from mollusk shells, while areas of lower water energy located on coastal areas facing east or west commonly accumulate the crushed debris of coralline red algae, both as beach and dune deposits. Sheltered areas along any point or island oriented to the south will most likely attract colonization by coral reefs. Isla del Carmen clearly displays all these different types of biogenic deposits, making it an ideal model for the development of coastal carbonates throughout the western Gulf of California. Equally important, the general model has been persistent since early Pliocene times for the whole region. In particular for Isla del Carmen, this scenario precludes any tectonic block rotation, postulated in previous reports. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0277-x Authors Jorge Ledesma-Vázquez, Facultad de Ciencias Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, 22800 Baja California, Mexico Ana Luisa Carreño, Instituto de Geología, Universidad Autónoma de México, México, D.F., Mexico Rigoberto Guardado-France, Facultad de Ciencias Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, 22800 Baja California, Mexico Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    Stable isotope analyses of 61 diagenetically unaltered belemnite rostra from the Middle to Late Jurassic of the Kachchh Basin of western India suggest stable paleotemperatures across the Callovian-Oxfordian boundary (~14°C). Only at the end of the Middle Oxfordian water temperatures drop for more than 3°C before reaching again higher values during the Kimmeridgian (~12.3°C). The data do not support polar glaciations proposed for the Middle to Late Jurassic transition, which necessarily would have led to a global temperature and sea-level minimum at the boundary. Callovian to Oxfordian rocks in the Kachchh Basin point to a gradual shallowing corresponding to a slight fall in relative sea level. However, the magnitude of this regression is comparatively small, and the sea-level minimum is reached in the late Early Oxfordian and not close to the boundary. Results from the Kachchh Basin therefore, imply almost stable climatic conditions during the Middle to Late Jurassic transition and do not show any evidence for polar glaciations. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-18 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0278-9 Authors Matthias Alberti, GeoZentrum Nordbayern, Fachgruppe PaläoUmwelt, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Loewenichstraße 28, 91054 Erlangen, Germany Franz T. Fürsich, GeoZentrum Nordbayern, Fachgruppe PaläoUmwelt, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Loewenichstraße 28, 91054 Erlangen, Germany Dhirendra K. Pandey, Department of Geology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, 302004, India Mu. Ramkumar, Department of Geology, Periyar University, Salem, 636011 India Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179

Description:    During the Late Miocene, the marginal areas of the Mediterranean Basin were characterized by the development of mixed siliciclastic-carbonate ramps. This paper deals with a temperate siliciclastic-carbonate ramp (late Tortonian–early Messinian in age) which crops out in the Capo Vaticano area, Southern Apennines (Italy). Carbonate components are mainly represented by calcitic skeletal fragments of coralline red algae, bryozoans, bivalves, and larger foraminifera, whereas corals, brachiopods, echinoderms, and planktonic foraminifera are subordinate. In the studied ramp, the depositional geometries of the main unit, the ‘Sabbie gialle ad Heterostegina ’, show a gradual steepening from low/middle (dip about 2–5°) to steep slope settings (up to 25°). The microfacies observations, the quantitative analyses of the main biogenic components as well as the rhodolith shapes and growth forms allowed the differentiation between the middle and the outer ramp depositional setting and the refining of the stratigraphic framework. The middle ramp is characterized by coralline red algal debris packstone facies often associated with larger foraminiferal floatstone/packstone facies, while the outer ramp is characterized by rhodolith floatstone/rudstone facies. These facies pass basinward into typical open-marine deposits (planktonic foraminiferal facies). The taxonomic composition of the coralline red algal assemblage points to a temperate paleoclimate and emphasizes the Miocene Mediterranean phytogeographic patterns. The absence of non-skeletal grains (ooids and green algae), the paucity of Porites patch reefs, the rare occurrence of primary marine cementation, all confirm that the studied ramp was poorly lithified within a warm–temperate setting. The flat depositional profile of the ramp can be related to the absence or paucity of primary marine carbonate cements. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Article Pages 1-25 DOI 10.1007/s10347-011-0276-y Authors Pierparide Gramigna, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi della Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci Cubo 15b, 87100 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy Davide Bassi, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, via Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, Italy Franco Russo, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi della Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci Cubo 15b, 87100 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy Journal Facies Online ISSN 1612-4820 Print ISSN 0172-9179