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Nannofossils and their applications. Proceedings of the International Nannofossil Association Conference, London 1987
Rook
359
revielvs
Despite these shortcomings, supported geophysical interpretations. book is a useful contribution to the biogeographical literature.
Department
the
D. J. Batten and Petroleum Geolog_\q Marischal College Aberdeen University Aberdeen AB9 IAS, L1.K.
of Geologja
Nannofossils and their applications. Proceedings of the International Nannofossil Association Conference, London 1987. J. A. Crux & S. E. van Heck (editors). British Micropalaeontological Society,
1989, xiii+ 356~~. Ellis Horwood/ L69.50, ISBN 0-7458-0237-O.
No Cretaceous worker can be unaware of calcareous nannofossils, for their contribution to Late Cretaceous biogenic sedimentation if for no other reason, and the proceedings of the fourth I.N.A. meeting contain a number of contributions of interest. Despite the specialized title under which this volume presents itself, the contents are the usual varied collection of contributions to be expected from a group-orientated conference. In this instance, however, no less than seven of the fourteen chapters ( = individual papers) to a greater or lesser extent concern Cretaceous material. The three substantial papers are reviewed in detail below. 1. Temperature-controlled migration west European Aptian. J. Mutterlose.
of calcareous
nannofloras
in the north-
This chapter puts forward an explanation for the occurrence, in the middle Aptian, of a nannofloraland microfaunal-rich lithology which is sandwiched between nannofloraland microfaunal-poor lithologies. Mutterlose proposes that the combination of relatively high nannoconid abundances (indicative of a transgressive phase), an influx of Tethyan warm-water nannofossils, the dominance of Rhagodiscus asper over Watznaueria barnesae (the latter usually the most common Lower Cretaceous species), a general increase in species diversity and specimen abundance coupled with an influx of stenothermal Tethyan ammonities, belemnites and planktonic foraminifera is indicative of a major palaeocurrent change, bringing warmer Tethyan elements into the Boreal seas from the west via a ‘Proto-Channel’. straightforward approach to explaining the This is an interesting, possible cause of the nannofloral (and microfaunal) changes in this timeinterval, for which a wide range of material was examined. The hypothesis
seems to be supported by other both clear and informative.
fossil
groups.
‘l’he presentation
2. Biostratigraphy and palaeogeographical applications nannofossils from north-western Europe. J. A. Crux.
of Lower
of data is
Cretaceous
This is a very thorough contribution to Lower Cretaceous biostratigraphy, although Crux does not equate his zonation to Sissingh’s (1977) scheme, which most workers use. Sixteen nannofossil zones are recorded within the upper Ryazanian to Barremian interval. Observations of the nannofloral assemblages have then enabled Crux to suggest a history for the area: upper Ryazanian-nannofloras only weakly influenced by Tethys, suggesting the late Ryazanian transgression was not extensive; lower Valanginian-nannofloras exhibit a continued strong Boreal-Arctic and weak Tethyan influence; upper Valanginian-reduced Boreal-Arctic influence and restricted nannofloral diversity; lower Hauterivian-transgressive phase bringing about homogenization of Boreal-Arctic and Tethyan assemblages, introducing Tethyan species to the realm; upper Hauterivian-resumption of strong Boreal-Arctic influence (transgression) but with increasing Tethyan characteristics up to the latest Hauterivian; lower Barremian-Nannoconus abundans replaces three nannoconid indicating the Tethyan seaways closing; restricted circulation species, followed by an influx from the north; upper Barremian-regression indicated by a decrease in abundance and diversity, and the return of N. abundans. This history could have been summarized better in a series of simple maps for each time-slice. The photomicrographs are very clear, but illustrations of the unnamed coccoliths could have usefully been included. 3. Lower Cretaceous calcareous nannofossils from continental margin drill sites off North Carolina (DSDP Leg 93) and Portugal (ODP Leg 103) : a comparison. J. L. Applegate, J. A. Bergen, J. M. Covington and S. W. Wise, Jr. This chapter compares two sections on opposite sides of the North Atlantic, spanning the Valanginian to the basal Barremian. A correlation is made between the two sites utilising Sissingh’s (1977) zonation scheme. These assemblages are then contrasted with similarly aged assemblages from the Boreal North Sea (using Jakubowski’s (1987) data). The authors conclude that the two areas are separated by a land barrier. This chapter serves to outline yet another piece of the Lower Cretaceous provincialism jigsaw. The authors show an appreciation of the difficulties inherent in using certain species as age-indicators, and the identification of Lithraphidites bollii as restricted to the eastern North Atlantic is a useful observation, if it is true. The modifications to Sissingh’s zonation scheme are confirmed by the observations of Perch-Nielsen (1979, 1983). One plate
Book
361
reviews
of photomicrographs of the marker species would have been a valuable addition. Chapters by Aubry, Bown and Cooper, Girgis, and Moshkovitz include Cretaceous material but are mostly of specialist interest. The volume is well produced and edited but expensive; a reduction is available to members of the British Micropalaeontological Society (E42.70) which may make membership of the society an attractive idea.
Jackie Burnett & Alan Lord Department of Geological Sciences University College London Gowev St London WClE 6BT U.K.
Evolutionary biology and applications
of Ostracoda-its
fundamentals
7’. Hanai, N. Ikeya & K. Ishizaki (editors). Developments in palaeontology and stratigraphy 11, 1988, 1356 pp. Elsevier, Amsterdam, Oxford, Ne, York, Tokyo.
Ninety-one papers combine to form a very substantial reference book compiled from the Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium on Ostracoda held in Japan in 1985. As is true for most, if not all, symposium volumes, the papers do not entirely reflect the theme of the meeting. On the whole, however, the standard of papers is good and the editors have accomplished a very credit worthy task. Few ostracod workers will set out to read this volume from cover to cover-rather it is a reference work to be browsed through and referred to as the occasion merits. Perhaps only reviewers will ever read the volume in its entirety. Elsevier have a standard format and paper weight for the series in which this volume appears. My criticism here is simply that the weight of paper, given the number of pages involved, is too heavy for the binding. I doubt whether the volume will stand up to the frequent reference use to which it will be subjected. Nevertheless, the quality of production is good, but the cost will almost certainly restrict the purchase of this book to those who attended the meeting and to scientific libraries. Eighty-nine papers are grouped under the following headings: taxonomy; morphology and morphogenesis; biology; ecology; palaeoecology; deep sea ostracods; biogeography and palaeobiogeography; speciation; evolution; biostratigraphy and exploration. Two speakers opened the meeting, namely John Neale and Tetsuro Hanai, and their papers appear first in this Symposium volume. John muses (p. 13) about the possible future appearance of a Hologram Atlas of Ostracod Shells. In fact, although the initial results were not too exciting, pioneer work on this has already been undertaken by T. R.
359
revielvs
Despite these shortcomings, supported geophysical interpretations. book is a useful contribution to the biogeographical literature.
Department
the
D. J. Batten and Petroleum Geolog_\q Marischal College Aberdeen University Aberdeen AB9 IAS, L1.K.
of Geologja
Nannofossils and their applications. Proceedings of the International Nannofossil Association Conference, London 1987. J. A. Crux & S. E. van Heck (editors). British Micropalaeontological Society,
1989, xiii+ 356~~. Ellis Horwood/ L69.50, ISBN 0-7458-0237-O.
No Cretaceous worker can be unaware of calcareous nannofossils, for their contribution to Late Cretaceous biogenic sedimentation if for no other reason, and the proceedings of the fourth I.N.A. meeting contain a number of contributions of interest. Despite the specialized title under which this volume presents itself, the contents are the usual varied collection of contributions to be expected from a group-orientated conference. In this instance, however, no less than seven of the fourteen chapters ( = individual papers) to a greater or lesser extent concern Cretaceous material. The three substantial papers are reviewed in detail below. 1. Temperature-controlled migration west European Aptian. J. Mutterlose.
of calcareous
nannofloras
in the north-
This chapter puts forward an explanation for the occurrence, in the middle Aptian, of a nannofloraland microfaunal-rich lithology which is sandwiched between nannofloraland microfaunal-poor lithologies. Mutterlose proposes that the combination of relatively high nannoconid abundances (indicative of a transgressive phase), an influx of Tethyan warm-water nannofossils, the dominance of Rhagodiscus asper over Watznaueria barnesae (the latter usually the most common Lower Cretaceous species), a general increase in species diversity and specimen abundance coupled with an influx of stenothermal Tethyan ammonities, belemnites and planktonic foraminifera is indicative of a major palaeocurrent change, bringing warmer Tethyan elements into the Boreal seas from the west via a ‘Proto-Channel’. straightforward approach to explaining the This is an interesting, possible cause of the nannofloral (and microfaunal) changes in this timeinterval, for which a wide range of material was examined. The hypothesis
seems to be supported by other both clear and informative.
fossil
groups.
‘l’he presentation
2. Biostratigraphy and palaeogeographical applications nannofossils from north-western Europe. J. A. Crux.
of Lower
of data is
Cretaceous
This is a very thorough contribution to Lower Cretaceous biostratigraphy, although Crux does not equate his zonation to Sissingh’s (1977) scheme, which most workers use. Sixteen nannofossil zones are recorded within the upper Ryazanian to Barremian interval. Observations of the nannofloral assemblages have then enabled Crux to suggest a history for the area: upper Ryazanian-nannofloras only weakly influenced by Tethys, suggesting the late Ryazanian transgression was not extensive; lower Valanginian-nannofloras exhibit a continued strong Boreal-Arctic and weak Tethyan influence; upper Valanginian-reduced Boreal-Arctic influence and restricted nannofloral diversity; lower Hauterivian-transgressive phase bringing about homogenization of Boreal-Arctic and Tethyan assemblages, introducing Tethyan species to the realm; upper Hauterivian-resumption of strong Boreal-Arctic influence (transgression) but with increasing Tethyan characteristics up to the latest Hauterivian; lower Barremian-Nannoconus abundans replaces three nannoconid indicating the Tethyan seaways closing; restricted circulation species, followed by an influx from the north; upper Barremian-regression indicated by a decrease in abundance and diversity, and the return of N. abundans. This history could have been summarized better in a series of simple maps for each time-slice. The photomicrographs are very clear, but illustrations of the unnamed coccoliths could have usefully been included. 3. Lower Cretaceous calcareous nannofossils from continental margin drill sites off North Carolina (DSDP Leg 93) and Portugal (ODP Leg 103) : a comparison. J. L. Applegate, J. A. Bergen, J. M. Covington and S. W. Wise, Jr. This chapter compares two sections on opposite sides of the North Atlantic, spanning the Valanginian to the basal Barremian. A correlation is made between the two sites utilising Sissingh’s (1977) zonation scheme. These assemblages are then contrasted with similarly aged assemblages from the Boreal North Sea (using Jakubowski’s (1987) data). The authors conclude that the two areas are separated by a land barrier. This chapter serves to outline yet another piece of the Lower Cretaceous provincialism jigsaw. The authors show an appreciation of the difficulties inherent in using certain species as age-indicators, and the identification of Lithraphidites bollii as restricted to the eastern North Atlantic is a useful observation, if it is true. The modifications to Sissingh’s zonation scheme are confirmed by the observations of Perch-Nielsen (1979, 1983). One plate
Book
361
reviews
of photomicrographs of the marker species would have been a valuable addition. Chapters by Aubry, Bown and Cooper, Girgis, and Moshkovitz include Cretaceous material but are mostly of specialist interest. The volume is well produced and edited but expensive; a reduction is available to members of the British Micropalaeontological Society (E42.70) which may make membership of the society an attractive idea.
Jackie Burnett & Alan Lord Department of Geological Sciences University College London Gowev St London WClE 6BT U.K.
Evolutionary biology and applications
of Ostracoda-its
fundamentals
7’. Hanai, N. Ikeya & K. Ishizaki (editors). Developments in palaeontology and stratigraphy 11, 1988, 1356 pp. Elsevier, Amsterdam, Oxford, Ne, York, Tokyo.
Ninety-one papers combine to form a very substantial reference book compiled from the Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium on Ostracoda held in Japan in 1985. As is true for most, if not all, symposium volumes, the papers do not entirely reflect the theme of the meeting. On the whole, however, the standard of papers is good and the editors have accomplished a very credit worthy task. Few ostracod workers will set out to read this volume from cover to cover-rather it is a reference work to be browsed through and referred to as the occasion merits. Perhaps only reviewers will ever read the volume in its entirety. Elsevier have a standard format and paper weight for the series in which this volume appears. My criticism here is simply that the weight of paper, given the number of pages involved, is too heavy for the binding. I doubt whether the volume will stand up to the frequent reference use to which it will be subjected. Nevertheless, the quality of production is good, but the cost will almost certainly restrict the purchase of this book to those who attended the meeting and to scientific libraries. Eighty-nine papers are grouped under the following headings: taxonomy; morphology and morphogenesis; biology; ecology; palaeoecology; deep sea ostracods; biogeography and palaeobiogeography; speciation; evolution; biostratigraphy and exploration. Two speakers opened the meeting, namely John Neale and Tetsuro Hanai, and their papers appear first in this Symposium volume. John muses (p. 13) about the possible future appearance of a Hologram Atlas of Ostracod Shells. In fact, although the initial results were not too exciting, pioneer work on this has already been undertaken by T. R.