Mariner Elements Research Articles

Navigating the Waves of Change—Assessing the Evolving Landscape of China’s Revised Marine Environmental Protection Law

Since its inception in 1982, the Marine Environmental Protection Law (MEPL) has undergone several revisions in 1999, 2013, 2016, and 2017, capping in the inclusive overhaul of 2023. These successive revisions have gradually shaped a robust legal system encompassing the Constitution as the foundational basis, the MEPL as the core regulatory instrument, and several corresponding laws safeguarding specific marine elements as the driving force. The newly revised MEPL 2023, compared to its previous iterations, introduces significant improvements that are largely reflected in strengthening the protection of marine biodiversity conservation, advancing the prevention and control of ship-source marine pollution, optimising the supervision of the marine environment, enhancing the prevention and control of land-based marine pollution, and imposing stricter liabilities. This paper examines how the new MEPL 2023 improves China’s marine environmental protection, and incorporates international best practices within the legal framework. Additionally, the research explores potential areas for further development that provide some implications for policymakers and should have been considered.

Seasonal dynamics of chemistry in an Arctic glacier-fed river

Arctic rivers, intricately linked to fjord systems, wield significant influence over the geochemical and biological dynamics of the upper Arctic Ocean, providing it with freshwater, nutrients, suspended particles, and potentially harmful pollutants. To comprehend the full picture of the Arctic ecosystem, it is crucial to understand how these rivers vary across regions and seasons, especially considering ongoing climate changes. However, comprehensive studies that address long-term observations and seasonal variations in Arctic rivers' geochemical composition remain scarce. In this study, we present comprehensive long-term investigations of the seasonal variations in elemental concentrations in Bayelva, a high Arctic glacier-fed river. By analyzing 224 surface water samples, collected during different seasons between 2011 and 2020, we elucidate the diverse influences of marine, geological and atmospheric factors on the river chemistry. Our findings underscore the importance of marine-influenced snowmelt in the early flow season, which leads to elevated concentrations of marine and trace elements in the runoff water at the onset of melting, with concentrations subsequently decreasing as the snow melting continues. Glacial meltwater dominates the river chemistry during the peak flow season, during which elemental concentrations are at their lowest. Late flow season exhibits high elemental concentrations, primarily driven by weathering processes. Additionally, heavy rain and freezing events play a crucial role in sudden alterations in river chemistry. We highlight the dynamic response of Arctic river systems to such environmental drivers as key players in transporting essential micro- and macro-nutrients, as well as potentially harmful pollutants to adjacent fjord systems. Given their susceptibility to climate change, continuous monitoring is essential for understanding future changes. This study provides data for a better foundation for accurate climate modeling of biogeochemical systems in the Arctic environment.

A palynological investigation of the Early-Middle Devonian transition and associated Choteč Event in Northern Spain

In Northern Spain there is a near complete sequence of Devonian rocks that accumulated around a relatively isolated land mass, the Armorican Terrane Assemblage, which was separated from Gondwana to the south and Laurussia to the north. The Lower to Middle Devonian transition records a dramatic facies change from carbonate to siliciclastic sedimentation. The Choteč Event, a global anoxic pulse that occurs just above the Lower-Middle Devonian boundary (392.5–393.1 Ma), has been identified within this transition. These strata are included in the Moniello and Naranco fms in Asturias and the equivalent Santa Lucía and Huergas fms in Leon. They are independently age-contrained based on conodont and invertebrate biotas. For the first time we describe palynomorph assemblages recovered from the Lower to Middle Devonian transition in Northern Spain. The assemblages contain terrestrial (spores) and marine (acritarchs, prasinophycean cysts, chitinozoans) elements, thus recording primary productivity on both the land and in the oceans. The older assemblages belong to the annulatus–sextantii Spore Zone and the younger assemblages the douglastownensis–eurypterota Spore Zone, which is concordant with the independent age constraints. Our analysis of the distribution and diversity of marine and terrestrial palynomorphs supports interpretations of the facies change associated with the Choteč Event as being related to a change to increased rainfall and terrestrial runoff. However, this change is associated with only limited taxon turnover in both land plant spores and marine phytoplankton and chitinozoans.

In situ testing of micro-ecological elements in offshore engineering

With the increasing human development and utilization of the ocean, the impact of offshore engineering on the ocean ecological environment is becoming more and more serious. In this article, a technique for in situ monitoring of marine micro-ecological elements based on laser-induced fluorescence is proposed. Combining laser-induced fluorescence with different types, contents, and proportions of micro-ecological elements, we establish the relationships between the concentration of marine micro-ecological elements, their diversity, and the fluorescence intensity of different wavelengths in order to detect the abundance and dominant species of micro-ecological elements in the ocean in situ. The experimental results show that this technique has the advantages of in situ, rapid, convenient, and continuous measurement, which provides a technical basis for accurate and rapid intelligent testing of marine micro-ecological elements for the development and maintenance of offshore engineering.

Multiple short-lived marine incursions into the interior of Southwest Gondwana during the Aptian

The Lower Cretaceous sediments of the Sanfranciscana Basin, southeast Brazil, are considered to have been deposited under a Gondwanan continental context. However, different authors have occasionally observed marine elements in these same deposits. This study analyzes samples from five sections of the Sanfranciscana Basin, Quiricó and Três Barras formations, to characterize the paleoenvironment around these marine incursions. We recovered continental (non-marine ostracods and palynomorphs) and marine microfossils (e.g., foraminifera, radiolarians, and ascidian spicules). The alternance of quartz-rich biogenic chert and claystone might be indicative of the occurrence of radiolarites in the studied sessions. The presence of the radiolarian genus Turbocapsula sp., the radiolarian species Holocryptocapsa fallax, and the palynomorph Tucanopollis crisopolensis enabled us to date the interval as early Aptian. Based on the lithologies and microfossils recovered, we interpreted the studied interval as a continental setting that was episodically subjected to marine incursions. We propose three successive paleoenvironmental scenarios: (1) an initial lacustrine depositional setting with a non-marine biota; (2) a second stage, characterized by the presence of episodic marine influence in the sedimentary succession (as evidenced by radiolarians, foraminifera and ascidians), and (3) the return to continental settings dominated by aeolian dune fields. These environmental scenarios characterize the initial development of the Central Segment of the South Atlantic Ocean.

RF-DYNA — Software for optimized random finite element simulation using LS-DYNA

This paper presents a user-friendly software to assign spatially distributed material properties to nonlinear finite element models in LS-DYNA using discretized three dimensional random fields and random variables. The purpose of the software is to enable probabilistic analysis frameworks that incorporate results from LS-DYNA simulations with random material properties. The software leverages the existing well-established deterministic formulation of LS-DYNA by utilizing inbuilt material constitutive laws. K-nearest neighbors spatial interpolation and k-means clustering are implemented to streamline the generation and assignment of random fields to parts in LS-DYNA models. The functionality of the software is demonstrated through real-life safety assessments of two marine structural elements composed of steel-reinforced concrete. Analysis results demonstrated the robustness and efficiency of the software where it can be successfully integrated into analysis frameworks to evaluate the safety of structural members.

Sedimentary organic matter applied to paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Devonian of the Paraná Basin, SW Gondwana

The study of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) is essential for understanding paleoenvironmental conditions and depositional settings of geological formations. This paper explores the Devonian strata of the Paraná Basin, utilizing SOM analysis to reconstruct paleoenvironments and identify global events. The Devonian period is notable for significant geological and biological changes, including mass extinctions and extensive organic-rich sediment deposition. By examining the composition, distribution, and diagenesis of SOM in this region, we aim to elucidate the paleoenvironmental dynamics and depositional history. The Devonian outcrops in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil rocks reveal distinct depositional characteristics, when compared to those found on the eastern border of the basin. The palynofacies analysis was conducted on 59 samples from four outcrops (MS-26, MS-29, MS-30 and MS-70), which age spans from Pragian to Givetian. The main groups and subgroups of the SOM were identified: amorphous organic matter (AOM) (“amorphous organic matter” and pseudoamorphous), phytoclasts (opaques, non-opaque-non biostructured, cuticles, membranes and Spongiophyton) and palynomorphs (spores, freshwater algae, scolecodonts, chitinozoan and acritarchs). The SOM was grouped into three palynofacies associations: opaques, land-derived and marine+AOM. In the Pragian—Emsian interval (MS-26, MS-29 and MS-30), a prevalent occurrence of phytoclasts and marine microphytoplankton is noted, with their distribution exhibiting distinct alternations in each section suggesting a deposition in the marine environment ranging from onshore to offshore. In the Givetian (MS-70 outcrop), we detected a progressive increase and diversification of marine elements (e.g., acritarchs), indicating a transgressive phase probably related with the Kačák event.

Revision of China’s marine environmental protection law: history, background and improvement

The law on marine environmental protection is a branch of the law on environmental protection and is the basis for the conduct of marine environmental protection. Since its promulgation in 1982, China’s Marine Environmental Protection Law has undergone two revisions and three amendments, forming a legal system based on the Constitution, with the Environmental Protection Law as the overarching principle, the Marine Environmental Protection Law as the core, and various laws on the protection of marine elements as the gripping force. The revision of the Marine Environmental Protection Law in 2023 was based on the 2018 supervision and inspection of the enforcement inspection team of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the implementation of the construction of a strong maritime country, and the adaptation to the reform of the ocean governance system. Compared with the previous Marine Environmental Protection Law, the improvements of the newly revised law are mainly reflected in the following: optimizing the institutional mechanism, reflecting the Land and Sea Coordination, strengthening supervision and management, strengthening marine litter pollution prevention and control, enhancing the protection of marine biodiversity, strengthening the regulation of estuaries, and strict liability.

Diagnosis of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management of Nicaragua

The coastal zone is where marine and terrestrial elements interact. The Integrated Management of Marine Coastal Zones (iczm) is a holistic and participatory process that aims to achieve sustainable use and protection of these areas and their resources. This involves collaboration among various user groups and authorities at national, regional, and local levels, taking into account ecological, social, cultural, and economic aspects. The objective of this publication is to assess Nicaragua’s iczm, using the methodology proposed by Barragán (2003, 2005 y 2014), which is based on a “Decalogue” and is applied to evaluate and compare the situation of coastal zones at three levels of government. Keywords: Coastal marine zone, Integrated Coastal Management, Decalogue, Nicaragua.

Diagnosis of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management of Peru

The marine-coastal zone is the region where marine and terrestrial elements come together, featuring complex ecological systems and human communities. The Integrated Coastal Management (icm) is a participatory process for the sustainable management of these areas, taking into consideration ecological, social, cultural, and economic aspects. The objective of this publication is to assess Peru’s icm, using the methodology proposed by Barragán (2003, 2005 y 2014), to evaluate administrative and legal elements at the three levels of government in coastal areas. Keywords: Marine-coastal zone, Integrated Coastal Management, Peru.

Exploring horizontal transfer of mariner transposable elements among ants and aphids

Aphids and ants are mutualistic species with a close space-time relationship, which may facilitate the occurrence of horizontal transfer events between these insect groups. Myrmar-like mariner elements were previously isolated from two ant (Myrmica ruginodis and Tapinoma ibericum) and two aphid species (Aphis fabae and Aphis hederae). The aim of this work is to determine the presence of Myrmar-like mariner elements in new ant and aphid species, as well as to analyze the likelihood of horizontal transfer events between these taxa. To accomplish this, the Myrmar-like element has been isolated from five aphid species and six ant species. Among these new analyzed species, full-length Myrmar-like mariner elements with very high sequence similarity have been isolated from the aphids Aphis nerii, Aphis spiraecola, Brachycaudus cardui, and Rhopalosiphum maidis as well as from the ants Lasius grandis and Lasius niger, even though aphids and ants belong to two insect orders (Hemiptera and Hymenoptera) that have evolved independently for at least 300 million-years. Both Lasius species establish frequent mutualistic relationships with multiple aphid species, including A. nerii, A. spiraecola, and B. cardui. The study of the putative protein encoded by them and the phylogenetic analysis suggests that they could be active transposons shared by aphids and ants through horizontal transfer events. Additionally, mariner elements with internal deletion were found in several aphids and one ant species, showing a high degree of sequence similarity among them. The characteristics of these elements with internal deletion suggest a complex origin involving various evolutionary processes, possibly including also horizontal transfer events. Myrmar-like elements have also been isolated from the other ant species, although without similarity with the aphid mariner sequences. Myrmar-like elements are also present in phylogenetically distant insect species, as well as in one crustacean species. The phylogenetic study carried out with all Myrmar-like elements suggests the probable occurrence of horizontal transfer events.

Petrographic and mineralogical study of the beach rocks of Souiria Laqdima coast, Morocco

Beach rock is an interesting and distinctive formation, especially in contrast to other types of rock formations. There is a geological formation that is very similar to this one in the Moroccan province of Souiria Laqdima which is located on the coast of the Atlantic. Given the lack of previous research and studies on this topic in Morocco, the objective of this project is to investigate and identify a selection of the beach rocks that can be found along the Atlantic coast. For that, some beach rock samples were collected along the shore of Souiria Laqdima located close to the mouth of Oued Tensift and then to go for quantitative mineralogical investigations namely XRD and XRF analysis. The diffraction spectra demonstrate the presence of components that were formed as a consequence of erosion in the hinterland. These elements include quartz, feldspars, ferromagnesians, some calcite and other phyllosilicates. Calcite, aragonite and magnesian calcite are all inherent elements; as a result, they are considered to be marine elements. Most of the clay minerals have a continental provenance and a detritic origin such as kaolinite, illite and chlorite; however, a specific percentage of these minerals has a diagenetic origin in this marine environment. The examination with X-ray fluorescence reveals the existence of both quartz and feldspar. However, it also contains a significant amount of calcite and even some magnesian calcite. The petrographic study allowed us to determine, first, the nature of the cement in the beach rocks which was found to be calcite and magnesia calcite in the majority of the samples and secondly, the traces of bioturbations as well as the action and contribution of the burrows, on the fixing of the pebbles and on the cementing of the beach rocks.

CAERULEAN HOUNDS AND PUPPY-LIKE VOICES: THE CANINE ASPECTS OF ANCIENT SEA MONSTERS

AbstractThis article examines the dog-like aspects and associations of two marine monsters of Graeco-Roman antiquity: Scylla and the κῆτος. Both harbour recognizably canine features in their depictions in ancient art, as well as being referenced as dogs or possessing dog-like attributes in ancient texts. The article argues that such distinctly canine elements are related to, and probably an extension of, the conceptualization of certain marine animals, most prominently sharks, as ‘sea dogs’. Accordingly, we should understand these two sea monsters and the sea dogs as being interrelated in the ancient imagination. Such a canine resonance to certain sea creatures offers a valuable insight into the Graeco-Roman imagination of the marine element as being the abode of creatures reminiscent of terrestrial dogs.

An experimental study on monitoring of marine sediment transport by using a 3D sediment trap

The observation and analysis of sediment transport in oceans is an important means for the protection of the marine environment, resource development, construction engineering, and element cycling. However, traditional methods of observing sediment transport are either limited by the range of the instruments used or their own observational attributes, such that they cannot be used to accurately detect and analyze the process of transport of marine sediment. A 3D sediment trap has been proposed to compensate for the shortcomings of the various monitoring tools in our team, but no mature method for the analytical inversion of the data obtained from this device has been developed to date. In this paper, we developed analytical methods to invert sediment transport processes using corrected capture efficiency, sample inversion, and transport flux analysis. Through an annular flume test, we measured the turbidity, pressure, and particle size of the water stream and substituted them into the proposed analytical equations, thus verifying the applicability of the analytical methods. We used the slice experiment of the time series of the sediment samples, to determine the validity of the sample inversion, and establish the relationship between the particle size and concentration of the captured samples. We performed restoration tests on the process of sediment transport to establish a set of methods of flux analysis based on the velocity and turbidity of flow. And finally corrected for capture efficiency by particle size. The combination of analytical methods and 3D sediment trap could provide technological support for investigating the evolution of the sea, ecological cycle, and marine engineering.

Paleoenvironmental changes recorded in the Santa Marta Formation (Santonian–Campanian, Upper Cretaceous), James Ross Island, Antarctica, inferred from palynofacies analyses

The Santa Marta Formation (Santonian–Campanian; James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula) is part of one of the most complete sedimentary sequences in the Southern Hemisphere. Paleoenvironmental changes recorded in the formation are reflected in the stratigraphic distribution of sedimentary organic matter in the Lachman Crags and Herbert Sound members. Fifty-three samples from the Lachman Crags section and ten samples from the Herbert Sound section were prepared using standard non-oxidative methods for palynofacies. Analyses were performed using transmitted white light and fluorescence microscopy to identify the groups and subgroups of sedimentary organic matter: non-opaque non-biostructured and biostructured opaque particles, membrane fragments, degraded and non-degraded cuticles, spores, pollen grains, fungal spores, Botryococcus, Palambages, dinoflagellates cysts, amorphous organic matter, pseudoamorphous (product of disintegration of macrophyte tissues) and resins. Three palynofacies associations are distinguished: terrestrial, opaque, and marine palynomorphs. Based on stratigraphically restricted cluster analysis (CONISS), three intervals have been identified: Interval 1, at the base of the Lachman Crags section, conspicuously dominated by the terrestrial palynofacies association. Interval 2, the middle portion of the Lachman Crags section, is marked by alternating terrestrial and opaque palynofacies associations. Interval 3, which coincides with the Herbert Sound section, is distinguished by an abrupt increase in marine elements. The composite section shows progressive transgression, accompanied by a decrease in continental elements, culminating in an open marine environment towards the top of the section.

Giant limpets in southern Iberian coastal and continental archaeological sites, from Neanderthals to Copper Age

The use of coastal resources has been crucial for human diet and social behaviour evolution has been extensively documented since the Middle Palaeolithic, mainly in the western Mediterranean and southern Africa. In southern Iberia, the mollusc assemblages associated with archaeological sites show a continuous record regardless of palaeoclimatic conditions. Among these, limpets are uninterruptedly abundant from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Bronze age with the giant limpets (Cymbula safiana and Patella ferruginea) being present since MIS6. To assess their distribution, predominance, and cultural significance this paper presents the results from an exhaustive archeozoological survey of the southern Iberian region. A total of 1628 specimens have been analysed, including 425 modern (333 C. safiana and 91 P. ferruginea) and 1203 from 60 archaeological deposits deriving from 36 sites, both coastal and continental. Giant limpets’ context also has been described and it has been related with a wide variety of deposits ranging from food refuse accumulations to occupations and burials.Detailed morphological and surface analysis allowed us to determine extraction methods and anthropic transformations. On coastal sites, the giant limpet record starts with Neanderthal populations from the Middle Palaeolithic and continues throughout the Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Copper Age. On inland sites, giant limpets appear first in reduced numbers during the Late Neolithic and have been often worked into elliptical contours with polished, rib-free, external shell surfaces. In this study, we focus on the Copper Age, when giant limpet use becomes common, and records include tholoi, dolmens and other funerary contexts. The data indicate that the use of P. ferruginea is associated with Los Millares and El Argar cultures. Giant limpets use declines during the Bronze Age probably due to the major cultural shift that occurred during the Chalcolithic to Bronze transition.The data suggest that giant limpets should be considered as proxies of long-range trade during the Chalcolithic. We propose a new hypothesis linking giant limpets symbology with orbital/tidal variations and the ubiquitous use of marine elements as symbolism during this period.Our study highlights the relevance of shells in the reconstruction of the symbolic evolution of prehistoric cultures, as well as their connections with local ecosystem resources and regional commerce networks.

The Behavior of Rare Earth Elements during Green Clay Authigenesis on the Congo Continental Shelf

Clay mineral authigenesis at continental margins plays an important role in global marine element cycles. However, despite being increasingly used as tracers for both modern and past oceanographic conditions, the behavior of the rare earth elements (REEs) and their isotopes during marine clay authigenesis still remains poorly known. In this study, we report on a detailed geochemical investigation of glauconite from the West African continental shelf, near the mouth of the Congo River. Elemental, neodymium, and hafnium isotope analyses were conducted on both acid leachate and separated clay-size fractions of glauconite pellets, in order to investigate the behavior of REE during the formation of authigenic clays. Our data indicate that kaolinite dissolution and subsequent Fe-bearing clay authigenesis act as a net source of REEs to seawater. We show that enhanced glauconitization, as inferred from increasing Fe and K contents, is accompanied by significant decoupling of the REE toward markedly LREE-enriched shale-normalized patterns in neoformed clay separates. Using both Nd and Hf isotopes and SEM observations, we rule out any seawater influence and argue that this shift primarily reflects the progressively overwhelming presence of insoluble nanocrystals of detrital LREE-rich phosphates, which are known to occur in close association with kaolinite in tropical soils. Due to their marked insolubility in surface environments, such nanocrystals can be preserved during kaolinite dissolution and subsequently incorporated into the aggregates of authigenic green clays forming the peloids. Most strikingly, we show that the combined influence of net REE loss (due to kaolinite dissolution) and decoupling (due to subsequent entrapment of inherited LREE-bearing accessory phases into neoformed clay minerals) is accompanied by preferential release of a dissolved REE fraction characterized by seawater-like distribution patterns. These findings reinforce the emerging view that clay mineral dissolution and authigenesis at continental margins possibly play a major role in marine REE cycling.

Dynamic modeling and switching analysis of all-attitude multimode underwater vehicle for multidimensional data acquisition

This study proposes a unique multimodal underwater observation platform, called all-attitude multimode underwater vehicle (AMUV). AMUV integrates the movement capabilities of Argo buoy, Glider motion modes, and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), enabling comprehensive underwater navigation. To explore the operational rules of individual modes and the changes in actuator and attitude during mode transitions, firstly, a dynamics model of AMUV is established, conforming the operating principles of the Argo buoy, Glider, and AUVs. Secondly, through open-loop simulations of different modes, the feasibility of the dynamic model is verified. Thirdly, through simulation experiments involving three typical mode switching processes, the mechanism of AMUV multi-mode switching is demonstrated. Finally, to examine the ability of the AMUV for multidimensional data acquisition, a simulation task focused on gathering multidimensional data of marine elements is designed. The simulation results indicate that the proposed AMUV has considerable potential for application in monitoring activities requiring the acquisition of multidimensional oceanographic data.

Implications of a geochemical approach to reconstruct the Maastrichtian–Danian seaways of central India: The planktic foraminifera-bearing Jhilmili intertrappean revisited

Maastrichtian–Danian sedimentary sequences associated with Deccan volcanism are commonly interpreted to be deposited in fluviatile-lacustrine environments, except for the nearshore marine outcrops in Razol province (Rajahmundry). Discovery of Danian zone-P1a planktic-foraminifera, from a thin-horizon of an otherwise entirely lacustrine-palustrine Jhilmili intertrappean section in central India, makes this section unique, with reliable age-constraints. The presence of this foraminifera-bearing unit was used to postulate the existence of an ∼800 km marine-seaway from the west up to central India. Occurrences of non-marine biota in the foraminifera-bearing horizon and the absence of associated lithotopes and biotopes characteristic of marine transgressive events in this section is noteworthy. This study focuses on trace-element geochemistry and clay-mineralogy of the Jhilmili section to explore changes in depositional conditions along this section and obtain insights on the ambient waters from which Unit 3 was deposited. High-resolution sampling has been conducted and geochemical proxies such as Sr/Ba, Y/Ho (whole-rock, clay-fractions) and REE+Y (carbonates) have been utilized. Geochemical parameters suggest a non-marine environment for the entire section except the middle-unit showing brackish conditions because of storm/tsunami induced seawater mixing into freshwater depositional settings. Lithofacies, fossil-assemblage and variations in geochemical ratios indicate short-term episodic mixing of marine elements, possibly through storm/tsunami related activity in the lacustrine-palustrine freshwater ecosystem. Previous palaeobiological records from outcrops in the Godavari Rift indicate that seawater possibly entered through the Godavari rift. This study provides additional insights for the Maastrichtian–Danian paleogeography of central India.

A freshwater ostracod assemblage from the Kesavi intertrappean beds (latest Cretaceous/earliest Paleocene) of lower Narmada Valley, Malwa Sub-province of Deccan Traps, Dhar District, Madhya Pradesh, India

We here report a new freshwater ostracod assemblage comprising 11 species ( Frambocythere tumiensis anjarensis, Gomphocythere paucisulcatus, G. strangulata, Limnocythere deccanensis, Zonocypris spirula, Eucypris intervolcanus, Cypria cyrtonidion, Stenocypris cylindrical, Cypridopsis hyperectyphos, Candona amosi, Eucypris sp.) from a newly discovered intertrappean locality at Kesavi, Dhar District, Madhya Pradesh. This locality lies in the lower Narmada Valley of Malwa sub-province, a poorly studied region of the Deccan Traps volcanic province of peninsular India compared to the other volcanic sub-provinces. The ostracod assemblage from Kesavi is similar to those known from different parts of the Deccan volcanic province and lacks any brackish or marine elements. The endobenthic crawler Frambocythere tumiensis dominates the assemblage, indicating a lacustrine freshwater depositional environment.