Pa Elements Research Articles

Prerequisites and effectiveness of the introduction of precision farming elements in the sowing of grain crops in the Leningrad region

Effective farming is the basis of Russia's food security. At the present stage, the agricultural industry, and in particular crop production, is experiencing a constant shortage of qualified machine operators, highperformance equipment, there is no developed infrastructure, etc. The main direction of agricultural production in the North-Western region of the Russian Federation should be resource conservation and technological modernization, including through the use of "precision agriculture" (PA). It has been revealed that there are prerequisites for this: there are enterprises in the Leningrad Region where PA elements have been introduced. The analysis of the sowing campaign on a specific example of an enterprise for soil preparation and sowing of grain crops revealed factors affecting the productivity of aggregates and additional costs. The prerequisites for the introduction of PA elements in the sowing of grain crops were: large overlap on the aisles of the units, work on the incomplete width of the guns, curved movement of the units across the field, incorrect rotation scheme of the unit with manual control. Fuel overspending on soil preparation and sowing of grain crops in monetary terms amounts to 513632 rubles with manual control of the units, and with an automatic control system of 2.5 cm and an RTK station will amount to 20496 rubles.

RF Fingerprint Classification With Combinatorial-Randomness-Based Power Amplifiers and Convolutional Neural Networks: Secure analog/RF electronics and electromagnetics

The growth of the IoT requires more comprehensive security measures than ever. RF fingerprinting (RFF) utilizes features in the signals and waveforms from transmitters’ physical-layer imperfections to classify and authenticate devices. To prevent attacks from impersonators, combinatorial randomness is exploited to augment the RF fingerprints with a high-efficiency PA for IoT applications. By enabling different subsets of thinly sliced PA elements, the transmitter can be reconfigured with 220 subsets that exhibit distinctive RF fingerprints for signal analysis at the edge. In this work, a combinatorial-randomness-based PA was implemented in a BLE system. The BLE packets’ in-phase and quadrature samples transmitted from each configuration are collected with different SNRs to emulate the environmental changes in communication channels. A lightweight convolutional neural network (CNN) classifier demonstrates the possibility of accurate and fast inference of unique features in the IoT environment, which our approach exploits to enable on-chip time-varying RF fingerprints.

Understanding quality participation: exploring ideal physical activity outcomes for military veterans with a physical disability

ABSTRACT Individuals with disabilities do not experience full participation in society. Research suggests that a focus on quantity as opposed to quality of participation may be responsible for this disparity. The Quality Parasport Participation Framework was developed to fill this gap by highlighting the PA program conditions and elements indicative of quality experiences. The aim of the current study was to fill remaining knowledge gaps by (a) exploring what outcomes military veterans with physical disabilities link to quality PA experiences, and (b) determining what contexts may foster these outcomes. Military veterans with physical disabilities (n = 18) took part in semi-structured interviews. Data analyses consisted of two phases. In phase one, an inductive thematic analysis was conducted to generate PA outcomes linked to quality experiences. In phase two, an inductive thematic analysis identified contexts that may foster quality outcomes, while a deductive thematic analysis determined potential linkages to the Quality Parasport Participation Framework. Three overarching outcomes were linked to quality experiences: PA promotes psychological benefits, the importance of social and societal growth, and opportunities for advancement. These findings advance knowledge by identifying the subjective perspectives of veterans with physical disabilities regarding specific outcomes indicative of quality experiences, as well as how these outcomes may be fostered within quality PA programs. Knowledge of which outcomes are indicative of quality PA experience is necessary to promote full PA participation. Results provide a foundation for research exploring how to optimally deliver and evaluate adapted PA programming.

Revision of two phragmodontid species (Conodonta) from the Darriwilian (Ordovician) of the Canning Basin in Western Australia and phylogeny of the Cyrtoniodontidae

Zhen, Y.Y. 9 July 2019. Revision of two phragmodontid species (Conodonta) from the Darriwilian (Ordovician) of the Canning Basin in Western Australia and phylogeny of the Cyrtoniodontidae. Alcheringa XX, xxx–xxx. ISSN 0311-5518Based on re-examination of the material used in the original study from the subsurface Goldwyer and Nita Formations (middle Darriwilian, Middle Ordovician) of the Canning Basin, Western Australia, two phragmodontid species (Phragmodus polystrophos Watson and Ph. spicatus Watson) are revised as having a septimembrate apparatus including geniculate (Ph. polystrophos) or nongeniculate (Ph. spicatus) M, triform alate Sa, modified tertiopedate (Ph. polystrophos) or tripennate (Ph. spicatus) Sb, modified bipennate Sc, modified quadriramate Sd, carminate Pa and pastinate Pb elements. Characterized by a carminate Pa element in their respective species apparatuses, these two species demonstrate a close phylogenetic relationship with Phragmodus cognitus Stauffer from the Late Ordovician (Sandbian) of North America. These distinctive shared characters have allowed their accommodation within a new genus, Protophragmodus gen. nov., which represents an evolutionary lineage separated from species of Phragmodus Branson & Mehl (sensu stricto). In addition, it is postulated that the Cyrtoniodontidae might have originated in the early–middle Darriwilian from ‘Plectodina’ in shallow-water settings, with Phragmodus (sensu stricto), the most derived part of the family, perhaps directly evolving from Protophragmodus gen. nov. in the late Darriwilian and then becoming cosmopolitan, deeper-water dwellers in the Late Ordovician.Y.Y. Zhen [yong-yi.zhen@planning.nsw.gov.au], Geological Survey of New South Wales, W.B. Clarke Geoscience Centre, 947–953 Londonderry Road, Londonderry, NSW 2753, Australia.

What happened in the \u2018Move for Well-being in School\u2019: a process evaluation of a cluster randomized physical activity intervention using the RE-AIM framework

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to address the gap in the translation of research into practice through an extensive process evaluation of the Move for Well-being in School programme using the RE-AIM framework. The purpose was to gain insight into the extent by which the intervention was adopted and implemented as intended and to understand how educators observed its effectiveness and maintenance.MethodsPublic schools located in seven municipalities in Denmark were invited to enroll their 4th to 6th grade classes in the project. Of these, 24 school decided to participate in the project in the school-year 2015–16 and were randomly (cluster) allocated to either intervention or control group. A process survey was completed online by school personnel at the start, at midterm, and at the end of the school year. Additionally, informal interviews and observations were conducted throughout the year.ResultsAt the 12 intervention schools, a total of 148 educators were involved in the implementation of the programme over the school-year. More than nine out of ten educators integrated brain breaks in their lessons and practically all the physical education teachers used the physical education lesson plans. The educators delivered on average 4.5 brain breaks per week and up to 90% of the physical education teachers used the project lesson plans for at least half of their classes. Half of the educators initiated new recess activities.A total of 78%, 85% and 90% of the educators believed that the implemented recess, brain break and physical education components ‘to a high degree’ or ‘to some degree’ promoted the pupils’ well-being, respectively.ConclusionsThis study shows that it is possible to design a school-based PA intervention that educators largely adopt and implement. Implementation of the PA elements was stable throughout the school year and data demonstrate that educators believed in the ability of the intervention to promote well-being among the pupils. Finally, the study show that a structured intervention consisting of competence development, set goals for new practices combined with specific materials, and ongoing support, effectively reached a vast majority of all teachers in the enrolled schools with a substantial impact.Trial registrationDate of registration: retrospectively registered on 24 April 2015 at Current Controlled Trials (DOI 0.1186/ISRCTN12496336 – named: “The role of physical activity in improving the well-being of children and youth”).

Comparative analysis of ontogeny and ecomorphology of the “Ozarkodina remscheidensis” (Conodonta: Ozarkodinida) species group in the Upper Ludlow and Pridoli of Lithuania

The morphology of Pa elements of the Ozarkodina remscheidensis s. 1, species group (Ozarkodina remscheidensis eosteinhornensis (Walliser), Ozarkodina remscheidensis remscheidensis (Ziegler) and Ozarkodina inordinata Viira) from the southeastern part of the Silurian (Upper Ludlow and Pridoli) of the Baltic Basin is statistically analyzed. Morphologies are described using linear measurements, meristic counts of denticles, and elliptic Fourier analyses (transformations) of outlines. Utilized descriptors enabled comparisons of ontogenies and levels of ecomorphological variation between analyzed lineages. All three lineages differed in the ontogenetic paths, as reflected in both bivariate and multivariate allometric analyses. The patterns of allometry are more similar between O. r. remscheidensis and O. inordinata. This confirms the hypothesis that the former lineage is ancestral to the latter. Elliptic Fourier coefficients and principal component and discriminant analyses suggest that O. r. eosteinhornensis have had higher level of ecomorphological variability than O. r. remscheidensis. It is probable that O. r. eosteinhornensis evolved to a higher level of phenotypic plasticity in response to fluctuating environments, in which this lineage dwelled.

Conodont biostratigraphy of a new Permo-Triassic boundary section at Wenbudangsang, north Tibet

The Wenbudangsang section is a newly discovered continuous succession of marine carbonates that straddles the Permian–Triassic boundary (PTB), extending from the late Permian to the earliest Triassic (Induan). The section is located in the Wenbudangsang area of Geji County, northern Tibet, and tectonically sits within the northern Gangdise Stratigraphic division. Conodonts are abundant throughout this section, except being comparatively rare and less diverse in the Permian strata below the distinctive PTB Clay Bed.The conodonts are mainly represented by Hindeodus–Isarcicella Pa elements, Neogondolella Pa elements, and ramiform elements, with few Neospathodus Pa elements present at the top of the section. Two conodont zonal successions have thus been determined based on Hindeodus–Isarcicella and Neogondolella species. The Hindeodus–Isarcicella succession includes the uppermost Permian Hindeodus julfensis Zone, Hindeodus praeparvus Zone, and the lowermost Triassic Hindeodus parvus Zone, Isarcicella staeschei Zone, Isarcicella isarcica Zone, and Hindeodus postparvus Zone. The Neogondolella succession consists of the upper Permian Neogondolella changxingensis–Neogondolella deflecta–Neogondolella postwangi Zone, Neogondolella yini–Neogondolella zhangi Zone, Neogondolella meishanensis Zone, the Neogondolella taylorae Zone that crosses the PTB, and the lowermost Triassic Neogondolella krystyni Zone and Neogondolella prediscreta n. sp. Zone. The top of the section is defined by the Neospathodus kummeli Zone and Neospathodus cristagalli Zone. Two new species, Hindeodus microdentatus n. sp. and N. prediscreta n. sp., are established and described in this paper.The PTB conodont successions recognised in the new Wenbudangsang section have been closely correlated herein with other well-known PTB sections: the GSSP Meishan section of South China, sections in Abadeh in Iran, and sections at Spiti in India. Importantly, the conodont faunas from Wenbudangsang now provide an opportunity to effectively correlate the PTB hindeodid and gondolellid zonal schemes given the high abundance of both assemblages, which is unique to this section.

A new early Silurian prioniodontid conodont with three P elements from Iran and associated species

A prioniodontid conodont Arianagnathus jafariani gen. et sp. nov. from the late Llandovery part of the Niur Formation of the Derenjal Mountains, East Central Iran had an apparatus bearing 3 pairs of P elements. Pa elements of its apparatus are closest to those of Icriodella sandersi (Llandovery—Wenlock boundary interval, Wales, Great Britain) in the weak development of an icrion. Due to the small sample size not all S-elements have been identified but those present are similar to those described in the Icriodella and Icriognathus apparatuses. Based on similarities with previously described apparatus Notiodella we suggest that Arianagnathus jafariani gen. et sp. nov. probably had an apparatus of 17 elements. Arianagnathus is therefore an important additional example that has potential for aiding the future revision of the palaeobiological arrangement of elements within and the phylogeny of conodont apparatuses with 3 P elements, one of which is icrion bearing. The completely known apparatus of associated O...

Chemical element distributions within conodont elements and their functional implications

Electron microprobe analyses of platform (pectiniform Pa) elements of Permian conodonts reveal detailed and systematic chemical element distributions. The crown of the conodont element is more densely mineralized than the basal body and shows evidence of less dense mineralization in areas of rapid growth. Patterns in sodium and sulfur concentrations indicate oral to aboral differentiation within conodont elements. These chemical element patterns support oral exposure during life and functional use as a tooth, and they approximate the erupted and embedded positions of the conodont tooth when the animal was alive. Previously unrecognized spatial distributions of geochemically important chemical elements warrant consideration in future geochemical studies of conodonts.

Lochkovian conodonts from Podolia, Ukraine, and their stratigraphic significance

In the Podolian Dniester Basin (southwestern Ukraine) the Lower Devonian marine deposits are represented by about 530 m thick continuous sequence of interlaminated carbonate and schale outcrops at several localities. Conodonts occur in most of the carbonate layers of the whole Lochkovian but are not abundant and their ramiform elements are mostly broken or lacking. Therefore, only the pectiniform, Pa elements of twenty five stratigraphically important conodont species occurring in the region are discussed and two new species, Caudicriodus schoenlaubi and Pandorinellina? parva are proposed. The hypothetical phyletic relationships within the main representatives of the icriodontid and spathognathodontid genera, Caudicriodus, Zieglerodina, and Pandorinellina? are traced. Comparison of the previously published and newly obtained data revealed discrepancies in the hitherto used interpretation of some of the conodont taxa and their stratigraphic ranges. Contrary to the earlier reports, Caudicriodus postwoschmid...

First occurrence of Ellisonia, Gondolella and Ubinates (Conodonts) in Itaituba Formation, Pennsylvanian of Amazonas Basin, Brazil

This paper analyzes and describes a fi rst occurrence of the conodonts Ellisonia, Gondolella and Ubinates in Amazonas Basin, North of Brazil. The recovered material comes from two outcrops along the Tapajos River and from a limestone quarry of Itaituba Formation, whose levels are included in the Itaituba Formation, with a Pennsylvanian age. Those conodonts are relevant paleoecological indicators of water depth, salinity and environmental energy and have implications in the Late Carboniferous to Triassic biostratigraphy. The fossil remains represent M and S conodont elements, associated to Pa elements of the Idiognathodus, Idiognathoides, Neognathodus, Adetognathus, Hindeodus and Diplognathodus genus. Key words: conodonts, Amazonas Basin, Itaituba Formation, Pennsylvanian.

The Ordovician zone index conodont <i>Amorphognathus ordovicicus</i> Branson & Mehl, 1933 from its type locality and the evolution of the genus <i>Amorphognathus</i> Branson & Mehl, 1933

Abstract. The 2003 rediscovery of the long ‘lost’ Ozora, Missouri classical conodont locality of Branson & Mehl (1933b), from which the world’s first Late Ordovician conodont fauna was described, has made it possible to obtain topotype specimens of the several important conodont species introduced by Branson and Mehl from this site. A taxonomic reassessment of the Ozora conodont fauna indicates that it includes at least 14 multi-element species, eight of which were previously known from this locality. Several specimens of the taxonomically diagnostic M element of the biostratigraphical key species Amorphognathus ordovicicus were recovered. This element was previously not known from the type locality of the species at Ozora. A general review of the evolution of the genus Amorphognathus shows that some elements, particularly the M and Pa elements, exhibit relatively rapid gradual morphological changes that are helpfull for distinguishing a series of biostratigraphically useful species through the Upper Ordovician (Sandbian–Hirnantian) interval. No ancestor of Amorphognathus has yet been identified but currently available data suggest that the genus appeared in the latest Darriwilian or earliest Sandbian and went extinct in the late Hirnantian. None of the Early Silurian platform genera appears to be closely related to Amorphognathus.

Primeira ocorrência dos gêneros Ellisonia, Gondolella e Ubinates (Conodonts) para a Formação Itaituba, Pensilvaniano da Bacia do Amazonas, Brasil

This paper analyzes and describes a fi rst occurrence of the conodonts Ellisonia, Gondolella and Ubinates in Amazonas Basin, North of Brazil. The recovered material comes from two outcrops along the Tapajos River and from a limestone quarry of Itaituba Formation, whose levels are included in the Itaituba Formation, with a Pennsylvanian age. Those conodonts are relevant paleoecological indicators of water depth, salinity and environmental energy and have implications in the Late Carboniferous to Triassic biostratigraphy. The fossil remains represent M and S conodont elements, associated to Pa elements of the Idiognathodus, Idiognathoides, Neognathodus, Adetognathus, Hindeodus and Diplognathodus genus . Key words: conodonts, Amazonas Basin, Itaituba Formation, Pennsylvanian.

Size variation of the end Permian conodont Neogondolella at Meishan Section, Changxing, Zhejiang and its significance

This study is based on both a generic and species level investigation of the individual size of the latest Permian conodont Neogondolella Pa elements collected from Meishan Section A, Changxing, Zhejiang Province. In this study, an obvious size reduction of Neogondolella Pa elements within bed 24e of the upper Changxing Limestone is recognized. The size variation of the Neogon- dolella occurs simultaneously with some important events including the negative shift of δ 13 C, change in the ratio of the abundance of cyanobacterial biomarkers versus that of other general bacterial biomarkers and the shallowing of the sea water. Through the investigation of the paleoenvironmental changes and the analysis of the paleoecology of the conodont genus Neogondolella, the authors propose that the major factors for the size reduction of species of the conodont genus Neogondolella are food shortages caused by the mass extinction, the shallowing of the sea water as well as the in- crease in opacity of the sea water during the end Permian. The same phenomenon of Neogondolella size reduction is also observed in preliminary research from the same horizon at Shangsi Section, Sichuan Province. All the evidence suggests that there was a mass extinction that occurred at the horizon of bed 24e, and the evidence supports the viewpoint of a multi-phase mass extinction during the Permian and Triassic transition in South China.

Swadelina new genus (Pennsylvanian Conodonta), a taxon with potential chronostratigraphic significance

Swadelina n. gen. is erected to comprise a short-ranging clade of late Desmoinesian (middle Pennsylvanian) idiognathodontid conodonts characterized by Pa elements with a deep medial trough, extensive anterior ornamentation, and an extremely short carina. The Pb elements have a small, relatively indistinct cusp, and dissimilar development of the anterior and posterior processes. Swadelina (Sw.) probably evolved through paedomorphosis from an untroughed Idiognathodus ancestor well before the appearance of similarly troughed Streptognathodus Pa elements in the Missourian (late Pennsylvanian). We currently recognize Sw. nodocarinata (Jones 1941) and Sw. neoshoensis n. sp. as component species. Swadelina occurs in both North America and Eurasia with a limited range, in strata that are otherwise characterized by pronounced provincialism. With further study of international occurrences, a species of Swadelina may provide for the definition and correlation of an appropriate GSSP stage/series boundary between the middle and upper parts of the Pennsylvanian Subsystem.

Swadelina new genus (Pennsylvanian Conodonta), a taxon with potential chronostratigraphic significance

Swadelina n. gen. is erected to comprise a short-ranging clade of late Desmoinesian (middle Pennsylvanian) idiognathodontid conodonts characterized by Pa elements with a deep medial trough, extensive anterior ornamentation, and an extremely short carina. The Pb elements have a small, relatively indistinct cusp, and dissimilar development of the anterior and posterior processes. Swadelina (Sw.) probably evolved through paedomorphosis from an untroughed Idiognathodus ancestor well before the appearance of similarly troughed Streptognathodus Pa elements in the Missourian (late Pennsylvanian). We currently recognize Sw. nodocarinata (Jones 1941) and Sw. neoshoensis n. sp. as component species. Swadelina occurs in both North America and Eurasia with a limited range, in strata that are otherwise characterized by pronounced provincialism. With further study of international occurrences, a species of Swadelina may provide for the definition and correlation of an appropriate GSSP stage/series boundary between the middle and upper parts of the Pennsylvanian Subsystem.

The phylomorphogenesis of some early devonian platform conodonts

The materials of all conodont workers including revised taxonomic systematics of the Early Devonian platform conodonts, which were previously included in the formal family PolygnathidaeUlrich &Bassler 1926, are summarized at some length. For the conodont systematics including a suprageneric classification we regard the Pa elements as the key elements, because it is these elements that belong to an apparatus of only one taxon in contrast to other elements that are included in the apparatus of several taxa. The Pa elements only can be the nominative elements of a multielement taxon (see alsoZiegler &Weddige 1999). Two main opinions of the origin of the genusPolygnathus and problems concerning the nomenclature of the family Polygnathidae are discussed. This family has comprised only pectiniform elements of carminiplanate type, according to the original diagnosis of the Polygnathidae byUlrich &Bassler (1926). We suggest to isolate some of the Devonian polygnathids, formerly assigned toPolygnathus, and group them in three genera:Ctenopolygnathus Muller &Muller 1957, withCt. angustidiscus (Youngquist 1945) as type species,Costapolygnathus gen. nov. withC. dubius (Hinde 1879) as type species, andLinguipolygnathus gen. nov. withL. linguiformis (Hinde 1879) as type species. Also,Ancyrognathus Branson &Mehl 1934a,Ancyrolepis Ziegler 1959,Polylophodonta Branson &Mehl 1934a,Pseudopolygnathus Branson &Mehl 1934b, ?Rhodalepis Druce 1969, ?Scaphignathus Helms 1959,Schmidtognathus Ziegler 1966, and ?Siphonodella Branson &Mehl 1944, are included in the family. Some Lower Devonian pectiniform elements of the carminiscaphate type are suggested to be assigned to the new family Eognathodidae with two genera:Gondwania gen. nov. withG. nevadensis (Clark &Ethington 1966) as type species,Eognathodus Philip 1965, and the new family Eopolygnathidae with three genera:Eoctenopolygnathus gen. nov. withE. pireneae (Boersma 1973) as type species,Eocostapolygnathus gen. nov. withE. kitabicus (Yolkin, Weddige, Izokh E 2)Amydrotaxis >Gondwania >Eognathodus >Eocostapolygnathus >Costapolygnathus; and 3)Amydrotaxis >Gondwania >Eognathodus >Eocostapolygnathus >Eolinguipolygnathus >Linguipolygnathus. The diagnostic features, on which the systematics of the elements is based, and the direction of the evolution and the main trends are outlined. The phylomorphogenesis and the proposed schemes of the phylomorphogenetic development ofPseudogondwania, Eognathidae, Eopolygnathidae, and Lower Devonian Polygnathidae are described. According to the phylomorphogenetic constructions, all the Pragian-Emsian conodont zonations suggested earlier are synthetical; they are links of particular phylomorphogenetic lineages. Alternative schemes based on the links of the unified phylomorphogenetic lineages, that meet all the requirements for the present zonations, are suggested. Among many lineages, those, in which the diagnostic features are most easily distinguished and the zonal index-species are mostly cosmopolitan, are chosen. In the zonations, the Lochkovian-Pragian boundary is drawn by the appearance of gondwanids, the Pragian-Emsian boundary by the entry of eopolygnathids. Within the Pragian, the distinct boundary between an early and late Pragian can be drawn by the appearance of eognathodids; whereEognathodus has not been found yet, this level is approximately determined by the entries ofPseudogondwania kindlei andPs. clarki. A very distinct boundary between an early and late Emsian is drawn by the appearance of polygnathids.

New species of the conodont Genus Hindeodus and the conodont biostratigraphy of the Permian–Triassic boundary interval

Four new species of the conodont genus Hindeodus, Hindeodus eurypyge sp. nov., Hindeodus inflatus sp. nov., Hindeodus sp. nov. A and Hindeodus sp. nov. B, are described from the Permian–Triassic transition in South China. Our study confirms the first appearance of Hindeodus parvus at the GSSP level, base of bed 27c at Meishan. However, at Shangsi the first occurrence of H. parvus is about 4.5 m above the event boundary. Analysis of conodont biostratigraphy of the Meishan D section and the Shangsi section suggest significant differences between the two sections. These include the absence of H. changxingensis Wang from the Shangsi section and the approximately 4.5 m of the Shangsi section that contains H. priscus (Kozur), H. latidentatus (Kozur) and H. eurypyge n.sp. below the first occurrence of H. parvus. These differences may be accounted for most easily by suggesting that there is a minor depositional hiatus at the Permian–Triassic boundary GSSP level as based on the first appearance of the conodont Hindeodus parvus in Meishan section D. Taxonomic re-evaluation of Hindeodus Pa elements indicates that species of the genus can be broadly separated into two groups based on the morphology of the posterior portion of the element and on growth patterns. The stable Pa element morphology of Hindeodus, first developed in the Carboniferous, was replaced by a complex of rapid evolutionary change in the latest Permian and Early Triassic, with as many as 11 valid species of the genus in the Permian–Triassic boundary interval, which are probably descendants of only two species, H. typicalis and H. n.sp. B. We suggest that the dramatic change in conodont biofacies observed at the P–T boundary in South China from Neogondolella-dominated faunas to Hindeodus-dominated faunas was caused by the introduction of a high component of silt, beginning in bed 27 at Meishan and bed 28 at Shangsi, that tipped the environmental balance in favor of Hindeodus and Isarcicella over Neogondolella ( Clarkina) species. We contend that Hindeodus species were adaptable to higher levels of turbidity than Neogondolella( Clarkina) species and hence at Meishan and Shangsi it was not a matter of a drastic increase in the abundance of Hindeodus, but an exclusion of Neogondolella.

Latest Guadalupian (Middle Permian) conodonts and foraminifers from West Texas

Clarkina, which characterizes Upper Permian (Lopingian Series) strata, evolved from Jinogondolella altudaensis in the Delaware basin of West Texas as demonstrated by transitional continuity. The West Texas section is significantly more complete in the uppermost Guadalupian interval than that of the probable GSSP reference section in South China, and clarifies the phylogenetic relationships among other conodont taxa as well. Jinogondolella granti clearly evolved into J. artafrons new species, both characterized by Pa elements with a distinctive fused carina. Representatives of Jinogondolella crofti are limited to the uppermost part of the altudaensis zone, and are interpreted as terminal paedomorphs. The associated foraminifer (non-fusulinid) fauna has some species in common with Zechstein faunas, possibly presaging the evaporitic basin that would develop following this latest Guadalupian marine deposition in West Texas.

Latest Guadalupian (Middle Permian) conodonts and foraminifers from West Texas

Clarkina, which characterizes Upper Permian (Lopingian Series) strata, evolved from Jinogondolella altudaensis in the Delaware basin of West Texas as demonstrated by transitional continuity. The West Texas section is significantly more complete in the uppermost Guadalupian interval than that of the probable GSSP reference section in South China, and clarifies the phylogenetic relation- ships among other conodont taxa as well. Jinogondolella granti clearly evolved into J. artafrons new species, both characterized by Pa elements with a distinctive fused carina. Representatives of Jinogondolella crofti are limited to the uppermost part of the altudaensis zone, and are interpreted as terminal paedomorphs. The associated foraminifer (non-fusulinid) fauna has some species in common with Zechstein faunas, possibly presaging the evaporitic basin that would develop following this latest Guadalupian marine deposition in West Texas.