Avian remains from the Early/Middle Pleistocene of the So'a Basin, central Flores, Indonesia, and their palaeoenvironmental significance

Meijer, Hanneke J. M.; Kurniawan, Iwan; Setiyabudi, Erick; Brumm, Adam; Sutikna, Thomas; Setiawan, Ruly; Bergh, Gerrit D. van den

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2015.08.042

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The results indicate a diet heavily dominated by C 4 grasses, suggesting both animals were grazers, and implying that open grasslands were the major vegetation type in the So'a Basin. The recovery of rare fossils of rails, swans, ducks, eagles, and eagle owls from the lower trenches (~0.80 to 0.88 Ma) further evidences the presence of a savannah-like biome with a strong wetland component, as well as scattered patches of forest 18 . Fossil pollen and phytoliths from both fossil levels, while poorly preserved, offer additional evidence that grasses dominated the Middle Pleistocene vegetation (SI Table 9).…”

mentioning

confidence: 90%

Age and context of the oldest known hominin fossils from Flores

Brumm

Bergh

Storey

et al. 2016

Nature

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Recent excavations at the early Middle Pleistocene site of Mata Menge in the So'a Basin of central Flores, Indonesia, have yielded hominin fossils attributed to a population ancestral to Late Pleistocene Homo floresiensis. Here we describe the age and context of the Mata Menge hominin specimens and associated archaeological findings. The fluvial sandstone layer from which the in situ fossils were excavated in 2014 was deposited in a small valley stream around 700 thousand years ago, as indicated by (40)Ar/(39)Ar and fission track dates on stratigraphically bracketing volcanic ash and pyroclastic density current deposits, in combination with coupled uranium-series and electron spin resonance dating of fossil teeth. Palaeoenvironmental data indicate a relatively dry climate in the So'a Basin during the early Middle Pleistocene, while various lines of evidence suggest the hominins inhabited a savannah-like open grassland habitat with a wetland component. The hominin fossils occur alongside the remains of an insular fauna and a simple stone technology that is markedly similar to that associated with Late Pleistocene H. floresiensis.

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confidence: 90%

Age and context of the oldest known hominin fossils from Flores

Brumm

Bergh

Storey

et al. 2016

Nature

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“…; Meijer et al. ). Anatomy courses are also required for some graduate programs and are in high demand among biology, zoology and human biology students.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

3D scanning and printing skeletal tissues for anatomy education

et al. 2016

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Detailed anatomical models can be produced with consumer-level 3D scanning and printing systems. 3D replication techniques are significant advances for anatomical education as they allow practitioners to more easily introduce diverse or numerous specimens into classrooms. Here we present a methodology for producing anatomical models in-house, with the chondrocranium cartilage from a spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) and the skeleton of a cane toad (Rhinella marina) as case studies. 3D digital replicas were produced using two consumer-level scanners and specimens were 3D-printed with selective laser sintering. The fidelity of the two case study models was determined with respect to key anatomical features. Larger-scale features of the dogfish chondrocranium and frog skeleton were all well-resolved and distinct in the 3D digital models, and many finer-scale features were also well-resolved, but some more subtle features were absent from the digital models (e.g. endolymphatic foramina in chondrocranium). All characters identified in the digital chondrocranium could be identified in the subsequent 3D print; however, three characters in the 3D-printed frog skeleton could not be clearly delimited (palatines, parasphenoid and pubis). Characters that were absent in the digital models or 3D prints had low-relief in the original scanned specimen and represent a minor loss of fidelity. Our method description and case studies show that minimal equipment and training is needed to produce durable skeletal specimens. These technologies support the tailored production of models for specific classes or research aims.

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“…The sandstone layers of both MM-LOW and MM-UP frequently contain abundant macro fragments of grassy leaves and strobili of Equisetaceae (horse-tail), the latter usually preferring wet sandy soils (van den . The avian fauna from the MM-LOW also points to an open grassy environment, with nearby open water (Brumm et al, 2016;Meijer et al, 2015).…”

Section: Mata Menge Fauna and Archaeologymentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Various bird taxa have been identified among the fossil remains from Mata Menge (Meijer et al, 2015). From the MM-LOW seven taxa have been identified, including Anatidae (Cygnus sp., Anas cf.…”

Section: Mata Menge Fauna and Archaeologymentioning

confidence: 99%