Journal article

Evidence for insect and annelid activity across the Triassic-Jurassic transition of east Greenland

M Steinthorsdottir, AMP Tosolini, JC McElwain

Palaios | SEPM-SOC SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGY | Published : 2015

Abstract

During a study of macroflora from the AstarteklOft locality in Jameson Land, East Greenland, endophytic insect ovipositions (egg traces) belonging to ichnogenus Paleoovoidus were recorded for the first time in ginkgoalean (Ginkgoites, Sphenobaiera, and Baiera) fossil leaves across the Triassic-Jurassic (Tr-J) transition (ca. 200 Ma). The ovipositions may have been produced by insects in the order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) and are relatively more abundant before than after the Tr-J transition, possibly reflecting changes in plant-insect association. Fossil clitellate annelid (leech) cocoons were also discovered in a macerated sample from a single bed within the Tr-J transition. Th..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Stockholm University


Awarded by ERC


Awarded by SFI


Awarded by Marie Curie Excellence Grant


Funding Acknowledgements

MS is grateful for postdoctoral research funding provided by Stockholm University (SU 619-2974-12 NAT). JCM acknowledges funding from ERC (2011-StG 279962-OXYEVOL) and SFI (11/PI/1103). MS and JCM acknowledge a Marie Curie Excellence Grant (MEXT CT-2006-042531). Two anonymous reviewers and the editors provided valuable feedback on the manuscript. M. O'Sullivan measured dimensions of ovipositions in bed 2. A. Jeram is thanked for helpful criticism and suggestions.