Paleoecology, Diagenesis and Biological Affinity of Tetradiids in the Upper Ordovician (Sandbian) Black River Group of the Kingston Area, Ontario, Canada

Tetradiids are a group of colonial, tubular fossils that occur globally in Middle to Upper Ordovician strata. Tetradiids were first described as a type of tabulate coral; however, based on their four-fold symmetry, division, and presence of a central-sparry canal, they were recently reinterpreted as a florideophyte rhodophyte algae, a reinterpretation that is tested in this thesis. This study focused on understanding the affinity and taphonomy of this order of fossil. Research was conducted by stratigraphic and petrographic analyses of the Black River Group in the Kingston, Ontario region. Tetradiid occurrences were divided into fragment or colonial, with three morphologies of tetradiids described (Tetradium, Phytopsis and Paratetradium). Morphology is specific to depositional environment, with compact Tetradium consistently within ooid grainstones and open branching Phytopsis and chained Paratetradium consistently within mudstones. Two types of patch reefs were recognized: a Paratetradium bioherm, and a Paratetradium, Phytopsis, stromatolite bioherm. The presence of bioherms implies that tetradiids were capable of hypercalcifying. Preservation styles of tetradiids were investigated, and were compared to brachiopods, echinoderms, mollusks, and ooids. Tetradiids were preferentially preserved as molds and demonstrated complete dissolution of skeletal material. Rare specimens, however, demonstrated preserved horizontal partitions, central plates, and a double wall. Skeletal molds were filled with either calcite spar, mud or encrusted by a cryptomicrobial colony. Both calcitic and aragonitic ooids were discovered. The co-occurrence of aragonitic ooids, aragonitic crytodontids, and the evolution of aragonitic, hypercalcifying tetradiids is interpreted as representing the geochemical favoring of aragonite and HMC in a time of global calcite seas. The geochemical favoring of aragonite is interpreted to be independent to global Mg: Ca ratios, but was the result of increased saturation levels and temperature driven by high atmospheric pCO2. Based on the presence of epitheca, tabulae, septa, and the commonality of growth forms, tetradiids are interpreted as an order of Cnidaria. The evolution of an aragonitic skeleton in tetradiids is interpreted to be the result of de novo acquisition of a skeleton from an unmineralized clade.

Cultural Politics of Resilience in Kingston, Jamaica

Recently, resilience has become a catchall solution for some of the world’s most pressing ecological, economic and social problems. This dissertation analyzes the cultural politics of resilience in Kingston, Jamaica by examining them through their purported universal principles of adaptation and flexibility. On the one hand, mainstream development regimes conceptualize resilience as a necessary and positive attribute of economies, societies and cultures if we are to survive any number of disasters or disturbances. Therefore, in Jamaican cultural and development policy resilience is championed as both a means and an end of development. On the other hand, critics of resilience see the new rollout of resilience projects as deepening neoliberalism, capitalism and new forms of governmentality because resilience projects provide the terrain for new forms of securitization and surveillance practices. These scholars argue that resilience often forecloses the possibilities to resist that which threatens us. However, rather than dismissing resilience as solely a sign of domination and governmentality, this dissertation argues that resilience must be understood as much more ambiguous and complex, rather than within binaries such as subversion vs. neoliberal and resistance vs. resilience. Overly simplistic dualities of this nature have been the dominant approach in the scholarship thus far. This dissertation provides a close analysis of resilience in both multilateral and Jamaican government policy documents, while exploring the historical and contemporary production of resilience in the lives of marginalized populations. Through three sites within Kingston, Jamaica—namely dancehall and street dances, WMW-Jamaica and the activist platform SO((U))L HQ—this dissertation demonstrates that “resilience” is best understood as an ambiguous site of power negotiations, social reproduction and survival in Jamaica today. It is often precisely this ambiguous power of ordinary resilience that is capitalized on and exploited to the detriment of vulnerable groups. At once demonstrating creative negotiation and reproduction of colonial capitalist social relations within the realms of NGO, activist work and cultural production, this dissertation demonstrates the complexity of resilience. Ultimately, this dissertation draws attention to the importance of studying spaces of cultural production in order to understand the power and limits of contemporary policy discourses and political economy. 

Ann Arbor, Mich. Lower Town and Mills

Original is albumen print

Hill's Opera House, Ann Arbor, Mich. : the Strakosch concert

Front page of four-page program which contains complete list of performers, works performed, and advertisement for Weber pianos

Ann Arbor, Mich., 1890

Bird's eye view from the southwest. Publication information: Milwaukee, Wis. : C. J. Pauli, [1890]

Hangsterfer Block in 1862 or 1867 at 316 South State St., Ann Arbor, Mich.

Former site of Kresge's. Source: Ray Hutzel

Wahoo Base Ball Club of Dexter, Mich vs. Ann Arbor BB Club

On verso: Back row, left to right: 1. Irving Keal R.F. 2. Geo. Hostler C. 3. Ed Appleton 3B 4. Geo. Smith 2B 5. Byron Tyler 1st B 6. Geo. Presley CF 7. Eugene Beal SS 8. Henry Ewing P 9. Ed Hoyt LF. Matted oval 7x5 1/4 photoprint.

Top: Sunnyside Farm, 320 Acres, Property & Residince [sic] of Jas. B. Van Atta, Sec. 8 Salem Tp. Mich. Bottom: Res. of T. Walker, Sec.17 Salem Tp. Mich.

Salem, Mich. residences. Publication information: Chicago, Ill. : Everts & Stewart, 1874.

Salem Township (Mich.) residences, ca. 1874

Left to right: Res. of Daniel T. Birch, Sec. 31, Salem Tp. Mich.; Res. of J.L. Bennett, Sec. 15, Salem Tp. Mich.; Res. of Calvin Wheeler, Sec. 27, Salem Tp. Mich.; Res. of G.N.B. Renwick, Sec 27, Salem Tp. Mich.; Res. of Eli O. Smith, Sec 14, Salem Tp. Mich.; Res. of T.B. Gorton, Sec 3. Salem Tp. Mich. Publication information: Chicago, Ill. : Everts & Stewart, 1874.

Northfield and Salem Township (Mich.) residences, ca. 1874

Left to right: Res. of Geo. Sutton, Sec 34, Northfield Tp. Mich.; Res. of Geo. Renwick, Sec. 26, Northfield Tp., Mich.; Res. of A.C. Northrop, Sec. 10, Salem Tp. Mich.; Res. of Nelson Brundage, Sec. 35, Northfield Tp. Mich. (na5543); Res. of Dr. N.S. Halleck, Sec. 5, Northfield, Mich. Publication information: Chicago, Ill. : Everts & Stewart, 1874.

Top: Res. of William Doty, Sec. 11, Northfield Tp. Mich. Bottom: Res. of Wilson Yanson, Sec 1, Northfield Tp. Mich.

Northfield, Mich. residences. Publication information: Chicago, Ill. : Everts & Stewart, 1874.

Dexter (Mich.) businesses and residences, ca. 1874

Top: Res. of Bernard Keenan, Sec. 14 Northfield Tp. Mich. Bottom left: Frederick Jaeger, City Bakery ... Dexter, Mich. Bottom Center: Res of the Hon. C.S. Gregory, Dexter, Mich. and Evarts & Co. Propirs. of Dexter & Scio Mills ... Dexter, Mich. Bottom right: Res. and store of W.F. Schlanderer ... Dexter, Mich. Publication information: Chicago, Ill. : Everts & Stewart, 1874.

Top: Res. and Mill of Thomas Birkett, Sec. 12, Dexter Tp. Mich.; Bottom: Res. of Agur Taylor, Sec. 24, Dexter Tp. Mich.

Dexter, Mich. residences and mill. Publication information: Chicago, Ill. : Everts & Stewart, 1874.