Morphological cladistic analysis as a model for character evaluation in primitive living chitons (Polyplacophora, Lepidopleurina)

Chitons are often referred to as "living fossils" in part because they are proposed as one of the earliest-diverging groups of living molluscs, but also because the gross morphology of the polyplacophoran shell has been conserved for hundreds of millions of years. As such, the analysis of evolution and radiation within polyplacophorans is of considerable interest not only for resolving the shape of pan-molluscan phylogeny but also as model organisms for the study of character evolution. This study presents a new, rigorous cladistic analysis of the morphological characters used in taxonomic descriptions for chitons in the living suborder Lepidopleurina Thiele, 1910 (the earliest-derived living group of chitons). Shell-based characters alone entirely fail to recover any recognized subdivisions within the group, which may raise serious questions about the application of fossil data (from isolated shell valves). New analysis including characters from girdle armature and gill arrangements recovers some genera within the group but also points to the lack of monophyly within the main genus Leptochiton Gray, 1847. Additional characters from molecular data and soft anatomy, used in combination, are clearly needed to resolve questions of chiton relationships. However, the data sets currently available already provide interesting insights into the analytical power of traditional morphology as well as some knowledge about the early evolution and radiation of this group.

Magma Evolution in the Primitive, Intra-oceanic Tonga Arc: Petrogenesis of Basaltic Andesites at Tofua Volcano

Tofua volcano is situated midway along the Tonga oceanic arc and has undergone two phases of ignimbrite-forming activity. The eruptive products are almost entirely basaltic andesites (52 center dot 5-57 wt % SiO2) with the exception of a volumetrically minor pre-caldera dacite. The suite displays a strong tholeiitic trend with K2O <1 wt %. Phenocryst assemblages typically comprise plagioclase + clinopyroxene +/- orthopyroxene with microlites of Ti-magnetite. Olivine (Fo(83-88)) is rare and believed to be dominantly antecrystic. An increase in the extent and frequency of reverse zoning in phenocrysts, sieve-textured plagioclase and the occurrence of antecrystic phases in post-caldera lavas record a shift to dynamic conditions, allowing the interaction of magma batches that were previously distinct. Pyroxene thermobarometry suggests crystallization at 950-1200 degrees C and 0 center dot 8-1 center dot 8 kbar. Volatile measurements of glassy melt inclusions indicate a maximum H2O content of 4 center dot 16 wt % H2O, and CO2-H2O saturation curves indicate that crystallization occurred at two levels, at depths of 4-5 center dot 5 km and 1 center dot 5-2 center dot 5 km. Major and trace element models suggest that the compositions of the majority of the samples represent a differentiation trend whereby the dacite was produced by 65% fractional crystallization of the most primitive basaltic andesite. Trace element models suggest that the sub-arc mantle source is the residuum of depleted Indian mid-ocean ridge basalt mantle (IDMM-1% melt), whereas radiogenic isotope data imply addition of 0 center dot 2% average Tongan sediment melt and a fluid component derived from the subducted altered Pacific oceanic crust. A horizontal array on the U-Th equiline diagram and Ra excesses of up to 500% suggest fluid addition to the mantle wedge within the last few thousand years. Time-integrated (Ra-226/Th-230) vs Sr/Th and Ba/Th fractionation models imply differentiation timescales of up to 4500 years for the dacitic magma compositions at Tofua.

Magma Evolution in the Primitive, Intra-oceanic Tonga Arc: Rapid Petrogenesis of Dacites at Fonualei Volcano

Fonualei is unusual amongst subaerial volcanoes in the Tonga arc because it has erupted dacitic vesicular lavas, tuffs and phreomagmatic deposits for the last 165 years. The total volume of dacite may approach 5 km(3) and overlies basal basaltic andesite and andesite lavas that are constrained to be less than a few millennia in age. All of the products are crystal-poor and formed from relatively low-viscosity magmas inferred to have had temperatures of 1100-1000 degrees C, 2-4 wt % H2O and oxygen fugacities 1-2 log units above the quartz-fayalite-magnetite buffer. Major and trace element data, along with Sr-Nd-Pb and U-Th-Ra isotope data, are used to assess competing models for the origin of the dacites. Positive correlations between Sc and Zr and Sr rule out evolution of the within-dacite compositional array by closed-system crystal fractionation of a single magma batch. An origin by partial melting of lower crustal amphibolites cannot reproduce these data trends or, arguably, any of the dacites either. Instead, we develop a model in which the dacites reflect mixing between two dacitic magmas, each the product of fractional crystallization of basaltic andesite magmas formed by different degrees of partial melting. Mixing was efficient because the two magmas had similar temperatures and viscosities. This is inferred to have occurred at shallow (2-6 km) depths beneath the volcano. U-Th-Ra disequilibria in the basaltic andesite and andesite indicate that the parental magmas had fluids added to their mantle source regions less than 8 kyr ago and that fractionation to the dacitic compositions took less than a few millennia. The 165 year eruption period for the dacites implies that mixing occurred on a similar timescale, possibly during ascent in conduits. The composition of the dacites renders them unsuitable candidates as contributors to average continental crust.

A new sensory organ in "primitive" molluscs (Polyplacophora Lepidopleurida), and its context in the nervous system of chitons

Introduction: Chitons (Polyplacophora) are molluscs considered to have a simple nervous system without cephalisation. The position of the class within Mollusca is the topic of extensive debate and neuroanatomical characters can provide new sources of phylogenetic data as well as insights into the fundamental biology of the organisms. We report a new discrete anterior sensory structure in chitons, occurring throughout Lepidopleurida, the order of living chitons that retains plesiomorphic characteristics.

Results: The novel "Schwabe organ" is clearly visible on living animals as a pair of streaks of brown or purplish pigment on the roof of the pallial cavity, lateral to or partly covered by the mouth lappets. We describe the histology and ultrastructure of the anterior nervous system, including the Schwabe organ, in two lepidopleuran chitons using light and electron microscopy. The oesophageal nerve ring is greatly enlarged and displays ganglionic structure, with the neuropil surrounded by neural somata. The Schwabe organ is innervated by the lateral nerve cord, and dense bundles of nerve fibres running through the Schwabe organ epithelium are frequently surrounded by the pigment granules which characterise the organ. Basal cells projecting to the epithelial surface and cells bearing a large number of ciliary structures may be indicative of sensory function. The Schwabe organ is present in all genera within Lepidopleurida (and absent throughout Chitonida) and represents a novel anatomical synapomorphy of the clade.

Conclusions: The Schwabe organ is a pigmented sensory organ, found on the ventral surface of deep-sea and shallow water chitons; although its anatomy is well understood, its function remains unknown. The anterior commissure of the chiton oesophagial nerve ring can be considered a brain. Our thorough review of the chiton central nervous system, and particularly the sensory organs of the pallial cavity, provides a context to interpret neuroanatomical homology and assess this new sense organ.

Matériaux pour l'histoire primitive et philosophique de l'homme : bulletin mensuel des travaux et découvertes concernant l'anthropologie, les temps préhistoriques, l'époque quaternaire, les questions de l'espèce et de la génération spontanée / par Gabriel de Mortillet

Variante(s) de titre : Mémoires pour l'histoire de l'homme

Matériaux pour l'histoire primitive et philosophique de l'homme : bulletin mensuel des travaux et découvertes concernant l'anthropologie, les temps préhistoriques, l'époque quaternaire, les questions de l'espèce et de la génération spontanée / par Gabriel de Mortillet

1868 (A4).

Matériaux pour l'histoire primitive et naturelle de l'homme et l'étude du sol, de la faune et de la flore qui s'y rattachent : revue mensuelle illustrée / fondée par G. de Mortillet et continuée par Eugène Trutat et Émile Cartailhac

1870 (SER2,A6)-1871 (SER2,A7).

Matériaux pour l'histoire primitive et naturelle de l'homme et l'étude du sol, de la faune et de la flore qui s'y rattachent : revue mensuelle illustrée / fondée par G. de Mortillet et continuée par Eugène Trutat et Émile Cartailhac

1869 (SER2,A5 ).

Matériaux pour l'histoire primitive et naturelle de l'homme et l'étude du sol, de la faune et de la flore qui s'y rattachent : revue mensuelle illustrée / fondée par G. de Mortillet et continuée par Eugène Trutat et Émile Cartailhac

1872 (SER2,T3).

Matériaux pour l'histoire primitive et naturelle de l'homme et l'étude du sol, de la faune et de la flore qui s'y rattachent : revue mensuelle illustrée / fondée par G. de Mortillet et continuée par Eugène Trutat et Émile Cartailhac

Variante(s) de titre : Matériaux pour l'histoire de l'homme

Matériaux pour l'histoire primitive et naturelle de l'homme : revue mensuelle illustrée... / dirigée par M. Émile Cartailhac avec le concours de MM. P. Cazalis de Fondouce et Chantre

1887 (SER3,T4).

Matériaux pour l'histoire primitive et naturelle de l'homme : revue mensuelle illustrée... / dirigée par M. Émile Cartailhac avec le concours de MM. P. Cazalis de Fondouce et Chantre

1873 (SER2,T4).

Matériaux pour l'histoire primitive et naturelle de l'homme : revue mensuelle illustrée... / dirigée par M. Émile Cartailhac avec le concours de MM. P. Cazalis de Fondouce et Chantre

1879 (SER2,T10).

Matériaux pour l'histoire primitive et naturelle de l'homme : revue mensuelle illustrée... / dirigée par M. Émile Cartailhac avec le concours de MM. P. Cazalis de Fondouce et Chantre

1880 (SER2,T11).