02145nas a2200205 4500008004100000245007800041210006900119490000600188520150000194100001801694700002501712700002001737700002501757700002801782700002201810700002201832700002201854700002001876856004301896 2013 eng d00aV Factor: Volunteers as a bridge between museum scientists and the public0 aV Factor Volunteers as a bridge between museum scientists and th0 v13 a
V Factor is a new programme at the Natural History Museum in London. It offers volunteers the chance to work in public view alongside Museum scientists on collection-based research and curation projects, taking them from visitor to proactive volunteer. It aims to involve a volunteers project manager, scientists, curators, volunteers and the public in the museum’s research. Volunteers work alongside scientists on a research project whilst benefiting from a unique, informal and fun learning experience. Visitors are able to observe the processing of samples and interact with those involved. The management of this volunteer programme is described in this paper. The pilot project was ‘Throughflow’; an international study of Southeast Asian fossil corals as a means to describe the high biodiversity of their ecosystem and the effects of environmental change. Volunteers have successfully assisted with the cleaning of specimens so that they may be curated. At the same time, they have been discussing with experts project-related information, collections care, and the role of museums today. The programme has been continuously evaluated and changed as felt necessary. By March 2013, 45 volunteers were involved. Outcomes have included improved volunteer talent and education management, excellent assistance with scientific work and novel means of attracting the public to the museum’s work.
1 aMiller, Renee1 aJohnson, Kenneth, G.1 aThomas, Ali, L.1 aDouglas, Lyndsey, G.1 aSantodomingo, Nadiezhda1 aBroom, Yoke, Shum1 aAvedillo, Therese1 aMurray, Cassandra1 aSadler, Theresa uhttps://ipaeg.myspecies.info/node/204901949nas a2200157 4500008004100000245004900041210004900090260002700139520147900166653002001645653001801665653001201683100002801695700002501723856004301748 2013 eng d00aDigging on the origins of the Coral Triangle0 aDigging on the origins of the Coral Triangle aEilat, Israelc12/20133 aReefs in the Coral Triangle host the richest coral diversity today, and palaeontological and molecular evidence suggest that the Miocene (5-23 Ma) was an important period for diversification in this region. As part of the Throughflow ITN, the aims of this study are to determine which coral species occurred during this period and to understand how environmental factors controlled coral diversification on both temporal and spatial scales. Our new collections include tens of thousands of specimens from the rich and well-preserved Miocene fossil record of small patch reefs that developed in turbid habitats that are now preserved in the sediments of the Kutai Basin of East Kalimantan (Indonesia). Preliminary results suggest that species diversity was high and comparable to modern coral settings living under turbid environmental conditions. A total of 150 morphospecies from 70 genera have been identified, including nine genera known as extinct. Our findings have revealed that some lineages that were previously known from the Plio-Pleistocene record were already present during the Miocene time. These discoveries have a profound impact on our understanding of the origins of today’s diversity in the Coral Triangle. Further research will focus on the incorporation of these fossils into phylogenetic analyses in order to estimate divergence times and explore the relationship of evolutionary trends with environmental changes at biogeographic scale.
10aEast Kalimantan10aFossil corals10aMiocene1 aSantodomingo, Nadiezhda1 aJohnson, Kenneth, G. uhttps://ipaeg.myspecies.info/node/204600433nas a2200109 4500008004100000245007700041210006900118260005400187100002800241700002500269856002900294 2013 eng d00aUnderstanding the murky origins of coral diversity in the Coral Triangle0 aUnderstanding the murky origins of coral diversity in the Coral aMuseum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germanyc11/03/131 aSantodomingo, Nadiezhda1 aJohnson, Kenneth, G. uhttp://www.sage2013.org/02842nas a2200205 4500008004100000245012500041210006900166300001200235490000800247520207100255100001702326700002802343700001802371700002502389700002402414700002002438700002502458700001902483856013402502 2013 eng d00aEnvironmental reconstruction of a late Burdigalian (Miocene) patch reef in deltaic deposits (East Kalimantan, Indonesia)0 aEnvironmental reconstruction of a late Burdigalian Miocene patch a110-1220 v3743 aMost studies of Cenozoic shallow-water, mixed carbonate-siliciclastic depositional systems have focused on their sedimentology. To date, however, comprehensive analyses of biotas and biofacies of Indo-West Pacific reefs that developed in mixed carbonate-siliciclastic systems are lacking. This study describes the palaeoenvironment and biodiversity of a late Burdigalian patch reef that developed in a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic depositional system. The studied exposure is located at the northeast margin of the Kutai Basin near Bontang (Indonesia), and is approximately 80 m wide and 25 m thick. Multi-taxon analysis of the most abundant fossil groups, including larger benthic foraminifera, corals, coralline algae, and bryozoans, aims to provide a model for environmental interpretation that will allow comparison with similar deposits of Indo-West Pacific region. Based on fossil content and lithology, five different facies types have been distinguished: foraminiferal packstone (FP), bioclastic packstone with foralgal communities (BP), thin-platy coral sheetstone (CS), platy-tabular coral platestone (CP), and shales (S). Among larger benthic foraminifera, smaller and more robust forms dominate in the FP and BP facies, while larger and flatter forms are the most abundant in the CS and CP facies. Thin-platy corals are dominant in the CS facies and gradually change into thicker platy-tabular forms in the CP facies. Assemblages and growth forms of coralline algae show no major differences between the facies types and are dominated by melobesioids and Sporolithon. The majority of bryozoan species are encrusting and were found only in the CS facies. Light-dependent organisms occurring in the reef indicate low light conditions typical for mesophotic reefs. The relatively small size of this reef complex and quite distinct vertical changes in the facies types, combined with the high siliciclastic content in most of the units, points to strong terrigenous input affecting water transparency as the main factor controlling the reef growth.
1 aNovak, Vibor1 aSantodomingo, Nadiezhda1 aRösler, Anja1 aDi Martino, Emanuela1 aBraga, Juan, Carlos1 aTaylor, Paul, D1 aJohnson, Kenneth, G.1 aRenema, Willem uhttps://ipaeg.myspecies.info/content/environmental-reconstruction-late-burdigalian-miocene-patch-reef-deltaic-deposits-east-kalim