Platychelone emarginata Dollo, 1909 is a large turtle from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) chalk sediments of Limburg, Belgium. Hitherto, only the name was given to this turtle without describing details or providing figures. A single well articulated carapace (IRScNB. Reg. 1681), lacking nuchal, peripherals, and pygal plates, is preserved. The distance from the first costal to the distal end of the eighth costal is 180 cm, indicating that the original carapace was about 210 cm long. Its gigantic size, flattened shell, reduction of distal half of costals, and loss of scute sulcus, indicate that Platychelone is a member of true marine turtles (superfamily Chelonioidea). Neurals are rectangular shape and inclination of the first thoracic vertebra is almost vertical, suggesting this turtle belongs to either Protostegidae or Dermochelyidae. Seventh and eighth costals are medially meeting due to the loss of neurals; this condition is shared with the genus Mesodermochelys from the Late Cretaceous (Santonian to Maastrichtian) of Japan. Thus, it seems most probable that Platychelone is a closest relative of Mesodermochelys among basal dermochelyids. Platychelone has presumed autoapomorphic characters such as very thickened distal ends of thoracic ribs and irregular sculptures on carapace, not seen in any other chelonioids. This genus is only known by the holotype, whereas Allopleuron hoffmanni, a very common cheloniid marine turtle from in the Maastrichtian deposits of Belgium and Netherland, is known from some hundred specimens. So far, there is no ancestral or related taxon of Platychelone from the Campanian deposits of Belgium. The occurrence of Platychelone is very rare but evokes a high taxonomic diversity of gigantic chelonioids in the Cretaceous Tethys.
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2017
Finance is one of the main critical issues for the development of a low carbon society especially during times of economic recession. Closing this green investment gap will require policy intervention. This paper is part of a larger research project – the ALPI project – which aims at analysing and designing relevant instruments to accelerate the transition towards a low carbon society. As a showcase of emerging technologies in Belgium, the Hasselt University, the University of Liège and the Geological Survey of Belgium are investigating the regional potential for geothermal electricity production. Deep geothermal energy appears to be currently on the edge of a take-off. But the actual emergence of this technology is subject to developments in legislation and incentives from regional governments. Different risk/return expectations across stages of the investment continuum exist and the financial structures that are employed at each stage may require different types of public support. Considering the particularities of the development of geothermal energy in Belgium, we present different combinations of incentives to support geothermal energy, and we review different sector evolutions through a broad stakeholder consultation (policy makers, sector federations, industry, researchers, banking sector, investors, etc.). However, a reviewof the learning effects shows that neither of the two combinations can prevent a regional monopolisation of the underground as a natural resource either by a private first-mover, or a public investor. Therefore, intermediary solutions are proposed to providea balance between the two extremes, and to ensure an improved sector growth and a continuous open market. Keywords: Technological innovation, Policy instruments, Competition, Combination of policies
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2016
