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Seed plant evolution around the Devonian/Carboniferous boundary : reproductive vs. vegetative disparity.
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The origin of the ovule during the Devonian period represents one of the most significant events in the history of life on Earth that allowed seed plants to colonise new habitats and to successfully reproduce without available free water. Their evolution however remains tantalising, as no convincing transitional character states with free-sporing ancestors have been found. The first evidences of “extreme” heterospory are found in the Givetian with the occurrence of seed-megaspores such as Spermasporites allenii or Granditetraspora zharkovae. Another type of dispersed organ occurs in coeval deposits: the controversial proto-ovule Runcaria heinzelinii. This taxon is composed of a rounded apically modified megasporangium surrounded by two whorls of tissue. The earliest “true” ovules are found in the Upper-Devonian. They were cupulate, presented a dissected integument and a hydraperman type nucellus. Based on variation of these organs, up to 17 species have been described in Famennian deposits where they already show a wide morpho-anatomical disparity. Because they are most often found dispersed, the available information on the corresponding vegetative systems is very scarce. Based on material from Belgium and from the literature, we here document the vegetative systems of almost all types of Devonian seed plants for which ovules have been described. They show a very narrow diversity when compared to fertile parts, as only one morphology was found. It consists in a “zig-zag”-shaped main axis bearing helically arranged dichotomous branching systems. These new results will be compared with the data available for the Lower Carboniferous. Multivariate analyses indicate that the morpho-anatomical disparity of ovules during that time was comparable to that of the Devonian. In contrast, we observe a much higher disparity for the vegetative parts, with the apparition of various growth habits and new characters of the primary and secondary vascular system. This apparent decoupling between the diversification of seed plants reproductive and vegetative systems will be discussed.
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Intensive ant biotic surveys: lessons from IBISCA-Panama and new perspectives.
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Variation spatiale et saisonnière de la distribution des fourmis dans le sol d’une forêt tropicale
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Nutrient addition changes taxonomic composition but not trophic functions in a tropical leaf-litter ant assemblage
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Spatio-temporal variation of ant abundance among ground layers in a tropical forest
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A slice of veal with your stale bread? Faunal remains from the 18th century latrine at the abbey of Clairefontaine (Belgium)
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Analysis of faunal remains coming from archaeological contexts of abbeys have been carried out in several European countries. In Belgium, although such studies are available for the north of the country (Flanders), they are still lacking for the southern part (Wallonia). The study of animal bones unearthed in the Cistercian nunnery of Clairefontaine (1247-1794) helps to fill this gap. Here, we focus on the 18th century latrine in which animal remains were collected by hand. In addition, samples were taken in the filling of the structure for a total of 80 liters of sediments and were wet sieved to recover the small bone fragments. The information gathered during the faunal analysis are presented and then compared with historical sources, especially the account books of the abbey, to provide a more accurate insight into the diet of the sisters. It appears that consumption of meat was not uncommon. The relative diversity of foods consumed and some unusual findings are indicative of the high status of the abbey of Clairefontaine, which is also revealed by plant remains and material culture.
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Il était une fois Clairefontaine: le quotidien des nonnes d'une abbaye cistercienne au 18ème siècle
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L'abbaye de Clairefontaine, située près d'Arlon en Belgique, a été fondée au 13ème siècle et détruite lors de la Révolution française à la fin du 18ème siècle. Bien qu’après la suppression de la communauté, les bâtiments aient subi un grand démantèlement, les recherches archéologiques ont pu révéler, entre autre, les vestiges souterrains de l'abbaye du 18ème siècle. A la suite de la découverte de latrines dans la partie sud du complexe monastique, une fouille approfondie a été mise en place et des prélèvements sédimentaires ont été effectués. Une étude interdisciplinaire détaillée a ainsi pu être envisagée. En effet, de nombreux restes botaniques (pollen et spores, graines, fruits, charbons de bois et bois imbibés), zoologiques (os de mammifères, oiseaux, poissons, batraciens et carapaces de crustacés) mais aussi de verre et de poterie ont été retrouvés. Les latrines étaient construites sur un ruisseau permettant l’évacuation régulière des déchets par afflux d'eau. Cet ensemble nous donne un aperçu des rejets de la dernière génération des sœurs présentes à Clairefontaine, la majeure partie des vestiges archéologiques est en effet datée entre 1830 et 1794. Les données archéozoologiques et archéobotaniques détaillées sont comparées avec les études historiques et matérielles, afin d'illustrer les conditions de vie et les pratiques alimentaires dans ce couvent rural du 18ème siècle. La relative diversité de la nourriture consommée et la présence de produits inhabituels sont révélateurs du haut statut social des occupantes de l’abbaye.
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The Middle Ages archaeobotanical data in Wallonia (southern Belgium): a review
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Since the spring of 2011, a multidisciplinary team of bioarchaeology was established at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (IRSNB-KBINS). This team collaborates with the Public Service of Wallonia (SPW) and works on all “preventive archaeological sites” excavated in Wallonia (Southern Belgium). The majority of sites studied since the beginning of the implementation of this new service are dated to the medieval period. For several years, archaeobotanical studies were conducted more specific in Wallonia but rarely combined with other scientific studies and published. The purpose of this presentation is to review all existing archaeobotanical data for the medieval period in the Wallonia region and add those recently made by the new collaborations between archaeobotanists of the Institute (including seeds and fruit studies, wood charcoals studies, pollens studies and so one...). We can thus have an overview of the status and the nature of vegetation cover during this period of history and we can also have an approach of plant species harvested and consumed by medieval populations of current southern Belgium.
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Aspects of agriculture and diet of the Medieval period (10th-12th century AD) in northern France
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Archaeobotanical investigations of six medieval sites in Northern France (Picardy) have provided charred and mineralised plant remains (seeds and fruits). Despite some taphonomical constraints of the different preservation of these plant assemblages, archaeobotanical analysis revealed valuable information on the diet, the agriculture and the horticultural production of the medieval population in Northern France between 10th and 12th Century AD. The archaeobotanical results were influenced by the different types of features from which macro-remains were retrieved and by the reliability of the samples. The main crops plants were naked wheat and rye. The pulses, pea and common vetch are the major common crops with field bean. Fruits are very abundant and attest a wide-spread fructiculture. The number of recorded remains from the “wild forest fruits” raises the question of their probable cultivation or of their exploitation in forest. The Vineyard seems very well implanted in the region. Recurring macrorests of fig question about the status imported of Mediterranean fruits or cultivated locally by the tree. The social context of four archaeological sites is high. The potential of archaeobotanical data helping to identify social differences by defining archaeobotanical indicators of social level is to be discussed from the food practices and the diet. Finally, the mineralization process is approached and its induction by practices of purification within latrines / pits garbage dumps is suggested.
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Consumption patterns and living conditions in 18th century rural nunnery: an interdisciplinary study on the latrine of Clairefontaine (south-eastern Belgium) with special attention to botanical remains
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The abbey of Clairefontaine, situated near Arlon in Belgium, was founded in the 13th century and destroyed during the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century. Although the abbey buildings were largely dismantled after the suppression of the community, archaeological research revealed the underground remains of the 18th century monastery. A latrine was discovered on the south side of the monastic complex and excavated for a detailed interdisciplinary study. Plenty of macro-botanical and faunal remains, glass and pottery have indeed been found throughout the profile; analyses of plant micro-remains were also performed. The major part of the archaeological remains dates between the second quarter and the end of the 18th century. Built over a narrow stream, the latrine underwent regular waste evacuation by the inflow of water. It is then supposed to give an insight into cabinet of the last generation of sisters present at Clairefontaine. A clear stratification is however observed with five different units delivering contrasted archaeobiological results. We will focus here on the archaeobotanical data, which will be discussed in detail and compared with archaeozoological and historical studies, in order to illustrate the lifestyle and the consumption in a rural nunnery from the 18th century.
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