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Intertidal zones due their conditional instability and great anthropogenic pressures are considered the most vulnerable and stressful ecosystems in the world. The Lokunja salt marsh, located in the town Pag and near to saline basins, is well known by its healthy mud. Most of the areas present very shallow water depths with microtidal (0.25 m, HHI data), semidiurnal tidal regime. Once natural spit protect the area from the open sea. Four sediments samples were collected manually in July 2018. The aim of this study is to describe the composition and structure of Foraminifera and Ostracoda in detail in order to investigate the distribution of each group in this restricted marine environment. Micropalaeontological analyses were performed on samples washed through a 63μm sieve and residue was then split into small proportions containing at least 300 specimens of benthic foraminifera. To characterize the biodiversity of total assemblages, five faunal parameters were calculated: (1) species diversity and the number of species in each sample ; (2) dominance, (3) Shannon–Weaver index, (4) Pielou’s evenness and (5) Fisher - α index. The size frequency graphs were constructed for dominant species in order to recognize the status of assemblages. A total of 1038 benthic foraminifera, belonging to nine taxa, have been counted and identified. Species richness in all studied samples varies from 4 - 8, dominance shows a maximum value of 0.43, the lowest value of Shannon–Weaver index is 0.77, the lowest value of Pielou’s evenness is 0.39 whereas Fisher α index reaches the greatest value of 1.59. Ammonia parkinsionana forms generally dominate the foraminiferal fauna (63 to 77%), with subordinate Haynesina depressula (2.7 - 15% and Cribroelphidium granosum (9.5 – 16%). The population of A. parkinsoniana is characterized by a Gaussian (normal) size distribution, peak in abundances occurred approximately at range 260-300 µm. It clearly point out that even in this restricted area certain hydrodynamic parameters occur and they control over the distribution of the tests. Also, the dominance of the opportunistic, oligohaline species confirms relatively high nutrient inputs, represented by labile and refractory organic matter. All ostracod assemblages are dominated by Cyprideis torosa, a widespread, euryhaline taxon, commonly found in transitional environments such as lagoons, estuaries, and inland ponds. This an opportunistic species, able to live from almost freshwater to hypersaline conditions, irrespective of substratum type, vegetation cover, temperature, and oxygen concentration. C. torosa presents two morphotypes with different ornamentation of the valves, and both of them are recorded within this assemblage: noded and un-noded (although this type prevails). The co-dominance of noded and un- noded reflects deposition in a restricted, oligohaline environment, like a low-salinity inner lagoon possibly with oxygen deficiency, where only this opportunistic species is able to thrive. Interestingly, based on ratio W/L, all found valves of C. torosa belonged to male individuals and along with uniform size suggest a post-mortem transport. Dealing with the area separated from the open sea where foraminifera and ostracods are re-distributed, suggest the impact of seasonal strong waves.

The Adriatic region is considered as a hot spot for genus Alveolina. They proved to e good biostratigraphic markers, and many SBZ have been defined upon them. In addition, they show paleogeographic preferences as well great ability of adaptations regarding ecological conditions in shallow-water environments.

Definire la missione culturale del Museo Nazionale dell’Antartide e, in generale dei musei scientifici, è considerata generalmente una questione complessa. Il museo deve proporsi come luogo di scoperta, che fornisce stimoli alla curiosità, senza pretendere di essere esauriente, ma piuttosto riuscendo a far assaporare la scienza, tanto da rendere il visitatore non solo fruitore ma anche produttore e soggetto principale di cultura. In tal senso i musei scientifici possono e devono avere un ruolo determinante nel promuovere la diffusione della cultura scientifica, coinvolgendo il pubblico di ogni età, fornendo informazioni, conoscenze, stimoli e motivazioni all’apprendimento. La realizzazione a Trieste del Museo Nazionale dell’Antartide si offre a questa prospettiva usufruendo, in quanto centro interuniversitario preposto anche alla ricerca, del mondo della cultura universitaria, e trasferendola in modo semplificato alla società civile. La concretizzazione, infatti, di una moderna esposizione con annesse aule conferenze, laboratori didattici ed attività diversificate di divulgazione temporanea, tra cui la capacità di analisi e studio di moderne metodiche didattico/divulgative, realizza un ponte tra la cultura scientifica di alto livello e la divulgazione della stessa verso l’utenza media. Defining the cultural mission of the National Museum of Antarctica and in general of science museums is a complex issue. The museum should present itself as a place of discovery, which provides incentives to curiosity, without claiming to be exhaustive, but rather managing to enjoy science, so as to make the visitor not only the user but also a producer and main subject of culture. Science museums can and should play a key role in promoting the diffusion of scientific culture involving an audience of all ages, providing information, knowledge, incentives and motivation to learn. In this context the realization of the National Museum of Antarctica in Trieste offers the opportunity to interact with the world of university culture. A modern exhibition that includes classroom lectures, educational workshops and diversified temporary exhibitions can create a bridge between scientific culture and society.

This year (2018) we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the publication the 'Larger foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Tethyan Paleocene and Eocene' by Serra-Kiel and co-authors (1998), well-known for introducing 20 SBZ (= Shallow Benthic Zones), ranging from K/Pg boundary up to the Eocene/Oligocene boundary. This standart Paleogene biozonation is based on 400 index taxa of alveolinids (99), nummulitids (120), assilinas (41), orthophragminids (71), agglutinated species (14), porcelaneous species (24) and hyaline species (31) and is widely used from the Western Mediterranean Neo-Tethys to Assam and Tibet. The present work focusses on the alveolinids of the Adriatic region, from the outcrops in the NW (Mt. Lessini, Friuli, Karst, Istria) towards the SE (Dalmatia, Herzegovina) and the Gargano Peninsula in Italy. It is based on various studies on alveolinids by K. Drobne et al. (2009), by H. Ibrahimpašić (2012) and on unpublished work on the assemblages of NE Italy. According to the data of Hottinger (1960) for the N and NE Italy, we prepared a table of revised species for the SBZ 4, SBZ 11, SBZ 12, SBZ 13, SBZ 14 and SBZ 17. 25 species are recorded, out of which 7 were described by G. Checchia–Rispoli and 8 by L. Hottinger. K. Drobne (1977) the 'Hauptalveolinenkalk' of G. Stache on the Karst, Čičarija, Istria and Kvarner areas. 94 species of Alveolina have been recorded, of which 23 were described first from this region, including A. laxa Hottinger and A. triestina Hottinger. The alveolinids were collected from 20 key- sections and outcrops, and possess index value for the Thanetian-Bartonian interval on the chronostratigraphic scale (Serra-Kiel et al., 1998). The same assemblages also occur in Dalmatia and Herzegovina (Drobne et al., 2011). As a side issue, and with a global perspective, we also plan a digital update (1998-2018) to the 'Paleogene Larger Foraminifera – Reference List' by J. Pignatti (1998). This publication, listing 4770 works dealing with Paleogene larger foraminifera, is also celebrating its 20th anniversary. We maintain that an update will be useful to larger foraminiferal workers worldwide.

The knowledge of the infralittoral ostracodes presents an increasing interest since it is an essential tool for several fields of research such as human impact of the coastal environments, including environmental monitoring, geoarchaeology and reconstruction of ancient shorelines. The study of the infralittoral ostracode fauna of a small bay of northern Sardinia may represent an useful piece of this knowledge. This bay near Porto Puddu is characterized by shallow seafloors presenting wide vegetated areas, progression of the shoreline and seasonal strem (southern sector). Moreover, its water column is conditioned by winds along the year (Astraldi et al., 1980).

Within the National Program on Antarctic Research (PNRA), studies of ostracods assemblages from seven sediment cores (ANTA91 c9, ANTA 98 c25, ANTA02 NW1, NW2, NW5, NW6, NW12) sampled in the north western sector of the Ross Sea continental shelf showed some interesting micropaleontological results, which are very useful for the reconstruction of the climatic history of the area.

Al giorno d’oggi i bambini fruiscono autonomamente dei media (tv, internet) per divertirsi e imparare. Spesso però rimangono spettatori passivi di un cambiamento che riguarda le fonti di conoscenza e i sistemi di comunicazione contemporanei. Il progetto, realizzato e sperimentato nel 2012, nato dalla collaborazione tra la cooperativa La Collina e il Museo Nazionale dell’Antartide - Sezione di Trieste, nasce dall’idea di rompere la passività della fruizione mediatica del bambino, supportandolo, mediante un approccio interattivo-costruttivista, nella comprensione e costruzione del messaggio audiovisivo. Si è voluto quindi scardinare il tradizionale processo comunicativo unidirezionale dettato dai format televisivi, incoraggiando i bambini a diventare non solo fruitori dell’informazione scientifica ma anche autori e attori principali della scienza anziché rimanere spettatori delle produzioni a loro dedicate.

Nell’ultimo decennio lo sviluppo delle tecnologie digitali e della rete internet ha favorito un cambiamento radicale nel costruire e veicolare i contenuti narrativi speciea carattere scientifico; le singole persone hanno cominciato a produrre narrazioni e a condividerle in rete (Petrucco & De Rossi, 2009). La costruzione di storie digitali e la loro fruizione, Così come avviene per ogni forma di narrazione, costruzione e narrazione di storie digitali favoriscono coinvolgimento e attenzione del fruitore, costituendo una modalità efficace per evidenziare potenziali “elementi di conoscenza” complessi. In tale ottica,la Sezione di Trieste del Museo Nazionale dell’Antartide in collaborazione con ricercatori dell’- International Centre for Theoretical Physics e del Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Architettura, Università di Trieste, ha realizzato un progetto biennale cofinanziato dalla Regione FVG e incentrato sulla figura di Darwin. Il progetto appena completato ha messo in luce il ruolo di Darwin quale studioso capace di applicare l’interdisciplinarietà, e soprattutto di coniugare aspetti delle scienze naturali e sociali.

Geological disciplines are increasingly applied to archaeological research. Their potentialities are able to cover numerous fields of research, since they can become very interesting tools to define the ancient environments, the origin of the human settlements and the natural and anthropic processes which occurred through the evolution of the territory. Elaiussa Sebaste (Mersin region, South-Eastern coast of the Turkey), which was an important coastal town from the II century BC to VII century AD, may represent a noteworthy field of application of geological disciplines. This site was one of the main trading harbours of the Mediterranean (from the Augustan to the Byzantine era) growing in the Augustan period and maintaining its prestige until the late Empire and the Byzantine era. Actually it was the intersection of the most important shipping and land routes among Syria, Egypt and the Anatolian peninsula. The evolution of the coastal environment around this town has been continuously modified by men along its history. The most evident modification occurred North and South the promontory of Elaiussa-Sebaste bay, i.e. the construction of two harbours, which have been subsequently buried by not well defined events. The definition of the geological processes controlling the evolution of the coastal area during the last 3000 years, should become essential to reconstruct the succession of the palaeoenvironments of Elaiussa Sebaste, including the decline of the harbours.With regard to this topic, the geomorphologic analysis reveals the complex interactions among tectonics, erosion and sedimentation in this coastal area in both, emerged and in ancient times submerged settings facing the archaeological site. During the summer 2012, a geological survey allowed us to drill nine boreholes along the land-to-sea transects in both harbours. Preliminary observations indicate the stratigraphic evolution from restricted to open marine coastal environments. Sedimentology, palaeontology, palynology and sediment geochemistry are applied to study the stratigraphical sequences of boreholes and archaeological excavations. We plan obtain an evolutionary model which might consist of natural (pre-harbour) deposits, covered by low hydrodynamic sediments, which were deposited in the harbour “container”, and finally overlaid by other ones responsible of the harbours burial. Radiocarbon dating will precisely define the chronology of these events. We emphasize the role of the palynological analyses which will be addressed to the reconstruction of the evolution of the vegetation, identifying its climatic/environmental changes through the time, also in relation with the human activities in the site.

In the literature, there are many studies concerning ostracods in the Italian seas. Among the most relevant are the evergreen monograph of Müller (1894) about the ostracods from the Gulf of Naples, the publications of BONADUCE et al., 1976 and BREMAN,1976 about the Adriatic Sea, PURI et al., 1964, again about the Gulf of Naples and BONADUCE et al., 1977 about the southern Tyrrhenian Sea. In addition, different authors centered their research in smaller areas of the Italian coasts (MONTENEGRO et al., 1998; SCIUTO & ROSSO, 2002; ARBULLA et al., 2004; SCIUTO, in progress;) proposed a synthesis of the most abundant and more easily identifiable ostracods from the Italian shelves, linking their occurrence to some environmental factors such as bathymetry and substrate. Ten different ostracod assemblages were observed in relation to the type of substrate, and nine bathymetric assemblages were detected. Evident changes of the autochthonous ostracod fauna were recorded at 50-60 m, 90-100 m and 125-150 m, corresponding to the infralittoral-circalittoral, inner-middle circalittoral and middle-outer circalittoral boundaries respectively. More recently, AIELLO & BARRA (2010) have published a checklist of the Italian marine ostracods, reporting 377 ostracod species from the screening of 84 papers. In this contribution, we present an updated database of the ostracod species pertaining to the infralittoral and circalittoral zones, together with those occurring in lagoon, intertidal, submarine cave and deep water settings. Furthermore, we intend to highlight the links between the ostracod assemblages...

This paper describes deeper water clastic to hemipelagic sediments from the Adriatic microcontinent, at the contact zone between the Adriatic and Dinaric carbonate platforms. The flysch section from Mt. Nanos contains a sedimentary sequence deposited close to the Paleocene/Eocene boundary. We dated this section biostratigraphically, reconstructed the paleoenvironments, and established a correlation with the northern part of the central Tethys. Samples were studied for calcareous nannoplankton, planktonic foraminifera, small and large benthic foraminifera, and ostracods. Calcareous nannoplankton assemblages of the Nanos section belong to the Discoaster multiradiatus zone NP 9 in the uppermost Paleocene. Planktonic foraminiferal assemblages allow the assignment to the biozone Morozovella velascoensis (P 5) in the uppermost Paleocene as well. Both nannoplankton and planktonic foraminifera are consistent with a period of global warming in the latest Paleocene just below the PETM. Nannoplankton assemblages are relatively rich in discoasters which suggests that they were deposited in a warm oligotrophic environment. Planktonic foraminifera indicate oligotrophic habitats, warm surface water and a well stratified water column with stable thermocline. Predominance of planktonic foraminiferal species and the presence of the deep-sea ostracod species Cytherella sp suggest sedimentation in deeper opensea environments. A peculiar sphaerical benthic foraminifer Aberisphaera sp., which has been found in the NE Himalayas and in the Nanos section, possibly indicates a connection between these two geographically remote areas.

La Sezione di Trieste del Museo Nazionale dell'Antartide, al fine di trovare e sperimentare nuove potenzialità formative ed educative, nel 2011 ha avviato con il Corso per tecnici dell'industria audiovisiva dell'IPSIA Galvani di Trieste, un'attività di Peer Education volta appunto a sviluppare la crescita dello studente mediante lo sviluppo del senso critico, della coscienza di sé e della propria generazione. L'iniziativa dal titolo "Coloriamo l'AntARTico: un continente tutto bianco da di pingere", prevedeva il coinvolgimento di ragazzi delle scuole elementari e medie invitati a dipingere su grandi tele la loro idea del Polo Sud: pinguini, iceberg, distese di ghiaccio, tempeste di vento, aurore australi.

Defining the cultural mission of the nation museum of Antarctica and in general of the science museum is a complex issue.

Essiste nel nostro pianeta un immenso laboratorio naturale per lo studio dei grandi problemi del futuro. Questo laboratorio è l'Antartide, il continente più affascinante ed inesplorato della terra. Per rendere noto e visibile ad un ampio pubblico lo sforzo scientifico ed economico del nostro paese, viene proposta la creazione di un Museo per l'Antartide che ha l'obiettivo di rendere disponibili le attività di ricerca effettuate dall'Italia nel Continente Bianco, nonché di valorizzare e riscoprire la coscienza storica polare italiana. Al Museo è altresì affidato il compito di promuovere la diffusione e la divulgazione dei risultati dell'attività scientifica svolta in Antartide, nonché la formzione tecnica e scientifica delle scienze polari a vari livelli.

The ancient Greeks built the cities of Herakleion and Eastern Canopus as major navigational gateways at mouths of the Canopic branch of the Nile River in Egypt. Although originally built on the coastal margin of the northwestern Nile delta (Toussoun, 1934; Bernand, 1970), these recently rediscovered cities now lie in Abu Qir Bay (Fig. 1) where they are now completely submerged in marine waters at depths of about 5 to 7 m (Goddio et al., 2003). Herakleion, the older settlement, remained above sea level from about the 6th century BC to the 1st century AD, and Eastern Canopus was active from Greek/Ptolomaic time until the mid-8th century AD (Stanley et al., 2001; Stanley and Warne, 2003). To date, relatively little is known of the sediment substrate on which the cities were built, except that these once lay at elevations of little more than 1 m above sea level and subsequently were submerged by a series of both gradual and sudden events. Some preliminary information on submergence of the cities and failure of their sediment substrate has been obtained as a result of recent geological and geophysical surveys. These provide new insight on the triggering mechanisms and on how and when the two cities subsided in Abu Qir Bay (Stanley et al., 2003 a, b). The purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) to determine whether correlation by cores can be established between now-submerged substrates in different geographic localities at and near the submerged sites; and (2) to interpret the environmental evolution recorded in the cores in order to gain additional information on the nature of lowering of the sediment substrates upon which the two ancient cities were originally built. It is anticipated that an investigation focusing on these two aspects could provide some clarification of sea-level changes and sin- and post-depositional conditions affecting these substrates during the past 2500 years. To achieve these goals, we examined various faunas from a series of radiocarbon-dated vibracores collected at nine localities beneath the two cities (Fig. 1). Emphasis herein is on molluscan assemblages, including bivalves, gastropods and scaphopods, and on microfossils, including foraminiferal and ostracod faunas. The approach used is based on the a priori expectation that most faunas encountered in Holocene core sections recovered in the study area presently live in the Mediterranean. Thus, an assessment of molluscan and microfossil assemblages in core sections would likely shed new light on depositional conditions through time on the vertically mobile Nile delta margin. It is important for study of the now-submerged cities that we focus herein on faunal changes through time, i.e. prior to, during and following subsidence of both cities into the sector that has only recently evolved as a fully marine bay.

The study of ostracod fauna of the coastal area near Phetchaburi allows the iden¬tification of 38 species. Taking into account the data of some environmental factors, it has been pos¬sible to recognize some ostracod groups which indicate relationships with depth and substrate. The application of Shannon Weaver (H') index demonstrates that the best conditions of species richness and equitability and, then, equitable environmental conditions are present in the central-southern sector of the investigated area. Conversely, stressing conditions occur in the northern sector in front of the Mae Khlong river mouth, which drains seaward pollutants and nutrients. The sampling stations are included by us in categories corresponding to H' values. Except for those without ostracods (category 1 with H' not calculated), the sampling stations characterize other four categories. It is assumed by us that the environmental conditions improve from 1 to 5 category. When present, the ostracod species evidence in these categories some observations concerning their high or reduced capability to tolerate the variations of the environmental conditions. Species occurring in several categories are more tolerant than those present in a reduced number of categories. The for¬mer species can be labeled as opportunistic; the latter species can be considered "in equilibrium", or less opportunistic, at least. Thus, this work evidences that the ostracods can be good markers of the environmental variability, so becoming useful tools for the monitoring of a coastal area showing par¬ticular conditions linked to strong river influence and human activity

Cyprideis corosa (Jones), which is one of the most common brackish writer species, has been "Wend in the thanatocoenoses sampled at the offibore bottoms of the Adriatic Sea. C. torosa is characterized by the presence of both well-preserved adults and juveniles valves. This evidence should exclude transport processes and, in consequence, should ensure its autochthony. Findings of autochthonous specimens of C. cornea occur in some marine settings of the Saline Gulf (NE Sardinia). There, this species was found in nearshore settings, which are characterized by the presence ofifivsle water submarine springs, and that may have created favourable conditions such as microhabi rats of brackish water. In the Adriatic Sea the situation is quite different. In fact; C. rorosa has been found in several offihore sampling stations that are far away flow any firsh water influence and are located in correspondence to deposits with a high content of sand related to late Quaternary littoral settings (e.g., nearshore, lagoon) that characterized the central-northern Adriatic region. During the Holocene transgression, these deposits were subsequently preserved and eventually eroded. Moreover the location of the offlhore sampling stations containing C. cornea seems to have a pattern following that of the Holocene shorelines in the northern Adriatic area. Then, C. torosa found within these deposits has to be considered part af an autochthorrous late Quaternary brackish water ostracod fauna, that also contains other very shallow marine species tolerating strong fresh water influence, together with rare non-marine ones. Subsequently, some modern deeper water' ostracods may have contaminated this fauna as it results flan the presence of an apparently mixed brackish/marine ostracod assemblage.

A short stratigraphic section outcropping in the Aurisina area records ramp settings where rudists, foraminifers and other taxa contribute in oroginating three lithosomes. The first two originated through the activity of K-strategist foraminifers, which establish the substrate for the r-strategist radiolitids. The youngest lithosome is included in a frame of K-selection, where corals and corallinaceans algae produce the hard substrate for hippuritid-radiolitid congregations. Foraminifers and rudists indicate that this evolution takes place during Santonian-Campanian.

Genus Anchistrocheles Brady & Norman, 1889 TYPE SPECIES. — Anchistrocheles fumata Brady, 1890.

Phlyctocythere sicula n. sp. (Fig. 3) TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: Strait of Messina, central Mediterranean, R / V Universitatis, cruise MERC, Sampling station MERC 10 (38°07'14''N, 15°32'55"E; 545 m depth), terrigenous mud, 10.XII.2005, right valve (L 0.670 mm, H 0.365 mm), MNHN PMC. O8 H. 1.10.2012 (Fig. 3A). Paratypes: same data as holotype, 2 left valves, MNHN PMC.O 28P. 1.10.2012 (Fig. 3B), O 29P. 1.10.2012 (Fig. 3C). OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — One left valve found in the Pleistocene (Calabrian) sedimentary succession cropping out at Scoppo (ME) (Fig. 1) along the sicilian side of the Strait of Messina. STRATIGRAPHIC RANGE.— Early Pleistocene (Calabrian) to Recent. ETIMOLOGY. — Named from the Sicily Island. DIAGNOSIS. — Phlyctocythere sicula n. sp. is characterised by a suboval, inflated carapace with swollen posteroventral area and a short caudal process in postero-central area. DESCRIPTION Carapace medium to large sized, suboval in lateral view.Anterior margin rounded and slightly pointed, dorsal margin regularly arched and convex, gently passing to the caudal process of the posterior area (Fig. 3A, B). Caudal process short and obtuse. Ventral margin slightly sinuous, regularly and steeply bending to the posterior margin towards the caudal process. Carapace inflated and oval in dorsal view. Outer surface lightly ornamented by a very weak reticulum particularly evident in the ventrolateral area (Fig. 3I). Few normal pore-canals, simple and evenly distributed, widely spaced, on the surface of the valve (Fig. 3C, G, H). Inner lamella anteriorly wide, narrower posteriorly, reduced to the minimum ventrally (Fig. 3C). Vestibula large anteriorly, narrow in postero-ventral area (Fig. 3C). Marginal pore-canals not observable. Eye tubercles absent. Hinge merodont: in the LV a curved smooth bar (Fig. 3C, F) with two little elongated lateral grooves at the anterior and posterior ends (Fig. 3G, H). RV with complementary elements. Four adductor scars and a single dorsal muscle scar (Fig. 3 C, D). REMARKS Phlyctocythere sicula n. sp. shows general features, and particularly the outline, similar to those of Loxoconcha Sars, 1866 and, especially, to Loxoconchella Triebel, 1954, but differs from both of them mainly because of the weak ornamentation of the carapace. Relatively to the hinge, the genus Phlyctocythere seems to show a wide variability; despite, Keij (1958) described the hinge of the type species as adont in its original description. Several species assigned to Phlyctocythere actually have a more or less developed hinge. P. pellucida (Müller, 1894) possesses a hinge as do some specimens, recorded by Van Morkoven (1963) and left in open nomenclature, which show traces of hinge terminal elements. Similarly, P. curva Van den Bold, 1988 shows a hinge "Weak, in the left valve consisting of a long, curved, very slightly crenulate bar with terminal, elongate, slightly, crenulate sockets" (Van den Bold 1988: 52). Consequently, the presence of a merodont hinge in the observed species does not prevent its inclusion within the genus Phlyctocythere. Furthermore, the present species has been assigned to Anchistrocheles using some features belonging to the type species such as the four muscle scars in row, the different vestibula, the normal pore canals widely spaced and the light ornamentation of the outer surface of the carapace. Phlyctocythere includes 12 living species and some fossil ones; some of them are reported in open nomenclature. It has a present-day and fossil worldwide distribution. The oldest species have been doubtfully reported from the Barremian of SE France (Donze 1971), and further taxa are known from the Eocene of the Paris Basin (Keij 1958), the Tortonian-Messinian of SE Sicily (Ciampo 1980) and the Pleistocene of Italy (Ciampo 1976; Moncharmont-Zei et al. 1985). Living species have been reported from the Mediterranean (Müller 1894; Ciampo 2003), the south Pacific (Correge 1993), the NE Atlantic (Freiwald & Mostafawi 1998), northwestern Europe (Sars 1866; 1922 -1928), North Carolina (Atlantic Ocean) (Hazel 1975), tropical West Africa (Hartmann & Hartmann Schroeder 1975). In the Recent Mediterranean the genus Phlyctocythere was formerly known only with P. pellucida (Müller, 1894). Phlyctocythere pellucida was reported from: 1) the Gulf of Naples associated with calcareuos algae down to a depth of 100 m (Puri et al. 1964); 2) Malta, where it was collected from 9 and 128 m (Bonaduce & Masoli 1970); 3) the east Mediterranean (Liban), collected from 75 and 245 m (Bonaduce et al. 1970); 4) Adriatic Sea down to 150 m (Uffenorde 1972; Bonaduce et al. 1975). Phlyctocythere sicula n. sp. is distinguishable from P. pellucida because of the more rounded outline, the caudal process less marked, more obtuse and more shifted to the median side of the posterior end; the postero-ventral area inflated, the more acute anterior margin, the narrower marginal zone and vestibula., Published as part of Sciuto, Francesco & Pugliese, Nevio, 2013, Description of two new species of ostracods from the Strait of Messina (central Mediterranean), pp. 35-44 in Zoosystema 35 (1) on pages 40-42, DOI: 10.5252/z2013n1a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4539132, {"references":["SARS G. 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Bulletin du Centre de Recherche de Pau 5 (suppl.): 651 - 661.","CIAMPO G. 1980. - Ostracodi miocenici (Tortoniano- Messiniano) della regione di Ragusa (Sicilia). Bollettino della Societa Paleontologica Italiana 19 (1): 5 - 20.","CIAMPO G. 1976. - Ostracodi pleistocenici di Cala Bianca (Marina di Camerota, Salerno). Bollettino della Societa Paleontologica Italiana 15 (1): 3 - 23.","CIAMPO G. 2003. - Reconstruction of Late Pleistocene- Holocene palaeobathymetries from Ostracoda on the Tyrrhenian continental shelf. Geobios 36: 1 - 11.","CORREGE T. 1993. - The relationship between water masses and benthic ostracod assemblages in the western Coral Sea, southwest Pacific. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 105: 245 - 266.","FREIWALD A. & MOSTAFAWI N. 1998. - Ostracods in a cold-temperate coastal environment, western Troms, northern Norway: sedimentary aspect and assemblages. Facies 38: 255 - 274.","SARS G. O. 1922 - 1928. - An Account of the Crustacea of Norway. 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Genus Phlyctocythere Keij, 1958 TYPE SPECIES. — Phlyctocythere eocaenica Keij, 1958., Published as part of Sciuto, Francesco & Pugliese, Nevio, 2013, Description of two new species of ostracods from the Strait of Messina (central Mediterranean), pp. 35-44 in Zoosystema 35 (1) on page 40, DOI: 10.5252/z2013n1a4, http://zenodo.org/record/4539132, {"references":["KEIJ A. J. 1958. - Note on the Lutetian Ostracoda of Damery (Marne), France. Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, Proceding, ser. B, 61 (1): 63 - 73."]}

This paper describes deeper water clastic to hemipelagic sediments from the Adriatic microcontinent, at the contact zone between the Adriatic and Dinaric carbonate platforms. The flysch section from Mt. Nanos contains a sedimentary sequence deposited close to the Paleocene/Eocene boundary. We dated this section biostratigraphically, reconstructed the paleoenvironments, and established a correlation with the northern part of the central Tethys. Samples were studied for calcareous nannoplankton, planktonic foraminifera, small and large benthic foraminifera, and ostracods. Calcareous nannoplankton assemblages of the Nanos section belong to the Discoaster multiradiatus zone NP 9 in the uppermost Paleocene. Planktonic foraminiferal assemblages allow the assignment to the biozone Morozovella velascoensis (P 5) in the uppermost Paleocene as well. Both nannoplankton and planktonic foraminifera are consistent with a period of global warming in the latest Paleocene just below the PETM. Nannoplankton assemblages are relatively rich in discoasters which suggests that they were deposited in a warm oligotrophic environment. Planktonic foraminifera indicate oligotrophic habitats, warm surface water and a well stratified water column with stable thermocline. Predominance of planktonic foraminiferal species and the presence of the deep-sea ostracod species Cytherella sp suggest sedimentation in deeper opensea environments. A peculiar sphaerical benthic foraminifer – Aberisphaera sp., which has been found in the NE Himalayas and in the Nanos section, possibly indicates a connection between these two geographically remote areas.

From the Late Cretaceous to the end of Early Eocene the NW margin of the Paleogene Adriatic Carbonate Platform bordered on a deeper sedimentary basin characterized by clasitic sedimentation. The present study concerns two sections of the Upper Paleocene/Eocene sediments: Nanos section (S slope of Mt. Nanos) with clastic basin sedimentation and, Sopada section (Trieste-Komen Karst) with sediments deposited in the shallow-water carbonate platform. The Nanos section was studied for planktonic foraminifera, calcareous nannoplankton, and ostracods. The Sopada section was studied for stable carbon isotopes. Larger benthic foraminifera were studied in both sections. The age attribution of the Sopada sediments was done based on larger foraminifera. The presence of Assilina azilensis and Glomalveolina levis point out to SBZ 4, while Lower Eocene age (SBZ 5) was proven by occurrences of the index species Alveolina aramaea and A. latior. Thomasella labyrinthica, Lacazina blumenthalii, Pseudolacazina donatae, as well as ranikothalids, nummulitids and rotaliids were found in samples assigned to both biozones. CIE with pronounced negative δ13C values was detected in the upper part of the Paleocene corresponding to the extinction of some foraminiferal species. The assemblages found are comparable to those described from the Eastern Neotethys (e. g., Turkey and Egypt). The occurrences of planktonic foraminifera Morozovella aequa, M. acuta, and M. velascoensis indicate P5 biozone (the uppermost Paleocene and the lowermost part of the Eocene) for the sediments from Nanos section. Calcareous nannoplankton assemblage studied from the same samples contains Discoaster multiradiatus, D. lenticularis, D. mohleri and several species of the genus Fasciculithus. Listed species along with complete absence of Rhomboaster spp., are characteristic for NP9 biozone or the uppermost Paleocene. While the deep-sea ostracod species Cytherella sp. is considered as autochthonous, the larger benthic foraminifers were transported into the basin from the shallower parts. The findings of spherical foraminiferal form were of particular interest, because of its similarity to species known from the Megathaya region (NE India) (Tewari, Drobne, Pugliese, Melis, unpublished data). The identification was a challenge for us – we presumed that forms belong to the genus Aberisphaera. Mt. Nanos probably was the easternmost end of geographic range of the genus. The presence of the species supports the hypothesis of a possible connection between these geographically remote areas, the Paleogene Adriatic Carbonate Platform and Megathaya region.

REV. ESP. MICROPAL.