The Akiyoshi Limestone Group, one of the most representative stratigraphic standards of Japanese Carboniferous and Permian, is widely distributed in the Akiyoshi Terrane, Southwest Japan. The Jigoku-dani area, the main area for investigation, is located in the northwestern part of the Akiyoshi Plateau, where the Middle Carboniferous and Lower Permian limestones are widely exposed. They are mainly composed of micritic limestones, indicating a lagoonal facies, in the relatively low energy environments within the Akiyoshi organic reef complex. The limestones are also characterized by abundant and well-preserved fusulinaceans, and the following nine zones including seven subzones, were recognized in ascending order as: 1. Fusulinella biconica Zone, 2. Fusulina cf. shikokuensis Zone: 2-1. Fusulinella cf. obesa Subzone, 2-2. Pseudofusulinella hidaensis Subzone, 3. Obsoletes obsolelus Zone: 3-1. Protriticites toriyamai Subzone, 3-2. Protriticites matsumotoi Subzone, 4. Montiparus sp. A Zone, 5. Triticites yayamadakensis Zone: 5-1. Triticites saurini Subzone, 5-2. Schwagerina sp. A Subzone, 5-3. Triticites biconicus Subzone, 6. Schwagerina (?) cf. satoi Zone, 7. Pseudoschwagerina muongthensis Zone, 8. Pseudofusulina vulgaris globosa Zone, 9. Pseudofusulina aff. ambigua Zone. The distribution of these fusulinacean zones shows well the inverted structure of limestones in this area. The second investigated AK area is located in front of the Akiyoshi-dai Museum of Natural History, where limestones with nearly complete successions of the Middle Carboniferous to Lower Permian are well exposed. The following fusulinacean zones are discriminated along a measured traverse, in ascending order: Pseudofusulinella hidaensis Zone, Protriticites matsumotoi Zone (s. l.), Montiparus sp. A Zone, Triticites simplex Zone (s. l.), Pseudoschwagerina muongthensis Zone, and Pseudofusulina vulgaris Zone. Of them, Protriticites matsumotoi Zone (s. l.) is tentatively subdivided into the lower Protriticites matsumotoi Zone (s. s.) and the upper Quasifusulinoides sp. A Zone. Triticites simplex Zone (s. l.) is tentatively subdivided into the lower Schwagerina sp. A Zone and the upper Triticites simplex Zone (s. s.). Limestones in this area mainly consist of alternation of micritic limestones and those with sparry calcite matrices. The facies of limestones indicate that they represent a marginal lagoon paleoenvironment. The limestones in this area explain the two sequences. The third investigated area, Mt. Maruyama, contains Middle and Upper Carboniferous limestones. They represent a sedimentary environment of reef flat or bypass margin between the fore reef and open sea. They yield the primitive types of the genus Protriticites, i.e., Protriticites yanagidai Ota, Protriticites masamichii Ota, and Protriticites toriyamai Ota. From viewpoints of their morphological characters and affinities, Protriticites yanagidai Ota represents a primitive stage in the phylogenetic line between Protriticites yanagidai Ota and Protriticites matsumotoi (Kanmera), whereas Protriticites masamichii Ota is likely to be a transitional species to Montiparus matsumotoi inflatus, reported by Watanabe (1991).Based on these fusulinacean assemblages and phylogenetic considerations, it is concluded that the variation of elements among fusulinacean assemblages is caused by change of lithofacies in development of the Akiyoshi organic reef complex. It has a large influence in recognition of the biostratigraphic units. The paleoenvironmental analysis of the Akiyoshi organic reef complex is indispensable for establishment of the reexamined biostratigraphy.

A new genus and species of Palaeontinidaeis named and described from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) of Araripe, Brazil.

Utilization pattern of latrines by a male Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) was investigated in his home range area, between March 1994 and January 1996 in Kyushu, Japan. The Japanese serow selected relatively flat shelf on steep slope for its latrines. A total of 20 latrines was found in a part of moving range of the male (ca. 1 ha). The number of dung piles per latrine fluctuated seasonally between 1 and 11. The male tended to use the same places for latrine site even after all dung piles were decomposed. The distribution and utilization pattern of latrines were discussed in relation to territoriality and range use of the Japanese serow.

Vegetation structure was studied at a line corridor which has been formed and maintained as fire prevention belt by periodic mowing at the ridge of a mountain system, northern Kyushu. Grassland herbs were dominant, although forest herbs which usually grow on forest floor occurred at the corridor. The grassland at the corridor was identified phytosociologically as Bupleuro-Miscanthetum sinensis belonging to Arundinello-Miscanthion sinensis alliance. The corridor was classified as trough corridor, because its vegetation height was lower than that of the adjacent matrix. The corridor was composed of various kind of tessera which were brought by many types of landscape element at the adjacent matrix, microtopography and surface geology at the corridor. Those tessera were distributed heterogeniously over the corridor. Distribution patterns of the plant species within the corridor were also affected by those of the tessera. Thus, this narrow line corridor had the function of habitat for many grassland herbs which are becoming rare. And variety of the tessera brought about variety of landscape structure generated high composition diversity of the plant species at the corridor.