Planktic Foraminifera are an extremely abundant, important and successful group of marine protists. They are particularly useful in reconstructing past environments and for biostratigraphic dating. Despite their importance, the origin of the group is uncertain. Previous work has suggested that they evolved from a benthic ancestor during the Triassic or, perhaps, the Mid-Jurassic (?Bajocian), but a reason for their origination has remained unclear. Here, we present evidence from the Toarcian (early Jurassic) of NW Europe that the origin of the planktic Foraminifera may have been one of the results of the early Toarcian oceanic anoxic event. This event appears to have been associated with a massive dissociation of gas hydrates and other, perhaps related, water chemistry changes.

This project explored the development of serious play as a personal
competency of creative leadership and as a dimension of a creative
organizational climate. Skill development was undertaken through acquiring
certification as a LEGO® Serious Play™ facilitator and three workshops were
subsequently delivered to a range of clients. The principles of play and Papert’s
theory of constructionism were used to develop a serious of creative products as
prototypes tried out with clients in the form of team based games.
The outcomes of this project are ideas on how to bring play into the
workplace, creating a climate for creativity and innovation.

The coastline of West Somerset has long been recognised as containing a classic example of Lower Lias (Lower Jurassic) geology consisting
of alternating cycles of shale and limestone ('Blue Lias' facies). Recent investigations of the palynology, chemostratigraphy,
magnetostratigraphy and ammonite successions have been undertaken to characterise the candidate basal Sinemurian Stage stratotype in the
area around East Quantoxhead.
The present study has involved the preliminary investigation of the foraminifera across the Hettangian - Sinemurian boundary as part of the
assessment of the potential of the section as a Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP).
35 samples of mudstone and shale were studied for microfossils in the >74 bm size-fraction from a 30 m section across the boundary. Ten
samples proved fossiliferous with an abundant and diverse fauna of foraminifera.
The faunas are dominated by the Lingulina tenera Bornemann plexus group with associated nodosariids and a minor component of the
Frondicularia terquemi Bornemann plexus group. The absence of foraminifera in the remaining samples could be a result of diagenesis
associated with the formation of the limestones.

The Hettangian to Sinemurian (Lower Jurassic) of the West Somerset coast, near East Quantoxhead, comprises an expanded fossiliferous
sequence of alternations of thickly laminated mudstones, more homogenous mudstones and limestones.
During Hettangian times a broad shallow marine shelf sea was established over most of Britain and north-west Europe, colonised by a low
(but gradually increasing) diversity foraminiferal fauna, related to the major transgressive pulse at the base of the Jurassic. Imposed upon this
general trend of sea-level rise, with major pulses in the early Hettangian and early Sinemurian, were episodic falls of sea-level. While there is
little facies evidence for a major sea-level drop around the end of the Hettangian at East Quantoxhead, it is notable that several index
foraminifera become extinct at or near the top of the Hettangian Angulata Zone which is interpreted as evidence for a minor regression.
Changes in foraminiferal assemblages from this Lower Jurassic section have been examined and are considered to be related to sea-level
changes where transgressions mark the arrival of new species and subspecies (evolutionary appearances and/or migration) whereas
regressions and times of lowered sea-level appear to equate to extinctions. Within these nodosariid-dominated foraminiferal populations,
major variations in species and generic abundances are seen in taxa which are long ranging, suggesting controlling palaeoenvironmental
factors. The predominance of the Lingulina tenera (Bornemann) plexus with associated Lenticulina and Marginulina species suggests inner
to near shelf environments with periods of normal oxygen levels.

The Hettangian to Sinemurian (Lower Jurassic) succession has been investigated for its ostracod fauna. The marine assemblages from this
part of the Lower Jurassic succession are of low diversity, dominated by the genus Ogmoconcha Triebel, 1941. The stratigraphical
distribution of the known taxa, although distinctive, do not appear to provide a diagnostic tool for recognition of the base of the Sinemurian
Stage. The data generated by this work do, however, provide additional evidence that the East Quantoxhead succession is a suitable GSSP for
the base of the Sinemurian Stage.