Abstract The Milwaukee Formation, a sequence of Givetian (Middle Devonian) marine strata deposited in what is now southeastern Wisconsin, USA, was recognized as preserving an exceptionally diverse biota of invertebrates, placoderms, and plants, when local cement companies mined the rock for the manufacture of hydraulic cement from 1876 to 1911. It is now recognized as containing one of North America's most diverse biotas of its age coming from a single formation, having roughly 250 species, 100 families, 16 phyla, and four kingdoms. Intense collecting has revealed the rich biodiversity that prevailed during the Devonian Period in what is now the Milwaukee area. When the cement mines shut down, the quarries were filled and what was already regarded as a localized series of outcrops became even more restricted. Today the formation is known almost exclusively from limited exposures in Estabrook Park and the adjoining Lincoln Park, in Milwaukee County, in the area once occupied by the cement quarries. These outcrops (the type locality) are protected by a Milwaukee County Park Ordinance that prohibits removing materials from the parks, thus enabling the type locality to remain intact for educational and non-destructive research purposes, while largely unstudied museum collections remain available for ongoing research.

Abstract The late Carboniferous (Middle Pennsylvanian, ∼307 Ma ago) Mazon Creek Lagerstätte found in northern Illinois, USA, is unique for its exceptional biotic diversity as well as the human endeavours, both professional and avocational, that brought vast numbers of fossils and new species to science. In 1997, the Mazon Creek Fossil Beds, exposed along the Mazon River near Benson Road, Morris, IL, became a National Historic Landmark. The fossils are preserved in siderite (iron carbonate, FeCO 3 ) concretions within the lower 3–8 m of the Francis Creek Shale Member of the Carbondale Formation, and often retain outlines of original soft tissues. The Mazon Creek biota includes over 465 animal and 350 plant species representing more than 100 orders, which is attributed to the preservation of organisms from multiple habitats and the large number of specimens collected. That phenomenon was made possible by coal extraction bringing concretions to the surface and highly motivated amateur collectors pursuing them. Some of the formerly mined areas continue to draw collectors and are preserved as part of the Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area. The fossils, fossil collectors and collection sites are a significant part of the cultural and scientific geoheritage.

ABSTRACT Sedimentation after wildfire is a profound disturbance to the biogeomorphic character of fluvial systems. Despite this significant alteration, field data focusing on the geomorphic processes and bed morphology that form the physical structure of habitat are limited, especially over a longer-term perspective. We report results of detailed field studies following two wildfires in the same steep fluvial system in the southern California Transverse Ranges three decades apart. Substantial channel sedimentation during storms following both fires altered physical elements of habitat, which included bed elevation, step height and spacing, pool depth and spacing, grain-size distribution ( D 84 ), and transport capacity (τ o /τ c ). The postfire sediment deposits buried bedforms, decreased D 84 , and increased τ o /τ c by an order of magnitude. Incision during subsequent storms initiated recovery that depended on the attributes of post-wildfire climate variability that characterize the semiarid Mediterranean-type environment. Step-pool bedforms reappeared or reformed during the decades between wildfires as the relatively fine gravel-sized post-wildfire sediment was transported downstream, thus reestablishing the physical elements of habitat characterizing the dynamic system.

Abstract Coastal ecosystems consist of diverse habitats, such as reed beds, salt marshes, mangrove swamps, tidal flats, river deltas, seagrass fields, coral reefs, sandy/rocky-shore beaches and other habitats that harbour biodiversity. The Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011 caused severe damage to one-third of the fishing communities along the Pacific Ocean of NE Japan. Coastal species, such as seagrasses, function as nursery areas for commercially important species. Coastal ecosystems provide natural infrastructure for the prevention and reduction of hazardous events, a process known as ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR). The preparation of topographic and thematic maps of coastal marine environments is essential to establish and visualize the concept of Eco-DRR. Experience gained following the Japanese earthquake, as well as examples from Indonesia and Thailand in the wake of 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, showed that Eco-DRR is an affordable and sustainable approach. Dissemination of habitat maps should be further promoted as a way to ‘Build Back Better’. To scale up and promote Eco-DRR, scientists must work in a transdisciplinary manner and engage with society by understanding the roles of ecosystems by monitoring and analysing, providing solutions and raising the awareness of community and policy makers, enabling them to better implement Eco-DRR.