During the Middle-Late Devonian, the largest area of metazoan (stromatoporoid-coral) reefs of the Phanerozoic occurred, which covered about five million square kilometres (10 times the surface area of modern reef ecosystems). The Late Devonian Frasnian-Famennian (F-F) Kellwasser and the end-Devonian Hangenberg extinctions caused the collapse and disappearance of stromatoporoid-coral ecosystems, respectively. The succeeding Mississippian has long been assumed to be an interval dominated by microbial reefs, and was lack of metazoan reefs. To date, it is still unclear about the Mississippian reef evolutionary pattern and its comparison between different palaeocontinents. During the Middle-Late Devonian, the largest area of metazoan (stromatoporoid-coral) reefs of the Phanerozoic occurred, which covered about five million square kilometres (10 times the surface area of modern reef ecosystems). The Late Devonian Frasnian-Famennian (F-F) Kellwasser and the end-Devonian Hangenberg extinctions caused the collapse and disappearance of stromatoporoid-coral ecosystems, respectively. The succeeding Mississippian has long been assumed to be an interval dominated by microbial reefs, and was lack of metazoan reefs. To date, it is still unclear about the Mississippian reef evolutionary pattern and its comparison between different palaeocontinents. Associated Prof. YAO Le from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS), cooperated with Associated Prof. Markus Aretz from the University of Toulouse 3 for a long period. They have conducted detail studies on the reef ecosystem evolutions across the Late Devonian mass extinction transition, and achieved a series of findings. Relevant findings were published in international journals of Earth-Science Reviews, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, and Geological Journal. Based on the systematic evaluation and study on the Late Devonian to Mississippian reefs, three sub-intervals of the Mississippian metazoan reef recovery were distinguished, which are, first metazoan “reef gap” phase (MRG) without metazoan reefs during the Tournaisian; second metazoan reef re-establishment phase (MRR) containing a few metazoan reefs from early Visean to early part of the late Visean; and third metazoan reef proliferation phase (MRP) with global coral reef flourishment during the middle part of the late Visean (late Asbian to early Brigantian substages) (Yao et al., 2020a). In order to uncover whether the Mississippian reef evolutionary pattern of China is consistent with that of globe, associated Prof. YAO Le and his collaborators have studied the stromatolites from the Qianheishan Formation in the Dashuigou section in Pingchuan County, Gansu Province, and the metazoan-microbial reefs from the Du’an Formation in the Dashuigou section in Tianlin County, Guangxi Province. The Dashuigou stromatolites are exposed of about 22.5 m in thickness, which can be traced laterally more than 200 m. Based on the ammonoid, ostracod and palynological fossils, the stromatolites age is constrained to the earliest Carboniferous (conodont zone of Lower Siphonodella sulcate). Three stromatolite morphology types could be distinguished in field, which are laminar, wavy-laminar and domal forms. They consist mainly of micrite, peloids, oncoids, silt-sized quartz grains and sparry calcite with rare fine to coarse quartz grains and bioclasts. Three types of stromatolite laminae were distinguished, including micritic laminae, grain-dominated mixed laminae and micrite-dominated mixed laminae. These laminae are separated by thin micritic crusts and form two lamination styles of repetitive lamination and alternating lamination. The development of grain-rich and micrite-rich laminae in the stromatolites implies that they were formed by the combination of microbial baffling, binding, and calcification. Facies analysis suggests that the stromatolites developed during a gradually relative sea-level rise, and demise was triggered by dramatic relative sea-level fall with enhanced siliciclastic inputs (Yao et al., 2020b). The Gandongzi metazoan-microbial reefs range in size from several metres to tens of metres, which contain positive reliefs. Foraminiferal fossils constrain the reef age belonging to the late Visean (Mississippian foraminiferal zone (MFZ) 14 to MFZ 15). According to field observation and quantitative studies of biotic composition in thin sections, four different reef types were identified which are coral reef, coral-microbial-microproblematica-bryozoan reef, coral-microbial-bryozoan reef, and microbial-bryozoan-coral reef. These reefs are constructed primarily of different proportion of colonial rugose corals (Diphyphyllum and Siphonodendron), tabulate corals (Multithecopora and Syringopora), cystoporate bryozoans (Fistulipora), and calcimicrobes (e.g., Garwoodia and Renalcis). Facies analysis reveals a variable composition, including framestone and bindstone in reef facies, and rudstone, grainstone, packstone, dolomitic crinoidal packstone and dolostone in the strata intercalated with reefs. Relative sea-level changes controlled the growth and demise of the Gandongzi reefs. They commonly grew during relative sea-level rise and died during relative sea-level fall, as evident from increasing and decreasing abundance of micrite, and decreasing and increasing abundance of cortoids, green algae and sparry calcite in reefs and their overlying strata, respectively. The Gandongzi reefs resemble coeval similar reef types on other palaeocontinents, in terms of reef-builder composition and internal structures, especially for the extensive development of coral framework building (Yao and Aretz, 2020). The occurrences of the early Tournaisian stromatolites and late Visean coral reefs in China, correspond to the MRG and MRP intervals respectively, which suggest that the Mississippian reef evolutionary pattern in China is consistent with that of globe after the Late Devonian mass extinctions. Profs. CHEN Jitao and QI Yuping from NIGPAS, Prof. Paul, B. Wignall from the University of Leeds, Prof. Daniel Vachard from France, and Profs. WANG Xiangdong and SHEN Shuzhong from the Nanjing University, also participated in above research works. These researches were financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Strategic Priority Research Program (B) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province and the State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy of NIGPAS. Article information： Yao, L.*, Aretz, M., 2020. Upper Visean (Mississippian) metazoan-microbial reefs from Guangxi, South China: Insights regarding into the recovered metazoan reefs reef recovery after the end-Devonian extinction. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 560, 109994. Yao, L.*, Aretz, M., Wignall, P.B., Chen, J.T., Vachard, D., Qi, Y.P., Shen S.Z., Wang, X.D., 2020a. The longest delay: Re-emergence of coral reef ecosystems after the Late Devonian extinctions. Earth-Science Reviews, 203: 103060. Yao, L.*, Aretz, M., Chen, J.T., Qi, Y.P., 2020b. Earliest Carboniferous stromatolites from the Qianheishan Formation, Dashuigou section, northwestern China: Implications for microbial proliferation after the end‐Devonian mass extinction. Geological Journal, 55: 3361–3376. Reef composition and evolutionary pattern from the Late Devonian to Mississippian, with the Chinese reef cases Field photos of the early Tournaisian stromatolites in the Dashuigou section in Pingchuan County, Gansu Province Thin-section photos of laminae types and lamination styles of the early Tournaisian stromatolites in the Dashuigou section in Pingchuan County, Gansu Province Field photos of the late Visean coral reefs in the Gandongzi section in Tianlin County, Guangxi Province Quantitative studies of biotic and sedimentary composition of the late Visean metazoan-microbial reefs in the Gandongzi section in Tianlin County, Guangxi Province Contact: LIU Yun, Propagandist Email: yunliu@nigpas.ac.cn Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, China
In the past several decades, diverse skeletal fossils had been investigated from the Xinji and Houjiashan formations (Cambrian Series 2), along the western and southern margin of North China Plate (NPC). But brachiopods have been scarcely studied from these rocks, and only one brachiopod, Kutorgina sinensis Rong in Lu 1979, was illustrated to date in one Chinese publication. In the past several decades, diverse skeletal fossils had been investigated from the Xinji and Houjiashan formations (Cambrian Series 2), along the western and southern margin of North China Plate (NPC). But brachiopods have been scarcely studied from these rocks, and only one brachiopod, Kutorgina sinensis Rong in Lu 1979, was illustrated to date in one Chinese publication. All other taxa have just been briefly mentioned in stratigraphic descriptions without detailed taxonomic approach. Hitherto, diverse coeval Cambrian organophosphatic brachiopods have been recovered and studied from many other areas, including Australia, Antarctica, South China, Siberia, Greenland, Canada and the United States etc. Thus, systematic research on the organophosphatic brachiopods from North China will be helpful to understand the global distribution and evolution of brachiopods as well as their stratigraphic correlation significance in Cambrian Epoch 2. Recently, Dr. PAN Bing from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS) and his international colleagues from Sweden and Australia reported an abundant brachiopod fauna from the Xinji Formation at Shuiyu section, Ruicheng County, Shanxi Province. Related research results have been published in the international journal Palaeoworld. The brachiopods include one mickwitziid (stem group brachiopoda), Paramickwitzia boreussinaensis n. gen. n. sp., a paterinide, Askepasma toddense Laurie, 1986, an acrotretoid, Eohadrotreta cf. zhenbaensis Li and Holmer, 2004, a botsfordiid, Schizopholis yorkensis (Holmer and Ushatinskaya in Gravestock et al., 2001) and three linguloids, Spinobolus sp., Eodicellomus cf. elkaniiformis Holmer and Ushatinskaya in Gravestock et al., 2001 (recently revised as Plicarmus wildi Claybourn et al., 2020 basing on specimens from Antarctica) and Eoobolus sp.. Paramickwitzia boreussinaensis combines the distinctive characters of Setatella, known from Cambrian Stage 4 in North-East Greenland (pseudointerarea in both valves and the shell penetrating setae on the pseudointerarea) and Mickwitzia (internal cone-shaped projections around the shell perforations). This combination of characters suggests that Paramickwitzia may occupy an intermediate position between Setatella and Mickwitzia in the brachiopod stem group. This brachiopod assemblage suggests a late Age 3 to early Age 4 for the Xinji Formation and reveals a remarkably strong connection with coeval faunas from East Gondwana, particularly the Hawker Group in South Australia. The fauna shows strong similarities to the coeval (Cambrian Epoch 2) brachiopod faunas of east Gondwana (South Australia and Antarctica, with 4 genera and 4 species in common), South China (2 genera and 1 species in common) and India Himalaya (2 genera in common). This high degree of similarity between the brachiopod faunas from the south margin of North China and east margin East Gondwana (even at species level) further supports a close palaeogeographic position between those two areas during the early Cambrian as indicated by other small shelly fossils data. This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Swedish Research Council. Reference: Pan, B., Skovsted, C.B., Brock, G.A., Topper, T.P., Holmer L.E., Li, L.Y., & Li, G.X.*, 2020. Early Cambrian organophosphatic brachiopods from the Xinji Formation, at Shuiyu section, Shanxi Province, North China. Palaeoworld, 29, 512–533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2019.07.001. Geological background map and lithostratigraphic column The organophosphatic brachiopod assemblage from Cambrian Series 2 Xinji Formation Contact: LIU Yun, Propagandist Email: yunliu@nigpas.ac.cn Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, China
Recently, the well-known international geological journal Journal of Asian Earth Sciences published a new special issue titled ‘Evolution of the Tibetan Neo-Tethys: Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography’. Co-edited by Prof. LIJianguo, Prof.SHAJingeng, and Prof. LUOHui from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS), the SI incorporates a total of 12 research papers and a preface review paper from multiple disciplines including palaeontology, volcanic lithology, and geochemistry. A wide range of scientific topics related to the evolution of Neo-Tethys have been accommodatedby the researchers, such as the opening and forming of Neo-Tethys, the drifting history of the India Plate, palaeoclimate, palaeoelevation and the impact of the rising plateau on biotas, and biochronostratigraphy for the reconstruction of Neo-Tethys.The SI also puts emphasis on stratigraphy which is fundamental forinvestigating and reconstructing this geological process. These results will undoubtedly provide important references for future study of the evolution of Tethys. The Qinghai-Xizang plateau is ideal for investigating the interaction of lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere in the deep past. It has received much attention for its role in the study of geodynamics, plate tectonics, palaeogeography, palaeoclimate, biotic evolution, and source effects. However, due to the extremely harsh natural conditions, strong tectonic and metamorphic activities, the preservation and collection of fossils on the plateau are difficult, which hampers the development of stratigraphy and palaeontology in the realm. The current research on the history and evolutionary mechanism of biodiversity during the evolution of Neo-Tethys is not satisfying, and even records are often incomplete or insufficient. For decades, researchers from the NIGPAS have been working unremittingly on the stratigraphy and paleontology on the Qinghai-Xizang plateau under the support of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other national projects. Particularly,under the support of the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Second Expedition to Qinghai-Xizang plateau and Research Project in recent years, much progress on fossil collecting and research has been made as is represented in this SI.It includes: first,new findings of fossils that were previously not or poorly discovered and studied, such as insects (Cai et al., 2019; Wang et al., 2019); Second, foundation or improvement of some microfossil sequences that are particularly important and useful for the Mesozoic stratigraphic division and correlation, such as radiolarians and sporopollen (Li et al., 2019; Peng et al., 2019; Xu et al., 2019); third,more supplement of new material to fossil groups that have been relatively well studied or documented, ammonites, bivalves and large foraminifera (Jiang et al., 2019; Rao et al., 2019; Yang et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2019; Li et al., 2020); forththe revealing and understanding of terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystems (Li et al., 2019; Peng et al., 2019;Jiang et al., 2019; Yang et al., 2019).The SI also establishes a new integrated multiple biostratigraphic framework for the Triassic–Paleogene strata in the Neo-Tethyan realm in southern Xizang (Li et al., 2020). The SIis a comprehensive summary of the new advance of biodiversity and ecosystem in the Neo-Tethyan region of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. This digital SI is a joint product of years of collaboration and efforts by scientists from different research fields. Related research was supported by the Second Expedition to Qinghai-Xizang plateau and Research Project, the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Reference: Li, Jianguo, Luo, Hui, Sha, Jingeng, eds., 2020. Evolution of the Tibetan Neo-Tethys: stratigraphy and palaeogeography. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-asian-earth-sciences/special-issue/10LTVBSWR6X) List of contributions: Cai, C., Huang, D., Wu, F., Zhao, M., Wang, N., 2019. Tertiary water striders (Hemiptera, Gerromorpha, Gerridae) from the central Tibetan Plateau and their palaeobiogeographic implications. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 175, 121–127. Jiang, H., Su, T., Wong, W. O., Wu, F., Huang, J., Shi, G., 2019. Oligocene Koelreuteria (Sapindaceae) from the Lunpola Basin in central Tibet and its implication for early diversification of the genus. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 175, 99–108. Li, J., Wu, Y., Batten, D. J., Lin, M., 2019. Vegetation and climate of the central and northern Qinghai–Xizang plateau from the Middle Jurassic to the end of the Paleogene inferred from palynology. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 175, 35–48. Li, J., Lin, M., Wu, Y., Luo, H., Peng, J., Mu, L., Xu, B., Zhang, C., 2020. New biostratigraphic framework for the Triassic-Paleogene in the Neo-Tethys realm of southern Xizang (Tibet), China. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences. doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2020.104369. Li, J., Sha, J., Luo, H., 2020. Preface: New advances in palaeontology, stratigraphy and palaeogeography of the Neo-Tethyan region, Qinghai-Xizang plateau, China. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences. doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2020.104369. Peng, J., Li, J., Slater, S. M., Zhang, Q., Zhu, H., Vajda, V., 2019. Triassic vegetation and climate evolution on the northern margin of Gondwana: a palynological study from Tulong, southern Xizang (Tibet), China. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 175, 74–82. Qi, X., Wei, C., Zhang, C., Zhang, S., Hu, Z., Ji, F., 2019. Southward extension of the Bangonghu–Nujiang Suture: Evidence from Early Cretaceous intermediate and felsic magmatism in the Gaoligong Orogen, China. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 175, 1–25 Rao, X., Sha, J., Peng, B., Zhang, X., Cai, H., 2019. Constraints of bipolar and tropical bivalves on the northward drifting of the Indian Plate. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 175, 68–73. Wang, H., Fang, Y., Li, S., Hou, X., Wang, B., Zhang, H., 2019. Revisiting of the Paleocene orthopteran insect Hylophalangopsis chinensis Lin and Huang, 2006 in northern Tibet. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 175, 93–98. Wang, M., Peng, S., Li, C., Zhang, T., 2019b. Palaeontology and U–Pb detrital zircon geochronology of Upper Triassic strata on the northern margin of the Bangong Co–Nujiang suture zone, Tibet: Constraints on the age of opening of the Meso-Tethys. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 175, 26–34. Xu, B., Luo, H., Wang, X., 2019. New discovery of Early Jurassic radiolarians from Luoqu, Xigaze, southern Tibet and its geological significance. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 175, 49–67. Yang, X., Xu, Q., Lin, M., Li, J., 2019. Plant remains from the Early Cretaceous deposits of Qubsang, Doilungdeqen, northwestern Lhasa of Tibet, China. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 175, 83–92. Zhang, Y., Shen, S., Zhang, Y.,Zhu, T., An, X., Huang, B., Ye, C., Qiao, F., Xu, H., 2019. Middle Permian foraminifers from the Zhabuye and Xiadong areas in the central Lhasa Block and their paleobiogeographic implications. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 175, 109–120.
Trilobites achieved their maximum generic diversity in the Cambrian. However, unlike this diversity measure, the morphological disparity of trilobites based on cranidial outline reached the peak in the Middle to Late Ordovician. Early to middle Cambrian trilobites with a specialized cephalon are rare, especially among the ptychoparioids, a group of libristomates featuring the so-called "generalized" bauplan. Even with a few exceptions, ptychoparioids exhibit a monotonous pattern of head specialization, characterized by additionalcephalic border spines. Trilobites achieved their maximum generic diversity in the Cambrian. However, unlike this diversity measure, the morphological disparity of trilobites based on cranidial outline reached the peak in the Middle to Late Ordovician. Early to middle Cambrian trilobites with a specialized cephalon are rare, especially among the ptychoparioids, a group of libristomates featuring the so-called "generalized" bauplan. Even with a few exceptions, ptychoparioids exhibit a monotonous pattern of head specialization, characterized by additional cephalic border spines. Recently, leading by Prof. ZHAO Fangchen, postgraduate SUN Zhixin and Dr. ZENG Han from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS) described a ptychopariid trilobite with an unusual cephalic morphology, Phantaspis auritus gen. et sp. nov. from the middle Cambrian (Miaolingian, Wuliuan) Mantou Formation in Shandong Province, North China. This unique trilobite provides new insights into the morphological range and structural foundation of the cephalic specialization in Cambrian trilobites. This work has been published as "Editors' Choice" in Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. Phantaspis is characterized by a cephalon with an extended anterior area of double-lobate shape resembling a pair of rabbit ears in later ontogenetic stages, which represents a form of specialization in a Cambrian trilobite that was not repeated in any younger trilobites. This illustrates the diversity of Cambrian trilobites in morphotypes and provides an example of ptychoparioid cranidial outline variation during the middle Cambrian caused by specialisation. The extended cephalon of Phantaspis is reminiscent of certain sediment feeders with a specialized cephalon, for example species of Harpina and Trinucleidae. However, in Phantaspis the anterior border was not thickened as those of the above groups. Other than adaptation to a particular life habit, further possibilities should be considered. The cephalicshape seen in Phantaspis may have reduced the risk of predation by increasing the effective size of Phantaspis, thus making it harder to be eaten by predators, such as other trilobites. In addition, the development and stabilization of cranidial morphology associated with sexual maturity suggests a possibility of sexual selection, similar to ‘beetle’-like horns known from other trilobites, which are assumed to reflect this type of selective strategy. This research was supported by grants from the Strategic Priority Research Program (B) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy. Reference: Sun, Z.X., Zeng, H., Zhao, F.C.*, 2020. A new middle Cambrian trilobite with a specialized cephalon from Shandong Province, North China. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 65. doi:https://doi.org/10.4202/app.00753.2020. Artistic reconstruction of Phantaspisauritus, by HUO Xiuquan Nearly complete exoskeleton (left) and cranidium (right) of Phantaspisauritus gen. et sp. nov. Reconstructions of the dorsal exoskeleton and life cycle of Phantaspisauritus gen. et sp. nov. Contact: LIU Yun, Propagandist Email: yunliu@nigpas.ac.cn Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, China
Choerospondias axillaris, commonly known as the Nepali hog plum, belongs to the Asian endemic genus Choerospondias of the Anacardiaceae. The fruit of Choerospondias is formed by a thin epicarp, a fleshy, sweet edible mesocarp, and a woody endocarp. It is a common fruit for a variety of animals such as deer and hornbill in the rainforest. In South China, Choerospondias pulp is often made into soft candy, which is a popular local snack. Choerospondias axillaris, commonly known as the Nepali hog plum, belongs to the Asian endemic genus Choerospondias of the Anacardiaceae. The fruit of Choerospondias is formed by a thin epicarp, a fleshy, sweet edible mesocarp, and a woody endocarp. It is a common fruit for a variety of animals such as deer and hornbill in the rainforest. In South China, Choerospondias pulp is often made into soft candy, which is a popular local snack. Commonly only the woody endocarps are preserved as fossils. Choerospondias fossil endocarps have been reported from a number of localities in Europe and Asia, ranging from the Eocene to the Holocene. Masses of Choerospondias endocarps have also been found in several archeological sites as early as ~ 8000 yr B.P. in southwestern and southeastern China, suggesting that Choerospondias was an important food plant for early humans in the region. Recently, Drs. WANG Zixi, SHI Gongle, SHU Junwu, and YIN Suxin from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Science (NIGPAS), and other members from the Chicago Botanic Garden, USA, collaborated with a research focusing on numerous new materials of Choerospondias preserved as mummified fruit fossils from the Middle Miocene Fotan flora in Zhangpu, Fujian province, southeast China. The research results have been published in the Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. In this paper, a new species Choerospondias fujianensis sp. nov is described, which is characterized by having five or seven radially arranged germination pores at the subapical region of endocarp. Fossils indicate that Choerospondias was more diverse in the Miocene than today. According to the palaeogeographical history of Choerospondias, the genus was widely distributed in Eurasia during the Oligocene but disappeared in Europe after the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO), but there is only one species of Choerospondias in East Asia today. The genus has a nearly continuous fossil record in East Asia since the Oligocene. Palaeoecologic analysis indicates that the relatively wide range of adaption of Choerospondias may play an essential role in its current survival in East Asia. This research was jointly supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program (B) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Science Foundation of China, the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, the State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CAS. Reference: Zixi Wang, Fabiany Herrera, Junwu Shu, Suxin Yin, Gongle Shi*, 2020. A new Choerospondias (Anacardiaceae) endocarp from the middle Miocene of Southeast China and its paleoecological implications. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 283: 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2020.104312. The morphological structures (1-3) and anatomical details (4-6) of Choerospondias fujianensis sp. nov. endocarp from the middle Miocene of Fujian, Southeast China The morphological structures (1-3) and internal structures (4-9) of Choerospondias fujianensis sp. nov. endocarp from the middle Miocene of Fujian, Southeast China
Conodonts is one of the most important fossil groups of the Permian. At present, all the Global Stratotype Sections and Points (GSSPs) of the Permian are or will soon be defined by the first appearance datum of conodont species. Therefore, the study of conodonts is important for the Permian stratigraphic division and correlation. Conodonts is one of the most important fossil groups of the Permian. At present, all the Global Stratotype Sections and Points (GSSPs) of the Permian are or will soon be defined by the first appearance datum of conodont species. Therefore, the study of conodonts is important for the Permian stratigraphic division and correlation. Recently, Dr. YUAN Dongxun, Prof. ZHANG Yichun, Prof. ZHANG Hua, Prof. QI Yuping, Prof. WANG Yue and others from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS), and other colleagues from Nanjing University, University of Calgary, Canada, University of Texas at San Antonio, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, and Taunggyi University, Myanmar, have obtained a series of research data, which have been published in Earth-science Reviews, Newsletters on Stratigraphy, and Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, based on conodont materials from South China, West Texas and eastern Myanmar. Integrated timescale: South China and West Texas have the most complete middle Permian strata of the global. However, strong provincialism by Pangaea makes the correlations between the Tethyan region and the North American successions difficult by using traditional ammonoids and fusulines. Thus, the conodonts become one important marker for the global correlation of the middle Permian strata. Here, based on the high-resolution conodonts biostratigraphy between South China and West Texas, combined with the ammonoids, fusulines, U-Pb ages, cyclostratigraphy, carbon and strontium isotopes of rocks and oxygen isotopes of conodonts, an integrated stratigraphic correlation framework of two regions has been established, and the Guadalupian correlation and major events have been discussed in detailed. GSSP: The three GSSPs of Guadalupian were ratified in West Texas twenty years ago. However, a formal GSSP description has not been published on any official peer-reviewed journasl so far, and conodonts have not been figured from the GSSP section. Based on current documentation from the Wordian GSSP section, it provides limited data for its global correlation, although it has been utilized as a GSSP for two decades. In order to solve this problem, herein, we report our results from the GSSP section for the first time. We have found that the FOs of Morphotypes A and B of Jinogondolella aserrata occur lower in the section than the placement of the current GSSP and other fossil groups are absence except for the presence of sponge spicules. Conodonts from the Wordian GSSP level at the GSSP section are not present, despite the fact that large samples were processed in two labs of China and Canada. There is an inconsistency in the global correlation of the Wordian boundary in previous documents. Three ash beds have been collected, but no zircons were recovered. Data of carbon and strontium isotopes are affected by diagenesis, and cannot provide some significant markers for international correlation. The oxygen isotopes of conodont apatite are slightly higher than the data in this interval from South China. Overall, the current GSSP section has a number of major shortcomings to provide an integrated stratigraphic framework as the standard of the Wordian Stage. New sections, in combination with improved systematics, should be searched for a better GSSP definition in the near future. Paleobiogeography: Due to the lack of conodonts data, the Permian strata division and international correlation are unclear for a long time in the eastern Myanmar, and it makes difficult to establish a high-resolution stratigraphic framework here, which indirectly hampers the study on paleogeographic evolution of the block. In this study, we report a Permian conodont group of the eastern Myanmar for the first time. Firstly, it restricts the age of the study interval and establishes stratigraphic correlation of this region. Secondly, based on the special conodont genus (e.g., Vjalovognathus), it indicates that the terrane accommodating this fauna in the eastern Myanmar has a close paleobiogeographic link to the northwestern Australia and Lhasa Block, which may indicate these tectonic units were paleogeographically close to one another during the late Cisuralian. This work is supported by the Strategic Priority Research Programs of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Natural National Science Foundation of China, and the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research. Reference: Shen Shu-zhong*, Yuan Dong-xun*, Henderson C.M., Wu Qiong, Zhang Yi-chun, Zhang Hua, Mu Lin, Ramezani J., Wang Xiang-dong, Lambert L.L., Erwin D.H., Hearst J.M., Xiang Lei, Chen Bo, Fan Jun-xuan, Wang Yue, Wang Wen-qian, Qi Yu-ping, Chen Jun, Qie Wen-kun, Wang Tian-tian, 2020. Progresses, problems and prospects: An overview of the Guadalupian Series of South China and North America. Earth-Science Reviews, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103412. Yuan Dong-xun*, Shen Shu-zhong, Henderson C.M., Lambert L.L., Hearst J.M., Zhang Yi-chun, Chen Jun, Qie Wen-kun, Zhang Hua, Wang Xiang-dong, Qi Yu-ping, Wu Qiong, 2020. Reinvestigation of the Wordian-base GSSP section, West Texas, USA. Newsletters On Stratigraphy, DOI: 10.1127/nos/2020/0613. Yuan Dong-xun, Kyi Pyar Aung, Henderson C.M., Zhang Yi-chun, Than Zaw, Cai Fulong, Ding Lin, Shen Shu-zhong*, 2020. First records of Early Permian conodonts from eastern Myanmar and implications of paleobiogeographic links to the Lhasa Block and northwestern Australia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 549: 109363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109363. Guadalupian conodont, fusuline, ammonoid and radiolarian successions and their correlation between South China and West Texas A summary for the temporal correlation of geologic, paleoclimatic and biological events between South China and West Texas during Guadalupian The holotype and two morphotypes of Jinogondolella aserrata, their ranges and possible evolutionary lineage at the Wordian GSSP section Ranges and paleogeographic distribution of the Cisuralian conodonts in the eastern Myanmar
The Devonian Period witnessed the great diversification of land plants and the first development of complex terrestrial ecosystems. Palaeogeographic distribution and differentiation of Devonian plants was recognized from abundant mega- and micro-plant fossil records, both endemic and widely-spread plants, available globally and correspond to the different palaeocontinents present in the Devonian. Herbaceous lycopsid, such as the protolepidodendraleans Leclercqia, which was one of the best-studied Devonian plants and has been found in Devonian horizons around the world, was not previously reported from the Middle Devonian of South China. The Devonian flora of South China includes a high proportion of endemic plants. The Devonian Period witnessed the great diversification of land plants and the first development of complex terrestrial ecosystems. Palaeogeographic distribution and differentiation of Devonian plants was recognized from abundant mega- and micro-plant fossil records, both endemic and widely-spread plants, available globally and correspond to the different palaeocontinents present in the Devonian. Herbaceous lycopsid, such as the protolepidodendraleans Leclercqia, which was one of the best-studied Devonian plants and has been found in Devonian horizons around the world, was not previously reported from the Middle Devonian of South China. The Devonian flora of South China includes a high proportion of endemic plants. Recently, Profs. XU Honghe and WANG Yi, Assistant Profs. HUANG Pu, ZHANG Xiaole, QIAO Li, LU Jianfeng, Assistant Engineer CHEN Yansen, and PhD student WANG Yao, from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS), discovered the spatio-temporal distribution of Leclercqia on Devonian palaegeographic and palaeoclimatic maps, which was based on the mega-plant specimens of Leclercqia from Yunnan and the global occurrence data of its both mega- and micro-fossil records. The study was published on the special issue "The Gaia Files: Co-Evolution of Land Plants and Climate at Geological Time Scales" of the international journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. There is only one piece of specimens for studying which is collected from the Middle to Upper Devonian of Panxi, Yunnan. Morphological study to the specimens allowed its assignment to Leclercqia, which is first record from the Devonian of South China and also the last spot of the plant’s globe Devonian distribution. In the study, the plant Leclercqia and the tentaculitoid Homoctenus cf. tenuicinctus are reported from the Middle to Upper Devonian Yidade Formation, eastern Yunnan (South China Plate). The spatio-temporal distribution pattern and stratigraphic ranges of Leclercqia are reconstructed using complementary occurrence data of both Leclercqia species and their related spore Acinosporites lindlarensis. The Palaeo-GPS data were calculated using PointTracker v7.0 which was deployed on the Big Data Center of the NIGAPS. Palaeogeographic maps were generated based on the Paleomap of Scotese under the ArcGIS 10 environment. It is indicated that Leclercqia originated in Laurasia in the Early Devonian, achieved a cosmopolitan distribution on every palaeocontinent and every palaeoclimatic zone by the late Middle Devonian, and gradually extinct after the early Late Devonian. This research was supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Reference: Xu H-H, Wang Y, Chen Y-S, Huang P, Zhang X-L, Wang Y, Qiao L, Lu J-F. 2020. Spatio-temporal distribution of Leclercqia (Lycopsida), with its new discovery from the Middle to Upper Devonian of Yunnan, South China. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 560. 110029. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2020.110029. Devonian Group members of NIGPAS collecting fossils in the Yunnan fieldwork Lycopsid Leclercqia complexa and tentaculitoid Homoctenus cf. tenuicinctus from the Middle to Late Devonian Yidade Formation of Yunnan, southwestern China Spatio-temporal distribution of Leclercqia shown by occurrences of the mega-plant Leclercqia species (pink squares) and their related spore Acinosporites lindlarensis (yellow disks) plotted on palaeogeographic and palaeoclimatic maps of the Early Devonian (A), the late Middle Devonian (B) and the early Late Devonian (C).
The origin of eukaryotes is a milestone event in the history of life evolution. According to the metabolic mode of modern eukaryotes, it is possible for eukaryotes to appear only after the formation of the oxidation atmosphere. Sedimentological and geochemical evidences show that the formation of the earth's atmosphere oxidation is not later than the early Proterozoic, but the reliable eukaryote fossils which were found in the strata of this period are very limited. The origin of eukaryotes is a milestone event in the history of life evolution. According to the metabolic mode of modern eukaryotes, it is possible for eukaryotes to appear only after the formation of the oxidation atmosphere. Sedimentological and geochemical evidences show that the formation of the earth's atmosphere oxidation is not later than the early Proterozoic, but the reliable eukaryote fossils which were found in the strata of this period are very limited. The early Precambrian strata in Wutai Mountain area of North China platform are relatively complete, mainly distributed in Archean Wutai Group and early Proterozoic Hutuo Group. The lower part of Dongye subgroup of the early Proterozoic of Hutuo Group is characterized by sandstone or slate, and the upper part is interbedded with sandstone, carbonate rock, stromatolite and phyllite. According to the latest zircon dating, the age of Hutuo Group is about 2150-1950 Ma. Professor YIN Leiming, Dr. MENG Fanwei and doctoral student NIU Changtai from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS), have discovered a large number of microfossils in Wenshan formation, Hebiancun Formation and Tianpengnao Formation in Dongye subgroup of Hutuo Group by rock slicing and macerating method. The research results were published in the international journal Precambrian Research. Eight morphological genera have been identified in this study, including spherical, filamentous cyanobacteria and acritarchs (most of their genetic relationships are related to eukaryotic algae). This study shows that in the early Proterozoic ocean, in addition to a large number of prokaryote cyanobacteria, eukaryotes also existed in the marine planktonic biosphere. Acritarch fossils are organic-walled microfossils with unidentified taxonomic origin. They are mainly distributed in Precambrian and early Paleozoic ocean, and cannot be compared with modern planktonic algae. However, it is speculated that most of their genetic relationships are related to eukaryotic algae and are the main providers of early marine primary productivity. In the Hutuo Group of China, there are some ornamentation on the surface of these acritarchs with the large diameter which indicate the characteristics of eukaryote fossils, while the prokaryote fossils have no complex ornamentation. This study shows that in the early Proterozoic ocean, in addition to a large number of prokaryote cyanobacteria, eukaryotes have also existed in the marine planktonic biosphere. Eukaryotes undergo mitosis, and meiosis of sexual reproduction is a special form of mitosis. In the more than 3 billion years of the earth's life history, before the emergence of eukaryotic cells, the earth has been in a monotonous biosphere for a long time; however, after the emergence of sexual reproduction, the biosphere on earth has become colorful, and sexual reproduction has accounted for more than 98% of the earth's biosphere. Therefore, the records of eukaryote fossils are particularly important for the evolution of the earth. This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, the Strategic Priority Research Program (B) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy (Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CAS). Reference: Leiming Yin*, Fanwei Meng, Fanfan Kong, Changtai Niu，2020. Microfossils from the Paleoproterozoic Hutuo Group, Shanxi, North China: Early evidence for eukaryotic metabolism. Precambrian Research, 342 (2020) 105650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2020.105650. Stratigraphic column of the Paleoproterozoic Hutuo Group and sampling horizons of the Dongye Subgroup (Modified from She et al., 2016) Photomicrographs of microfossils from the Hebiancun Formation Photomicrographs of microfossils in thin sections of siliceous lenses from the Hebiancun Formation Scanning electron microscope images and energy spectrum results of a microfossil. from the Hebiancun Formation
Raman spectroscopy, including spot, line, and mapping analyses with Raman spectrometer, has been widely used in the structural characterization of carbonaceous material (CM) in the past few decades. It is a minimally intrusive and minimally destructive technique that has played an important role in analyzing Precambrian materials, including putative microfossils, three-dimensionally permineralized microfossils, and organic-walled microfossils preserved in fine-grained siliciclastic rocks. Various Raman spectral parameters have also been proposed as geothermometers to unveil the thermal history of CM during burial and metamorphism. Previous studies have shown that heterogeneities in structural order of carbonaceous material (CM) as revealed by Raman spectroscopy can be preserved in Proterozoic silicified cyanobacterial fossils. However, such heterogeneities have not been documented in Proterozoic eukaryotic microfossils preserved as carbonaceous compressions. A team of scientists led by Dr. PANG Ke from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS) and Dr. Qing Tang from Virginia Tech used Raman spectroscopy to investigate the structural characteristics of organic-walled microfossils, including eukaryotes preserved as carbonaceous compressions, from the late Paleoproterozoic Ruyang Group and the early Neoproterozoic (Tonian) Liulaobei Formation in the North China Craton. Well-preserved eukaryotic microfossils, including Dictyosphaera delicata, Shuiyousphaeridium macroreticulatum, Leiosphaeridia jacutica, and Leiosphaeridia tenuissima, from two horizons in these stratigraphic units were analyzed and compared. Related results have been recently published in the geoscience academic journal Precambrian Research. Their goal in this study was to document CM Raman structural heterogeneities in Proterozoic organic-walled microfossils and to explore their implications for CM Raman geothermometry, the preservation of different organic precursors, morphology-based taxonomy, and biological affinity. Raman geothermometers indicate that CM experienced low-grade metamorphism with apparent peak metamorphic temperatures of ~200 °C for both the Ruyang and Liulaobei microfossils. Heterogeneities in structural characteristics of CM in eukaryotic microfossils were found among different subcellular structures of Shuiyousphaeridium macroreticulatum and among different taxa from the same stratigraphic horizon. The scientists suggest that these heterogeneities can be attributed to differences in precursor organic compounds; thus, the importance of organic precursors should be considered in CM Raman geothermometry studies, especially in environments where heating events occurred quickly. The Raman data presented in this study are also consistent with hypotheses that the Ruyang microfossils Dictyosphaera delicata and S. macroreticulatum are biologically conspecific taxa with their vesicle walls having similar CM Raman features, and that the Liulaobei microfossils Leiosphaeridia jacutica and L. tenuissima are distinct taxa despite their similarities in morphologies other than vesicle wall thickness. Although more data are needed to verify the consistency of interspecies, intraspecies, and intraspecimen variability, this study indicates that Raman spectroscopy may have the potential to provide an independent test of early eukaryote taxonomy, which has been traditionally based only on morphological features, and to reveal heterogeneities of CM of early eukaryotic organisms. This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Key Research and Development Program of China, State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, and Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China. Reference: Pang, K.#*, Tang, Q.#, Wu, C., Li, G., Chen, L., Wan, B., Yuan, X., Bodnar, R.J., Xiao, S.* Raman Spectroscopy and structural heterogeneity of carbonaceous material in Proterozoic organic-walled microfossils in the North China Craton. Precambrian Research, 2020, 346: 105818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2020.105818. Representative Raman spectra of organic-walled microfossils from the late Paleoproterozoic Ruyang Group and the early Neoproterozoic (Tonian) Liulaobei Formation in the North China Craton
Summary plots showing evolutionary trend of R1 ratio vs. FWHM-D1 based on Raman spectra from the literature and from the Ruyang and Liulaobei microfossils
The Darriwilian–Sandbian (Middle–Late Ordovician) isa critical interval in Earth history, recording the peak of the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event (GOBE), as well as significant global environmental changes, including a rise in atmospheric O2 concentrations, the later part of a long progression toward cooler global temperatures, and a rise in global sea level to the highest point in the Ordovician. Transgressive black shales were deposited widely in China through the Middle and Late Ordovician transition, such as the Saergan Formation in Tarim, the Pingliang Formation in North China, the Hulo Formation on the Jiangnan Slope in South China, and the Miaopo Formation on the Yangtze Platform in South China. Miaopo Formation is interpreted to have accumulated in an intra-shelf basin within the middle Yangtze Platform. The Miaopo Formation hosts the remnants of abundant plankton, necton and benthos in-situ, including graptolites, trilobites, chitinozoans; brachiopods, acritarchs, cephalopods, and echinoderms. Recently, Dr. ZHANG Junpeng and Dr. FANG Xiang from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS), and colleagues from University of Chinese Academy conducted iron speciation, trace elements and total organic carbon in samples of the Miaopo Formation at Zhenjin section from Yichang, Hubei. This work has been published in PalaeogeographyPalaeoclimatologyPalaeoecology. The results reveal moderate primary productivity and possible fluctuations in benthic redox. Upwelling during marine transgression is thought to have increased the availability of nutrients in surface waters, sustaining the biological pump. Enhanced export of organic matter would have consumed dissolved oxygen at depth, driving the system toward anoxia. However, it is also possible for deep-water renewal events to transfer more dissolved oxygen into the bottom water. Those proxies suggest high primary productivity and varying sea level (global and local), not benthic anoxia, as the driver of accumulated “black shale”. Thus, the local marine ecosystem thrived in this oxic intra-shelf basin, challenging the preexisting paradox that the high-diversity community flourished in an oxygen-depleted environment. This research is supported by Chinese Academy of Sciences Strategic Priority Research Program, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation in Jiangsu Province, Ministry of Nature and Resources of China, and State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy. Reference: Fang, X., Li, W.J., Zhang, J.P.*, Song, Y.Y., Zhang, Y.D., 2020. Paleo-environmental changes during the Middle–Late Ordovician transition on the Yangtze Platform, South China and their ecological implications. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 560: 109991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2020.109991. Selected redox proxies for the Zhenjin section Plots of iron proxies and indices of diagenesis, as well as plots of Ba and TOC for the Zhenjin section
