The paleogeographic evolution of the Lhasa Block during the Permian time has been a focused issue. It is closely related to the initial opening time of both the Bangong-Nujiang Ocean and the Neotethys Ocean. The climatic warming after the Permian glaciation and rifting of the Cimmerian continent have resulted in the formation of special paleobiogeographic affinities in different blocks. Thus, the paleobiogeography of the Lhasa Block plays an important role in understanding the opening times for these oceans. Recently, Prof. ZHANG Yichun and his colleagues from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as experts from the Chengdu Center, China Geological Survey and Sichuan Geological Survey have given a detailed study of strata and foraminifer faunas from the Xiadong and Zhabuye areas in central Tibet. In this study, the foraminifer genus Shanita has been found in the Zhabuye area. Previously, this genus has been rarely reported from the Xiala Formation in the Xainza area (Zhang et al., 2016). By contrast, Shanita, which associated with Neoschwagerina and Verbeekina, is abundant in the Zhabuye area, that indicated a Middle Permian age. The presence of this genus account for that the Lhasa Block, similar to the South Qiangtang, Baoshan, Tengchong and Sibumasu blocks, was in the Cimmerian Province in paleobiogeography. Most importantly, the special fusuline Nankinella-Chusenella assembalge was found in the upper part of the Xiala Formation in the Xiadong section. According to available data, this fusuline assemblage occurs only in many sections in the Lhasa and Tengchong blocks such as Xiadong section in Tsochen County, Xiala and Mujiuco sections in Xainza County, Bashor County in eastern Lhasa Block and northern Tengchong Block. And, they have not been reported from adjacent blocks/areas such as South Qiangtang, Baoshan, Sibumasu blocks and northern Indian margin. This special distribution pattern for Nankinella-Chusenella assemblage implies that the Lhasa and Tengchong blocks were isolated from adjacent blocks. Furthmore, the Bangong-Nujiang Ocean in the north and the Neotethys Ocean in the south would have opened before the Middle Permian. This paper will be published recently in the Journal “Journal of Asian Earth Sciences”. Paper information: Yi-chun Zhang, Shu-zhong Shen, Yu-jie Zhang, Tong-xing Zhu, Xian-yin An, Bo-xin Huang, Chun-lin Ye, Feng Qiao, Hai-peng Xu, 2018. Middle Permian foraminifers from the Zhabuye and Xiadong areas in the central Lhasa Block and their paleobiogeographic implications. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, Middle Permian fusulines from the Xiadong section
Microdictyon sp. from the Xinji Formation, Cambrian Stage 4 The isolated minute net-like phosphatic plates of Microdictyon are a quite common component among the small shelly fossils in the early Cambrian. The zoological affinity of these plates was unknown until Prof. CHEN Junyuan and his colleagues discovered the articulated soft-bodied specimens of Microdictyon from the Chengjiang Biota in 1989. Their discovery shows that these net-like plates were originally positioned on the two sides of an elongated caterpillar-like trunk possessing paired uniramous lobopod limbs, demonstrating an affinity of Lobopodia for these net-like plates. Although the isolated plates of Microdictyon have a near cosmopolitan distribution in the lower and middle Cambrian, they were previously not known from the North China Platform. Recently, PAN Bing from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and his international colleagues from Durham University and the Swedish Museum of Natural History reported the discovery of isolated plates of Microdictyon from the lower Cambrian Xinji Formation along the southern margin of the North China Platform when they worked on the small shelly fossils from the Xinji Formation (Cambrian lower Stage 4). Based on analysis and comparison of the plate morphology of Microdictyon species established on isolated plates, the authors consider that studies dealing with taxonomy of isolated plates should comprehensively analyze whether the morphological variability observed in the assemblage could represent intraspecific or ontogenetic variation, and caution against establishing new species based on a small number of plates. The plates of Microdictyon from the Xinji Formation are similar to those of other species established on the basis of isolated plates but do bear some new features, such as mushroom-shaped nodes with a single inclined platform-like apex and an upper surface that displays radial lines. However, the plates reported from North China are left under open nomenclature due to inadequate knowledge of intraspecific and ontogenetic variation and low specimen numbers. They also summarize the stratigraphic occurrences and palaeogeographic distribution of Microdictyon in early and middle Cambrian. In addition, they argue against the use of Microdictyon as the index fossil of Cambrian Stage 3 and suggest that low mushroom-shaped nodes could be a primitive and conservative character of Microdictyon while tall mushroom-shaped nodes may be a derived character. The discovery of the isolated plates of Microdictyon from North China not only extends the palaeogeographic distribution of Microdictyon but also provides very important material to study the evolution and biostratigraphic significance of Microdictyon in the early and middle Cambrian. Reference: Pan, B., Topper, T.P., Skovsted, C.B., Miao L.Y., Li G.X., 2018, Occurrence of Microdictyon from the lower Cambrian Xinji Formation along the southern margin of the North China Platform. Journal of Paleontology, 92(1), 59-70.
Triassic pollen, spores and acritarchs from southern Xizang（scale bar = 20 μm） Triassic period is a time interval witnessing the significant global geographic changes with the rift of Gondwana and the expansion of Neo-Tethys. The southern area of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, which was located on the northern margin of Gondwana in the Triassic, is a key area to investigate these geological events. However, the Triassic terrestrial floras of this area and their phytogeographic affinities are so far poorly known. This study was carried out by Dr. PENG Jungang and colleagues from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Prof. Vivi Vajda and Dr. Sam M. Slater from the Swedish Natural History Museum. Palynological analysis was carried out on Middle to Upper Triassic strata from Tulong, Nyalam County, southern Xizang (Tibet), China. Four formal and one informal biozones based on stratigraphically important taxa and compositional changes through the succession. They are in ascending order: the Triplexisporites Interval Zone (Anisian), the Staurosaccites quadrifidus Taxon-range Zone (upper Anisian to lower Norian), the Striatella Interval Zone (lower Norian), the Craterisporites rotundus Taxon-range Zone (middle to upper Norian) and the informal ‘Dictyophyllidites harrisii zone’ (Rhaetian). They are correlative with the representative palynological sequences across Gondwana, contributing to the Triassic strata division and correlation in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Analysis on palynofloral composition and key taxa shows that the Late Triassic palynoflora of southern Xizang is similar to the Onslow palynoflora of Gondwana, but distinct from the North and South China palynofloras, calling for a new Late Triassic palynofloral province of China—Southern Xizang Palynofloral Province. This new province is a supplement to the Late Triassic phytogeography of China. This study was funded by the Strategic Priority Research Program (B) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Swedish Research Council and the China Scholarship Council. Article information: Peng Jungang, Li Jianguo, Slater S.M., Li Wenben, Zhu Huaicheng, Vajda V., 2018. Triassic palynostratigraphy and palynofloral provinces: evidence from southern Xizang (Tibet), China. Alcheringa 42(1), 67？86.
The Late Ordovician biotic crisis was associated with a brief but intense glaciation episode in earth history. Post-glacial marine transgression created vast habits in epicontinental seas, in which benthic faunas established and diversified, with brachiopods being one of the most abundant and diverse fossil groups. Recently, to reveal diversification patterns of brachiopods after the end Ordovician mass extinction, a study carried on by Prof. HUANG Bing and CAS Academician RONG Jiayu from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences together with Prof. Jin Jisuo from Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. Based on detail data of brachiopod occurrences after the end Ordovician mass extinction, together with newly published information, they analyzed the diversification patterns of brachiopods from the Rhuddanian to the Aeronian (early Silurian) by Network Analysis and Frequency Distribution Analysis. The study discovered that Rhuddanian brachiopod faunas were characterized by low diversity and localized high abundance, except for a relatively high-diversity early Rhuddanian fauna in Avalonia-Baltica and South China. Invariably, these faunas were predominated by re-established holdover and once-cosmopolitan taxa from the Late Ordovician, primarily orthides and strophomenides. By the Aeronian, global brachiopod diversity nearly doubled in comparison with the Rhuddanian, owing to a major diversification of Silurian-type brachiopods in both the paleotropics and high-latitude Gondwana, as well as the concomitant proliferation of endemic and cosmopolitan taxa, in association with a global expansion of epicontinental seas and heterogeneity of specialized local habitats. A drastic turnover of brachiopods from the Ordovician to the Silurian type significantly affected the Paleozoic evolutionary fauna. With the ordinal data of brachiopods in major palaeoplates, we discussed the turnover process. Compared with orthides and strophomenides of typical Ordovician brachiopods globally increased their diversity after the extinction, atrypides and pentamerides of Silurian group displayed a drastic diversification from Rhuddanian to Aeronian only in lower latitude continents, demonstrated the two new orders more preferred warm water environments than the Ordovician groups. Atrypides recovered from the early Rhuddanian, whereas diversification of pentamerides delayed until to Aeronian typically demonstrated by the record of many endemic taxa from South China. The Silurian-type atrypide and pentameride communities thrived mainly in relatively shallow environments (BA2–3) during the Rhuddanian, but expanded and dominated in deeper, mid-shelf and outer-shelf settings (BA3–5) by the Aeronian. Article information: Bing HUANG, Jisuo JIN, Jiayu RONG, 2018. Post-extinction diversification patterns of brachiopods in the early–middle Llandovery, Silurian. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 493, 11-19. Network diagram showing the diversification process through the three time slices. Note the increase in cosmopolitan and endemic taxa in the major paleoplates, as well as the faunal connections among them
Palaeoenvironments and ostracod assemblages from the Lower Member of the Hongguleleng Formation, western Junggar, NW China Ostracoda are microcrustacea that first appeared in the Early Ordovician and are still developed today. They are very sensitive to the ambient environment conditions and variations, such as salinity, bathymetry, temperature, hydrodynamics, oxygenation and nutrients. Ostracods have attracted much attention from (palaeo)biologists and (palaeo)ecologists as sensitive ecological markers, offering special insights for palaeoenvironmental and palaeogeographical reconstruction. The western Junggar region is located in the northwest of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, NW China, which is an important component of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt during the Palaeozoic. The Late Devonian Hongguleleng Formation cropping out in the Shaerbuerti Mountains was deposited in the back-arc basin of the Zharma–Saur arc, which yield abundant and diversified faunas and floras. Recently, Dr. SONG Junjun from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with Prof. GONG Yiming from China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) and Prof. CRASQUIN Sylvie from Université Pierre et Marie Curie studied the Late Devonian benthic ostracods from western Junggar. Three assemblages of ostracods in the open oceanic island arc are first proposed based on ostracod faunas from the Hongguleleng Formation, i.e., OA1 (Ostracod Assemblage-1), OA2 (Ostracod Assemblage-2) and OA3 (Ostracod Assemblage-3), which represent foreshore, nearshore and offshore environments. They are more flexible and complicated than the ostracod ecological assemblages in the continental margins. The hydrodynamic condition is considered as the major environmental factor controlling the composition of the ostracod assemblages from the Hongguleleng Formation. Salinity fluctuations may also influence the composition of the ostracod assemblages. Article information: Song J, Crasquin S, Gong Y. Late Devonian benthic ostracods from western Junggar, NW China: Implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Geological Journal. 2018;1–10.
Revised stratigraphic framework of Hirnantian shelly rocks on the Upper Yangtze Platform of South China, indicating the interpreted association of these strata with Hirnantian glaciation Considerable uncertainties over many aspects of process and mechanism of end-Ordovician extinction still remain. One of the major difficulties is the problematic stratigraphic correlation of Hirnantian rocks between South China, where the Hirnantian GSSP is situated, and shallow water carbonate platforms in low latitudes. In South China, black graptolitic shales are well developed, and shelly strata have been widely considered as being represented only by the early to mid-Hirnantian Kuanyinchiao Formation (and its stratigraphic equivalents) deposited during the major Hirnantian glaciation. In shallow-water carbonate platforms from low-latitude regions, for example, Laurentia and Baltica, shelly fossils are dominant, and graptolites are either absent or very rare. Recently, Dr. WANG Guangxu from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and his colleagues further reveals the temporal and spatial distribution of Hirnantian near-shore carbonates and shelly fossils in many areas of northern Guizhou, South China, which allows a critical stratigraphic revision and hence the establishment of a robust regional stratigraphic correlation. The Kuanyinchiao formation is revised to include three informal subdivisions, that is, units A, B, and C, in ascending order. Unit B of the formation typically is dominated by peloidal or oolitic grainstones, and unit C is composed of skeletal wackestone and calcareous mudstone, both units sharing distinctive coral and brachiopod faunas. This contrasts sharply with unit A of the formation, consisting of mudstone, silty mudstone, or calcareous mudstone, that yields the cool-water Hirnantia fauna and associated coral fauna. In view of the presence of carbonate ooids and peloids, rugose corals, and a distinctive brachiopod assemblage, all indicative of warm-water conditions, unit B, as well as unit C yielding the same shelly fauna, is interpreted as representing postglacial sedimentation immediately following the major Hirnantian glaciation, thus marking a significant climatic shift. More importantly, new findings indicate that biotic recovery after end-Ordovician extinction and its associated Hirnantian deglaciation probably have started from middle Hiranntian. Article information: Wang, G. X., Zhan, R. B., Rong, J. Y., Huang, B., Percival, I. G., Luan, X. C., Wei, X. 2018. Exploring the end-Ordovician extinctions in Hirnantian near-shore carbonate rocks of northern Guizhou, SW China: A refined stratigraphy and regional correlation. Geological Journal, 1–11.
Late Neoproterozoic and early Cambrian is a key transition geological times which see the huge changes in biological, atmosphere and hydrosphere cycles. The fluid inclusions in halite of evaporites recorded the major seawater composition changes, and gypsum/anhydrite of evaporites recorded the positive abnormal sulfate isotope data during the time. The sulfate δ34S values during the time are largely constrained between +30‰ and +35‰ VCDT (Vienna Ca？on Diablo troilite), with some extreme values reaching +45‰ (The Yudomski Event). Dr. MENG Fanwei from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology Chinese Academy of Sciences and other scientists from China, USA and Pakistan reported the abnormal sulfate isotope data from early-middle Cambrian evaporites in Tarim, China. However, the δ34S values of the early Ordovician anhydrite in Tarim basin decrease to +26.1‰, and the δ34S values of the early Ordovician anhydrite in Ordos basin range from +27.1‰ to +28.0‰. So these new evidences support the occurrence, and extend the paleogeographic breadth, of the Cambrian Yudomski Event In addition, it is illustrated continuity of such high δ34S from the lower to middle Cambrian. The research results are published in Carbonates and Evaporites online. Related information of this paper:Fan-wei Meng, Zhi-li Zhang, James D. Schiffbauer, Qin-gong Zhuo, Meng-jun Zhao, Pei Ni, Wen-hang Liu, Naveed Ahsan. The Yudomski Event and subsequent decline: new evidence from δ34S data of lower and middle Cambrian evaporites in the Tarim Basin, western China. Carbonates and Evaporites. Cambrian anhydrite deposits in Tarim basin under microscope δ34S data from Cambrian anhydrite deposits in Tarim basin and subsequent evolution
Recently, researchers from China and USA reported a new lacewing species (green lacewing larvae) based on two larvae from the Cretaceous Burmese amber (approximately 100 million years old). These larvae are anatomically modified to mimic coeval liverworts. This discovery represents the first record of liverwort mimicry by fossil insects and brings to light an evolutionary novelty, both in terms of morphological specialization as well as plant-insect interactions. Camouflage and mimicry are pervasive throughout the biological world as part of the usual interactions between predators and their prey, allowing both to avoid detection. Among insects, the icons of mimicry include familiar stick and leaf insects, leaf-like moths or katydids. Liverworts are among the earliest terrestrial plants, and they have been widespread since the Paleozoic. However, mimicry between insects and liverworts is extremely rare in both modern and fossil ecosystems. Recently, researchers from China Agricultural University, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and their colleagues reported a new lacewing species (green lacewing larvae) based on two larvae from the Cretaceous Burmese amber (approximately 100 million years old). These larvae are anatomically modified to mimic coeval liverworts. This discovery represents the first record of liverwort mimicry by fossil insects and brings to light an evolutionary novelty, both in terms of morphological specialization as well as plant-insect interactions. The research was recently published in Current Biology on April 26, 2018. These larvae have broadly foliate lateral plates on their thorax and abdomen. It is the only species known among lacewings with distinctive foliate lobes on the larval body. Such morphological modifications grossly match some coeval liverworts. Therefore, the new larvae are the first example of direct mimicry in lacewing larvae. The morphological specialization in the new chrysopoid larva is unique and is unknown among any living or fossil lacewings. While the anatomy of these larvae allowed them to avoid detection, the lack of setae or other anatomical elements for entangling debris as camouflage means their sole defense was its mimicry, and it could have been a stealthy hunter like living and other fossil Chrysopoidea or been an ambush predator aided by its disguise. The present fossils demonstrate a hitherto unknown life-history strategy among these “wolf in sheep’s clothing” predators, one that apparently evolved from a camouflaging ancestor but did not persist within the lineage. Liverworts are a diverse group distributed throughout the world today, including approximately 9,000 extant species. Liverworts have been diverse since the start of the Late Cretaceous, including in the Burmese amber forest, which was a typical wet, tropical rainforest. Like their extant counterparts, Cretaceous liverworts grew on the leaves and bark of trees as well as on other plant surfaces. Therefore, the larvae most probably lived on trees densely covered by liverworts, with their liverwort mimicry aiding their survival. This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Reference: Liu Xingyue*, Shi Gongle, Xia Fangyuan, Lu Xiumei, Wang Bo*, Engel M.S.* (2018) Liverwort mimesis in a Cretaceous lacewing larva. Current Biology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.03.060. New green lacewing larva from Burmese amber. New green lacewing larva and potential model plants from Burmese amber. (B, E, G are larvae, the others are livervorts). Ecological reconstruction.
What color is the 200-million-year-old insect? Some people will say, too old to see, we can only imagine. But no! Scientists from China, Germany and UK have new evidences to reveal the “true color” of the fossil insect. The research was recently published in Science Advances on April 11, 2018. Can we know the color of a 200-million-year-old insect? Some people will say we can only imagine its actual color. But no! Scientists from China, Germany and the UK have new evidence to reveal the “true color” of fossil insects. The research was recently published in Science Advances. Structural colors have evolved in a myriad of animals and plants and result from the wavelength-selective scattering of incident light. Such colors are typically more vibrant and visually arresting than those produced via pigmentation and are often multifunctional, playing important roles in intraspecific sexual signaling, aposematism and crypsis. Lepidoptera exhibit in their scales some of the most diverse structural colors produced by insects, with this diversity undoubtedly having contributed to the evolutionary success of the order. Despite sustained interest in the structure, development, and photonic and other biomimetic properties of lepidopteran scales in neontological studies, as well as recent research into structural colors in fossil beetles and feathers, the deep evolutionary history of scales and structural colors in lepidopterans is poorly understood. Recently, researchers from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology (NIGP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and their colleagues from Germany and the UK reported scale architectures from Jurassic Lepidoptera from the UK, Germany, Kazakhstan and China and Tarachoptera (a stem group of Amphiesmenoptera) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. They used optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to reveal the gross morphology and ultrastructure of the scales. Using the ultrastructural parameters identified in Jurassic specimens, they demonstrated the use of optical modeling to describe the theoretical optical properties of the type-1 bilayer scale arrangement, thus providing the earliest evidence of structural colors in the insect fossil record. The Jurassic lepidopterans exhibit a type？1 bilayer scale vestiture: an upper layer of large fused cover scales and a lower layer of small fused ground scales. This scale arrangement, plus preserved herringbone ornamentation on the cover scale surface, is almost identical to those of some extant Micropterigidae. Critically, the fossil scale ultrastructures possess periodicities measuring from 140–2000 nm and are therefore capable of scattering visible light. Optical modeling confirms that diffraction-related scattering mechanisms dominate the photonic properties of the fossil cover scales, which would have displayed broadband metallic hues as in numerous extant Micropterigidae. The fossil tarachopteran scales exhibit a unique suite of characteristics, including small size, elongate-spatulate shape, ridged ornamentation and irregular arrangement, providing novel insight into the early evolution of lepidopteran scales. Combined, these new results provide the earliest evidence for structural coloration in fossil lepidopterans and support the hypothesis that fused wing scales and the type？1 bilayer covering are fundamental features of the group. "These findings have broader implications,” said Prof. WANG Bo from NIGP, the leader of the research group. The widespread occurrence of wing scales in Jurassic lepidopterans and in tarachopterans strongly suggests that wing scales (including some possibly unknown morphotypes) were widespread in stem Amphiesmenoptera prior to their apogee in the Lepidoptera. Given the presence of structural coloration in these basal fossil lepidopterans, the advent of major lepidopteran clades by the Cretaceous raises the possibility that this taxonomic radiation may have been accompanied by increased diversity in scale shape, microstructure and optical effects. Future studies will characterize the optical response of scale nanostructures in other fossil specimens and will provide evidence for the presence of scale pigments in fossil lepidopterans in order to inform models of the evolution of structural colors in lepidopterans. This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Reference: Zhang Qingqing, Mey W., Ansorge J., Starkey T.A., McDonald L.T., McNamara M.E., Jarzembowski E.A., Wichard W., Kelly R., Ren Xiaoying, Chen Jun, Zhang Haichun, Wang Bo* (2018) Fossil scales illuminate the early evolution of lepidopterans and structural colors, Science Advances 4: e1700988. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1700988.
Fig. 1. Wings and scales of Jurassic Lepidoptera and extant Micropterigidae.(Image by ZHANG Qingqing et al.)
Fig. 2. Tarachoptera from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber .(Image by ZHANG Qingqing et al.) Fig. 3. Optical modeling showing the photonic response of a simplified fused cover scale structure. (Image by ZHANG Qingqing et al.) Fig. 4. Ecological restoration of moths in the Cretaceous Burmese amber forest. (Image by YANG Dinghua)
This Book displays a good sample of beautiful fossil collections in NIGPAS, including most precious specimens collected by pioneering palaeontologists in early 1900s and exquisitely preserved fossil specimens from the famous “Chengjiang Biota” and “Jehol Biota”, as well as other important fossil sites of various geological ages and geographic regions. The compiling of such monograph is intended not only to show snap shots of the evolving biosphere on the Earth through millions and billions of years’ natural history, but also to show some footprints of NIGPAS scientists in their scientific endeavors over the past century (including pre-NIGPAS pioneers’ efforts). Book information: YANG Qun (editor-in-chief), Evolutionary Treasures: Fossil types Annotated, Zhejiang University Press. 1-227. ISBN: 978-7-308-17629-3. (in Chinese and English)
