The Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota, one of the most important Mesozoic lagerst？tten in East Asia, is especially well-known for occurrences of fossil feathered dinosaurs and early angiosperms. However, the terrestrial biodiversity, especially the fossil wood record, is poorly known. In recent years, Prof. WANG Yongdong from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CAS (NIGPAS) and his team have investigated several structurally preserved coniferous wood specimens from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation from the Heichengzi Basin in Beipiao of western Liaoning, Northeast China. Four species referred to four genera of fossil wood are described, including Taxodioxylon heichengziense sp. nov., Thujoxylon beipiaoense sp. nov., Sciadopityoxylon liaoningense Ding and Protocedroxylon shengjinbeigouense sp. nov. These new records enlarge the fossil wood diversity of the Yixian Formation up to 10 species in 9 genera, and provide further insights into the forest vegetation composition of the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota. Systematic analysis of the floral constitution indicates that the petrified forests of the Yixian Formation are dominated by conifers, represented by Araucariaceae, Podocarpaceae, Sciadopityaceae, Pinaceae and Cupressaceae in the western Liaoning region. Palaeoclimatical analysis of the fossil wood assemblage implies that the western Liaoning region was dominated by a cool temperate, wet and seasonal climate with variable interannual water supply in the western Liaoning region during the Early Cretaceous. This may provide potential links of palaeoclimate variations and occurrences of feathered dinosaurs of the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota. Information of publication: Ding QH, Tian N*, Wang YD*, Jiang ZK, Chen SW, Wang D, Zhang W, Zheng SL, Xie AW, Zhang GQ, Liu ZJ, 2015. Fossil coniferous wood from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota in western Liaoning, NE China: new material and palaeoclimate implications. Cretaceous Research, 61, 57-70.
Thujoxylon beipiaoense sp. nov. and its anatomical features from the Early Cretaceous of Yixian Formation in western Liaoning, China Sciadopityoxylon liaoningense from and its anatomical features from the Early Cretaceous of Yixian Formation in western Liaoning, China
Fossil Ginkgophyta are one of the most widely used indicators for estimating the paleoatmospheric CO2 levels from the Triassic to present day. There are quite a few CO2 estimates for the Triassic to Jurassic interval; however, the data from China are still limited. Recently, Dr. WU Jingyu, Post Doc of NIGPAS and associate Professor of Lanzhou University, in collaboration with Prof. WANG Yongdong in NIGPAS, have investigated two fossil Ginkgoites species, G. magnifolius Du Toit and G. obrutschewii (Seward) Seward from collections from the Upper Triassic and Middle Jurassic in Huating County, Gansu Province, Northwest China. The fossil leaf morphology and epidermal structure were studied and the stomatal parameters were analyzed for the reconstruction of paleoatmospheric CO2 concentrations. The results were recently published in the international “Pal？ontologische Zeitschrift” published in Germany. The paleoatmospheric CO2 levels during the Late Triassic of China is estimated for the first time based on fossil material from Gansu. This study demonstrates that fossils yield paleo-CO2 values of 1962 ppmv in the Late Triassic and 1320 ppmv in the Middle Jurassic. Compared with previous estimates of atmospheric CO2 concentration based on stomatal parameter of fossil Ginkgo/Ginkgoites from Northwest China, the change of Jurassic paleo-CO2 levels accord with the trend of CO2 concentration proposed by GEOCARB III and Crustal Production models. The results demonstrate that the paleo-CO2 of the Late Triassic was higher than that of the Early to Middle Jurassic; but an increasing trend of paleo-CO2 could be detected from the Early to the Middle Jurassic. The present data provide an independent check for the paleo-CO2 value estimation based on isotopic analysis. This represents the follow up study results by Wang Yongdong’s research team in recent years after significant results were get published in Earth-Science Reviews on Cretaceous palaeo-CO2 variation and greenhouse climate.
Information of publication: Wu Jing-yu, Ding Su-ting, Li Qi-jia, Sun Bai-nian, Wang Yong-dong*, 2016. Reconstructing paleoatmospheric CO2 levels based on fossil Ginkgoites from the Upper Triassic and Middle Jurassic in Northwest China. Pal？ontologische Zeitschrift, Doi: 10.1007/s12542-016-0300-1. Cuticles and stomata of fossil leaves of Ginkgoites Paleo-CO2 variations during the Late Triassic to the Middle Jurassic based on the stomatal ratios of Chinese plant fossils, and comparison with geochemical models
Conchostracans Eosestheria sp. from the middle Upper Member of Bayingebi Formation in the Celaomiao region, western Inner Monglia, China. When Laurasia began to break up in the Early Cretaceous, the freshwater and terrestrial Jehol Biota appeared and was widely distributed in eastern Eurasia. As the earliest biota of the Modern Biosphere represented by thriving angiosperms, birds, and mammals, it is generally divided into three stages: the early, the middle, and the late Jehol Biota. They have different biological characters and geographical distributions. In northern Hebei and western Liaoning provinces, the major distribution areas of the Jehol Biota, the Jehol Group (strata bearing the Jehol Biota) has been well studied. The early Jehol Biota is recorded from the Dabeigou Formation and its coeval horizons, the middle Jehol Biota from the Yixian Formation and the late Jehol Biota from the Jiufotang Formation and their respectively coeval strata. Recent investigation conducted by the group led by Professor ZHANG Haichun from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences cooperated with colleagues from University of Hong Kong and China University of Petroleum, reports some typical components of the Jehol Biota for the first time from the Bayingebi Formation in the Celaomiao region, western Inner Mongolia, China, including conchostracans Eosestheria sp., the mayfly Ephemeropsis trisetalis Eichwald, 1864, the aquatic beetle Coptoclava longipoda Ping, 1928, and a fragmentary dragonfly. This discovery indicates that the middle Upper Member of Bayingebi Formation can be correlated with the upper Yixian and the lower Jiufotang formations in western Liaoning Province. Combining it with the radio-isotopic dating result, they further indicate that the Upper Member of Bayingebi Formation could be roughly correlated with the Yixian, Jiufotang, and Shahai formations, and the overlying Suhongtu Formation with the Fuxin Formation in western Liaoning Province. Fossil insects from the middle Upper Member of Bayingebi Formation in the Celaomiao region, western Inner Mongolia, China. In the major Bayingebi Basin, palaeontological and radio-isotopic dating evidence shows that the Bayingebi Formation has a long depositional history of over 30 Ma: its Upper Member bearing the Jehol Biota and the early Fuxin Biota is probably coeval to the Yixian, Jiufotang and Shahai formations and has a Barremian–early Albian age; its Lower Member may be Berriasian–Hauterivian in age and could be correlated with the upper Tuchengzi, Zhangjiakou, and Dabeigou formations in northern Hebei Province. This suggests that the Bayingebi Formation should be promoted to the stratigraphic rank of group and subdivided into several secondary units (formations). Unlike the previous result, the Yingen Formation is considered across the Lower Cretaceous–Upper Cretaceous boundary and being late Albian–early Turonian in age. Related information: Li, S., Zheng, D.R., Zhang, Q., Liao, H.Y., Wang, H., Wang, B., Wang J., Lu, H.B., Chang, S.C., Zhang, H.C.*, 2016. Discovery of the Jehol Biota from the Celaomiao region and discussion of the Lower Cretaceous of the Bayingebi Basin, northwestern China. Palaeoworld, 25: 76-83.
Comparison of typical characters of T. gregaria gen. et sp. nov. and T. orientalis (Rong et al., 1974). Earliest Silurian brachiopod faunas have been described from a number of regions. Among them, the brachiopods fauna from Norway and South China are totally different in many aspects, such as diversity, relative abundance and preservation. Recently, A new brachiopod genus Thulatrypa gen. nov. is formally erected by Dr. HUANG Bing from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and his colleagues based on their collections from both Norway and China. There are two species assigned to the new genus. T. gregaria gen et sp. nov. from Norway and T. orientalis (Rong et al., 1974) from South China that occurred in the recovery interval after the end Ordovician mass extinction, are systematically described in detail. The related localities and stratigraphic information are reported in detail and compared for the two species. Their palaeobiogeographical implications are discussed. This study indicates that T. gregaria is later than T. orientalis in age, suggesting that Thulatrypa may have originated in South China in the middle Rhuddanian and drifted to east Baltica in the late Rhuddanian. Moreover, the larvae of the genus may have drifted along a channel from the east to the south-west of Baltica, which supports reconstruction of palaeo-currents for the early Silurian in previous palaeogeographical studies. Global palaeogeography at about 440 Ma in the early Silurian (revised from Rong & Cocks 2014). WSEC and solid arrows—Western South Equatorial Currrent. Dashed arrows—the cold-water mid-latitude return current. Related information: Huang Bing, Baarli B.G., Zhan Renbin, Rong Jiayu. 2016. A new early Silurian brachiopod genus, Thulatrypa, from Norway and South China, and its palaeobiogeographical significance. Alcheringa, 40: 83-97.
Holotype and reconstruction of Juraherba bodae Left: the holotype. Right: a, the whole plant; b, fructification; c, distal portion of a leaf In contrast to woody habit with secondary growth, truthful herbaceous habit lacking secondary growth is restricted to angiosperms among seed plants. Although angiosperms might have occurred as early as in the Triassic and herbaceous habit theoretically may have been well adopted by pioneer angiosperms, pre-Cretaceous herbs are missing hitherto, leaving the origin of herbs and evolution of herbaceous angiosperms mysterious. In a paper published on Acta Geologica Sinica (English edition), the team led by Professor WANG Xin from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences report Juraherba bodae gen. et sp. nov, a whole plant herbaceous angiosperm, from the Middle Jurassic (>164 Ma) at Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia, China, a fossil Lagerst？tten that is worldwide famous for various fossil finds. The angiospermous affinity of Juraherba is ensured by its enclosed ovules/seeds. The plant is small but complete, with physically connected hairy root, stem, leaves, and fructifications. The Middle Jurassic age recommends Juraherba as the earliest record of herbaceous seed plants, demanding a refresh look at the evolutionary history of angiosperms. Related information: Han G, Liu Z-J, Liu X, Mao L, FMB Jacques, Wang X*, 2016, A whole plant herbaceous angiosperm from the Middle Jurassic of China, Acta Geologica Sinica (English edition), 90(1):19-29
Investigations of Emsian conodonts from Bahe, Liujing and Daliantang sections in South China yielded abundant collections of Ozarkodina prolata Mawson, 1987 and O. midundenta (Wang and Ziegler, 1983). Initially named Pandorinellina exigua midundenta by Wang and Ziegler (1983) without any information regarding the Sa element of the apparatus by which Pandorinellina mainly differs from Ozarkodina, midundenta is re-assigned back to Ozarkodina and raised to species level herein. Based on morphological analysis of O. prolata and O. midundenta, it seems plausible that the latter developed from the former by progressive fusion of denticles in the middle third of the blade above the basal cavity in the Pa element. Related information: Lu Jianfeng, 2016. Morphological analysis of Ozarkodina prolata Mawson and Ozarkodina midundenta (Wang & Ziegler) (Emsian conodonts) from South China. Alcheringa, 40(1): 129-146. Scatter diagram showing the relationship between total length of the unit (TL) and length of anterior blade (AL) or length of anterior blade together with basal cavity area (ACL) in Ozarkodina prolata Mawson, 1987 and Ozarkodina midundenta (Wang & Ziegler, 1983)
Representative brachiopods from the lower Niuchang Formation at Xinglongchang section
Following the end-Ordovician mass extinction, the interval of the latest Ordovician to the earliest Silurian was marked by a widespread transgression. The earliest Silurian brachiopod fauna has been documented from a number of regions. However, with rare exceptions, the precise age of most of those assemblages is not certain. Recently, a recovery brachiopod fauna was found in the lower Niuchang Formation (upper Rhuddanian-lower Aeronian, Llandovery) of the Xinglongchang section, Meitan County, northern Guizhou Province, South China, by Dr. HUANG Bing from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and his colleagues. Nine collections were made at the section, all of which are dominated by brachiopods, and three associations are recognized here and their paleoecology is discussed. Paleoenvironmental analysis shows a shallowing upward trend for the lower Niuchang Formation although a global transgression was happening at that time. The balance between the global transgression and the regional Qianzhong Uplift guaranteed a stable environment for the formation of the Niuchang Formation and the recovery of brachiopods in South China after the end-Ordovician mass extinction. In addition to the traditional methods of PCA and CA, a relatively new technique to paleontology, “Network Analysis” (NA), is applied successfully in this study. It is suggested that Network Analysis could be used as one of the supporting methods in investigating brachiopod paleoecology. Related information: Huang Bing, Zhan Renbin, Wang Guangxu. 2016. Recovery brachiopod associations from the lower Silurian of South China and their paleoecological implications. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. Vol 53: DOI: 10.1139/cjes-2015-0193. Nine collections made in the lower Niuchang Formation (upper Rhuddanian to lowermost Aeronian, Llandovery, lower Silurian) at Xinglongchang section The bipartite network diagram of NA, three brachiopod-dominated associations were consistently recognized
the lycopsid cormose rhizomorph from the Middle Devonian of North Xinjiang, the whole specimens the partial enlargement. Lycopsids have the longest evolutionary history among extant vascular land plants. The group originated in the late Silurian from herbaceous forms, peaked in both diversity and abundance in the Carboniferous when arborescent forms dominated tropical coal swamps, and they have extant herbaceous counterparts such as Isoetes L. The lycopsids are a monophyletic group with various growth forms in the Devonian and Carboniferous. The Middle Devonian witnessed the first appearance of forests, with, among others, arborescent rhizomorphic and/or heterosporous lycopsids. The Middle Devonian was also the key period for the evolution and diversification of lycopsids in terms of growth forms and increasing diversity. The characterization of the rhizomorphs is important for interpreting the evolution and taxonomy of lycopsids. However, well-preserved Devonian lycopsid rhizomorphs are rare. Recently, Prof. XU Honghe and Prof. WANG Yi from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Scineces recognized a cormose rhizomorph of probable lycopsid affinity from the upper Middle Devonian (c. 387 Ma) of West Junggar, Xinjiang, Northwest China. They suggested that by the Middle Devonian, rhizomorphic lycopsids had diversified and different types of lycopsid rooting systems had developed. The cormose rhizomorph might have had an earlier origination than previously thought. Related information: Xu H-H, Wang Y, 2016. The earliest cormose rhizomorph of putative lycopsid affinity from the Middle Devonian of West Junggar, Xinjiang, China. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 226, 54–57. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2015.12.005
Burgess Shale-type biotas are critically important in understanding the early evolution of the Metazoa. The well-known Cambrian Burgess Shale-type biotas, such as the Burgess Shale, Chengjiang, Sirius Passet, Emu Bay Shale, and Kaili, are all restricted to the early and middle Cambrian time interval and have not been found in strata younger than the Guzhangian. A new exceptionally preserved biota, the Guole Biota, was discovered recently from the late Cambrian (Furongian) Sandu Formation near Guole Town, Jingxi County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, South China, by Dr. ZHU Xuejian from from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and his colleagues. It is the first report of a diversified Burgess Shale-type biota from the late Cambrian. This new Burgess Shale-type assemblage fills a temporal gap between the middle Cambrian and Lower Ordovician stratigraphic record of Burgess Shall-type Lagerst？tten and contributes to our understanding of the evolution of early life. The Guole biota is one of the most diverse and informative Burgess Shale-type biotas found in the Yangzi Plate, South China (e.g., Chengjiang fauna, Kaili fauna, and a series of lower and middle Cambrian soft-bodied biotas). Preliminary investigation has identified more than eight major fossil groups, including arthropods, brachiopods, echinoderms, cnidarians, graptolites, hyolithids, palaeoscolecids, and algae. Related information: Zhu Xuejian, Peng Shanchi, Samuel Zamora, Bertrand Lefebvre and Chen Guiying, 2016. Furongian (upper Cambrian) Guole Konservat-Lagerst？tte from South China. Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition), 90(1): 30–37. A, Eyes of trilobite. B, Aglaspella sanduensis Lerosey-Aubril, Ortega-Hernández, and Zhu 2013. C, Glypharthrus? sp. D, Aglaspidid-like arthropod. E, Mollisonia-like arthropod. F, Bivalved-arthropod. G, detached appendages of arthropod. H-I, Sphenothallus? sp. J-K, Hyoliths with exquisitely preserved microstructures of the shell. L, Hyoliths with gut fillings preserved. M, Branching-alga. A, Cambroblastus guolensis Zhu et al., 2014. B, Four circlets glyptocystitid rhombiferan. C, Association of a new glyptocystitid rhombiferan with three circlets and thecal plates ornamented with ridges and “Phyllocystis” jingxiensis. D, Solutan. E-F, “Phyllocystis” jingxiensis. G-H, Drepanocarpos-like hanusiid. I, Primitive mitrocystitid mitrate. J-K, A new species of palaeoscolecids.
The Kuanyinchiao Formation (Hirnantian, Upper Ordovician), yielding the typical Hirnantia fauna, has commonly been accepted as representing cool-water sediments deposited during the glacial interval in the Hirnantian Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) region of South China. Recent investigation conducted by Dr. WANG Guangxu from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and his colleagues reveals that the uppermost carbonate-dominated part of this formation yields a warm-water rugose coral fauna with Silurian affinities at many localities of northern Guizhou Province, which substantially differs from the underlying cool-water fauna. This suggests that these carbonates were probably postglacial warm-water sediments, rather than having formed during the Hirnantian glacial interval as previously thought. Such a conclusion is consistent with the evidence from the associated brachiopod fauna, i.e., the Dalmanella testudinaria – Dorytreta longicrura community, which is similarly distinct from the underlying typical Hirnantia fauna. The sedimentological data show warm-water features at the same level (e.g., the presence of oolitic grains), also supporting this new interpretation. Recognition of these postglacial carbonates and fossils adds to a growing list of near-contemporaneous strata of latest Ordovician age in South China that, due to their thinness and limited extension, have previously been overlooked or misinterpreted. Increased awareness of these strata should result in further discoveries that will underpin a better and more accurate understanding of the end-Ordovician mass extinction. Related information of this paper: Wang G. X., Zhan R. B., Percival I. G. 2016 (published online). New data on Hirnantian (latest Ordovician) postglacial carbonate rocks and fossils in northern Guizhou, Southwest China. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, (doi: 10.1139/cjes-2015-0197) Stratigraphic correlation of the Ordovician–Silurian boundary successions in the study area. Representative rugose corals from the Kuanyinchiao Formation are illustrated with their stratigraphic levels indicated. Correlation of carbonate rocks across the Ordovician–Silurian boundary on the Yangtze Platform of South China.
