Mass extinction can severely disturb not only the global ecosystem and its ecological foundation, but also the palaeobiogeographical framework severely. Research on palaeobiogeography of the survival and recovery intervals is significant in understanding macro-evolutionary processes after mass extinction. Dr. HUANG Bing and Prof. RONG Jiayu from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS), with Prof. Robin Cocks (Natural History Museum, UK), have recently published a study in the journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. The paper summarized and revised published information on the recovery of early and late Rhuddanian brachiopod faunas. The global dataset consists of 137 occurrences, 72 genera, and 13 localities of Early Rhuddanian (survival interval), and 271 occurrences, 91 genera, and 26 localities of the late Rhuddanian (early recovery interval). The data are analyzed using cluster analysis, nonmetric multidimensional scaling, and minimum spanning tree. The results display palaeolatitudinal distribution patterns for brachiopods during their survival and recovery. Frequency analysis of the data indicates that cosmopolitan taxa before the mass extinction decreased in their post-extinction distribution. The survivors were mostly confined to one palaeoplate or even one locality in the survival interval, but expanded progressively in the subsequent recovery period. Paper reference: Huang Bing; Rong Jiayu; Cocks L. Robin M. 2012. Global palaeobiogeographical patterns in brachiopods from survival to recovery after the end-Ordovician mass extinction. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, Volume 317, 196-205.
Giant fleas from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, China Professor HUANG Diying from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and his colleagues make an important progress in Palaeoentomology recently. A paper entitled “Diverse transitional giant fleas from the Mesozoic era of China”has been published online in Nature on the 29th, February. Fleas, including circa 2500 recent species or subspecies, are one of the dramatically specialized group of insect lineages, with reduction of wings, laterally-flattened body, and small size (usually 1-3 mm long). Fleas are ectoparasiticinsects specialized for feeding on the blood of mammals (including human beings) or birds. Fleas are difficult preserved as fossils like other ectoparasitic insects. Definitive fossil evidence of fleas has been largely confined to Cenozoic amber, and they are of extant forms. Therefore, the evidence suggesting the origin and early evolution of fleas has been lacking.Hitherto, only one record of fossil flea Tarwinia has been described from the Late Cretaceous of Australia (ca. 120 Ma). However, its affinity remains highly controversy. In recent years, HUANG Diying has found several giant flea from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou biota (ca. 165 Ma) at Ningcheng Couty, Inner Mongolia and and the Early Cretaceous Jehol biota (ca. 125 Ma) at Beipiao City, Liaoning Province of China, which provides new insights into the origin and early evolution of fleas and the adaption of hosts. This find traced back the earliest occurrence of fleas (Order Siphonaptera) at least for 40 million years. These Mesozoic fleas are of great body sizes, approximately15 mm in length, and some longer than 20 mm. As the extant fleas, the ancient females are larger than males. For example, a flea species from Daohougou is 14 mm for female and only 8 mm for male. They are wingless insects, but more or less dorso-ventrally flattened, their antennae are short and compact with more antennal segments (16-19 segments) than extant ones (11 segments); they have a very long piercing siphonate mouthparts, elongate legs armed with various ctenidia, but its hind legs are not jumping type as in Recent fleas, abdomen covered numerous posteriorly-directed setae; male genitalia large and exposed. New Mesozoic fleas with very long piercing mouthparts suggest a resemblance to some Mesozoic siphonate mecopteran, which supports the hypothesis that fleas are derived from Mecoptera. By contrast the Tarwinia, the new Middle Jurassic and Early Cretaceous fleas armed with various ctenidia on legs and numerous posteriorly-directed setae on abdomen, indicating an adaption to hosts with hairs or furs. From the same period, a number of mammals have been described, but they are normally of small body size. If they are hosts for ancient fleas, the fleas should have been hidden in their nests. Nevertheless, the long siphon of fleas is obviously able to pierce the skin of feathered dinosaurs, so this is also a possibility. In addition, a peculiar insect from the Early Cretaceous of Russia, Saurophthirus, was suggested as an ectoparasitic insect for pterosaur. We suggest it is also a specialized flea. The above evidence indicates Mesozoic fleas have already display obvious specialization for adapting to different hosts. This research was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, Ministry of Science and Technology of PRC, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy. References: Huang, D., Engel, M. S., Cai, C., Wu, H. & Nel, A. Nature http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature10839 (2012).
Reconstruction of actual site 3 of a peat-forming forest of earliest Permian age that was preserved by a volcanic ash-fall near Wuda, Inner Mongolia, China. An ancient forest preserved in volcanic ash from Inner Mongolia, China provides us a fantastic window to see the vegetational community 298 million years ago. The study by WANG Jun from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and colleagues discovered an Early Permian forest buried in volcanic ash and preserved in a way much like the Roman city of Pompeii. The researchers were able to use the actual location of individual plants to reconstruct 1137 m2 of the forest, which is large enough for an investigation of the floral ecology. Six plant groups consist of the flora, with tree ferns forming a lower canopy and either Cordaites, a conifer, or Sigillaria, a lycopsid, appear as taller trees. Landscape heterogenity is apparent, including one site where Noeggerathiales, an extinct spore-bearing group of small trees, are dominant. The researchers also discovered significant differences in the distribution and ecology of ancient plants from what is now China and East Asia and those from what is now Europe and North America. The preserved forest is from a period marked by oscillating climatic variations, and it is suggested that studying it would help researchers understand not just ancient ecosystems but also changes to modern global vegetation. This work has been recently published in PNAS (Jun Wang, Hermann W. Pfefferkorn, Yi Zhang, and Zhuo Feng, Permian vegetational Pompeii from Inner Mongolia and its implications for landscape paleoecology and paleobiogeography of Cathaysia. PNAS 2012 ; published ahead of print February 21, 2012, doi:10.1073/pnas.1115076109) .
Reconstruction of the peat-forming forest of earliest Permian age preserved by a volcanic ash-fall that buried stems, broke off twigs, toppled trees, and preserved the forest at site 1 near Wuda, Inner Mongolia, China
The Late Palaeozoic research group led by SHEN Shuzhong from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in collaboration with the scientists of USA and Canada intensively studied the fossil record around the Permian-Triassic boundary, they report on the 9th, December in Science that the biggest mass extinction caused the extinction of more than 95% marine and 75% terrestrial life happened within only 200,000 years 252.28 million years ago. They examined more than 20 different sections across South China and Tibet, collected tens of volcanic ashes and dated 29 ash beds in MIT, and established a composite extinction pattern of diversity and carbon isotope excursions based on a large fossil data set from both marine and terrestrial sections. The new dating limits the biggest extinction to no more than 200,000 years both on land and in the sea, just like overnight to the society of human being. The study also intensively examined the extinction on land, apparently driven by extreme global drying and warming with frequent wildfires, happened simultaneously with the marine extinction derived from massive release of greenhouse gases and acid-generating sulfur triggered by volcanic eruptions. SHEN Shuzhong et al., 2011. Calibrating the End-Permian Mass Extinction. Science, Vol. 334: 1367-1372
Permian-Triassic beds at the Meishan section in South China
A composite mass extinction pattern based on geochrologic age, biodiversity pattern and carbon isotope excursion across the Permian-Triassic boundary
Amber is not rich in China, and only some spare records have been reported. Fushun, a city in Liaoning Province of northeastern China, comprises six coal-mining districts, of which the West Opencast Coalmine (Xilutian Opencast Coalmine) yields lots of ambers. The West Opencast Coalmine, the largest opencast coalmine in Asia, was ever the largest amber deposit in China, but it is exhausted nowadays. The family Psychodidae (Diptera: Nematocera) are small true flies with short, hairy bodies and wings giving them a moth-like appearance. Trichomyiinae is a subfamily of short-legged psychodids, having the radial sector with only one vein between radial and medial forks. Dr. WANG Bo from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and other scientists recently described a new species belonging to Trichomyiinae based on a well-preserved specimen from the Lower Eocene Fushun amber of China. This fossil shares some similarities with some extant and fossil Trichomyiinae, but retains some archaic features, such as non-excentric flagellomeres and long legs. This discovery representsthe first Trichomyiinae (Psychodidae) from the Fushun amber, and adds more evidence on the very high palaeodiversity of the psychodids since at least the Lower Cretaceous. Paper reference: Wang Bo, Zhang Haichun, Azar Dany. (2011) The first Psychodidae (Insecta: Diptera) from the Lower Eocene Fushun amber of China. Journal of Paleontology, 85(6):1154-1159
In a paper published recently on Acta Geologica Sinica, professor WANG Xin from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology , Chinese Academy of Science and associate professor HAN Gang from Bohai University report a fossil angiosperm named Liaoningfructus ascidiatus, which is to this date the earliest one bearing ascidiate carpel and basal placentation. Angiosperms are also called flowering plants. Due to their extreme ecological importance and close relationship to the well-being of mammals (including human being), the origin and early evolution of angiosperms have been the foci of palaeobotanical research for long time. Scientists have uncovered several early angiosperms, including Chaoyangia liangii, Archaefructus liaoningensis, A. sinensis, A. eoflora, Sinocarpus decussates, and Callianthus dilae, from the Early Cretaceous strata of the Yixian Formation of Chaoyang, Liaoning previously. Like the preceding early angiosperms Chaoyangia liangii, Archaefructus liaoningensis, and Callianthus dilae, the new fossil Liaoningfructus ascidiatus is also uncovered from the same locality at Huangbanjigou, Beipiao, Chaoyang, Liaoning. This new fossil is preserved as a fruit, however, scientists can infer that the carpel giving rise to the fruit was ascidiate. The strata yielding these fossils are termed the Yixian Formation, of the Early Cretaceous (about 125 million years ago) in geology. The sudden-appearing co-occurrence of so many different early angiosperms in the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation implies that the origin of angiosperms should be pre-Cretaceous. Carpel is an evolutionary product unique of angiosperms. In the traditional doctrine, follicle-like conduplicate carpel and its marginal placentation are taken as primitive. Despite recent studies of angiosperm systematics suggest that ascidiate carpel and basal placentation should occur in the primitive early angiosperms, this point of view is still lacking fossil support. The ascidiate carpel and basal placentation of Liaoningfructus ascidiatus from the Early Cretaceous provide the first robust fossil evidence favoring this new proposal. Paper reference: Wang Xin, Han Gang, 2011, The Earliest Ascidiate Carpel and Its Implications for Angiosperm Evolution. ACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA-ENGLISH EDITION. 85(5)998-1002
Exceptionally-preserved fossil deposits are unevenly distributed through the fossil record. There are many examples known from the Cambrian Period, but few from the succeeding Ordovician, which was a time of spectacular changes in marine ecosystems, including the evolution of new groups of animals and the appearance of new ecologies, such as the first coral reefs. Our current understanding of the Great Ordovician Bodiversification Event (GOBE) is based almost entirely on fossils of animals with preservable skeletons, such as corals and brachiopods, so that any new fauna that preserves soft tissue offers an important new perspective on Ordovician evolution. Joseph P. Botting, Young International Scientist from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS), and Lucy A. Muir, postdoctor from NIGPAS, with colleagues from London and Cambridge (UK), have recently announced in the journal Geology a new exceptionally preserved fauna from Ordovician rocks in Wales, UK. The fossils are preserved by iron pyrite (“fools’ gold”), and were formed when the dead animals were decayed by sulphate-reducing bacteria. As a result, the fossils are spectacular to look at, and can also be studied by X-radiography and micro-CT while still buried in the rock. The fauna recovered so far is dominated by sponges and solitary hydrozoans, the latter with preserved tentacles. There are also a range of rarer fossils, including arthropods, priapulid worms, and various animals that only lived attached to the surface of nautiloid shells. The community is unique among Ordovician ecosystems, but resembles some deep-sea communities living today. These initial findings suggest that the GOBE was surprisingly advanced in muddy offshore environments by the earliest Late Ordovician, and that this type of ecology has a long unknown history. Paper reference: Joseph P. Botting, Lucy A. Muir, Mark D. Sutton, and Talfan Barnie. 2011. Welsh gold: A new exceptionally preserved pyritized Ordovician biota. Geology 39(9) :879–882
The Executive Bureau of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) has voted through the proposal submitted by the International Commission on Stratigraphy on establishing a Global Standard Stratotype-section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Cambrian Jianghsanian Stage (named previously as provisional Cambrian Stage 9). The ratification of IUGS, issued recently by Prof. A. C, Riccardi, the President of IUGS, indicates the GSSP is formally set up in Duibian Village, Jiangshan County, Zhejiang Province, China. The GSSP is the 10th “Golden Spike” set up in China, and makes China the country holding the most numerous GSSPs. Previously, China, UK, and Italy each has nine GSSPs. The Jiangshanian GSSP is the 3rd GSSP defined by the research group leaded by Prof. PENG Shanchi from Nanjing Intstitute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS) in succession of establishing the Cambrian Paibian and Guzhangian GSSPs, and is the 7th one defined by NIGPAS as well. Besides the Jiangshanian GSSP, the other 6 GSSPs defined by the NIGPAS are the GSSP of Ordovician Darriwilian Stage, the GSSP of Cambrian Furongian Series (contaminant with the Paibian Stage), the GSSP of Permian Lopingian Series (contaminant with the Wuchiapingian Stage), the GSSP of Permian Changhsingian Stage, the GSSP of Ordovician Hirnantian Stage, and the GSSP of Cambrian Guzhangian Stage. The Jiangshanian Stage is named after the Jiangshan County, western Zhejiang Province, where the GSSP is located. It is a formal chronostratigraphical unit appeared in the "International Stratigraphic Chart" in succession of some other units (stages and Series) termed by the Chinese Scientists. All these units are embraced within the "International Stratigraphic Chart".
Wuhua jurassica The Tenebrionoidea is amongst the most diverse group of beetles, but its fossil record is rare. Fossil beetles are very important for understanding the early evolution of beetles, because they contribute significantly to valuable information such as times of divergences and extinctions. Dr. WANG Bo and Prof. ZHANG Haichun from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences described a definitive oldest tenebrionoid beetle (Wuhua jurassica) from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, China. The wedge-shaped body and tarsal formula 5-5-4 in Wuhua place it in Tenebrionoidea undoubtedly. However, it is difficult to incorporate Wuhua into any existing family of Tenebrionoidea, because of the unusual combination of its characters. Wuhua shares some similarities with some Mesozoic mordellid-like beetles: the body convex, head strongly deflexed, antennae filiform, pygidium absent, hind leg not strongly developed and tarsi simple. The specimen probably has a close relationship with these mordellid-like beetles. This discovery extends the time of origin of Tenebrionoidea to the Middle Jurassic. Paper reference: Wang Bo, Zhang Haichun. (2011) The oldest Tenebrionoidea (Coleoptera) from the Middle Jurassic of China. Journal of Paleontology, 85(2): 266-270
The Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event (GOBE) is one of the most significant radiations of marine organisms during Earth history, showing a rapid increase in biodiversity. The diversity patterns of different fossil groups are wildly discussed. In the Proterozoic and Palaeozoic fossil record, most acritarchs are considered to represent marine phytoplankton cysts which evolutions are proposed several opinions on the triggering and controlling factors. A recent review on microphytoplankton of this radiation event in South China is conducted by Dr. YAN Kui et al from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and France. The diversity patters of microphytoplankton from six sections and literatures in South China have been analysed and the roles of microphytoplankton in the Ordovician ecosystem have been discussed. This paper is published on recent issue of Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. Yan et al. found a major radiation of the phytoplankton occurred during the late Early Ordovician-early Middle Ordovician. The diversity changes vary in the different parts of the investigated area, most probably depending on the position of the analysed sections on the carbonate shelf or the slope, reflecting diversity differences due to the position on an inshore-offshore transect. The Early-Middle Ordovician diversity pattern of the phytoplankton is compared with those of several marine invertebrate groups. The different fossil groups, such as chitinozoans, conodonts, graptolites, brachiopods and trilobites show therefore different evolutionary patterns to that of the acritarchs, that are not yet fully understood, and correlations are so far difficult. The acritarch diversity changes can partly be compared to the local sea-level changes from four sections in South China. At a larger scale, the acritarch radiation coincides with a general transgression. At a regional or local scale, correlations are not straightforward, pointing out that more detailed data, based on both acritarch studies and more precise sea-level investigations, are necessary. Paper reference: YAN Kui*, SERVAIS, T., LI Jun, WU Rongchang & TANG Peng. 2011. Biodiversity patterns of Early–Middle Ordovician marine microphytoplankton in South China. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 299: 318-334.
