A new progress in the research of Palaeozoic dispersed megaspores in north China was made by Dr. LIU Feng, Professor ZHU Huaicheng and Professor OUYANG Shu from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS) recently. Well-preserved megaspores are described for the first time from Pennsylvanian to Late Permian strata of the Baode region in Shanxi province, North China. A total of 20 species in 13 genera are described. Using first appearances of selected megaspore species and changes in species abundance in the succession, four megaspore assemblage zones can be recognized. Comparison with already known in situ megaspores indicates that the parent plants of the dispersed megaspores were mainly lycopods and this in turn indicates their likely palaeoenvironmental significance. Selaginella-like herbs and subarborescent lycopods which were low in abundance compared with arborescent lycopods in the early Pennsylvanian appeared to have become prevalent from the Late Pennsylvanian in northern China. However, some arborescent lycopods (mainly sigillarians) still played an important role in the Permian coal forming plants of the region. Several Carboniferous megaspores characteristic of Euramerica persist into the Mid Permian in North China, indicating that a warm and humid climate prevailed in this area during Pennsylvanian to Roadian, whereas the climate of Euramerica had already become arid by the end of the Carboniferous. This warm and humid climate in northern China made it a refuge for some typically Euramerican Carboniferous plants. From Roadian, with the disappearance of coal and marine sediments together with the appearance of red beds, the MS megaspore zone progressively changed to the G zone. This probably reflects the adaptation of the parent plants to a more and more arid climate. Paper reference: Liu Feng, Zhu Huaicheng, Ouyang Shu, 2011. Taxonomy and biostratigraphy of Pennsylvanian to Late Permian megaspores from Shanxi, North China. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology in press. (doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2011.03.001)
Dr. Frédéric JACQUES, Young International Scientist from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS), and collaborators developed a new model for palaeoclimate reconstruction of the monsoon regions of China recently. Our understanding of past climatic changes depends on our ability to obtain reliable palaeoclimate reconstructions. Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program (CLAMP) uses the physiognomy of woody dicot leaf assemblages to quantitatively reconstruct terrestrial palaeoclimates. The present calibrations include sites from North America, Japan and Pacific islands, but lack Chinese data. As a result, palaeoclimatic reconstructions based of Chinese fossil leaf assemblages tend to be wrong, with very high precipitation. Dr. Frédéric Jacquesand Prof. WANG Weiming from NIGPAS, Mr. HUANG Yongjiang, Drs. SU Tao, XING Yaowu, Prof. ZHOU Zhekun from Kunming Institute of Botany, CAS, and Robert Spicer from the Open University established a new CLAMP calibration that actually reflects Chinese monsoon climate through the inclusion of 45 Chinese sites to the database. The study demonstrates that the new model has a good accuracy for the reconstruction of Chinese and South-East Asia monsoon climates and that such a model is reliable for the reconstruction of Chinese palaeoclimates during the Neogene. This new calibration has already been accepted by the international scientific community and is already used for related research. These results have been published in a recent issue of the international journal Global and Planetary Change. The new monsoonal calibration was tested using a cross validation procedure to show it really improves the accuracy of the palaeoclimatic reconstruction for Chinese sites, especially for the moisture related parameters. The mean absolute error for Growing Season Precipitation (GSP) of the Chinese sites is 294.6 mm in the new monsoonal calibration whereas it was 1609.6 mm in the old calibration. Results for the three wettest months and three driest months are also more accurate and precise, which allows us to study seasonality of the precipitation, and hence the monsoon. The new monsoonal calibration also gives accurate results for enthalpy reconstruction. Enthalpy is a parameter that is used for palaeoaltimetry, the new calibration is therefore useful for studies of land surface height changes in China, height changes which in turn can affect the strength of the monsoon. The new monsoonal calibration was tested on two fossil sites from the Late Miocene of southwestern China, namely the Lincang and Xiaolongtan palaeofloras. A comparison of results from the new monsoonal calibration and the Physg3brcAZ calibration shows that there is no strong difference in temperature estimates for the two calibrations, but there is a strong difference in the moisture related parameters. The use of this new monsoonal calibration is recommended for palaeoclimate reconstructions in China. Paper reference: Frédéric M.B. Jacques, Tao Su, Robert A. Spicer, Yaowu Xing, Yongjiang Huang, Weiming Wang, Zhekun Zhou. 2011. Leaf physiognomy and climates: are monsoon systems different? Global and Planetary Change 76 (1-2): 56-62.
Figure caption: The colour gradient on the left refers to GSP. Chinese sites (circles) group away from the 3b sites (squares), even those with high GSP scores (in blue).
Fossil plant cytoplasm is a novel object of research in palaeobotany and attracts increasing attention of scientists around the world. Recently Molecular Membrane Biology, an academic journal published in England, released a paper on membrane fusion in a fossil plant authored by professor WANG Xin from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology Chinese Academy of Sciences, LIU Wenzhe from Northwest University, and DU Kaihe from Nanjing Normal University. In the paper, the authors reveal the hard-to-catch snapshots of membrane fusion in plant cells. Membrane fusion is a process related to many physiological activities in cells. Due to the transience of this process, scientists working on living organisms have been taking effort to capture and study it. It has been noticed that there is a central plug in the fusion pore, but there is little information on how it comes into being. In the traditional palaeontology, cytoplasm that is closely related to many physiological activities used to be taken as volatile and should have decayed in fossils completely, thus leaving physiology of fossil plants a mission impossible. However, recent progress in palaeobotany has been revealing increasing records of cytoplasm and its ultrastructures in fossil plants. For example, WANG Xin and his colleagues recognized membrane fusion event in a fossil plant years ago although the details in this process are still missing. In the new paper, WANG Xin and his colleagues deepen their research on membrane fusion in a fossil plant from the Miocene of USA. Long time research finally reveals the forming process of central plug in fusion pore: the residual membranes of the vesicle and plasmolemma in the fusion pore together form the plug, while vesicle membrane and inner leaflet of the plasmolemma form a discoid structure with their hydrophobic ends on the outside. This is the first time that this structure, which is hard-to-capture even in living organisms, is seen. Its occurrence in fossil plant provides some unique hints on deciphering and simulating membrane fusion in cells. Since this process is transient, its existence in fossil plant suggests that its fixing was completed rapidly, probably by a lightning. Wang X, Liu W, Du K (2011) Palaeontological evidence of membrane relationship in step-by-step membrane fusion. Molecular Membrane Biology, 28, 115-122. See more info at: http://informahealthcare.com/eprint/cRF9UpcFEFARwu9qQZ9P/full?tokenKey
Scientists from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA, and Northwest University, PRC, report the discovery of a diverse assemblage of fossilised seaweeds from approximately 600 million year old rocks in Nature this week. The fossils, recovered from the early Ediacaran Lantian Formation in Xiuning of Anhui Province, South China, indicate that the morphological diversification of eukaryotes may have taken place much earlier than previously thought. The deep-water Avalon biota (~ 579-565 Ma) is often regarded as the earliest known fossil assemblage of macroscopic and complex life forms. From the Lantian Formation, Prof. YUAN Xunlai from NIGPAS and his team discovered thousands of macroscopic carbonaceous compression fossils in the Lantian biota, which predates and is distinct from the Avalon biota but shows a comparable degree of diversity and complexity. The Lantian fossils were preserved in place in carbonaceous black shales deposited when the Earth had just recovered from a severe ice age. The centimetre-sized fossils represent around 15 species, including five new morphological types. Some resemble some modern algae, whereas others have no close equivalents among living organisms. It was thought the oxygenation of deep oceans began in the middle Ediacaran Period around 580 million years ago, and this oxygenation event may have triggered the rise of the Avalon biota. Ediacaran deep oceans before 580 million years ago were believe to be devoid of free oxygen. In the Nature paper, YUAN and colleagues argue that the redox history of Ediacaran oceans may have been more complex. They suggest that, although the Lantian basin was largely devoid of free oxygen, brief oxic episodes existed and were opportunistically capitalized on by the Lantian organisms, which were subsequently killed and preserved when the condition switched back to anoxia. Further geochemical, palaeontological and sedimentological analyses are needed to fully understand these complexities. Yuan Xunlai, Chen Zhe, Xiao Shuhai, Zhou Chuanming, Hua Hong. 2011. An early Ediacaran assemblage of macroscopic and morphologically differentiated eukaryotes. Nature. 470: 390-393
The primary fluid inclusions in Sinian halite of Sichuan Province,China Ediacaran times prior to the “Cambrian Explosion” is a key interval in evolutionary history of multicellularity, with the advent of the Ediacara fauna. These organisms were probably the first that required higher atmospheric and dissolved marine oxygen for their sustainability. The high seawater temperatures and salinity will limit the potential of dissolved oxygen, and therefore become an integral part of this evolutionary story. Previously, our understanding of seawater temperature during the terminal Neoproterozoic comes only from oxygen and silicon isotope ratios of a limited number of cherts. Indirect isotopic ratio methods for assessing seawater temperatures have a wide range of oscillation. However, the oldest primary halites in the Ediacaran times can be found in Sichuan Province, China, which do preserve primary fluid inclusions for analysis via cooling nucleation methods. This method provide a direct and exact seawater temperatures. Dr Meng Fanwei from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other scientists form China and USA utilized Sinian halite samples from the Changning-2 well, correlative to the Dengying Formation (551–542 Ma), to provide a direct range of terminal Neoproterozoic seawater temperature. The temperature range is from 13.3 to 39.4±1.0 ℃ . The Neoproterozoic time also was a time of huge salt deposits in the geological times, allowed the seawater to accumulate more dissolved oxygen, and potentially paved the way for the evolutionary innovation of complex multicellularity. The result of this research has be published on Precambrian Research. Fanwei Meng et al., Ediacaran seawater temperature: evidence from inclusions of Sinian halite. Precambrian Research, Volume 184, Issues 1-4, January 2011, Pages 63-69.
Kwangsian orogeny was proposed by Mr. Ding Wenjiang (V K Ting) in 1929. It is a tectonic movement represented by the unconformity between Devonian and underlying strata. It is generally recognized that Kwangsian orogeny is the response and concrete manifestation of Caledonian orogeny in South China and has a profound impact on the evolution and reconstruction of South China palaeo-plate. However, owing to lack of relevant evidences for a long time, the understandings of its initiation time, advancing progress, and influences have not been accurate and in-depth enough. According to Academician Chen Xu et al. from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, to know the Ordovician strata in southern Jiangxi and northern Guangdong is the key to solve this problem. The Ordovician of the Yongxin-Chongyi area in southern Jiangxi feature continuous black graptolite-bearing strata. Its top is in unconformable contact with Devonian system. However, there are serious division and correlation problems in this set of black clastic rock series of Ordovician system. After restudy of relevant important graptolite species, Chen discoveres that Longxi Formation is the deposits in Upper Ordovician Sandbian period. The overlying Shi-kou Formation and Huamianlong Formations are recognized herein as a part of the Hanjiang Formation which can date back to a time equivalent to early Upper Ordovician Katian. After redefining the division and correlation of Ordovician system in Yongxin and Chongyi, Chen Xu et al concludes that: The cataclysm of biofacies and lithofacies between black graptolite-bearing strata of Longxi Formation and thick clastic rock series of Hanjiang Formation above them indicated that the initiation time of Kwangsian orogeny in southern Jiangxi is early Upper Ordovician Katian. This research result is published in the recent SCIENCE CHINA (Earth Sciences) in English. It is one of the papers clicked on and downloaded most frequently in this journal. Its Chinese version will be published soon. CHEN Xu, ZHANG YuanDong, FAN JunXuan, CHENG JunFeng & LI QiJian. 2010. Ordovician graptolite-bearing strata in southern Jiangxi with a special reference to the Kwangsian Orogeny. Science China (Earth Sciences), 53 (11): 1602-1610.
The second 973 project in palaeontology in China “Marine and Terrestrial Biodiversity Changes in the Geological History of China” successfully passed the acceptance check of experts in Beijing from September 25 to 26. The special issue jointly launched to comprehensively reflect the research findings of 973 Project on Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences (Vol. 40 (9)) co-organized by professor Shen Shuzhong from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS), and professor Zhou Zhonghe from Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, CAS has been formally published. This special issue selects 17 papers written by members of the project team, all of which are representative achievements of each research subject in 973 Project. The Researchcovered ages from Proterozoic era closely related to origin of life to late Pleistocene related to origin of modern human, which mainly discuss subjects such as the origin of early biological lingage, Cambrian life explosion and its paleoecology, system comparison of a series of important biological, geological, and environmental events during two key transitional periods, i.e. Neoproterozoic-Cambrian and Paleozoic-Mesozoic transitions, diversity and spatial-temporal distribution of life in Ordovician period, diversity of plants in the Paleozoic Era in South China, evolution of important vertebrate groups, coevolution of life and environment in the Late Paleozoic, Jehol Biota, Cenozoic mammals, and human origin. Its English version will be published in November.
Global glacial events occurring in Neoproterozoic has been one of the focuses of attention in international geoscience. Geoscientists’ opinions on why the glacial event is ended vary a lot. Among them, there are two representative ones: Snowball Earth hypothesis and methane seeps hypothesis. The oxygen isotope in barite depositing of cap dolomite above the Nantuo tillite in South China reveals that: anomalous 17O reaches the maximum since the 750Ma, which means the content of the carbon dioxide in atmosphere presenced a peak when the ice age ended. This is the most direct evidence supporting the “snowball earth” hypothesis (Bao et al., 2008). Recently, based on sedimentology, sedimentary petrology and micro-area carbon isotope analyses of more than ten cap dolomite profiles in South China, professor Zhou Chuanming from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS) and other professors introduced a new model for the relationship among all geologic events during the formation of cap dolomite: (1) When the global ice age ends, due to rapid infusion of glacial melt water, the sea level rises dramatically. During this process, the cap dolomite deposit. (2) As a result of rapid deglaciation, continental crust and continental shelf rebound. In case of a regression in which isostatic rebound outpaces eustatic rise, karstic dissolution of dolostone beds will result. (3) Cap dolomite and the deposits are flooded during the subsequent large-scale transgression. First, dolomite and barite deposit on the walls of cavities and erosional surface, followed by siliceous sediment, and later calcite (with extremely negative carbon isotope anomalies). Cap dolomite in West Africa and northwestern Canada goes through similar precipitation processes in the same era. The new model of cap dolomite formation further supports “snowball earth” hypothesis and also suggests that methane seepages occur after the formation of cap dolomite. Thus, methane seepage is very probably not the cause of termination of global ice age. This finding is published in the latest issue of Geology. Related information of this paper: Zhou Chuanming, Bao Huiming, Peng Yongbo, Yuan Xunlai, 2010, Timing the deposition of 17O-depleted barite at the aftermath of Nantuo glacial meltdown in South China. Geology, 38: 903-906
reseach sites The middle and lower reaches of theYangtze River is a famous location for the investigation of the early history of human civilization. This region has become one of the most important places to trace the origin and developmentof agriculture. Wang Weiming and collegues valuated several important archeological sites in this area using multiple approaches such as 14C dating and phytolith analysis and discussed the major development stages of early rice agriculture under background of climate and environment changes. They recognized three main development stages of the prehistoric rice farming in China: initial stage (before 8000 BC, approximatelyequal to Mesolithic Age), developing stage (between 8000 BC and 5000 BC) and maturating stage(since 5000 BC). According to the study, they found that the initiation of agriculture come with the establishment of more or less sedentary residences, which coexists with the occurrence of pottery making. They suggest that the warming climate after the lastglaciations and the food requirement and storage are major factors of the initiation of early rice farming. The climate change in Holocene and the increase of the population greatly promoted the development of early rice farming in studied area, Wang et al concluded. This recent achievement clearly exhibits the transitional process from a huntingand gathering society to an agriculture-oriented society. The result of this research has be published on Quaternary International (Wang Wei-ming, Ding Jin-Long, Shu Jun-Wu, Chen Wei, 2010. Exploration of early rice farming in China. Quaternary International, 227: 22-28).
Recently, Ancient pinnate leaf mimesis, the newest research findings of Dr. Wang Xin from Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and research team led by professor Ren Dong from Capital Normal University is published in online Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. On September 9th, this research progress is briefly introduced in Nature. In the article, they mention clear specific mimesis between insects and gymnosperms living in the middle Jurassic (165 Ma), which suggests that a breakthrough has been made in the study of co-evolution between insects and gymnosperms. The research team discovers, two very rare Neuropteran specimens with pinnate wing spots from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou Formation,. The wing spot of such insect is very similar to the leaf of cycads in the same period. They thus infer that such insect might have inhabited a kind of plant similar to it in shape or it has fed on such plant. In addition, they find that such insect might have a kind of special ability, i.e. “behavior adaptability”. Its wings spread when still. Its whole body stays on the plant, which is similar in appearance to a leaf fluttering in the wind. Such ability can better protect this insect from different predators. Wang Y, Liu Z, Wang X, Shih C, Zhao Y, Engel MS, Ren D. 2010. Ancient pinnate leaf mimesis among lacewings. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Aug 30. [Epub ahead of print]
