Biodiversity patterns of Early–Middle Ordovician marine microphytoplankton in South China

Based on new materials from six sections and all available literature data, new diversity curves are presented for the phytoplankton (acritarchs) from South China, covering the Early–Middle Ordovician interval, when the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event took place. The total diversity curve and the origination data imply that a major radiation of the phytoplankton occurred during the analysed interval. A peak of the total acritarch diversity curve appears in the A. suecicus graptolite biozone. 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. Compared with the diversity curve peak of the acritarchs, the conodonts and brachiopods reached their highest diversities before the acritarchs, while the highest diversity of the chitinozoans appears slightly later. The graptolites show two peaks during the Early–Middle Ordovician, while the trilobites diversity curve shows a peak only in the Sandbian. 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.     

Acritarchs from the Dadas Formationin Southeast Turkey

Dadas Formation in Southeast Turkey yields abundant well preserved acritarchs, chitinozoans, tasmanites and scolecodonts. Encountered acritarchs suggest Upper Llandoverian-Ludlovian age for this formation. The acritarch association of the Dadas Formation resembles to the Middle Silurian assemblages of Tunisia and Libya. Thus Southeast Turkey falls in the Transitional-Iberian realm of Neoveryhachium carminae facies.     

黔东早—中寒武世凯里组疑源类组合及其界线意义

通过对台江八郎和丹寨两条剖面凯里组中疑源类化石的分析,研究,台江剖面产疑源类化石有17属35各（12未定种）,其中以Leiosphaeridia,Synsphareidium,Cymatiosphaera,Pterospermella最为丰富,可划分为3个组合,即Cymatiosphaera cf.cristata-Fimbriaglomerella memebrancea组合,Cristallinium-Micrhystridium-Pterospermella组合和Dictyotidium-Granomarginata组合,丹寨平寨剖面凯里组所产疑源类化石有：13属21种（5未定种）,同样划分为3个组合,即Leiosphaeridia-Tasmanites组合,Retisphaeridium-Micrhystridium tentatium组合和Baltisphaeridium-Bubomorpha hunjiangensis组合,本文对两条剖面中的凝源类化石的组成,相对含量做了详细的统计,发现在八郎剖面9－2层和平寨剖面3层疑源类的丰度,分异度开始发生明显的变化,表现由早寒武世向中寒武世疑源类组合面貌的转变,这一疑源类转变层位正好是与三叶虫划分的中,下寒武统界线的层位位置相一致,这充分表明疑源类化石可作为划分中,下寒武统的极有价值的微体生物化石证据。     

BASAL CAMBRIAN MICROFOSSILS FROM THE YURTUS AND XISHANBLAQ FORMATIONS (TARIM, NORTH-WEST CHINA): SYSTEMATIC REVISION AND BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC CORRELATION OF MICRHYSTRIDIUM-LIKE ACRITARCHS

Abstract:  Micrhystridium -like acritarchs are widely distributed in basal Cambrian cherts and phosphorites in South China. This paper describes similar acritarchs from the basal Cambrian Yurtus and Xishanblaq formations in Tarim, north-west China. The taxonomy of these acritarchs is revised. The basal Cambrian acritarch assemblage in Tarim and South China is characterized by three genera: Asteridium Moczydłowska, Heliosphaeridium Moczydłowska and Comasphaeridium Staplin, Jansonius and Pocock. This assemblage is named the Asteridium - Heliosphaeridium - Comasphaeridium (AHC) acritarch assemblage. In both South China and Tarim, the AHC acritarch assemblage is associated with the tubular microfossil Megathrix longus Yin L. and the small shelly fossil Kaiyangites novilis Qian and Yin G. This assemblage also occurs in the Lower Tal Formation in the Lesser Himalaya. Correlation with small shelly fossil (SSF) assemblages indicates that the AHC assemblage is restricted to the Meishucunian Stage, and possibly to the lower Meishucunian ( Anabarites trisulcatus - Protohertzina anabarica and Siphogonuchites triangularis - Paragloborilus subglobosus SSF assemblages). The AHC assemblage is broadly similar to the Asteridium tornatum - Comasphaeridium velvetum (acritarch) Zone in the East European Platform, which is considered to be Nemakit-Daldynian (and possibly Tommotian) in age.     

贵州三都地区阿伦尼克期疑源类的发现及其意义

本文首报报道了发现贵州三都地区同高组下段的疑源类化石,属种丰富,保存完好,它们多见于阿伦尼克期至兰维尔期,其中有些分子仅限一阿伦尼克期,根据组合中出现较多的Ｓｔｒｉａｔｏｔｈｅｃａ,Ｃｏｒｙｐｈｉｄｉｕｍ和Ａｒｂｕｓｃｕｌｉｄｉｕｍ等,认为本区可能属地中海疑源类生物区,详细研究这些化石对认识疑源类组合与笔石带的关系有重要意义。     

Diverse small spinose acritarchs from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation, South China

The Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in South China is underlain by the Cryogenian Nantuo Formation (glacial rocks) and overlain by the late Ediacaran Dengying Formation. It is characterized by well-preserved, large (normally >100 μm in size) spinose acritarchs (LSAs), which have been shown to be probably the only useful biostratigraphic tool for the global correlation of the early- and middle-Ediacaran. Acritarchs are organic microfossils normally known as single-celled eukaryotic organisms (protists). Although recent research suggests that some large spinose acritarchs may represent diapause egg cysts of metazoans, the biological affinities of the Ediacaran spinose acritarchs, especially for those displaying remarkable size ranges, are still debatable.Recently, smaller specimens of the Ediacaran spinose acritarchs have been found in cherts and phosphorites of the Doushantuo Formation in South China. Many described Ediacaran spinose acritarch taxa display large size variation (from tens to hundreds of microns in vesicle diameter), but some taxa only have smaller (<70 μm) specimens. The morphological comparison with Paleozoic counterparts indicates that some Ediacaran spinose acritarchs may have phylogenetic affinity to eukaryotic algae. More evidence, including wall ultra-structure, geochemical analysis and comparison with modern analogs, is needed to understand the biological affinity of the Ediacaran spinose acritarchs. The remarkable radiation of planktonic protists, characterized by abundant, diverse spinose acritarchs, occurred as early as in the late Neoproterozoic, i.e., 40–60 million years earlier than previously thought.     

Ordovician chitinozoans and acritarchs from southern and southeastern Turkey

Revision of the lithostratigraphy of Ordovician deposits in southern and southeastern Turkey led to a re-evaluation of the age assignments of formations identified in the subsurface and at outcrop. Previous datings were based on macrofauna (mainly trilobites and graptolites). The present paper focuses exclusively on organic-walled microfossils (chitinozoans and acritarchs), which provide numerous chronostratigraphical improvements, especially in successions barren or poor in macrofossils. Close to 200 samples were collected in the Taurus chain (i.e. from Kemer, Seydisehir, Ovacik, Kozan, to Sariz regions in southern Turkey) and in the Border Folds (Mardin and Hakkari regions), usually regarded as part of the Arabian Plate in palaeogeographical reconstructions. Many samples are productive and yield chitinozoans and/or acritarchs of extremely variable preservation, depending on their geographical and geological location. In the Taurus chain, the material is “coalified” and frequently fragmented whereas, in the Border Folds, maturation of the organic matter is much lower and preservation of the microfossils is good to excellent. Several Ordovician chitinozoan biozones (northern Gondwana zonation) as well as diagnostic acritarch assemblages are identified in southern and southeastern Turkey. These Ordovician formations are assigned here to the new global stages of the Ordovician chronostratigraphical scale. The Seydisehir (upper part), Sobova, and Kilgen Lake (lower part) formations are referred to the Darriwilian. The Kilgen Lake (upper part), Sort Tepe, and Bedinan formations are attributed to the Sandbian and to the Katian, and the Halevikdere Formation (glacio-marine part) is assigned to the Hirnantian. Reworking of Early Ordovician acritarchs is documented in pre-glacial and in glacial Late Ordovician deposits. They indicate that active erosive processes occurred during the Middle and Late Ordovician sedimentation. The organic-walled microfossils recorded in the Ordovician of south and southeastern Turkey belong to the northern Gondwana realm. Interestingly however, some Baltoscandian influences are noted in the Border Folds during Early Late Ordovician.     

Palynostratigraphy and palaeogeography of the Padeha, Khoshyeilagh, and Mobarak formations in the eastern Alborz Range (Kopet-Dagh region), northeastern Iran

A total of 113 surface samples collected from the Padeha, Khoshyeilagh, and Mobarak formations of Kuh-e-Ozum, northeast of Jajarm town were processed for palynomorphs, in order to determine age relationships. Well-preserved and abundant palynomorphs dominated by organic-walled-marine microphytoplankton (acritarchs and prasinophyte phycomata), miospores and subordinate chitinozoans, and scolecodonts were recovered. Seven species of prasinophyte phycomata (four genera), 19 acritarch species (14 genera), one species of chitinozoa, and 26 miospore species (19 genera) were recorded and assigned to eight local Assemblage Zones. Assemblage Zones I-IV occur in the Padeha Formation and suggest an Early Late Devonian (Frasnian) age whilst assemblages zones V-VII are present in the Khoshyeilagh Formation and indicate Late Devonian (Famennian) ages. Assemblage zone VIII, which occurs in the basal part of Mobarak Formation, suggests a Lower Mississippian (Tournaisian) age for this formation. Many of the palynomorph groups encountered are closely comparable with coeval assemblages recorded from Western Australia, southwest Ireland, England, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, North Africa, and South America, indicating the close relationship of the Iranian Platform to other parts of the northern Gondwana Domain during the time interval represented by these strata. The presence of marine palynomorphs (acritarchs/prasinophyte phycomata, chitinozoans, and scolecodonts), and shelly macrofauna (brachiopods, gastropods, and corals) in Member c of the Padeha Formation (as well as the Khoshyeilagh and Mobarak formations), together with associated miospores, indicate an open marine (moderately nearshore) depositional environment for the Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous deposits in northeastern Alborz Range (Kopet-Dagh region) of Iran.     

新疆哈密地区晚泥盆世疑源类化石的发现及地质意义

从新疆哈密地区石城子北剖面7件样品获得分异度较高、有机质壁显著炭化保存的疑源类化石,根据其形态特征,共鉴定出14个形态属和15个形态种(其中8个未定种,3个比较种)。结合国内外古生代晚泥盆世已知疑源类组合进行比较,清楚表明当前获得的疑源类组合代表了晚泥盆世海洋微体浮游植物群面貌。我国涉及晚古生代疑源类生物地层的调查研究相对薄弱,而有关晚泥盆世疑源类化石的发现和报道更为匮乏,当前疑源类化石的发现,填补和丰富了新疆乃至国内晚泥盆世疑源类化石研究资料。该发现佐证了关于卡拉麦里洋在早石炭世闭合的认识;作为基础食物链的海洋微体浮游植物是重要成烃生物,晚泥盆世疑源类的保存预示研究区域具有石油、天然气勘察的前景。     

中国贵州东部乌溜-曾家崖剖面早—中寒武世凯里组疑源类(英文)

我国贵州东部乌溜-曾家崖凯里组剖面作为世界早-中寒武世界线层型侯选剖面,产出良好保存的大型无脊椎动物化石(尤其是三叶虫)。因此,更加详细研究该剖面海洋疑源类的生物地层非常重要,将提供围绕界线的生物和环境变化的细微记录。乌溜-曾家崖剖面凯里组的疑源类划分两个组合,它们是凯里组0-52m的Leiomarginata si mplex-Fi mbriaglomerella membranacea组合和52-140m的Cristallinium cambriense-Heliosphaeridiumnodosum-Globosphaeridiumcerinum组合。140-214m仅有很少疑源类标本,可能因为凯里组上部以白云岩为主,不适宜有机壁微体化石的保存。距凯里组底部往上约52m处疑源类组合出现重大变化,无疑为解释沉积环境提供重要资料。两疑源类组合间界线,位于52.3-52.7m,此稍低于被三叶虫Oryctocephalusindicus首现所指示的全球寒武系第5阶潜在层型剖面界线。     

The messaoudensis-trifidum acritarch assemblage (Ordovician: late Tremadoc-early Arenig) of the Barriga Shale Formation, Sierra Morena (SW-Spain)

The "messaoudensis-trifidum acritarch assemblage" is currently considered to be characteristic of latest Tremadoc-earliest Arenig cold-water environments on the periphery of Gondwana, at high latitudes in the southern hemisphere. An integrated biostratigraphical study on both acritarchs and graptolites was until now only available for localities in northwest England. Reinvestigation of the "messaoudensis-trifidum acritarch assemblage" from the Barriga Formation (Sierra Morena, southwestern Spain), which contains some graptolite horizons that can be attributed to the latest Tremadoc (pre-phyllograptoides and pre-approximatus graptolite biozones), strengthens the biostratigraphical potential of the "messaoudensis-trifidum assemblage", and the importance of some of the acritarch taxa recovered from these levels. It is concluded that the acritarch genera Coryphidium Vavrdová, 1972, Peteinosphaeridium Staplin et al., 1965 emend. Playford et al., 1995, Striatotheca, Burmann, 1970, and the Veryhachium lairdii group (rectangular veryhachiids) appear in the latest Tremadoc, and should not be considered as indicators of the base of the Arenig, as previously suggested.     

Upper Ordovician microphytoplankton of the Bill's Creek Shale and Stonington Formation,Upper Peninsula of Michigan,U.S.A.: Biostratigraphy and paleogeographic significance

An abundant, diverse, and well-preserved organic-walled microphytoplankton assemblage is described from the Upper Ordovician Bill's Creek Shale and the lower Stonington Formation (Bay de Noc Member) in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, U.S.A. Based on graptolite and conodont evidence, the Bill's Creek Shale and Stonington Formation are Richmondian (=Ashgill) in age. The assemblage is dominated by acritarchs, which comprise 29 species (including the enigmatic palynomorph Gloeocapsomorpha prisca) assigned to 20 genera. The prasinophyte phycomata are represented by undifferentiated species of Leiosphaeridia and Tasmanites. In addition, chitinozoans are abundant, and scolecodonts and graptolite fragments are common. Paleontologic-palynologic and sedimentologic evidence indicates that the Bill's Creek Shale was deposited in a low-energy, shallow, nearshore marine environment. The overlying Bay de Noc Member of the Stonington Formation also accumulated in a low-energy, normal marine environment, but in a more offshore, somewhat deeper water setting. Both formations experienced minor transgressive and regressive episodes as indicated by fluctuations in the composition of the palynoflora. The combined Bill's Creek/Stonington acritarch assemblage closely resembles those described from the Richmondian-aged Maquoketa Shale (Missouri and Kansas), Sylvan Shale (Oklahoma), and Vauréal Formation (Anticosti Island, Québec, Canada). The overall composition of the acritarch assemblage from these four formations reflects a distinctive, recognizably Laurentian character. Nonetheless, many of the Bill's Creek/Stonington acritarchs have been reported from Upper Ordovician localities elsewhere, providing additional evidence for Late Ordovician cosmopolitanism of the marine microphytoplankton community. Additionally, the restricted stratigraphic range of many of the taxa further enhances their biostratigraphic application, both regionally and globally, and reaffirms the Richmondian (=Ashgill) age of the Bill's Creek Shale and Stonington Formation.     

Late Devonian Acritarchs from the Gneudna formation in the Western Carnarvon basin,Western Australia

The Gneudna Formation is a Late Devonian(Frasnian) sequence of marine calcareous sediments that occurs in the Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia. The present palynological study is based upon subsurface silty strata from a borehole (Pelican Hill or Bibbawarra Bore) that was drilled early this century near the western coastal limit of the Carnarvon Basin.The subject strata have previously been attributed to the Gneudna Formation on lithostratigraphic grounds. They contain a rich and varied assemblage of marine microphytoplankton (acritarchs), associated with trilete miospores of which Geminospora lemurataBalme, 1962 is the dominant form. Forty-seven species of acritarchs are recognizable in the palynoflora, which corresponds very closely with that described recently (Playford & Dring, 1981) from the Gneudna Formation in the vicinity of its type section on the opposite (eastern) side of the Carnarvon Basin. The apparently parochial complexion of the Gneudna acritarch suite is probably illusory, insofar as early Late Devonian acritarchs have not been studied extensively or intensively from either the northern or southern hemispheres.The following new species of acritarchs areformally instituted herein: Elektoriskos villosa, Lophosphaeridium pelicanensis, and Pterospermella tenellula.     

Aeronian (Llandovery, Lower Silurian) palynomorphs and graptolites from the Lipeón Formation, Eastern Cordillera, north-west Argentina

The lower levels of the Lipeón Formation, in the Eastern Cordillera, north-west Argentina, yield a marine-dominated palynomorph assemblage, together with graptolites of mid to late mid Llandovery age (Demirastrites convolutus and probably Stimulograptus sedgwickii zones). The palynomorph assemblage is dominated by acritarchs, but also contains algae and terrestrial cryptospores. Crassiangulina variacornuta, considered a potentially good global biostratigraphical marker for the Upper Llandovery is recovered for the first time from the Silurian of Argentina. The occurrence of this species in strata not younger than late Aeronian, and independently dated by graptolites, indicates an early first appearance for Crassiangulina variacornuta, in the Lipeón Formation, below the Aeronian/Telychian boundary. The lower part of the unit corresponds to a quiet marine environment; thus supporting that Crassiangulina variacornuta is a facies-sensitive acritarch.     

早奥陶世疑源类埋藏后的形体及纹饰变化

赖以鉴定的疑源类化石仅保留下褶皱的囊壁而原生质已流失,由于成岩过程中围岩挤压或有机质壳壁干水收缩而使化石轮廓,纹饰发生变化应普遍可见,本文以作者在贵州三都地区阿化尼克期地层发现的Striatotheca principalis保存形态连续变化系列为基础,论述埋藏作用对疑源类保存形态的影响,这是利用埋藏学资料防止属种误订的一个典型示例,对疑源类属种的正确鉴定有重要的意义。     

Early post-mortem calcified Devonian acritarchs as a source of calcispheric structures

Uniquely preserved Late Devonian calcispheres were found in a core of the deep borehole Sosnowiec IG-1 (Upper Silesia, southern Poland). These enigmatic calcareous microfossils are interpreted here as acritarchs that underwent an early post-mortem calcification. Remnants of organic walls preserved in the calcispheres suggest that they represent various acanthomorphic acritarchs, characteristic members of the Palaeozoic marine phytoplankton. Taphonomic analysis combined with the light microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations of mineral and organic components of the investigated calcispheres suggest that a complex multi-stage process led to calcification of their in vivo non-mineralized acritarch forerunners. The ubiquity of acanthomorphic calcispheres in many Devonian shallow-water limestones is a testimony to little, thus far, documented acritarch crops that must have existed over extensive areas of carbonate-producing epicontinental seas. The scarcity of acritarchs described from Devonian shallow-water limestones may thus represent a taphonomic bias rather than real rarity or absence.     

The Early Cambrian acritarch Skiagia and its significance for global correlation

Global records of Early Cambrian acritarchs from the Skiagia plexus reveal that they are stratigraphically significant and can be used as biostratigraphic markers. Skiagia ornata and Skiagia ciliosa have a cosmopolitan distribution and the levels of their first appearance datums are proposed to serve as biostratigraphic horizons for interregional correlation. These levels are close to the lower boundary of the undefined Cambrian Stage 3, and within the Stage 3, respectively. The acritarch assemblage diagnostic of the Heliosphaeridium dissimilare-S. ciliosa Zone of Baltica is recorded worldwide and some species are traced on four of the Cambrian continents that include South Australia, South China and Laurentia. This supports the intercontinental correlation of certain Lower Cambrian strata and establishes the time equivalence between the regional trilobite zones to which these strata are attributed. The regional zonation is briefly reviewed for the purpose of comparing and evaluating the acritarch ranges. The biostratigraphic correlation of the Lower Cambrian strata, belonging to different faunal provinces, is based for the first time on the same fossil species, which have a cosmopolitan distribution and well-defined first appearance datums, and on the entire diagnostic acritarch assemblages.     

湖北保康陡山沱组磷酸盐化微体化石组合

中国南方震旦系陡山沱组磷块岩、燧石和页岩中陆续发现的精美保存的化石生物群,为我们提供了一个栩栩如生的新元古代晚期生物演化的图景,表明多细胞真核生物在新元古代冰期之后发生了非常显著的分异。其中磷块岩化石库以生物细胞结构的完好保存而著称。继在贵州瓮安、陕西勉县茶店和江西上饶朝阳之后,湖北保康白竹磷矿陡山沱组磷块岩中也发现了类似的磷酸盐化化石生物群。保康化石组合中包括多细胞藻类Wengania,Paramecia和原地保存的Thallophyca;大型复杂疑源类Meghystrichosphaeridium,Echinosphaeridium和目前仅在保康发现的Bacatisphaera;球状蓝菌化石Archaeophycus,丝状蓝菌化石Siphonophycus和在陡山沱组磷块岩中首次发现的Obruchevella;同时,内部保存不同数量小球体的球状化石在保康也大量产出。古地理分析表明中国南方扬子地台陡山沱组磷块岩中保存的磷酸盐化化石库大都形成于浅水台地边缘地带。     

论埃迪卡拉纪微体球状化石Schizofusa与Leiosphaeridia的关系

埃迪卡拉纪是新元古代最后一个纪,是新元古代雪球地球事件与寒武纪生命大爆发之间地质历史最重要的转折时期,在研究地球早期生命演化方面具有举足轻重的地位。我国华南三峡地区埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组中下部的地层中,发现了大量的以具刺疑源类为主的微体化石,其中有两个形态简单、分布广泛的类型——分别是以光面、球状为特征的Leiosphaeridia和光面囊胞状、具开裂特征的Schizofusa。本文通过对这两种化石材料的细致观察与统计,对两者间的亲缘关系进行了详细探讨,认为Schizofusa开裂之前应为光面球体,即Schizofusa是某些光面球的发展演化后期阶段。