黄土高原部分地区180—73万年间孢粉植物群和环境演变初探

根据黄土高原３个剖面的孢粉资料及测年数据,恢复了本区１８０－７３万年期间的植被面貌。在此基础上,结合中国和全球其它地区的孢粉、构造、地层、水系演化和火山活动等特征,将此期间植被、气候和环境的演化划分为３个主旋回,６个主要演化阶段,１０个亚阶段和５个事件。初步认识到,该时间段的气候环境演化有较大波动,且这些变化不限于局部地区,而是区碱性的,是多种因素（内外动力）作用的结果,且有规律可循。     

云南元谋盆地上新世甘棠组植物和孢粉组合及其古气候意义

云南元谋盆地湾堡甘棠组植物群的叶化石和孢粉化石合计107种类型,分属86属,47科。植物叶化石包括18科,24属,35种。除一种裸子植物外,其它均为被子植物。被子植物中,榆科、桦木科、豆科无论属种或者化石数量都是最多;杨柳科、槭科、蔷薇科次之;壳斗科、樟科、杨梅科、鼠李科、忍冬科、胡颓子科、杜鹃科、香蒲料、禾本科均有代表。甘棠组的孢粉植物群也相当丰富,合计97个类型,分属72属,44科。以松科、榆科、禾本科及蕨类植物的水龙骨科最为丰富,胡桃科、壳斗科、金缕梅科及蕨类植物的凤尾蕨属也很常见。被子植物花粉占孢粉总数的50%--60%,以禾本科和榆属花粉含量最高,多在10%以上。裸子植物绝大部分为松科花粉,占孢粉总数的20%-30%。孢子以水龙骨科和凤尾蕨属为主,二者各占孢粉总数的5%-10%。发现于元谋盆地湾堡甘棠组的植物叶化石以及孢子花粉组合在成分上都是混合的类群。组合中既有相当多的湿润亚热带常绿阔叶林成分,也有耐干旱的胡颓子、杨梅、旱蕨等灌木、小乔木或草本分子,同时还有含量很高的、在半干旱环境下也能生存的禾本科、榆科花粉。据此推测甘棠组的植物群和孢粉组合反映了上新世时元谋地区的植被已经分化,盆地的周围山地生长有松科、壳斗科、樟科、胡桃科、金缕梅科为主的常绿和落叶阔叶树木或林块,可能有少许杜鹃科小乔木混杂其中,属于地带性植被。而在盆地内则是以禾本科、蔷薇科等为主,杂以大戟科、豆科、忍冬科、杨梅科等灌木或草本植物以及榆科、桦木科等树木组成的稀树灌丛草原型植被。盆地内的植被所反映的气候和周边地区相比,显得明显干旱。因此推测元谋盆地在2-3百万年前的中晚上新世已经发育成为金沙江流域的干热河谷盆地之一。     

辽西义县组孢粉植物群指示的古气候条件

迄今为止,在辽西北票义县地区的下白垩统义县组二段沉积层中,已发现孢粉化石62属,82种,藻类化石3种。本文对产于不同地点沉积层中的孢粉化石进行了系统研究和总结。根据孢粉母体植物形态和生态特征、生长的气候环境和干湿度环境,对义县组二段的孢粉植物群进行了植被类型、气候带类型和干湿度类型的统计和划分,认为义县组二段沉积时期,其孢粉植被类型为针叶林,所处的气候环境为湿润的亚热带一暖温带。由于植被成分中存在落叶阔叶植物和旱生植物,推测气候环境存在季节性变化,间有干旱一半干旱气候条件。     

西藏羊湖地区及近1.4万年以来孢粉植物群及古气候研究

通过对西藏羊湖地区ZK1和卡拉苏代牙剖面(IP16)的孢粉分析和总有机碳(TOC)、元素含量分析等,建立了羊湖地区近1．4万年以来的孢粉组合带、重建当时的植被类型及古气候演变序列。结果显示：该时期经历了5次植被类型的更替,即草原型→疏林草原型→草原型→疏林草原型→草原型,与之相对应的气候经历了5次波动(2个半旋回),即11220a．B．P．左右的第一气候旋回：由干旱→半干旱半湿润转化;8970a．B．P．左右的第二气候旋回,同样由干旱→半干旱半湿润转化,然后进入半个气候旋回,即干旱气候期,推测今后有可能进入半干旱半湿润气候期。     

新疆车排子地区孢粉植物群与古气候

通过对新疆准噶尔盆地西北缘车排子地区多口探井样品分析,见丰富的孢粉化石,建立了PiceapollisPodocarpidites-Tsugaepollenites,Parajunggarsporites-Piceaepollenites,Protohaploxypinus-Striatoabieites-Hamiapollenites三个孢粉组合。根据孢粉母体植物形态和生态特征、干湿度环境和气候环境,对其孢粉植物群反映的植被类型、干湿度类型和气候带类型进行了划分,认为晚中新世孢粉植被类型为针叶林,所处的气候环境为湿润的暖温带;早白垩世孢粉植被类型为混交林,所处的气候环境为湿润的亚热带-暖温带;晚石炭世时期其植被面貌是以阔叶植物为主,所处的气候环境为半干旱的暖温带。     

西藏羊湖地区近1.4万年以来孢粉植物群及古气候研究

通过对西藏羊湖地区ZK1和卡拉苏代牙剖面(IP16)的孢粉分析和总有机碳(TOC)、元素含量分析等,建立了羊湖地区近1.4万年以来的孢粉组合带、重建当时的植被类型及古气候演变序列.结果显示:该时期经历了5次植被类型的更替,即草原型→疏林草原型→草原型→疏林草原型→草原型,与之相对应的气候经历了5次波动(2个半旋回),即11220a.B.P.左右的第一气候旋回:由干旱→半干旱半湿润转化;8970a.B.P.左右的第二气候旋回,同样由干旱→半干旱半湿润转化,然后进入半个气候旋回,即干旱气候期,推测今后有可能进入半干旱半湿润气候期.     

西藏羊湖地区近1.4万年以来孢粉植物群及古气候研究

通过对西藏羊湖地区ZK1和卡拉苏代牙剖面（IP16）的孢粉分析和总有机碳（TOC）、元素含量分析等,建立了羊湖地区近1.4万年以来的孢粉组合带、重建当时的植被类型及古气候演变序列。结果显示：该时期经历了5次植被类型的更替,即草原型→疏林草原型→草原型→疏林草原型→草原型,与之相对应的气候经历了5次波动（2个半旋回）, 即11 220 a.B.P.左右的第一气候旋回：由干旱→半干旱半湿润转化;8 970a.B.P.左右的第二气候旋回,同样由干旱→半干旱半湿润转化,然后进入半个气候旋回,即干旱气候期,推测今后有可能进入半干旱半湿润气候期。     

新近系谢家阶层型剖面的孢粉植物群及其意义

在中国新近系建阶研究中,文章作者对中新统最下部的一个阶谢家阶层型剖面开展了古地磁、孢粉等方面的综合研究工作。文中是在磁性地层学的时间标尺上,着重讨论孢粉植物群的变化规律。谢家阶层型剖面中发现的孢粉组合特征,总体上与我国中新世早期的孢粉植物群变化规律相一致。但裸子植物花粉,尤其是云杉（Picea）花粉的含量在两个含孢粉丰富的样品中,由下到上明显增加,反映出研究区早中新世气候具有趋冷特征,与同期深海氧同位素变化规律可相对比。而耐旱植物,尤其是藜科（Chenopodiaceae）和蒺藜科（Zygophyllaceae）白刺属（Nitraria）花粉的含量明显降低,反映谢家期后期孢粉组合所指示的湿度具有较明显的增加,推测与东亚季风在新近纪的发展存在着一定的耦合关系。此外,蒿属（Artemisia）花粉在样品中时有见到,与其在我国新近纪地层中的分布规律相一致,与车头沟剖面古地磁的测量结果相吻合。     

Diversity of Menispermaceae from the Paleocene and Eocene of South China

We present here the earliest known Asian fossil records of the Menispermaceae based on fossil fruits from Paleocene and Eocene localities in South China. A new genus and species, Paleoorbicarpum parvum sp. nov., and two new species of Stephania Loureiro, S. ornamenta sp. nov. and S. geniculata sp. nov., are recognized from Paleocene deposits of the Sanshui Basin, Guangdong, and a new occurrence of the widespread Eocene species Stephania auriformis (Hollick) Han & Manchester is recognized from the Maoming Basin, Guangdong. The Paleocene Stephania specimens described here represent the earliest fossil endocarp record of the Menispermaceae in eastern Asia. This discovery shows that the moonseed family had arrived in tropical and humid South China by at least the middle Paleocene, which provides important evidence for the origin and phytogeographic history of the family.     

Correlation between the Paleocene/Eocene boundary and the Ilerdian at Campo, Spain

The Ilerdian is a well-established Tethyan marine stage, which corresponds to an important phase in the evolution of larger foraminifera not represented in the type-area of the classical Northwest-European stages. This biostratigraphic restudy of its parastratotype in the Campo Section (northeastern Spain) based on planktic foraminifera, calcareous nannofossils, dinoflagellate cysts and the distribution of the stable isotopes ∂¹³C and ∂¹⁸O is an attempt to correlate the Paleocene/Eocene boundary based on a characteristic carbon isotope excursion (CIE) marking the onset of the Initial Eocene Thermal Maximum (IETM) and the Ilerdian stage. The base of this ∂¹³C excursion has been chosen as the criterion for the recent proposal of the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the base of the Eocene (= base of the Ypresian) in the Dababiya Section (Egypt) to which an age of 54.9 Ma has been attributed. This level is also characterized by a marked extinction among the deep-water benthic foraminifera (Benthic Foraminifera Extinction Event, BFEE), a flood of representatives of the planktic foraminiferal genus Acarinina and the acme of dinoflagellate cysts of the genus Apectodinium. In the Campo Section, detailed biozonations (planktic foraminifera, calcareous nannofossils, dinoflagellate cysts) are recognized in the Lower and Middle Ilerdian. The correlation with the Ypresian stratotype is based on dinoflagellate cysts and calcareous nannofossils. The base of the Ilerdian is poor in planktic microfossils and its precise correlation with the redefined Paleocene/Eocene boundary remains uncertain.     

Late Eocene leaves of Nageia (section Dammaroideae) from Maoming Basin,South China and their implications on phytogeography

A new species of Nageia, Nageia maomingensis sp. nov., is described from the Late Eocene of Maoming Basin, Guangdong Province, South China. According to its cuticular characteristics, the present fossil species is assigned to N. sect. Dammaroideae, showing the most resemblance to the extant species N. motleyi (Parl.) de Laub. At present, this section is mainly distributed in the Pacific islands region from South Asia to New Guinea. The discovery of N. maomingensis demonstrates that plants of this section inhabited South China at least by the Eocene. The distribution and living habitat of extant N. sect. Dammaroideae imply that South China was warmer during the Late Eocene than today, and may represent one of the centers for early diversification of Nageia and its section Dammaroideae during the Eocene. In addition, we postulate that plants of sect. Dammaroideae migrated southward in response to climate cooling after the Eocene.     

Sinopaninae and Arfianinae (Hyaenodontida,Mammalia) from the Early Eocene of Europe and Asia; evidence for dispersal in Laurasia around the Paleocene/Eocene boundary and for an unnoticed faunal turnover in Europe

Hyaenodontida are represented in Europe by three subfamilies: Proviverrinae, Arfianinae and Sinopaninae. Here, we review all the specimens of Arfianinae and Sinopaninae known to date in Europe and Asia. A new Galecyon species is erected: Galecyon gallus nov. sp. We discuss the taxonomic position of the two Asian hyaenodontidans Anthracoxyaena palustris and Arfia langebadreae; the genus Anthracoxyaena is synonymized with Arfia. The analysis of the European and Asian arfianines and sinopanines provides new data concerning the dispersals and faunal events that occurred during the Early Eocene in Laurasia. The Arfianinae and Sinopaninae appeared in Europe around the Paleocene/Eocene boundary (reference-level MP7). The sinopanines are widespread in Europe; they are known in Dormaal (Belgium, reference-locality of the level MP7), Rians, Soissons, Pourcy, Try, Le Quesnoy (France), and Abbey Wood (England). The analysis of the paleogeographic distribution of all Oxyaenodonta and Hyaenodontida at and after the MP7 supports the existence of two European provinces: the North Province and Mesogean Province. We show that the Arfianinae and Sinopaninae rapidly disappeared from Europe; they are unknown in Avenay (reference-locality of the level MP8+9) and younger localities. Their disappearance from Europe is synchronous with that of the Oxyaenodonta. These observations support the existence of a faunal turnover, which occurred between the reference-levels MP7 (Dormaal) and MP8+9 (Avenay). The hypothesis of a dispersal from Europe to North America during the Paleocene-Eocene transition for the Arfianinae and Sinopaninae is supported. Moreover, the study of Arfianinae supports a dispersal from Europe to Asia around the P/E boundary, followed by a short period of endemic evolution. However, our study does not support a close relationship between Arfia and the “Arfia-like South Asian Proviverrinae” (Kyawdawia, Indohyaenodon, Paratritemnodon and Yarshea).     

Early Eocene lagomorph (Mammalia) from Western India and the early diversification of Lagomorpha

We report the oldest known record of Lagomorpha, based on distinctive, small ankle bones (calcaneus and talus) from Early Eocene deposits (Middle Ypresian equivalent, ca 53 Myr ago) of Gujarat, west-central India. The fossils predate the oldest previously known crown lagomorphs by several million years and extend the record of lagomorphs on the Indian subcontinent by 35 Myr. The bones show a mosaic of derived cursorial adaptations found in gracile Leporidae (rabbits and hares) and primitive traits characteristic of extant Ochotonidae (pikas) and more robust leporids. Together with gracile and robust calcanei from the Middle Eocene of Shanghuang, China, also reported here, the Indian fossils suggest that diversification within crown Lagomorpha and possibly divergence of the family Leporidae were already underway in the Early Eocene.     

The first species of Hapalodectes (Mesonychia,Mammalia) from the middle Paleocene of China (Qianshan Basin,Anhui Province) sheds light on the initial radiation of hapalodectids

A lower jaw of the mesonychian Hapalodectes is reported from Nongshanian sediments (Upper Doumu Formation; middle Paleocene) of the Qianshan Basin (Anhui Province, China). The fragmentary mandible is only the third specimen of Hapalodectidae discovered in Paleocene deposits, and the first in south east China; it is moreover the oldest, the two other specimens having been found in Gashatan (late Paleocene) localities. The premolars and molars of the new fossil are morphologically similar to Hapalodectes dux (late Paleocene of Mongolia), which has been considered to be the most primitive hapalodectid, but their relative proportions recall H. paleocenus and the Eocene Hapalodectes species. As a result, the fossil described herein appears to be different from the other previously described species of Hapalodectes in being morphologically intermediate between H. dux and the other Hapalodectes species, notably the Bumbanian Hapalodectes hetangensis and H. huanghaiensis from China; it is thus identified as a new species, Hapalodectes lopatini (possibly a male individual). Its discovery is important because it sheds light on the initial radiation of hapalodectids. The presence of one primitive hapalodectid in Mongolia previously suggested the Mongolian Plateau as the centre of origination of this carnivorous family, but the discovery of H. lopatini in older sediments from south‐east China challenges this hypothesis. In the earliest Eocene, Hapalodectes dispersed from Asia to North America; this event being part of the ‘East of Eden’ dispersals. This event resulted in the geographical separation of two distinct Hapalodectes groups, in North America and south‐eastern China respectively.     

Paleocene and Eocene floras of Russia and adjacent regions: Climatic conditions of their development

Climatic changes in the western and central regions of Russian Eurasia in the Paleocene and in the first half of the Eocene were caused by the dynamics and rearrangement of the systems of marine seaways: the longitudinal one, which connected the Arctic Basin with marginal seas of the Northern Peri-Tethys, and the latitudinal one, which connected the latter seas with the Atlantic. As these systems were progressively reduced, the climate in the middle latitudes changed from paratropical to a subtropical monsoon climate with a moist summer, and later to a climate with a moist winter, and, in the Late Eocene, to a humid climate without any marked seasonal variation in precipitation. The type of flora changed in agreement with these changes. In the Paleogene, cold currents constantly influenced the climate of the Northwestern Pacific rim and facilitated the development of a warm-temperate mesophilic flora.     

Early Miocene vegetation and climate in Weichang District, North China

The Early Miocene palynological assemblage of Guangfayong (GFY) in the Weichang District, Hebei Province, China has been studied. It consists of 48 palynomorphs belonging to 39 families, with pollen and spores belonging to angiosperms (28.9%), gymnosperms (59.9%), ferns (10.8%) and other elements (0.5%). Based on the palynological assemblages of GFY and Wuluogong (WLG), another locality in the Weichang District, the Early Miocene vegetation of the Weichang District, was characterized by a mixed temperate forest of conifers (e.g. Pinus, Picea, Tsuga) and broad-leaved trees (e.g. Betula, Alnus), with some subtropical plants (e.g. Carya). The palaeoclimatic parameters of Guangfayong were obtained by applying the Coexistence Approach: the mean annual temperature from 7.8 to 14.9 °C, the difference of temperature between the coldest and warmest months from 14.2 to 23 °C, the mean temperature of the coldest month from − 3 to 5.9 °C, the mean temperature of the warmest month from 23.5 to 25.4 °C, the mean annual precipitation from 658.7 to 1389.4 mm, the minimum monthly precipitation from 7.6 to 16.4 mm, and the maximum monthly precipitation from 161.4 to 205.9 mm. It suggests a warm temperate to subtropical climate in Weichang District, similar to that of present-day Zhaojue City, Sichuan Province in the Yangtze River Valley. When the palaeoclimatic parameters were compared with those of Middle Miocene Shanwang Basin, it would seem that the temperature and precipitation were a little higher in the Middle Miocene of eastern China. However, if the latitudinal temperature gradient at that time is considered, the median temperature values of GFY of Early Miocene and Shanwang of Mid-Miocene were similar.     

Early Eocene macroflora and associated palynofossils from the Cambay Shale Formation,western India: Phytogeographic and palaeoclimatic implications

A diverse assemblage of plant macrofossils and the associated representative palynofloral elements are documented from the early Eocene subsurface beds of the Cambay Shale Formation exposed in an open cast lignite mine at Vastan Village in the Surat District, western India. The Vastan mine succession is cyclic, each cycle representing a transgressive burial event terminating in the low energy lagoonal conditions. The higher energy cycle begins with sandy lenses having rich biotic remains, followed by mudstones and molluscan shell beds and ends with lignite seams. The dominantly muddy facies and the associated biota demonstrate predominantly low energy near shore or coastal plain depositional setting with conditions varying from dominantly marine (shallow) through brackish to fresh water. The Vastan mine is a well dated fossil locality with a rich and diverse biota of mammals, birds, snakes, lizards, fish, insects, molluscs, foraminifers, dinoflagellates, and plants. The plants comprise leaf and fruit impressions, seeds, fruits, wood fragments, mangrove rooting structures, fungal thalli and spores, pteridophytic spores, and angiosperm pollen grains. Thirteen macrofossil species, including several morphotaxa, are represented by the families Calophyllaceae, Rutaceae, Anacardiaceae, Rubiaceae, Combretaceae, Lythraceae, Sapindaceae, Malvaceae, and Ebenaceae. The palynological assemblage representing fourteen taxa includes the new species, Notothyrites undulatus, Callimothallus semicircularis, and Carallioipollenites integerrimoides. Habitat and distribution of modern taxa comparable with the fossil assemblage from Vastan suggest a terrestrial lowland environment. The macrofossil taxa are indicative of mesophytic, mixed forest growing under tropical to subtropical climate with sufficient humidity. The occurrence of dipterocarp elements along with taxa such as Swintonia, Pterospermum and Diospyros, etc. seems to suggest the presence of a tropical rain forest in the vicinity of Vastan.