天津张贵庄晚二叠世孢粉植物群

天津张贵庄SR13号钻孔原归为石盒子组的地层近顶部发现了丰富的孢粉化石,这一组合兼具上石盒子组和孙家沟组孢粉组合的特征。一方面,它与上石盒子组（特别是其上部）组合有不少共同分子,在蕨类孢子和裸子植物花粉（包括具肋花粉）的含量比例上也可以与之对比,但缺乏一些标志分子。另一方面,在属种组成上,当前组合与已知的孙家沟组合也颇可比较,而且出现了一些中生代色彩的分子。这一组合的揭示与研究有助于提高人们对华北晚二叠世晚期孢粉植物群特征的认识。依据当前组合与已知相关孢粉组合的对比讨论,将其时代定为晚二叠世,并倾向于晚二叠世晚期（对应于孙家沟组）。     

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。     

Species richness and structure of three Neotropical bat assemblages

We compared the assemblages of phyllostomid bats in three Neotropical rainforests with respect to species richness and assemblage structure and suggested a method to validate estimates of species richness for Neotropical bat assemblages based on mist-netting data. The fully inventoried bat assemblage at La Selva Biological Station (LS, 100 m elevation) in Costa Rica was used as a reference site to evaluate seven estimators of species richness. The Jackknife 2 method agreed best with the known bat species richness and thus was used to extrapolate species richness for an Amazonian bat assemblage (Tiputini Biodiversity Station; TBS, 200 m elevation) and an Andean premontane bat assemblage (Podocarpus National Park; BOM, 1000 m elevation) in Ecuador. Our results suggest that more than 100 bat species occur sympatrically at TBS and about 50 bat species coexist at BOM. TBS harbours one of the most species-rich bat assemblages known, including a highly diverse phyllostomid assemblage. Furthermore, we related assemblage structure to large-scale geographical patterns in floral diversity obtained from botanical literature. Assemblage structure of these three phyllostomid assemblages was influenced by differences in floral diversity at the three sites. At the Andean site, where understorey shrubs and epiphytes exhibit the highest diversity, the phyllostomid assemblage is mainly composed of understorey frugivores and nectarivorous species. By contrast, canopy frugivores are most abundant at the Amazonian site, coinciding with the high abundance of canopy fruiting trees. Assemblage patterns of other taxonomic groups also may reflect the geographical distribution patterns of floral elements in the Andean and Amazonian regions.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 94 , 617–629.     

Seasonal fluctuation, phenology and turnover of chafer assemblages – insight to the structural plasticity of insect communities in tropical farmlands

1 Studies on chafer assemblages were conducted on two farmland sites in the Terai lowland of Nepal (200 m above sea level) using light traps. During the course of a 2-year field monitoring program, a total of 4503 specimens was captured and an unexpectedly high number of syntopically co-occurring species was found: 52 from Gunganagar (GN) and 36 from Gaindakot (GK), respectively. Highest species abundances and species numbers were found during April and May.
2 Species occurrence was strongly correlated with air temperature and the maximum soil temperature, at least during the pre-monsoon season. However, assemblage structure from the two sites showed significant qualitative and quantitative changes seasonally, as well as from 1 year to the next. Turnover rates between adjacent months were in the range 26–62% (GN) and 37–70% (GK), whereas the turnover from 2004 to 2005 was 25.8% (GN) and 21.4% (GK) respectively.
3 When only dominant and subdominant taxa are considered, the seasonal change in species composition was even more striking.
4 Strong fluctuation in chafer assemblage over time suggests: (i) a possible influence of patchy habitat types and soil working on seasonal assemblage structure and (ii) colonization of suitable habitats (fields) in great part by chance.     

Colonising aliens: caterpillars (Lepidoptera) feeding on Piper aduncum and P. umbellatum in rainforests of Papua New Guinea

Abstract.  1. Caterpillar assemblages feeding on two alien plants, Piper aduncum and P. umbellatum , were studied in lowland rainforest in Papua New Guinea and compared with assemblages from 69 species of native woody hosts, including congeneric P. macropiper .
2. Species richness of caterpillars feeding on P. aduncum (29 species per 1500 m² of foliage) and P. umbellatum (36 species) was higher than the median richness for the 69 native hosts (23 species).
3. The probability that a caterpillar species colonised alien Piper increased with its host range from 3% for the species feeding on a single plant family to 92% for the species with host range >10 plant families.
4. The assemblage on P. aduncum was dominated by a single species ( Herpetogramma sp. near licarsisalis , Crambidae), which represented 48% of individuals, and also had a high proportion (34%) of rare species, collected as single individuals. This community structure was indistinguishable from that of a typical native host. In contrast, the P. umbellatum assemblage was unusual as no species represented >10% of individuals.
5. The aggressive invasion by P. aduncum of early successional vegetation is not explained by a competitive advantage due to low herbivore load, as the abundance of caterpillars feeding on it was comparable to that of native pioneer plants.
6. The caterpillar assemblage on P. aduncum demonstrated that an assemblage indistinguishable from native assemblages in density, species richness, and dominance structure (but not in host specificity) can originate from the existing species pool in lowland rainforests on a recently established tree species in <50 years.     

The interrelationships of Devonian lungfishes (Sarcopterygii: Dipnoi) as inferred from neurocranial evidence and new data from the genus Soederberghia Lehman, 1959

New data are presented on the neurocranial complex (endocranium plus intimately associated bones of the palate) of the Late Devonian (Famennian) ‘rhynchodipterid’ lungfish Soederberghia groenlandica from the Aina Dal Formation (Celsius Bjerg Group) of East Greenland. Only the otic and occipital regions of the braincase are ossified in Soederberghia. The neurocranium of this genus shares a series of derived features with ‘Griphognathus’whitei, including a cranial centrum, fenestrate lateral cristae, and gutters on the ventral surface of the parasphenoid interpreted as accommodating the lateral dorsal aortae. The interrelationships of early lungfishes have been the subject of considerable disagreement. New data from Soederberghia are coupled with a data set focused on the character‐rich neurocranial complex in order to examine the systematic utility of this underexploited morphological system. Different methods of phylogenetic inference (maximum parsimony, Bayesian) return broadly consistent results. The Early to Middle Devonian forms Dipnorhynchus, Stomiahykus and Uranolophus are placed among the most basal of lungfishes. ‘Holodontids’ plus ‘rhynchodipterids’ (comprising Griphognathus and Soederberghia) occupy an apical position, and are separated from the earliest lungfishes by a paraphyletic assemblage of taxa generally identified as ‘chirodipterids’ and ‘dipterids.’ This finds broad agreement with the results of previous cladistic studies focused on non‐neurocranial data sets, but diverges from functional‐adaptive scenarios that posit three lineages of early lungfishes based on aspects of the dentition. As currently defined, both ‘chirodipterids’ and the genus Chirodipterus are heterogeneous assemblages; this analysis fails to find support for the monophyly of either. While this study indicates that Griphognathus is probably paraphyletic, it nevertheless supports a close relationship between the nominal species of this genus and Soederberghia. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 151 , 115–171.     

The importance of sward architectural complexity in structuring predatory and phytophagous invertebrate assemblages

Abstract.  1. Although the importance of plant community assemblages in structuring invertebrate assemblages is well known, the role that architectural complexity plays is less well understood. In particular, direct empirical data for a range of invertebrate taxa showing how functional groups respond to plant architecture is largely absent from the literature.
2. The significance of sward architectural complexity in determining the species richness of predatory and phytophagous functional groups of spiders, beetles, and true bugs, sampled from 135 field margin plots over 2 years was tested. The present study compares the relative importance of sward architectural complexity to that of plant community assemblage.
3. Sward architectural complexity was found to be a determinant of species richness for all phytophagous and predatory functional groups. When individual species responses were investigated, 62.5% of the spider and beetle species, and 50.0% of the true bugs responded to sward architectural complexity.
4. Interactions between sward architectural complexity and plant community assemblage indicate that the number of invertebrate species supported by the plant community alone could be increased by modification of sward architecture. Management practices could therefore play a key role in diversifying the architectural structure of existing floral assemblages for the benefit of invertebrate assemblages.
5. The contrasting effects of sward architecture on invertebrate functional groups characterised by either direct (phytophagous species) or indirect (predatory species) dependence on plant communities is discussed. It is suggested that for phytophagous taxa, plant community assemblage alone is likely to be insufficient to ensure successful species colonisation or persistence without appropriate development of sward architecture.     

LATE EARLY SINEMURIAN (EARLY JURASSIC) AMMONITES FROM THE TASEKO LAKES MAP AREA, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Abstract:  Abundant and well-preserved Early Jurassic ammonite assemblages occur in the Taseko Lakes map area on the Cadwallader Terrane in the southern Coast Mountains of British Columbia. The ammonite assemblage described herein includes nine genera and 14 species, most of them already known from classical localities of northern and southern Europe. The presence in particular of Caenisites brooki (Sowerby) and C. turneri (Sowerby) permits high-resolution correlation with the Turneri Zone of the north-west European Sinemurian zonation. The specimens were collected at four localities but most come from an olistolith where the ammonite assemblage is dominated by Coroniceras ( Paracoroniceras ) mutabile Macchioni, Smith and Tipper, associated with Lytotropites fucinii (Bonarelli) and Hypasteroceras montii (De Stefani). The latter two species, whose exact age is here established for the first time, have a Mediterranean distribution.     

湖北秭归盆地中侏罗世泄滩组孢粉组合

本文记录了鄂西秭归盆地东缘泄滩组上部21个属36个种的孢粉植物群,其中包括3个新种,讨论了主要属种组合特征和地层延限,根据中侏罗世孢粉植物群组合在国内外的对比,提出泄滩组上部Cyathidites minor-Classopollis-Callialasporites组合的时代属于中侏罗世,这个组合以桫椤科,掌鳞杉科植物的繁盛,和出现大量Cal-lialasporites母体植物为特点,暗示泄滩组上部形成于炎热而干旱的气候环境。     

广西合浦盆地晚白垩世和古新世的介形类化石

本文报道合浦盆地晚白垩世乌家组和古新世上洋组的介形类化石14属23种(描述1新种),可划分两个化石组合:(1)Rhombicypridea quadrata-Heterocypris hepuensis-Limnocythere sinuata组合,属于Talicypridea动物群,产于乌家组,时代为晚白垩世;(2)...     

湖北秭归盆地中侏罗世陈家湾组孢粉组合的发现及其意义

本文首次报道了湖北秭归盆地陈家湾组孢粉组合,该组合可归入Cyathidites minor-Classopollis Callialasporites为代表的组合,时代属中侏罗世。陈家湾组孢粉组合的特征反映了秭归盆地中侏罗世泄滩组、陈家湾组和沙溪庙组三个组的孢粉组合的面貌基本一致,仅早期组合与中、晚期组合略有差别。建议以Gyathidites minor-classopollis-callialasportes组合代表湖北西部——重庆地区中侏罗世孢粉组合,早期为Lunzisporites pallidus亚组合,中晚期为Converrrcosisporites venitus亚组合。根据孢粉植物群在本区侏罗纪垂直分布情况,提出早侏罗世时期属亚热带一热带炎热潮湿气候环境,植物生长茂盛;早侏罗世之后,潮湿的气候仍占主导地位,但出现了干旱的先兆;中侏罗世早期进入了半干旱阶段,随后即为炎热干旱的气候所笼罩;至晚侏罗世达到非常干旱的程度,植物种类十份单调,唯有掌鳞杉科植物占据着统治地位。     

Fossil Plants and Their Assemblages from the Early Carboniferous in Guangdong

This paper deals with the Lower Carboniferous fossil plants, 19 genera and 41 species including 10 new species, such as Sublepidodeneron wcwgtanense, Lepidodendron sophoroides, Adiantites lianpingensis, A. matouensis, Archaeopteridium shaoguanense, Rhacopteris angusta, Rhodeites lanceolata, Neuropteris shaoguanensis, Potoniea turbinata and P. racemicarpa. According to the distributive regularity of those fossils in stratigraphic section of Early Carboniferous from Guangdong area, the authors propose to divide the flora into three assemblages from lower to upper, namely, 1, Sublepidodendron mirabile assemblage; 2. Cardiopteridium spetsbergense-Adiantites gothanii assemblage; 3. Archaeopteridium-Sphenopteris obtusiloba assemblage, which separately represent the dispositions of Dahu Formation (the 1st assemblage), the lower part of Ceshui Formation (the 2nd assemblage) and upper part of Ceshui Formation or middle part of Zhongxin Formation (the 3rd assemblage).     

Restudy of some Ordovician–Silurian boundary graptolites from Anticosti Island, Canada, and their biostratigraphic significance

The Ellis Bay Formation on Anticosti Island has long been recognized for the biostratigraphic importance of its latest Ordovician conodont, palynomorph, and shelly fossil assemblages. However, a sparse record of graptolites has made it difficult to correlate these assemblages with the graptolite biozonation. Restudy of some previously described and examination of newly collected normalograptid specimens from the Ellis Bay and lower Becscie formations, however, shows that biostratigraphically important taxa are present and these species provide important constraints on the age of the strata. Normalograptus parvulus and N. minor have been identified in the upper half of the Ellis Bay Formation, suggesting that these strata are late Hirnantian in age ( N. persculptus Biozone). Normalograptus imperfectus and Normalograptus sp. aff. N. acceptus occur in the basal beds of the Becscie Formation, indicating that these strata are earliest Silurian. These graptolite data support the hypothesis that the positive carbon isotope excursion seen in the uppermost strata of the Ellis Bay Formation is isochronous with that seen in the Hirnantian strata at Dob's Linn, Scotland, and does not span much of the lower to mid-Hirnantian, as is the case in Arctic Canada and Nevada, USA.     Anticosti Island , Hirnantian, graptolites, Ordovician, Silurian.     

湖北宜昌奥陶系庙坡组疑源类

湖北宜昌地区庙坡组是达瑞威尔阶/桑比阶界线附近的地层,该段地层产出分异度较高,丰度适中的疑源类组合。该组合包括16属,28种,其中7个未定命名种,可与国内、外同期疑源类组合进行对比。庙坡组疑源类组合既产出晚奥陶世特征分子,也产出阿伦尼格期(弗洛阶上部—达瑞威尔阶底部)的特征分子,显示出一定的过渡特色。组合以Baltisphaeridium(17%—52%),Leiosphaeridia(6%—78%)占优势;反映了其沉积环境为离岸较远的外陆棚环境。     

Metacommunity patterns of highly diverse stream midges: gradients,chequerboards, and nestedness,or is there only randomness?

Abstract.  1. Several non-random patterns in the distribution of species have been observed, including Clementsian gradients, Gleasonian gradients, nestedness, chequerboards, and evenly spaced gradients. Few studies have examined these patterns simultaneously, although they have often been studied in isolation and contrasted with random distribution of species across sites.
2. This study examined whether assemblages of chironomid midges exhibit any of the idealised distribution patterns as opposed to random distribution of species across sites within the metacommunity context in a boreal drainage system. Analyses were based on stream surveys conducted during three consecutive years. Analytical approaches included ordinations, cluster analysis, null models, and associated randomisation methods.
3. Midge assemblages did not conform to Clementsian gradients, which was evidenced by the absence of clearly definable assemblage types with numerous species exclusive to each assemblage type. Rather, there were signs of continuous Gleasonian variability of assemblage composition, as well as significant nested subset patterns of species distribution.
4. Midge assemblages showed only weak relationships with any of the measured environmental variables, and even these weak environmental relationships varied among years.
5. Midge assemblages did not appear to be structured by competition. This finding was somewhat problematic, however, because the two indices measuring co-occurrence provided rather different signs of distribution patterns. This was probably a consequence of how they actually measure co-occurrence.
6. Although midge assemblages did not show a perfect match with any of the idealised distribution patterns, they nevertheless showed a resemblance to the empirical patterns found previously for several plant and animal groups.     

中国下泥盆统脊椎动物化石组合层序

本文综合了滇、黔、川、桂等地的一些早泥盆世地层剖面中的脊椎动物化石的出露情况,粗略地描绘出了早期脊椎动物演化的一般特征,归纳成三个发展阶段。并以此为依据,讨论了下泥盆统的分层与对比。     

湖南零陵晚泥盆世叶虾类一新种——Echinocaris hunanensis sp. nov.

描述了湖南零陵普利桥晚泥盆世锡矿山组叶虾类一新种——Echinocaris hunanensis sp.nov..晚古生代叶虾类化石较为稀少,Echinocaris在亚洲是首次发现.     

Colonisation by a dominant ant facilitated by anthropogenic disturbance: effects on ant assemblage composition, biomass and resource use

Dominant species are thought to regulate species composition and assemblage structure. Invasion by a dominant species is thus likely to alter assemblages and anthropogenic disturbance often facilitates such invasions. In this study we examined the association of a dominant ant, Iridomyrmex purpureus , native to south-eastern Australia, with fire trails in national parks and its effects on ant assemblages. Association with fire trails was examined by comparing the numbers of I. purpureus nests on transects along fire trails with those in transects through surrounding vegetation. Ant assemblages and habitat characteristics of eight sandstone outcrops that supported colonies of I. purpureus were compared with those on eight that did not in summer and autumn 2000. We examined ant species richness, abundance, composition and biomass using quadrats, and resource use with Acacia botrycephalus seeds placed on rock and in vegetation. I. purpureus nests were considerably more common along fire trails than in surrounding vegetation. Sites with I. purpureus had similar species richness to those without, but a lower abundance and biomass of other ants and a different assemblage composition. These differences could not be attributed to any differences in measured habitat characteristics. Ecologically similar species, particularly other species of Iridomyrmex , were less abundant in areas with I. purpureus . While the biomass of other species was suppressed in areas with I. purpureus , the biomass of the dominant was several times that of the assemblage of other ants, a pattern shared with assemblages invaded by exotic species. In areas with I. purpureus , seeds were removed more rapidly from rock, but not vegetation, indicating that resources on rock may be under-exploited by other species. Regulation of invaded ant assemblages by this dominant ant is thus limited to functionally similar species, and this may be due to its use of resources that are unexploited in its absence.     

A TOURNAISIAN BRACHIOPOD FAUNA FROM SOUTH-EAST WALES

Abstract:  An exceptionally preserved fauna within dolomites of the Friars Point Limestone Formation includes the most diverse brachiopod assemblage yet described from the Tournaisian of the British Isles, and the first from Wales. Each of the 16 brachiopod genera includes a single species, of which four are new ( Schellwienella cheuma , Schuchertella subcrona , Composita ptygmation , Fusella extrata ). Associated fossils are corals (one species), bryozoans (two species) and crinoids (one species). Spiriferoideans and schizophorides are numerically dominant, indicative of level-bottom, inner mid-ramp biotopes. Biogeographical comparisons reflect the cosmopolitanism of early Carboniferous brachiopod generic assemblages. Taxonomic comparisons involve selection of lectotypes for Syringothyris exoleta North, 1920, Syringothyris cyrtorhyncha North, 1920, Tylothyris laminosa beta North, 1920, and Tylothyris laminosa gamma North, 1920.     

河北唐山西域山晚寒武世长山组的树形笔石

本文对东秦岭南部湖北郧西地区早石炭世四射珊瑚进行了研究,系统描述了11科中的24属和39种,其中包含2新属和21新种。本区早石炭世四射珊瑚拟划分为4个组合带:范家坪组上部Palaeosmilia-Lithostrotion组合带,下部Yuanophyllum组合带。袁家沟组上部Shennongia majus组合带,下部Zaphrentoides组合带。范家坪组是新建的组名。文中也讨论了Cystophrentis的分布时限,及其与Shennongia的亲缘关系。此外,Neoclisiophyllum在本区与岩关期的Shennongia共生,出现的时间早于华南各地。