A pragmatic approach to the species problem from a paleontological perspective

The ideal scenario for paleontologists would be for the species they designate to be equivalent to the species recognized for modern animals, in the sense that they were formed as a result of the same evolutionary processes. This would mean, for example, that we could be confident that in combining extant and extinct taxa in phylogenetic analyses we would be dealing with equivalent operational taxonomic units. Notwithstanding the many thousands of pages that have been spent arguing over species concepts, the only concept that has won widespread acceptance for the designation of modern species is Mayr's Biological Species Concept (BSC).¹ In fact, whenever we complete a cladistic analysis, we assume reproductive isolation of our terminal taxa because otherwise their similarities could be the product of interbreeding rather than common ancestry. Fundamentally, we all behave as though the BSC is true.     

Neurobiological approaches in vertebrate paleontology

The study of the central nervous system in extinct vertebrates is discussed. Historical development of the nervous system is restricted to a few morphological patterns. The foundation of structural conservatism of the nervous system is provided by the multifunctional character of any adaptive changes in the brain of vertebrates. The functional structural features allow the use of the nervous system for the resolution of some difficult questions of vertebrate evolution.     

Endocasts of Microsyops (Microsyopidae, Primates) and the evolution of the brain in primitive primates

We describe a virtual endocast produced from ultra high resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT) data for the microsyopid, Microsyops annectens (middle Eocene, Wyoming). It is the most complete and least distorted endocast known for a plesiadapiform primate and because of the relatively basal position of Microsyopidae, has particular importance to reconstructing primitive characteristics for Primates. Cranial capacity is estimated at 5.9 cm³, yielding encephalization quotients (EQ) of 0.26–0.39 (Jerison’s equation) and 0.32–0.52 (Eisenberg’s equation), depending on the body mass estimate. Even the lowest EQ estimate for M. annectens is higher than that for Plesiadapis cookei, while the range of estimates overlaps with that of Ignacius graybullianus and with the lower end of the range of estimates for fossil euprimates. As in other plesiadapiforms, the olfactory bulbs of M. annectens are large. The cerebrum does not extend onto the cerebellum or form a ventrally protruding temporal lobe with a clear temporal pole, suggesting less development of the visual sense and a greater emphasis on olfaction than in euprimates. Contrasts between the virtual endocast of M. annectens, and both a natural endocast of the same species and a partial endocast from the earlier-occurring Microsyops sp., cf. Microsyops elegans, suggest that the coverage of the caudal colliculi by the cerebrum evolved within the Microsyops lineage. This implies that microsyopids expanded their cerebra and perhaps evolved an improved visual sense independent of euprimates. With a growing body of data on the morphology of the brain in primitive primates, it is becoming clear that many of the characteristics of the brain common to euprimates evolved after the divergence of stem primates from other euarchontans and likely in parallel in different lineages. These new data suggest a different model for the ancestors of euprimates than has been assumed based on the anatomy of the brain in visually specialized diurnal tree shrews.     

亚洲古近纪早期的年代学和哺乳动物群更替(英文)

对广东南雄盆地、江西池江盆地、安徽潜山盆地、湖南衡阳盆地和内蒙古二连盆地古新世和早始新世沉积物进行的生物地层学、化学地层学和磁性地层学研究,第一次给亚洲早古近纪地层框架提供了严格的年代限定。亚洲古新世和早始新世地层划分为4个生物年代单位(陆生哺乳动物期),从老到新为上湖期、浓山期、格沙头期和伯姆巴期4个亚洲陆生哺乳动物期。南雄盆地古地磁数据显示上湖期的底界约位于C29r的上2/3位置。南雄盆地的古地磁资料及池江盆地最新的古地磁和同位素结果显示上湖-浓山期界线在C27n的上部和C26r的下部之间,接近C27n-C26r转换界面。这一记录支持将上湖-浓山期的界线与北美陆生哺乳动物期中的Torrejonian-Tiffanian期以及海相记录中丹尼-塞兰特期(Danian-Selandi-an)的界线相对比。二连盆地古地磁和同位素研究表明典型的格沙头动物群延续至C24r,并且可能向下延伸至C25r和C26n。南雄盆地的记录指示浓山组和古城村组可能相当于C26r的上部。这些结果表明亚洲哺乳动物分期中的浓山-格沙头期的界线可能在北美哺乳动物分期的Tiffanian期中。衡阳盆地的古地磁和同位素证据指示,以短暂的碳同位素漂移为标志的古新世-始新世界线出现在栗木坪组和岭茶组之间,位于C24r中,与海相记录中的坦尼特-伊普里斯期(Thanetian-Ypresian)界线一致。伯姆巴期岭茶动物群的时代似乎与北美Wa-satchian-0带的动物群可以比较。上湖期和浓山期动物群主要由亚洲特有的动物组成。发生在上湖期和浓山期界线处的动物群更替,与北美Torrejonian-Tiffanian期界线以及丹尼-塞兰特期界线一致。在相隔很远的生态系统上的这种巧合,可能反映出各自独立的对气候变化的生态和/或进化上的响应。格沙头动物群的地方性色彩更弱,有与北美Clarkforkian期动物群共有的属一级分类单元。伯姆巴动物群是全球性的。现生哺乳动物各目在格沙头-伯姆巴期界线处突然出现,与北美和欧洲的记录一致,显示动物群的更替与古新世-始新世界线处短暂出现的全球变暖事件(又称古新世-始新世高温事件)有关。     

内蒙古苏崩地点的古新世软食中兽(哺乳纲,中兽目):古新世-始新世界线附近“东方伊甸园”扩散模式的新证据(英文)

记述了发现于内蒙古苏崩晚古新世格沙头期的中兽类软食中兽Hapalodectes属的一个新种。这是软食中兽在中国古新世地层中的首次发现,也是亚洲格沙头期的第二种软食中兽。已有的系统学和生物地层学证据支持软食中兽属和软食中兽科(Hapalodectidae)亚洲起源的观点。软食中兽显然是在古新世-始新世极热事件(PETM)期间通过白令陆桥扩散到北美大陆的,因而符合"东方伊甸园"学说中的生物地理格局。软食中兽有限的(即非欧洲的)地理分布使得我们可以重建该属生物地理学历史。如同软食中兽一样的"东方伊甸园"式的扩散模式,可以看作是大的环境变化事件导致多个支系产生相似的系统学和生物地理学分布格局的生物地理扩散机制。严格地检查了所谓的在古新世-始新世界线上或其附近的与"东方伊甸园"模式相矛盾的大陆间哺乳动物扩散事例,结果发现这些例子都是不可靠的。"东方伊甸园"生物地理学说充分解释了PETM时期哺乳动物群更替以及劳亚古陆哺乳动物地理分布格局的成因。     

A new species of the bee genus Ctenoplectrella in middle Eocene Baltic amber (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae)

A new species of the extinct bee genus Ctenoplectrella Cockerell (Megachilinae: Ctenoplectrellini) is described and figured from two females preserved in middle Eocene (Lutetian) Baltic amber. Ctenoplectrella phaetonsp. n. is distinguished from its congeners on the basis of its body proportions, integumental sculpturing, wing venation, and pubescence, and is one of the more distinctive members of the genus. A revised key to the species of Ctenoplectrella is provided.     

北美西部古新世-始新世极热事件(PETM)期间的哺乳动物群序列(英文)

跟随一队研究哺乳动物群在古新世-始新世变化的生物地层学和古地理学的学者,已故周明镇教授开始了他的古脊椎动物学事业。这是化石记录中偶蹄类、奇蹄类和灵长类(APP类群)首次出现的时期。随着北美西部Polecat Bench新的最晚古新世Clarkforkian哺乳动物群的发现,古新世作为一个独立于始新世的分期从1911年开始被接受。后来,研究证明古新世-始新世界线包括了一段时间,这期间发育了矮小型哺乳动物支系。古新世-始新世碳同位素漂移(CIE)与哺乳动物矮小化以及APP类群的首次出现是同时的。据此可以对CIE进行全球性总结,结果表明它与古新世-始新世极热事件(PETM)相关。PETM这一全球温室变暖事件不仅对地球气候和生物群有短暂的影响,而且对生物群同样具有深远持续的影响。我们所知的哺乳动物与CIE和PETM之间关系的大部分内容是通过对Polecat Bench周边剖面独特地层记录的高分辨率研究得到的。周教授早年曾在那里工作过,如今他的骨灰也撒在那里。     

我国部分地区E1^3—E2^1孢粉属种演变的古气候意义

通过对我国部分地区古新世晚期一始新世早期孢粉植物群演化发展规律的分析研究,结合国内外地层学研究的新进展,提出我国古新世晚期气候以暖湿为特征,且暖期的结束与始新世/古新世界限相吻合或接近,因此可以本次暖期的结束作为古新世的顶界。     

Preliminary research on the fossil gibbons of the Chinese Pleistocene and recent

Two species of fossil gibbon existed in China during the Pleistocene. These wereHylobates concolor andH. hoolock, species still extant in China today. The gibbon's dependence on high canopy forest environments is well known, therefore their presence in the fossil record is reliable environmental indicator. Gibbons were widely distributed throughout southern China during the Pleistocene; however, the southward shift of the northern limit distribution in modern history.