Biostratinomic analysis of Lycoptera beds from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation,western Liaoning,China |
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| Authors: | Yanhong Pan Franz T. Fürsich Jiangyong Zhang Yaqiong Wang Xiaoting Zheng |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Key Laboratory of Economic Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008 China;2. GeoZentrum Nordbayern, FG Pal?oumwelt, Friedrich‐Alexander‐Universit?t Erlangen‐Nürnberg, Loewenichstr. 28, Erlangen, 91054 Germany;3. State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008 China;4. Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing, 100044 China;5. Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature, Pingyi, Shandong, 273300 China;6. Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Linyi University, Linyi City, Shandong, 276005 China |
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| Abstract: | Little is known about the palaeoenvironments of the Early Cretaceous lakes of western Liaoning. Uncertainties exist especially about the water depth, water temperatures and annual temperature fluctuations. Here, we analyse the preservation of the most abundant fish of the lakes, the teleost Lycoptera, articulated skeletons of which occur in large concentrations suggestive of mass mortality. Taphonomic features such as degree of disarticulation, orientation patterns and displacement of skeletal elements reveal distinct preservational patterns. They suggest that the water temperature was low during winter and exhibited pronounced seasonal fluctuations. The depth of the lakes was not deep. Possible causes of the fish mortality are discussed, of which anoxia is favoured. This leads to a more refined palaeoenvironmental model for these palaeolakes, which harbour one of the most important Mesozoic Lagerstätten. |
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| Keywords: | fish biostratinomy palaeoenvironment Cretaceous lakes Jehol Biota |
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