Gymnosperms on the eve of the terminal Permian mass extinction in North China and their survival strategies

Main characteristics of the Permian redbed gymnmprms in North China have been summarized: dominant peltasperms and conifers, numerous enigmatics such asGigantonoclea andPsygmophyllum, and abundant precursors of Mesozoic gymnosperm. Furthermore, stresses affecting these plants survival are suggested to be paleoatmospheric CO₂ concentration, water stress, wind and fire activities, und fungal infection. Consequently, a preliminary analysis accounts for the ecological strategies of these gymnosperms to the P-Tr event.