Silurian brachiopods with soft-tissue preservation

'Articulated' rhynchonelliformean brachiopods are abundant shelly fossils, but the direct fossil record of their soft parts was hitherto confined to a single pyritized trace possibly representing a lophophore. Anatomical knowledge of extinct rhynchonelliformeans relies heavily on analogies to extant species; these analogies are untested for stem-group clades. The Silurian Herefordshire (UK) Konservat-Lagerst?tte (about 425 Myr bp) yields exceptionally preserved three-dimensional fossils that provide unrivalled insights into the palaeobiology of a variety of invertebrates. The fossils are preserved as calcitic void in-fills in carbonate concretions within a volcaniclastic horizon, and are reconstructed digitally. Here we describe a stem-group rhynchonelliformean specimen from this deposit; it most probably belongs in the order Orthida. A robust ridged pedicle with distal rootlets is preserved, together with a lophophore and other soft-tissue structures. The pedicle morphology is novel, urging caution in inferring stem-group rhynchonelliformean anatomy from that of crown-group species. Smaller brachiopods are attached to the specimen; these include a probable atrypide, with pedicle and marginal setae preserved.     

Discovery of hydrothermal venting community at the base of Cambrian barite in Guizhou Province, Western China: Implication for the Cambrian biological explosion

The barite deposit in the Niutitang Formation of Lower Cambrian, in Tianzhu County, Guizhou Province, western China, is a superlarge barite deposit with about 2 × 10^9 tons of reserves. Mineral, petrological and geochemical studies reveal that this barite deposit belongs to a hydrothermal sedimentary deposit. Microscopic observations indicate that a lot of algae, sponge spicules and tube-type fossils are well-preserved in this barite section, and moreover, those fossils share most characteristics of the deep-sea hydrothermal venting community in the modern Pacific. We suggest that the hydrothermal venting community was thriving in hydrothermal vent in early Cambrian, and it is of great significance for elucidating the geological background of the ＂Cambrian explosion＂.     

Discovery of Late Carboniferous strata and their tectonic significance in the southern margin of the North China Block （Huoqiu and Gushi areas）

Late Carboniferous fossils （such as Boultonia？ sp., Tabulata, and spiriferoid specimens with smooth she/Is）, bioclastic material （such as crinoid stems and sponge fragments）, and Late Ordovician microfossils of the conodont Belodina have been discovered in the lower part of the strata typically referred to as the Neoproterozoic on the boundary of the provinces of Anhui and Henan in the southern margin of the North China Block. These findings prove that the strata contain macrofossils belonging to the Late Carboniferous, which belonged to a carbonate debris flow deposit that was formed under a carbonate slope environment. The conodont fossils might belong to a detrital deposit. Thus, it is possible to reset the stratigraphic sequences and tectonic attributes belonging to the North Huaiyang tectonic belt and limit the Shouxian fault to the boundary between the Dabie Orogen and North China Block.     

A Silurian sea spider

Pycnogonids (sea spiders) are marine arthropods numbering some 1,160 extant species. They are globally distributed in depths of up to 6,000 metres, and locally abundant; however, their typically delicate form and non-biomineralized cuticle has resulted in an extremely sparse fossil record that is not accepted universally. There are two opposing views of their phylogenetic position: either within Chelicerata as sister group to the euchelicerates, or as a sister taxon to all other euarthropods. The Silurian Herefordshire Konservat-Lagerstatte in England (approximately 425 million years (Myr) bp) yields exceptionally preserved three-dimensional fossils that provide unrivalled insights into the palaeobiology of a variety of invertebrates. The fossils are preserved as calcitic void in-fills in carbonate concretions within a volcaniclastic horizon, and are reconstructed digitally. Here we describe a new pycnogonid from this deposit, which is the oldest adult sea spider by approximately 35 Myr and the most completely known fossil species. The large chelate first appendage is consistent with a chelicerate affinity for the pycnogonids. Cladistic analyses place the new species near the base of the pycnogonid crown group, implying that the latter had arisen by the Silurian period.     

塔中地区志留系层序地层及遗迹学特征

根据钻井、测井资料,结合区域地质背景,塔中志留系可划分为层序1、层序2和层序3三个三级层序,每一个层序可进一步划分为海侵体系域和高位体系域。层序1海侵体系域可细分为相带l和相带2,即,砂泥岩薄互层岩相和板状交错层理砂岩岩相。相带l反映了潮间带混合坪沉积环境,遗迹化石丰富,以进食迹和居住迹为主,纵向上,由下到上,丰度、分异度和生物扰动指数逐渐降低。相带2反映了潮下带高能环境,遗迹化石的丰度和分异度都比较低,只发现少量居住潜穴;层序1高位体系域反映了潮上带泥坪沉积环境,纵向上构成一个向上变细的序列。泥坪中以进食迹和居住迹为主,相时于海侵体系域相带2,属种组成明显不同,丰度和分异度也显著提高。在高位体系域内部,由下到上,丰度和分异度逐渐降低,生物扰动指数逐渐下降。综上所述,在同一层序内部,不仅不同体系域中遗迹化石组成、丰度及分异度存在差异,而且同一体系域内部遗迹化石特征也存在规律性的变化。     

安徽宿松坐山下三叠统遗迹化石及其环境意义

安徽宿松坐山下三叠统,经研究发现产有丰富的遗迹化石。它们分别属于“Zoophycus—Cruzianian—Skoliths相”,并以“Cruzianian相”为主。根据遗迹化石组合,文中讨论了其指示的古水动力强度(或水动力能量)、古海水深度、古盐度、沉积底质和沉积速率。     

Evidence of fire use of late Pleistocene humans from the Huanglong Cave, Hubei Province, China

Since 2004, three excavations have been carried out at a late Pleistocene human fossil site of Huanglong Cave in Yunxi County, Hubei Province of China, which unearthed seven human teeth, dozens of stone tools, mammal fossils and other evidence indicating human activities. During the third excavation in 2006, in the same layer as the human teeth, we found some patches of black materials embedded in the deposit. We doubted that this black deposit layer is the remains of burning or even human use of fire at the cave. To further explore the possibility of human fire use at the Huanglong Cave, we examined samples directly taken from the black deposit layer and compared them with samples taken from several places in the cave using three methods: micromorphology, element content determination and deposit temperature analysis. Our results indicate that the contents of carbon element in the black deposit reach 64.59%―73.29%. In contrast, contents of carbon element of the comparative samples from other parts in the cave are only 5.82%―9.49%. The micromorphology analysis of the black deposit samples reveals a plant structure like axial parenchyma, fibrocyte, uniseriate ray and vessel. High-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements suggest that the stratum possibly underwent a high temperature in the nature. Based on these lab analyses, we are sure that the black layer in the Huanglong Cave is the remains of fire and combustion did occur in the cave 100000 years ago. Taking other evidence of human activities found in the Huanglong Cave into consideration, we believe that the evidence of fire from the Huanglong Cave was caused by the human activities of controlled use of fire.     

Acute vision in the giant Cambrian predator Anomalocaris and the origin of compound eyes

Until recently, intricate details of the optical design of non-biomineralized arthropod eyes remained elusive in Cambrian Burgess-Shale-type deposits, despite exceptional preservation of soft-part anatomy in such Konservat-Lagerst?tten. The structure and development of ommatidia in arthropod compound eyes support a single origin some time before the latest common ancestor of crown-group arthropods, but the appearance of compound eyes in the arthropod stem group has been poorly constrained in the absence of adequate fossils. Here we report 2-3-cm paired eyes from the early Cambrian (approximately 515 million years old) Emu Bay Shale of South Australia, assigned to the Cambrian apex predator Anomalocaris. Their preserved visual surfaces are composed of at least 16,000 hexagonally packed ommatidial lenses (in a single eye), rivalling the most acute compound eyes in modern arthropods. The specimens show two distinct taphonomic modes, preserved as iron oxide (after pyrite) and calcium phosphate, demonstrating that disparate styles of early diagenetic mineralization can replicate the same type of extracellular tissue (that is, cuticle) within a single Burgess-Shale-type deposit. These fossils also provide compelling evidence for the arthropod affinities of anomalocaridids, push the origin of compound eyes deeper down the arthropod stem lineage, and indicate that the compound eye evolved before such features as a hardened exoskeleton. The inferred acuity of the anomalocaridid eye is consistent with other evidence that these animals were highly mobile visual predators in the water column. The existence of large, macrophagous nektonic predators possessing sharp vision--such as Anomalocaris--within the early Cambrian ecosystem probably helped to accelerate the escalatory 'arms race' that began over half a billion years ago.     

对黔南桑朗石炭系深水沉积深度的探讨

桑朗石炭系以碳酸盐岩为主,如砂屑、生屑泥粒岩、海绵骨针粒泥岩和含放射虫灰泥岩,并夹海绵骨针硅质岩、层凝灰岩(?)、和白云岩等。它们形成韵律性沉积。在其正常的深水沉积中,有放射虫、硅质海绵骨针和浮游有孔虫等深水生物化石,而缺乏贝类等底栖动物群。浅水生物化石碎片只出现在浊积岩中。在所有的岩石中,均缺乏文石质壳的生物。根据现代深海和半深海的资料,其沉积深度应位于碳酸盐补偿面以上,文石补偿深度以下或其附近,水深500～600米以下的无氧环境。     

Discovery of marine fossils in the upper part of the Permian Linxi Formation in Lopingian, Xingmeng area, China

Two important geological issues have a long history of debate in the Xingmeng area. The first concerns the final closure of the North China plate, Siberia plate and several intermediate massifs in the area, and the other con- cerns the folding and lifting of the Xingmeng Trough. Dis- agreements arise because of issues involving the tectonic- palaeogeographical environment of the Upper Permian deposits of the Linxi Formation. The Linxi Formation （Upper Permian） is generally considered to be either an exclusively continental deposit or separated into marine- terrigenous facies deposited during the Lower to Middle Linxi Period and continental deposits in the Upper Linxi Period. However, in this study, large numbers of bryozoan and sponge spicule fossils were discovered for this first time in the thick limestone layers and lenses of the upper part of the Linxi Formation found in the Guandi section of Linxi county in eastern Inner Mongolia. At the same time, abun- dant bryozoan fossils were also found in sedimentary tuff slices that were collected from the upper part of the Tao- huayingzi Formation from the Taohuayingzi section in Ar Horqin Banner, and abundant small connecting body crinoid stem fossils were found in the dark shale of the Yangjiagou Formation from the Yangjiagou section of Jiutai county, Jilin Province. These marine fossils provide the first evidence that the Xingmeng area was still a marine or mainly marine environment at the end of the late Permian. This not only provides conclusive evidence for the recognition of the above two major geological issues but also promotes chan- ges in the approach towards research, exploration and development of oil and gas, shale gas （oil）, and other mineral resources that are preserved in the late Permian layers of the Northeast-Xingmeng area.     

Lower Cambrian small shelly faunas from Zhejiang (China)and their biostratigraphical implications

Despite a long history of research on the Early Cambrian in China most available data on small skeletal fossils concern fossil associations of the shallow carbonate platform. Information on skeletal fossils from marginal shelf environments of the Yangtze Platform is scanty, which may reflect the rarity of fossils in deeper sedimentary environments but is also due to limitation of carbonate distribution and outcrops, difficulties in fossil extraction, and a general research focus on the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary beds on the carbonate platform. Here we present a documentation of Meishucunian to Qiongzhusian small skeletal fossils from the lower Hetang Formation and the chert unit at its base from the Jiangshan region, Zhejiang Province, representing a relatively deep shelf environment compared to the inner shelf region. The earliest association (Meishucunian) from the chert unit underlying the Hetang Formation is mainly characterized by the occurrence of Protohertzina anabarica, P. unguliformis, Fengzuella zhejiangensis, and Kaiyangites novilis, which differs somewhat in composition from SSF-associations of typical inner shelf deposits. The enigmatic skeletal fossil Fengzuella zhejiangensis, which exhibits an unusual secretional growth mode previously unrecognized from the Early Cambrian, is described in detail. A younger (Qiongzhusian) fossil association contains numerous arthropod remains, such as disarticulated spines of arthropods (Jiangshanodus- and Kijacus-type), which have previously been considered as conodont-like fossils, and bradoriid valves.     

Virtual three dimensions reconstruction and isoline analysis of human marks on the surface of animal fossils

Animal fossils in archaeological sites are closely related to human activities. The environment and human activities, such as hunting-selection, cook process, traditional culture and habits can be partly inferred from the variety of fauna, fragmentation of the bones, and the human marks on bones’ sur-faces. So far, researches about marks on fossils are few in China, and are mainly observed directly by eyes. Light Microscopes and Scanning Electron Microscopes are also applied to the observation abroad. These...     

Broad phylogenomic sampling improves resolution of the animal tree of life

Long-held ideas regarding the evolutionary relationships among animals have recently been upended by sometimes controversial hypotheses based largely on insights from molecular data. These new hypotheses include a clade of moulting animals (Ecdysozoa) and the close relationship of the lophophorates to molluscs and annelids (Lophotrochozoa). Many relationships remain disputed, including those that are required to polarize key features of character evolution, and support for deep nodes is often low. Phylogenomic approaches, which use data from many genes, have shown promise for resolving deep animal relationships, but are hindered by a lack of data from many important groups. Here we report a total of 39.9 Mb of expressed sequence tags from 29 animals belonging to 21 phyla, including 11 phyla previously lacking genomic or expressed-sequence-tag data. Analysed in combination with existing sequences, our data reinforce several previously identified clades that split deeply in the animal tree (including Protostomia, Ecdysozoa and Lophotrochozoa), unambiguously resolve multiple long-standing issues for which there was strong conflicting support in earlier studies with less data (such as velvet worms rather than tardigrades as the sister group of arthropods), and provide molecular support for the monophyly of molluscs, a group long recognized by morphologists. In addition, we find strong support for several new hypotheses. These include a clade that unites annelids (including sipunculans and echiurans) with nemerteans, phoronids and brachiopods, molluscs as sister to that assemblage, and the placement of ctenophores as the earliest diverging extant multicellular animals. A single origin of spiral cleavage (with subsequent losses) is inferred from well-supported nodes. Many relationships between a stable subset of taxa find strong support, and a diminishing number of lineages remain recalcitrant to placement on the tree.     

河南灵井许昌人遗址古人类化石及相关研究进展

 2007年和2014年，河南灵井遗址出土的距今10万年左右的许昌人头骨化石引起古人类学界的广泛关注，研究显示晚更新世早期中国境内可能并存多种古人类成员，不同群体之间有杂交或者基因交流产生。许昌人为中国古人类演化的地区连续性以及与欧洲古人类之间的交流提供了一定程度的支持。本文回顾了许昌人化石的发现历史、复原和研究过程，介绍了许昌人伴生的哺乳动物化石、石制品、骨质工具的最新研究进展；讨论了灵井遗址未来工作前景。许昌人化石及伴生的文化遗物为探讨当时人类的体质特征、行为方式及中国古人类的演化模式提供了重要的参考资料。     

海南自然保护区的陆生和淡水贝类

考察了海南自然保护区的陆生和淡水贝类资源 ,采获陆生贝类标本 2 4种 (包括 1未定种 ) ,隶属于 1纲 9科 19属 ;淡水贝类标本共 16种 ,隶属于 2纲 7科 11属 .区系分析表明 :海南的陆生和淡水贝类区系组成以东洋界种类为主 ,其中热带种类占优势 ;海南的陆生和淡水贝类区系与广东大陆有密切关系 ;海南自然保护区的热带季雨林中 ,随着海拔升高 ,淡水贝类的分布呈减少趋势 ;海南的陆生和淡水贝类的大型种类多 ,人畜寄生虫中间宿主螺多     

广东湛江红树林自然保护区软体动物的群落结构

对广东湛江红树林保护区高桥镇核心区的软体动物群落结构及其与红树植物群落、环境因子的关系进行了研究.结果表明,种群的相对重要性指数存在着季节差异,一些物种在不同季节数量有较大的变化.相同站位不同季节之间软体动物群落结构差异显著(p<0.05),并且存在显著的正相关关系(p<0.05).季节、底质、潮位线和红树植物群落等是决定软体动物群落结构的主要因素.利用生物量丰度比较法对广东德耀村红树林剖面进行污染评价,结果显示冬季受轻度污染,春、夏和秋季受中度污染.     

Comment on planation surface

Planation surfaces includes peneplain, pediment and etchplain, which differ from each other in formation and distribution. The double leveling surfaces theory offered by Budel can be used to explain the landforms in limestone areas. According to Budel, that the residue is the upper layer of a planation surface is very important in studying the formation environment and weathering crust deposit in planation. In recent years, some researchers have expresses doubt whether it is reliable to use fossils to interpret the rising amount and rate of rise of the Tibet Plateau. It is believed that the primary planation surface can be used as a reliable indicator of land rising.     

Discovery of the budding phosphatized globular fossils from the Neoproterozoic Doushantuo Formation at Weng’an, Guizhou Province, China

There is much debate on biological affinities of the phosphatized globular fossils from the Neoproterozoic Doushantuo phosphorites at Weng’an, Guizhou Province. Here we report for the first time the budding structures of some of these globular fossils, which have previously been interpreted as the resting eggs and early cleavage embryos of metazoans. The budding structures are similar to the germinating tubes of the spore and zygote of living algae, suggesting that some globular fossils from the Doushantuo phosphorites bear affinity with algae. The present new information indicated various biological affinity of the phosphatized globular fossils from the Doushantuo phosphorites.     

A primitive sarcopterygian fish with an eyestalk

The discovery of two Early Devonian osteichthyan (bony fish) fossils has challenged established ideas about the origin of osteichthyans and their divergence into actinopterygians (teleosts and their relatives) and sarcopterygians (tetrapods, coelacanths, lungfishes and related groups). Psarolepis from China and an unnamed braincase from Australia combine derived sarcopterygian and actinopterygian characters with primitive features previously restricted to non-osteichthyans, suggesting that early osteichthyan evolution may have involved substantial parallellism between sarcopterygians and actinopterygians. But interpretation of these fossils has been hampered by poor phylogenetic resolution. Here we describe a basal sarcopterygian fish, Achoania gen, et sp. nov., that fills the morphological gap between Psarolepis and higher sarcoptergyians. We also report the presence of eyestalk attachments in both Achoania and Psarolepis, showing that this supposedly non-osteichthyan feature occurs in basal sarcopterygians as well as the actinoptergyian-like Australian braincase.