The ecological sequence of Hipparion fauna in the mid-dle reaches of the Yellow River during Neogene

The faunal ecological type and sequence in the Tertiary red clay indicate that Hipparion fauna during the period 7.4-6.1 Ma in the middle reaches of the Yellow River is composed mainly of dorcadoides and mixed types. This represents semiarid veld environment with small fluctuation. The fossil assemblages characterized by the abundance of gaudryi types and even the occurrence of some Hominoid and Chalicotherium indicate an obviously warm and humid period since 5.3 Ma. The fossil assemblages during 3.4 Ma show the typical steppe fauna representing dry climate. It is indicated by the changes of ecological sequence that the climatic conditions in Pliocene are drier than that in late Miocene. The clay-skin content of red clay, which has a synchronous change with faunal features, is a rather good replacing palaeoclimatic index.     

The ecological sequence of Hipparion fauna in the middle reaches of the Yellow River during Neogene

The faunal ecological type and sequence in the Tertiary red clay indicate that Hipparion fauna during the period 7.4–6.1 Ma in the middle reaches of the Yellow River is composed mainly of dorcadoides and mixed types. This represents semiarid veld environment with small fluctuation. The fossil assemblages characterized by the abundance of gaudryi types and even the occurrence of some Hominoid and Chalicotherium indicate an obviously warm and humi period since 5.3 Ma. The fossil assemblages during 3.4 Ma show the typical steppe fauna representing dry climate. It is indicated by the changes of ecological sequence that the climatic conditions in Pliocene are drier than that in late Miocene. The clay-skin content of red clay, which has a synchronous change with faunal features, is a rather good replacing palaeoclimatic index.     

Seven million-year iron geochemistry record from a thick eolian red clay-loess sequence in Chinese Loess Plateau and the implications for paleomonsoon evolution

Recently, the Tertiary red clay sequence underlying Pleistocene loess has attracted much attention. The remarkable progress is the recognition that the Tertiary red clay sequence is also wind-blown in origin, thus providing a good opportunity to reconstruct long-term monsoon changes. In contrast to the loess deposits, the magnetic susceptibility and the pedogenic characteristics are almost independent of each other in the red clay, thus challenging the validity of the readily measurable magnetic susceptibility in describing the monsoon history recorded by the red clay. With the objective to address the long-term East Asia summer monsoon evolution, the free to total Fe₂O₃ ratios were calculated in a continuous eolian red clay-loess sequence at Lingtai, the Chinese Loess Plateau, which has a thickness of 305 m and a basal age of 7.0 Ma. The seven million-year Fe₂O₃ ratio record from the red clay-loess sequence indicates that (ⅰ) variations of the free to total Fe₂O₃ ratios of the loess can correlate generally with the alternations of the loess and paleosol horizons; (ⅱ) the East Asia summer monsoon was stronger as a whole in Neogene than that in Quaternary; (ⅲ) the strongest East Asia summer monsoon may occur between 4.0 and 4.8 Ma. The relatively small ice volume and high global temperature may be responsible for the strong summer monsoon during the early Pliocene.     

Magnetostratigraphy of Late Tertiary sediments from the Chinese Loess Plateau and its paleoclimatic significance

The Late Tertiary red clay/bed sediments underlying the Quaternary loess-paleosol in the Chinese Loess Plateau possesses high-resolution paleoclimatic changes related to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. Magnetostratigra-phy and susceptibility measurements are discussed in this paper. The paleomagnetic results show that the red clay/bed began to accumulate at about 8.1 Ma, which represents the oldest Late Tertiary deposit continuously in the central Loess Plateau. The magnetic susceptibility curves show stepwise increases since the initiation of red clay, superimposed on several peaks. Moreover, the magnetic susceptibility increased abruptly since 3.8 Ma, which probably indicates the inception of the modern East Asia monsoon system. Between 3.8 and 2.6 Ma, the stepwise increases of susceptibility may imply progressively intensified East Asia summer monsoon activity related with the stepwise uplift process of the Tibetan Plateau.     

Climatic instability recorded by the mollusk assemblages from the late glacial loess deposits in China

The loess-paleosol sequence in China records abundant and valuable information on the global and regional climate changes. Biological record from the loess sequence is the most direct evidence on variation in pattern of paleo-atmospheric circulation and changes in winter and summer monsoon. A new record of climatic instability, which occurred in the Loess Plateau during the late glacial period, is presented. Through the study of terrestrial mollusks from three loess sequences, the authors intend to characterize the biological response process to rapid climate change and to learn the mechanisms driving the instable climate changes and the possible linkage in different regions. The result shows the striking consistent variability in the ratio records of three mollusk sequences of the late glacial, indicating apparent rapid climate fluctuations. Correlation of our three mollusk records with the oxygen isotopic records from Greenland ice cores and foraminifera1 records from the Northeast Pacific Ocean reveals similar instability climate during the late glacial period, which provides us a new thought probing the climate instability observed in the North Atlantic, the North Pacific and the Loess Plateau. The low-level atmospheric circulation in the Northern Hemisphere may be one possible way to link the unstable climate patterns observed in the above three regions.     

中国北方新近纪红黏土记录的古气候意义——与动物群化石序列对比

目的研究中国北方新近纪红黏土序列的古气候演化特征。方法对中国北方4个新近纪红黏土剖面沉积物的粒度、磁化率和化石动物群时间序列进行区域对比。结果黄土高原新近纪红黏土沉积以来发生了5次大的气候事件,气候事件的分界线在粒度、磁化率年龄曲线上特征明显,反映的气候特点与化石动物群演替性质完全一致。结论中国北方新近纪红黏土序列古气候演化过程的气候事件均与青藏高原隆升和东亚季风的发展相联系。时间上,南北气候演化事件基本同步;空间上,北部较南部地区变化剧烈。5次气候事件从下到上表现为半湿润、半干旱、湿润、干旱与湿润交替、干旱的气候演化特征;相应动物群生态类型表现为草原-疏林草原、草原为主的疏林草原、森林、草原荒漠与森林交替到草原的演化特点。     

Carbon isotopic records in paleosols over the Pliocene in Northern China: Implication on vegetation development and Tibetan uplift

Carbon isotopic composition of pedogenic carbonate can be used to estimate the proportion of C₄ and C₃ plants. Here we present carbon isotopic data of carbonate in a red earth section at Xifeng, central Loess Plateau. Results show that C₄ vegetation increased in ∼4.4 Ma B.P., stabilized between 4.0 and 3.0 Ma B.P. The character and timing of C₄ expansion on the Loess Plateau are similar, but different with other localities, e.g. Pakistan and Africa, implying that regional climate changes were main factors driving the expansion of C₄ plants. This event is comparable in timing with increased aridity evidenced by Xifeng grain size and North Pacific eolian dust records. Therefore we argue that the Pliocene expansion of C₄ plants in northern China might have been caused by the increased aridity, which in turn might be related to rapid uplift of the Tibetan Plateau.     

神木邱家鄢最高阶地的年代及对中游黄河演化的指示

通过详细的野外调查,发现陕西神木邱家鄢地区存在一古河流阶地,根据该阶地上覆晚第三系红粘土推测该阶地为晚第三纪形成的。对该阶地上覆地层进行调查表明,该区晚第三纪红粘土之下存在约53米的风成砂层和河流相砂层。对红粘土和粉砂层进行古地磁测年样品的采集和测试。古地磁研究结果表明,该剖面底部的年代约在6．8 Ma左右,而红粘土与粉砂层之间的界限在6．27 Ma。根据深度－年代之间的关系,推算得出底部粉砂层的沉积速率比上部红粘土的沉积速率要快10倍以上,结合区域气候变化和构造运动历史的研究,邱家鄢剖面在（6．8－6．27）Ma之间快速沉积粉砂层的来源可能是中游黄河的河漫滩,指示了山陕峡谷段南北流向的古黄河可能在中新世晚期的6．8 Ma以前已经在该区出现。     

长江三角洲地区晚更新世晚期的孢粉特征及古环境

通过对长江三角洲地区晚第四纪沉积10多口钻井的孢粉、藻类资料分析研究，在以往较少见到化石的晚更新世晚期的硬粘土沉积中找到了能明确指示古环境的孢粉、藻类化石，发现了两种不同的孢粉组合，一种是以环纹藻Concentricystes占优势的孢粉组合，另一种是以陆生植物Pinus-Cupressaceae-Picea-Abies-Quercus（deciduous）-Grarnineae占优势的孢粉组合，证实了该层硬粘土形成期间曾经历滞水和水退的环境交替．也为探讨硬粘土成因、沉积环境提供了可靠的生物化石依据．     

Pollen evidence from Baode of the northern Loess Plateau of China and strong East Asian summer monsoons during the Early Pliocene

The red clay eolian sequence on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) is an important archive for paleoclimate change from the late Miocene to Pliocene,and can provide significant information for the controversial problems of East Asian monsoon evolution and its forcing mechanism.In this study,we present a pollen record from Baode,northern CLP.The record shows four stages of paleoecological evolution.From 5.6-4.4 Ma,a forest steppe ecosystem developed under an extremely warm period with high seasonal precipitation.Since 4.4 Ma,a drier episode occurred,which prompted parkland landscapes to develop.During 3.5-3.05 Ma,the environment changed to a rather open steppe ecosystem with a much cooler and drier climate.After 3.05 Ma,the vegetation evolved to forest steppe.Using the percentages of arboreal plants to mirror precipitation,and comparing with other published pollen data from the CLP,we find the existence of S-N directionality of the precipitation change and high percentage of arboreal plants in the entire CLP during the Early Pliocene,which suggest the CLP was characterized by a strong East Asian summer monsoon.The strong summer monsoon corresponds well to the low global ice volume,which may illuminate global climate mechanism for the summer monsoon evolution in the early Pliocene.     

中国岩黄耆属(Hedysarum L.)植物区系生态地理分布

依据种的现代分布、替代关系、地质历史、古气候和化石资料,探讨了中国岩黄耆属植物区系的发生、演变及形成机制.结果表明:岩黄耆属可能是由古地中海旱生植物区系中一类中生的原始灌木类群,在晚始新世到早渐新世或比这个时期稍晚一些,经过第三纪以来的环境分异变化,逐渐形成适应高寒山地生长的扁荚组种类和适应干旱环境生长的多茎组、短茎组种类,短茎组种类是多茎组对干旱强化进一步适应的结果,与此同时,原始的灌木类群自身也在继续演化,形成适应荒漠半荒漠生长的种类.这种演化过程揭示出生存环境中水热条件的剧烈变化是植物演化的主要动力.     

High-resolution climate change in mid-late Holocene on Tianchi Lake,Liupan Mountain in the Loess Plateau in central China and its significance

According to a core from Tianchi Lake, Liupan Mountain in Loess Plateau sediment, fossil pollen assemblages, magnetic suscep-tibility (MS) and color scale were measured based on reliable Abies leaf macrofossils radiocarbon chronology. We recovered a very good high-resolution mid-late Holocene climate change achieve for the transition area of the East Asia monsoon region and northwest arid region. The results show that the basic climate background was in agreement with the records from cave records in monsoon regions in eastern China. Besides, it shows more detailed records in abrupt climate change.     

中国风尘沉积环境磁学研究现状

中国黄土-古土壤-红黏土序列完整记录了7.5 Ma以来东亚季风演化历史。黄土-古土壤的低频磁化率已成为东亚夏季风演化的代用指标之一,并得到广泛的应用和全球对比。虽然古土壤磁化率增强的成土观点已得到广泛认可,但磁化率与成壤强度的相关性还不是十分清楚,磁化率应用方面仍存在问题。磁化率与成壤强度、生物化学作用和古气候关系尚在研究中。     

黄土高原的生态修复问题研究

黄土高原的生环境态建设一直是国家重点关注的问题,在日益严峻的生态环境之下,生态修复措施的提出迫不及待,如何在了解黄土高原的具体情况之后制定出应对措施以治理、预测和监督相应地区的生态问题,是我们需要研究的重要问题。介绍了黄土高原的特征,分析了黄土高原存在的生态环境问题,阐述了黄土高原生态修复的必要性和可行性,探讨了黄土高原生态修复的具体措施。     

Paleo-environmental study on the growth of magnetotactic bacteria and precipitation of magnetosomes in Chinese loess-paleosol sequences

405 samples were collected from L5-S5-L6 in consideration of obvious variations in susceptibility of the geological sections, which are section Xifeng in Gansu Province and section Duanjiapo in Shaanxi Province for study of magnetotactic bacteria (MB) and magnetosomes (MS) in Chinese loess-paleosol sequences. MB in each sample were observed by TEM after being cultured under 8-18℃, room temperature (RT), 25℃, 26℃ and 30℃ conditions. In general, MB are distributed widely in loess-paleosol sequences, fewer in loess layers with predomination of vibriod in shape. However, there are more MB in paleosol layers with morphological varieties such as roddish, vibriod and occasionally approximately coccus. The magnetosomes (MS) in MB of paleosol are usually arranged in chains along the cells. It was also found that MB growth and MS formation are associated with the environment in which MB live. It can be inferred from the distributions of MB and MS that the paleoclimates fluctuated during the formation of loess-paleosol sequences in the Chinese Loess Plateau. The climate became gradually warmer but displayed more frequent fluctuations from the northwest to the southeast of the Plateau .     

中国北方晚新生代红粘土研究之若干问题

对于中国北方地区晚第三纪以来沉积的红粘土的成因,近年来不少学者通过对其粒度、地球化学及古生物等替代性指标的研究,认为该套沉积物为风尘沉积.通过大量野外考察、理论与室内分析测定,认为粒度、地球化学等指标存有多解性,而古生物证据与所谓风成的干旱化环境不相一致,上述指标并不足以成为红粘土风成的确凿证据因此,进一步深入研究相关替代性指标的研究是今后努力的方向,对红粘土成因的确认不能仅局限于青藏高原的可能影响,全球环境的变化才有可能是解决问题的关键途径.参17.     

简析黄土高原的生态环境建设

介绍了黄土高原生态环境现状,指出了环境恶化的危害,分析了形成生态环境脆弱的原因,提出了改善生态环境的几点建议。     

Response of mollusk assemblages from the Luochuan loess section to orbital forcing since the last 250 ka

This note presents a new result of terrestrial mollusk study from the Luochuan loess section since the last 250 ka. A total of 213 samples, taken at intervals of 10 cm in the S₀-L₃ portion, were analyzed for fossil mollusks. Generally, 150–600 individuals were counted in each sample. According to the distribution of mollusk fossil assemblages in the loess section, 11 mollusk fossil zones have been recognized, representing different climatic and ecological conditions. Three main ecological groups were identified according to the temperature and moisture requirements of each taxon. The cold-aridiphilous group shows maxima at about 240–220, 190–182, 150–140 and 74–66 ka BP. The thermo-humidiphilous set has high abundances for at least 6 times in the section at about 246–240, 220–216, 170–158, 92–86, 60–44 and 10 kaBP. Our results show that variations in mollusk ecological groups are related with changes in the Earth orbital parameters at the 41 and 20 ka frequencies. Maxima in thermo-humidiphilous taxa are in phase with accretion intervals of obliquity (41 ka period), reflecting the East Asian summer monsoon with 41 ka period in controlling variations in terrestrial mollusk ecological groups. In addition, maxima in thermohumidiphilous taxa appearing at about 246–240, 220–216, 60 and 10 kaBP, are consistent with procession (20 ka period) maxima, indicating that the procession period also plays an important role in adjusting the ecological pattern of mollusk groups.     

对贵州红粘土成因的再探讨

贵州红粘土是覆盖于碳酸盐岩系地层之上,由碳酸盐岩系地层中的不溶杂质为物质来源而形成的特殊红土.岩溶作用决定了红粘土的成土早期和物质来源的特点不同于其它岩石形成的土类;岩溶残余堆积物后期又经历红土化作用,造就了红粘土的基本特征.从成土过程中的主要地质作用来讨论红粘土的成因,指出以上两个成土阶段及其相互间的联系是红粘土成因的最主要环节,并分析了成因对红粘土特性形成的控制作用.     

Two new carnivores from an unusual late Tertiary forest biota in eastern North America

Late Cenozoic terrestrial fossil records of North America are biased by a predominance of mid-latitude deposits, mostly in the western half of the continent. Consequently, the biological history of eastern North America, including the eastern deciduous forest, remains largely hidden. Unfortunately, vertebrate fossil sites from this vast region are rare, and few pertain to the critically important late Tertiary period, during which intensified global climatic changes took place. Moreover, strong phylogenetic affinities between the flora of eastern North America and eastern Asia clearly demonstrate formerly contiguous connections, but disparity among shared genera (eastern Asia-eastern North America disjunction) implies significant periods of separation since at least the Miocene epoch. Lacustrine sediments deposited within a former sinkhole in the southern Appalachian Mountains provide a rare example of a late Miocene to early Pliocene terrestrial biota from a forested ecosystem. Here we show that the vertebrate remains contained within this deposit represent a unique combination of North American and Eurasian taxa. A new genus and species of the red (lesser) panda (Pristinailurus bristoli), the earliest and most primitive so far known, was recovered. Also among the fauna are a new species of Eurasian badger (Arctomeles dimolodontus) and the largest concentration of fossil tapirs ever recorded. Cladistical analyses of the two new carnivores strongly suggest immigration events that were earlier than and distinct from previous records, and that the close faunal affinities between eastern North America and eastern Asia in the late Tertiary period are consistent with the contemporaneous botanical record.