试论化石证明生物进化的模糊性

化石是古生物存在的见证,是证明生物进化最直接、最重要材料。但又存在着许多模糊之处。本文根据古生物学和现代生物进化论的研究成就,就化石证明生物进化中存在的模糊问题进行了理论性阐述。     

辽西北票一些中侏罗世植物

本文报道了辽宁西部北皋长皋蛇不歹附近的植物化石5属14种,其中对5个新种(北票锥叶蕨、常氏锥叶蕨、假微尖堆叶蕨、简单异羽叶、稀脉篦羽叶)进行了描述,据产出的植物化石特征及同相关地层中的植物化石对比,认为该区植物化石所产出地层时代为中侏罗世。     

Early Cambrian protoconodonts and conodont-like fossils from China: Taxonomic revisions and stratigraphic implications

Tooth likephosphaticprotoconodontsand“con odont likefossils”arecharacteristiccomponentsoftheEarlyCambriansmallshellyfossils (SSF )withaworldwidedistribution .Theyarerepresentedexclu sivelybyisolatedscleritesandareoften presentinaceticacid etchedresiduesfromLowerCambriancar bonates .SincethefirstreportofProtohertzinaMis sarzhevsky 1973fromthebasalCambrianoftheYangtzePlatformin 1977[1] ,andalongwithenthusi asticresearchactivitiesonthesmallshellyfossilsandcandidatesectionsforaglobalPrecamb…     

A second look at the colors of the dinosaurs

In earlier work, I predicted that we would probably not be able to determine the colors of the dinosaurs. I lost this epistemic bet against science in dramatic fashion when scientists discovered that it is possible to draw inferences about dinosaur coloration based on the microstructure of fossil feathers (Vinther et al., 2008). This paper is an exercise in philosophical error analysis. I examine this episode with two questions in mind. First, does this case lend any support to epistemic optimism about historical science? Second, under what conditions is it rational to make predictions about what questions scientists will or will not be able answer? In reply to the first question, I argue that the recent work on the colors of the dinosaurs matters less to the debate about the epistemology of historical science than it might seem. In reply to the second question, I argue that it is difficult to specify a policy that would rule out the failed bet without also being too conservative.     

宁夏同心古生物化石综述及相关的几个问题

同心地区己发现的古生物化石可分为哺乳纲和爬行纲两大类７目４１种，其中哺乳纲长鼻目、偶蹄目、食肉目中某些物种具有代表意义，这一地区中新世动物可总称为“同心动物群”．“同心动物群”贯穿于整个中新世，中中新世是其最繁盛的时期．