A New Species of Rhodoleia (Hamamelidaceae) from the Upper Pliocene of West Yunnan, China and Comments on Phytogeography and Insect Herbivory

In Europe, fossil fruits and seeds of Rhodoleia (Hamamelidaceae) have been described from the Upper Cretaceous to the Miocene, whereas no fossil record of Rhodoleia has been reported in Asia, where the modern species occur. Herein, 21 fossil leaves identified as Rhodoleia tengchongensis sp. nov. are described from the Upper Pliocene of Tengchong County, Yunnan Province, Southwest China. The fossils exhibit elliptic lamina with entire margins, simple brochidodromous major secondary veins, mixed percurrent intercostal tertiary veins, and looped exterior tertiaries. The leaf cuticle is characterized by pentagonal or hexagonal cells, stellate multicellular trichomes, and paracytic stomata. The combination of leaf architecture and cuticular characteristics suggests that the fossil leaves should be classified into the genus Rhodoleia. The fossil distributions indicate that the genus Rhodoleia might originate from Central Europe, and that migrated to Asia prior to the Late Pliocene. Additionally, insect damage is investigated, and different types of damage, such as hole feeding, margin feeding, surface feeding, and galling, are observed on the thirteen fossil leaves. Based on the damage frequencies for the fossil and extant leaves, the specific feeding behavior of insects on Rhodoleia trees appears to have been established as early as the Late Pliocene. The high occurrence of Rhodoleia insect herbivory may attract the insect-foraging birds, thereby increasing the probability of pollination.     

A Review on the Taxonomic, Evolutionary and Phytogeographic Studies of the Lotus Plant (Nelumbonaceae: Nelumbo)

Nelumbo Adans. （Nelumbonaceae） is an important member of the early-diverging eudicots. It contains two extant species： N. nucifera Gaertn. （the Sacred lotus）, distributed in Asia and Australia and N. lutea Willd. （the American lotus）, occurring in North America. This paper reviews the taxonomic, evolutionary and phytogeographic studies of the genus Nelumbo, and also raises scientific questions about it in further paleobotanic research. There are about 30 fossil species of Nelumbo established since the Early Cretaceous. Based on fossil studies, the ancestors of the extant N. nucifera and N. lutea are respectively considered to be N. protospeciosa from the Eocene to Miocene of Eurasia, and N. protolutea from the Eocene of North American. However, molecular systematic studies indicate that N. nucifera and N. lutea are probably split from a common ancestor during the Late Miocene to Early Pliocene, or even the Pleistocene, rather than separate relicts from extinct species on different continents. The characters of lotus stomatal development, seedling morphology as well as its flowering, pollination and fertilization in air reveal that it evolves from the land plants. Fossil data of Nelumbo indicates that the genus first occurs in mid-latitude area of Laurasia in the Early Cretaceous, then becomes widespread in North America and Eurasia and expands into Africa and South America during the Late Cretaceous; the genus probably colonizes the Indian Subcontinent from Asia during the Early Eocene after the collision of India and the Asian plates; the genus becomes extinct in Europe, but survives in Asia and North America during the Quaternary Ice Age, and later forms the present East Asia and North Australia-North America disjunctive distribution.     

Evolution of Chinese Neogene Rhinocerotidae and Its Response to Climatic Variations

Chinese Neogene Rhinocerotidae has quite a complete record and its temporal range is the Early Miocene to Late Pliocene. The samples include 25 species in 4 tribes of 2 subfamilies. They are used as a foundation for the study of the evolution of the family and its relation to climatic changes. Taxonomic diversity, new records and extinctions are estimated for each Chinese Neogene mammal faunal unit (NMU). The diversity of Chinese Rhinocerotidae varies noticeably throughout the Neogene and is recognized within five stages: the Middle Miocene and Late Miocene are stages of high diversity and the Early Miocene, early Late Miocene and Pliocene are stages of low diversity. Rhinocerotid diversity and morphology are closely related to environmental factors and particularly sensitive to changes in ambient temperature and humidity. The interpretation of climatic variation reflected in the evolution of Rhinocerotidae corresponds precisely with the conclusions drawn from other workers and provides new evidence fen     

Leaf Cuticle Microstructure of Machilus maomingensis sp. nov. (Lauraceae) from the Eocene of the Maoming Basin, South China

Machilus maomingensis Jin et Tang, sp. nov. from the Eocene Youganwo Formation of the Maoming Basin, South China, is studied in detail from the perspective of the leaf architecture and the excellently preserved cuticle. The leaf margin is entire, the primary venation is pinnate; 6 to 8 secondary veins are present and the major secondary venation is eucamptodromous. Stomata are paracytic and occur on the lower epidermis. Trichome bases are unicellular. Oil cells are present in the upper epidermis. The new fossil species described has features of the Lauraceae, particularly of the extant genus Machilus Rumphius ex Nees, and it is most similar to Machilus chinensis (Bentham) Hemsley, an extant species distributed in southern China and Vietnam. Hence, Machilus maomingensis sp. nov. is inferred to live in a warm and humid climate. The discovery of the present fossil indicates that Machilus has existed in South China from at least the Eocene.     

First Record of Hoplictis(Carnivora,Mustelidae) in East Asia from the Miocene of the Ulungur River Area,Xinjiang,Northwest China

The first unequivocal remains of medium to large-sized mustelids from the middle Miocene Halamagai and Kekemaideng formations have been found in the Ulungur River area, Xinjiang, northwestern China. These new fossils are referred to the hypercarnivorous mustelid Hoplictis Ginsburg, 1961 and denote the first record of the genus in East Asia.We define Hoplictis baihu n. sp., for the mustelid from Tieersihabahe(Halamagai Fm.), which represents the smallest species of the genus. This primitive form is closer to H. florancei and H. noueli than to H. anatolicus and later, larger and more derived Hoplictis spp., from Europe and North America. A large toothless mandible from Duolebulejin(Kekemaiden Fm.) is assigned to Hoplictis cf. helbingi, and it presumably might represent the first record of H. helbingi outside Western Europe. The systematic position of Hoplicitis in relation to Ischyrictis with which it is similar is clarified. The occurrence in East Asia of two species of Hoplictis greatly expands the known distribution and diversity of the genus, and supports a Palaearctic Neogene dispersal event of carnivorans between Europe and Asia during the late Shanwangian–early Tunggurian equivalent to MN5–6 in Europe, and indication of another dispersal event from Europe to North America,through Northwest China during the late Tunggurian, equivalent to MN7–8 in Europe.     

Paliurus (Paliureae,Rhamnaceae) from the Miocene of East China and its Macrofossil-based Phylogenetic and Phytogeographical History

The extant genus Paliurus Miller is divided into P. ramosissimus and P. spina-christi groups and is diagnostically characterized by distinctive orbicular-winged fruits with a trilocular （or often bilocular） ovary and basally triveined leaves with a subentire to serrate margin. Here, structurally preserved winged fruits and associated compressed leaves of Paliurus （Paliureae, Rhamnaceae） are reported from the Middle-Upper Miocene Shengxian Formation of Tiantai, Zhejiang, eastern China. The fruits can be identified as Paliurus microcarpa Xiang-Chuan Lisp. nov., the diagnostic characters of external morphology and anatomy of which differ from those of both extant and fossil generic members; the leaves can be designated as Paliurus sp. The species based on winged fruits, P. microcarpa, might represent an ancient intermediate link exclusively known across the P. ramosissimus and P. spina-christi groups, showing a closer affinity to the P. ramosissimus group based on the resemblant smaller fruits with a narrower wing, and to the P. spina-christi group based on the similar wing structure and texture, respectively. Morphological analyses of the present and previous fossil fruit records around the world indicate that diversification of Paliurus had begun in northern transpacific regions by the Late Eocene. The macrofossil records, i.e., fruits and leaves of Paliurus globally when projected on paleoenvironmental maps in view of changing continental positions through time （from Eocene to Miocene） display that the past distribution of the genus was much wider than the present and belongs to a tropical and warm temperate realm of the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, the modern restricted disjunction in tropical and warm temperate regions of East Asia and South Europe （even eastwards West Asia） might represent glacial refugia for some of the generic ancient lineages to survive severe cold at least since the terminal Pliocene.     

Late Miocene Pods and Leaves of Albizzia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae)from Yunnan, SW China and Their Phytogeographic Implications

Albizzia is a leguminous genus belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae with approximately150 modern species,widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia,Africa,Australia and America.Among them,17 species are mainly distributed in southern and southwestern China.Abundant fossils of the subfamily Mimosoideae,including leaves,pods,flowers and wood,have been reported from the Cretaceous and Paleogene strata of the Northern Hemisphere.However,Neogene records of Mimosoideae are relatively scarce.In this study,fossil pods and leaves belonging to the genus Albizzia from the Bangmai Formation of Yunnan,China were described.They were assigned to three species,including Albizzia scalpelliformis Guo,Li and Xie Emended,Albizzia cf.kalkora(Roxb.) Prain and Albizzia sp.The occurrence of Albizzia fossils from Lincang not only gives important information on the Neogene plant diversity from Yunnan—a worldwide famous biological hotspot—but also provides additional evidence for its phytogeographic history.     

First Record of Petalodus Owen, 1840(Chondrichthyes,Petalodontidae) in the Lower Permian(Cisuralian) of China

The Petalodontiformes are a small intriguing group of Permo–Carboniferous chondrichthyans. Petalodus is the longest known petalodont genus generally considered representative of the order. The first definite fossil record of seven well-preserved Petalodus teeth has been found in the Qianshi limestone in the Lower Permian(Cisuralian) middle–upper Taiyuan Formation in Yangquan City, Shanxi Province, North China. The specimens are characterized by petal-shaped teeth with a spade-like crown, and a long, tongue-shaped root; the crown is circled with a band or cingulum composed of imbricated ridges at the base. All seven teeth are assigned to the species P. ohioenesis because of their vertically narrow cingulum and much longer root. Petalodus is a worldwide genus, with fossil localities mainly concentrated in the Laurussia supercontinent. The occurrence of Petalodus teeth in Yangquan not only is the first fossil record in China, but also only the second record in Asia. The Yangquan fossil site was part of the paleoequatorial North China Craton during the Early Permian, and was isolated from Laurusia and East Gondwana by the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. The successful dispersal of Petalodus from Laurusia to the North China Block along Paleo-Tethys may support the possibility that Petalodus taxa were active free-swimmers rather than bottom dwellers. The new finding increases the petalodont diversity in eastern Asia, and also sheds new light on the distribution and stratigraphic range.     

Retraction：A New Species of Mongolarachnidae from the Yixian Formation of Western Liaoning, China

正Objective Mongolarachnidae are large netted spiders,livingin tropical and subtropical regions. The earliest fossil record is Nephila jurassica,which was discovered from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation in Daohugou,Ningcheng City,Inner Mongolia of China.The type specimen of N.jurassicais female was the largest fossil     

Quercus yangyiensis sp.nov.from the Late Pliocene of Baoshan,Yunnan and Its Paleoclimatic Significance

A new Quercus （Fagaceae） morphospecies is described based on well-preserved fossil leaves.The fossils were collected from Yangyi Formation of the Upper Pliocene at the Yangyi coalmine,Baoshan,western Yunnan,China.Details of the microstructure of mesophyll tissue are preserved because lithification of the fossils was not complete.The fossil laminas possess typical characteristics of Quercus sect.Heterobalanus：quite thick and coriaceous cuticle; secondary veins bifurcating near the margin in the middle and top of the leaf; and upper epidermis with adaxial hypodermis.Based on a detailed morphological and anatomical comparison with all living and fossil species of Quercus sect.Heterobalanus,the fossil leaves prove to be different in their sparse and garland-shaped multicellular trichomes on the lower epidermis,and so it is described as a new species Quercus yangyiensis He,Li et Sun sp.nov.The much sparser trichomes of our fossils compare well with those of living Quercus sect.Heterobalanus and indicate a more humid climate during the deposition of the Yangyi Formation in the Late Pliocene.     

云南腾冲新近系樟科润楠属两种化石及其古环境意义

角质层微细构造特征是化石植物鉴定的重要依据,实验研究了云南腾冲新近系樟科润楠属薄叶润楠Machilus leptophylla和长梗润楠(近似种)Machilus cf. longipedicellata两个化石种的表皮微细构造特征,并与现存对应种类进行了表皮构造和叶结构特征的对比分析,补充证实了两化石种均属于自然分类属性。丰富了我国樟科润楠属化石记录。鉴于大气CO2浓度与植物叶片气孔指数呈负相关关系,Machilus叶片可以作为大气CO2浓度的生物指示器。研究表明,利用该类化石叶片气孔参数可推测地史时期古大气CO2浓度,揭示了新近纪滇西地区为温暖湿润性气候。     

柏科扁柏属(Chamaecyparis，Cupressaceae)的生物地理演化历史

现生扁柏属(Chamaecyparis)植物仅有5个种零星分布在北美东西部、日本和我国台湾地区,其现代分布区形成的原因一直是植物学家关注的问题。以往的研究利用现代分子生物学方法或化石记录对该属的分布区演化进行过一些探讨,但尚有争议。本文结合扁柏属最新的化石证据以及现代分子生物学的研究结果,对其生物地理演化历史进行了详细的分析。化石证据显示,地史时期该属种类较现在丰富,自早白垩世以来广泛地分布在北半球的中高纬度地区。根据化石记录推测扁柏属植物很可能在早白垩世起源于东亚地区,晚白垩世时已通过白令陆桥传播至北美西部并进一步传播至北美高纬度地区,北美东部目前尚缺少化石记录,该区域的扁柏植物可能是从欧洲或者北美高纬度地区迁徙而来。欧洲扁柏可能在渐新世由北美通过北大西洋陆桥传播而来,或从东亚地区传播而来。新近纪气候持续变冷以及受第四纪冰期的影响,使扁柏属在欧洲、亚洲中西部以及北美中部局部灭绝,东亚大陆的种不断向南迁移至日本岛和台湾岛,最后在亚洲大陆消失,最终形成了该属在北美东西部、日本和台湾局限分布的地理格局。     

云南腾冲上新统Carpinus miofangiana的发现及古气候意义

在云南省腾冲县上新统芒棒组发现了保存较好的被子植物化石密脉鹅耳枥Carpinus m io-fangianaHu et Chaney。该种化石曾在我国山东山旺组有过报道,当前化石在叶形及叶脉特征上都和山旺的标本非常相似。进一步分析了化石叶片的角质层微细构造特征,并结合叶结构分析提高了对化石植物分类鉴定的准确性。基于化石Carpinusm iofangiana与现生植物Carpinus fangiana在生态环境及其结构特征上的相似性,将Carpinus fangiana作为化石的现生对应种进行对比,并统计二者的气孔密度和气孔指数,用气孔比率的方法推测上新世的大气CO2浓度为464×10-6,基本上与Berner全球碳平衡模型GEOCARB III中CO2浓度变化曲线上的数值一致,说明C.m iofangiana叶片可以作为古大气CO2浓度变化的生物指标。最后通过化石和现生叶片角质层的对比分析推断滇西地区上新世时气候比现在温暖湿润。     

浙江天台中新统润楠属化石及其古环境指示

对浙江天台中新统下南山组6块叶片压型化石——天台润楠Machilus tiantaiensis Ding S. T. et Sun B. N. sp. nov.,并对其叶结构和表皮构造特征进行了详细的研究.其主要特征为:叶椭圆形,全缘,顶端渐尖,基部楔形,侧脉羽状;表皮细胞垂周壁浅波状,单细胞毛基多集中于脉络区;气孔下生式,气孔器短平列型,副卫细胞1~2个.通过与现生植物进行对比分析,发现当前标本的叶结构和表皮构造特征与樟科润楠属(Machilus)十分一致.利用PAST(palaeontological statistics)软件对我国润楠属68种植物叶片的形态特征进行聚类分析,结果表明当前化石与M. pingii Cheng ex Yang最为接近;角质层分析也表明二者的表皮构造最为相似.利用化石与其现存最近亲缘种M. pingii的气孔比率,恢复了天台晚中新世的古大气CO₂体积分数为407.9×10-6.此外,依据现生润楠属主要分布于亚洲东南部和南部的热带、亚热带地区,推断天台地区中新世的古气候较为温暖湿润.      

A review of fossil rhinoceroses from the Neogene of Myanmar with description of new specimens from the Irrawaddy Sediments

Four genera and one indeterminate genus (total eight species) of fossil rhinoceroses (Mammalia; Perissodactyla; Rhinocerotidae) are recognized from the Neogene of central Myanmar. In the early Miocene, most area of central Myanmar were under the shallow marine condition, and no rhinocerotid remain has been documented yet. During the middle to late Miocene, the rhinocerotid remains are commonly found and are represented by “Diceratherium” naricum, Brachypotherium perimense, Brachypotherium fatehjangense and an indeterminate rhinocerotid. In the latest Miocene, these archaic rhinoceroses became extinct. In the late Neogene, the extant genera, Rhinoceros (late Miocene to Pleistocene) and Dicerorhinus (Plio-Pleistocene) first appeared in Myanmar. They appear to have dispersed to the Island Southeast Asia from the continental Asia during the early Pleistocene to middle Pleistocene when the eustatic sea level became low remarkably.     

Latitude matters: an examination of behavioural plasticity in dietary traits amongst extant and Pleistocene Rangifer tarandus

The geographical distribution of species affects their dietary traits relative to resources available in different latitudes. Dietary traits of Rangifer tarandus, a species with a wide geographical distribution, were investigated using tooth mesowear and microwear methods in eight extant populations from Canada. The data show a latitudinal shift corresponding to a vegetational gradient from the taiga to the tundra, i.e. an increase of lichen consumption from the low to the high latitudes. This pattern is also evidenced in the Pleistocene fossil record of Europe where R. tarandus populations from low latitude localities show a lower consumption of lichen than at higher latitudes.     

Zoophycos in deep‐sea sediments indicates high and seasonal primary productivity: Ichnology as a proxy in palaeoceanography during glacial–interglacial variations

Trace fossils provide valuable palaeoenvironmental information in hemipelagic settings. This is particularly true in the case of Zoophycos, an easily recognizable trace fossil in core. At IODP site U1385, Zoophycos was found throughout an interval representing 1.5 Ma, covering 45 glacial–interglacial cycles mediated by obliquity (41 ka) and short‐term eccentricity (100 ka). Zoophycos is most common in sediments deposited during glacial times and when the sedimentation rate was intermediate and primary production was high and seasonal. Occurrences of Zoophycos elsewhere support a similar relationship with seasonal organic‐matter deposition. This is particularly significant considering that seasonality of organic‐matter deposition is difficult to decipher from the sediment record. Zoophycos appears to represent a useful proxy to characterize high and seasonal organic‐matter deposition and primary productivity in Neogene hemipelagic deposits.