中华神州鸟的发现及其科学意义

本文简要回顾了国际鸟类起源研究的历史，论述了中华神州鸟的发现在鸟类起源和早期演化研究中的科学意义，有力支持了鸟类的“兽脚类恐龙起源假说”和“陆地奔跑飞行起源假说”。     

中国发现世界上最原始的鸟类化石：华美金凤鸟（新属、新种）

始祖鸟的发现被认为是19世纪最重要的科学发现之一,迄今为止共发现了7枚保存骨骼、羽毛印痕的化石标本和1枚单根羽毛化石标本。由于始祖鸟既显示了明显的爬行动物的特征又保存了精美的羽毛,140多年来人们一直将其作为介于恐龙与鸟类之间的“中间环节”(“missing link”),但更倾向认为它是世界上最古老的鸟,或鸟类的始祖。由于始祖鸟化石稀少,加之地理分布十分局限,长期以来国际上一直围绕鸟类起源问题展开了激烈的争论,提出了各种各样的假说。直到20世纪90年代,在中国辽西晚中生代地层中发现了大量长羽毛的恐龙和原始鸟类化石,有力地支持了鸟类起源于小型兽脚类恐龙的学术观点,使赫 140多年前提出的“假说”成为当今国际科学界占主流地位的学说和理论,基本解决了长期困扰国际科学界的鸟类起源问题,遗憾的是,在过去的几年中,中国一直没有发现与德国始祖鸟十分接近或与德国始祖鸟处于同样进化水平的原始鸟类化石,这种缺憾使我们难以对鸟类定义问题进行深入的研究和探讨,2002年,笔者等在中国辽西早白垩世断层中发现了2种初鸟类化石,即中华神州鸟和东方吉祥鸟。通过比较解剖学研究和支序分析,这2种初鸟类要比始祖鸟略微进步一些,在研究鸟类的早期演化方面具有重要意义;但仍然难以对鸟类定义问题作进一步研究。本文首次报道了一件采自中国河北省丰宁县龙凤山桥头组的初鸟类化石——华美金凤鸟（新属、新种）(Jinfengopteryx elegans gen.et sp.nov),与其共生的化石有Lycoptera davidi,Peipiaosteus pani,yanosteus longidorsalis（鱼类）;Jibeinia luanhera,Protopteryx fengningensis(鸟类）;Ephemeropsis trisetalis(昆虫）及少量植物。支序分析表明,华美金凤鸟处于初鸟类谱系树的基部,比始祖鸟略微原始,与后者为姊妹群关系。奔龙等兽脚类恐龙是它们的外类群。金凤鸟、始祖鸟是中华神州鸟等原始鸟类的外类群。这说明华美金凤鸟处在恐龙向鸟类演化过程中一个非常关键的位置,是世界上迄今所发现的最原始的初鸟类。华美金凤鸟的发现在研究鸟类起源、恐龙-鸟类的系统关系等方面具有重要的科学意义。     

中国首次发现真正会飞的“恐龙”——中华神州鸟(新属新种)

记述了辽宁义县早白垩世九佛堂组的一件初鸟类(Avialae)化石,其嘴里无牙,前肢明显长于后肢,尾巴由20多节尾椎组成,叉骨呈U字形,飞行羽毛超过了身体的长度。各种特征表明,新发现的初鸟类真正具有了飞行能力,代表了恐龙向鸟类演化过程中的又一中间环节。正式将其命名为中华神州鸟(Shenzhouraptorsinensisgen.etsp.nov.)。     

Jinfengopteryx Compared to Archaeopteryx, with Comments on the Mosaic Evolution of Long-tailed Avialan Birds

Jinfengopteryx is a newly uncovered Archaeopteryx-like avialan bird outside Germany, which was found from the Jehol Biota of northern Hebei in northeastern China. It shares many characters only with Archaeopteryx by the possession of three fenestrae in the antorbital cavity, 23 caudal vertebrae and long tail feathers attached to all the caudal vertebrae. But the former differs from the latter in the relatively short and high preorbital region of skull, more and closely packed teeth, much shorter forelimb compared to hindlimb. Such differences indicate Jinfengopteryx is even slightly more primitive than Archaeopteryx, although both birds can be placed at the root position of the avialan tree based on cladistic analysis. Shenzhouraptor is suggested to be slightly more advanced than Jinfengopteryx ＋ Archaeopteryx, supported by some derived features in teeth, shoulder girdles and forelimbs such as the reduction of tooth number, dorsolaterally directed glenoid facet, very long forelimb and comparatively short manus. Meanwhile, the tail of Shenzhouraptor shows more primitive characters than those of Jinfengopteryx and Archaeopteryx, e.g., the strikingly longer tail composed of more caudal vertebrae and the long tail feathers attached only to distal caudal segments. The mixed primitive and advanced characters reveal the evident mosaic evolution among long-tailed avialan birds.     

A New Genus and Species of Sapeornithidae from Lower Cretaceous in Western Liaoning, China

Sapeornithidae is a basal pygostylian family of Early Cretaceous primitive birds, in which only one genus and species, Sapeornis chaoyangensis, was reported before. This paper deals with a new genus and species of this family, Didactylornis jii gen. et sp. nov., which was unearthed from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation in western Liaoning. According to our phylogenetic analyses, both Didactylornis gen. nov. and Sapeornis form a sister group, which is basal to the clade formed by Confuciusornis and all the more derived birds, and more closely related to the short-tailed pygostylian birds than to the long-tailed avialian birds. The early history of pygostylian birds is poorly documented except for the studies of Confuciusornis and Sapeornis. The discovery ofDidactylornisjii gen. et sp. nov. adds the new material for the study on the early evolution of birds.     

论鸟类飞行的起源

笔者简要介绍了有关鸟类飞行起源的两种假说,即“飞行的树栖起源”假说和“飞行的奔跑起源”假说,并根据近几年中国辽西发现的化石材料,对两种假说的立论依据和机理进行了分析和评述,初步认为两种可能性均存在,但因奔跑而飞地的机制更为普遍合理,“上树”是一种可能的条件,但既非必要条件也非充分条件。     

The First Mesozoic Heterodactyl Bird from China

1 Introduction Enantiornithines were the dominant birds nearly worldwide throughout the entire span of the Cretaceous (Chiappe, 1995; Feduccia, 1996). The adaptive radiation of opposite birds is little known besides the disparity of rostral morphology in Boluochia (Zhou, 1995), Longipteryx (Zhang et al., 2001), Longirostravis ( Hou et al., 2004), and the presence of stomach contents that reflect a diversity of diets. Like the structure of rostrum, differentiation of the locomotor apparatu…     

山东诸城盆地下白垩统莱阳群的非鸟恐龙与鸟足迹化石组合（英文）

中国山东省诸城盆地张祝河湾村下白垩统杨家庄组发现了非鸟恐龙（蜥脚类和鸟脚类）与古鸟类足迹。该足迹点的非鸟恐龙足迹深受水浸沉积物的影响,发生了强烈变形。蜥脚类足迹的前后足迹面积相近,造迹者行进缓慢。鸟脚类足迹属于禽龙-鸭嘴龙类型的足迹。古鸟类足迹并不类似于中国以往发现的中生代鸟类足迹,而类似于韩国滨水鸟类足迹的金东鸟足迹（Jin-dongornipes）。讨论了莱阳足迹（Laiyangpus）和拟跷脚龙足迹（Paragrallator,亦译为拟似鹬龙足迹）,前者因模式标本遗失而不明确,后者可归入安琪龙足迹未定种（Anchisauripus isp）。这批足迹的发现大大增加了山东省东部恐龙的多样性。     

山东诸城盆地下白垩统莱阳群的非鸟恐龙与鸟足迹化石组合

中国山东省诸城盆地张祝河湾村下白垩统杨家庄组发现了非鸟恐龙(蜥脚类和鸟脚类)与古鸟类足迹。该足迹点的非鸟恐龙足迹深受水浸沉积物的影响,发生了强烈变形。蜥脚类足迹的前后足迹面积相近,造迹者行进缓慢。鸟脚类足迹属于禽龙-鸭嘴龙类型的足迹。古鸟类足迹并不类似于中国以往发现的中生代鸟类足迹,而类似于韩国滨水鸟类足迹的金东鸟足迹(Jindongornipes)。讨论了莱阳足迹(Laiyangpus)和拟跷脚龙足迹(Paragrallator,亦译为拟似鹬龙足迹),前者因模式标本遗失而不明确,后者可归入安琪龙足迹未定种(Anchisauripus isp)。这批足迹的发现大大增加了山东省东部恐龙的多样性。     

辽宁北票四合屯地区早白垩世早期鸟类集群死亡原因探析

通过大规模系统挖掘,在对四合屯7个含鸟层进行澄清的基础上,以四合屯剖面为主,黄半吉沟剖面为辅,分别在含鸟层的底板、含鸟层、含鸟层顶板,不含鸟沉积层及含鸟层底部的火山岩系统取样,进行多项相关元素分析。应用元素地球化学理论,根据其环境地球化学场特征,结合相关地质资料,重点对鸟类集群死亡原因进行了探讨。结果表明包括二氧化硫(SO2)、硫化氢(H2S)、铅(Pb)的卤化物盐(PbBr2、PbBrCl、Pb(OH)Br、(PbO)2PbBr2)及汞(Hg)蒸汽等有毒气体是导致鸟类集群死亡的主要原因;含鸟化石密集的原因是由于火山口在四合屯附近。     

Fossil birds from the Late Cretaceous Los Alamitos Formation,Río Negro Province,Argentina

In this note we report new avian remains from the Late Cretaceous Los Alamitos Formation (Campanian-Maastrichtian) at the Los Alamitos locality, Río Negro Province, Argentina. Isolated remains referable to indeterminate Aves, ?Patagopterygiformes, indeterminate Ornithurae, cf. Hesperornithes and cf. Neornithes are described and discussed. The new genus and species Alamitornis minutus is erected to include a minute-sized and gracile bird, probably related to the non-volant ratite-like bird Patagopteryx. If correctly identified, the record of Hesperornithes may be the first for this group in the Southern Hemisphere. The Los Alamitos paleoavifauna represents one of the most diverse fossil bird assemblage from the Mesozoic of Gondwana known to date.     

Evolutionary biogeography on Ophiocordyceps sinensis:An indicator of molecular phylogeny to geochronological and ecological exchanges

The fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis is endemic to the vast region of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau(QTP).The unique and complex geographical environmental conditions have led to the "sky island" distribution structure of O.sinensis.Due to limited and unbalanced sample collections,the previous data on O.sinensis regarding its genetic diversity and spatial structure have been deemed insufficient.In this study,we analyzed the diversity and phylogeographic structures of O.sinensis using internally transcribed spacer region(ITS) and 5-locus datasets by a large-scale sampling.A total of 111 haplotypes of ITS sequences were identified from 948 samples data of the fungus O.sinensis,with representing high genetic diversity,and 8 phylogenetic clades were recognized in O.sinensis.Both the southeastern Tibet and the northwestern Yunnan were the centers of genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of the fungus,and they were inferred as the glacial refugia in the Quaternary.Three distribution patterns were identified to correspond to the 8 clades,including but not limited to the coexistence of widely and specific local distributive structures.It also revealed that the differentiation pattern of O.sinensis did not fit for the isolation-by-distance model.The differentiation into the 8 clades occurred between 1.56 Myr and6.62 Myr.The ancestor of O.sinensis most likely originated in the late Miocene(6.62 Myr) in the northwestern Yunnan,and the Scene A-C of the Qinghai-Tibetan movements may have played an important role in the differentiation of O.sinensis during the late Miocene-Pliocene periods.Our current results provide a much clearer and detailed understanding of the genetic diversity and geographical spatial distribution of the endemic alpine fungus O.sinensis.It also revealed that the geochronology resulting from paleogeology could be cross-examined with biomolecular clock at a finer scale.     

辽西早白垩世一反鸟类新属种的发现

新反鸟化石（Gracilornis jiufotangensis gen. et sp. nov.）产于辽宁省朝阳地区早白垩世九佛堂组。根据该反鸟的骨骼细弱、肢骨关节发达、胸骨与躯干相比较小（胸骨宽与躯干长比率约为0.11;胸骨长与躯干长比率约为0.13）等不同于其他已知反鸟的特征,建立一新属种,归于华夏鸟科（Cathayornithidae）。     

A Possible Long-tailed Bird with a Pygostyle from the Late Mesozoic Yixian Formation, Western Liaoning, China

AbstractAn incomplete caudal vertebral series (IVPP Vl1309) from the Yixian Formation of late MesozoicJianshangou area of Beipiao, western Liaoning Province, may represent a new bird. The tail is composed of at least 12 free caudal vertebrae and the most distal 5 caudal vertebrae co-ossified into a pygostyle. The pygostyle is plate-like and slightly curved dorsally. The anterior free caudals are amphiplatyan. The anterior caudal surfaces of the last three free caudals are concave, but their posterior articular surfaces are convex. The pygostyle is regarded as the first appeared flight apparatus during the evolutionary process from Archaeopteryx to neornithes. The pygostyle appeared in most early fossil birds and almost all the modem birds. Although their morphologies are different, they are basically formed by at least four last caudal vertebrae. The specimen V11309 is regarded as a bird rather than a non-avian theropod dinosaur based on the following characters: short caudal vertebrae, numerous pits present on the surfaces of the centra and, a foramen present between the basal part of the fused neural spines, which is similar to that of Struthio camelus. The discoveries of pygostyles from the therizinosauroids and oviraptorosaurs may provide strong evidence for supporting the origin of birds from small theropod dinosaurs. The structure of the pygostyle in specimen Vl1309 is different from those of Beipiaosaurus (Therizinosauroid) and Nomingia (oviraptorosaur). The most parsimonious interpretation is that these pygostyle-like structures are independently acquired by Beipiaosaurus and Nomingia during their evolutionary process.     

西藏羌塘北部上二叠统热觉茶卡组 类动物群的特征

西藏羌塘北部热觉茶卡组的 类动物群共3属11种（不含未定种）,包括：Palaeofusulina sinensis Sheng, P. fusiformis Sheng,P. nana Likharev, P. laxa Sheng, P. wangi Sheng, P. minima Sheng et Chang, P. simplex Sheng et Chang, Parananlingella acervula (Sheng et Rui), Reichelina changhsingensis Sheng et Chang, R. pulchra K. M.-Maclay, R. gaqoiensis Wang, Sheng et Zhang。根据 类沿剖面的分布,建立了Palaeofusulina 带,由下至上划分为2个亚带：Palaeofusulina minima亚带和Palaeofusulina sinensis亚带。该 类化石带属种丰度高,所含的 类动物群属华夏特提斯型分子,为晚二叠世的代表分子和典型分子,与中国华南长兴阶 类化石带可进行对比。     

A New Titanosauriform Sauropod from the Early Late Cretaceous of Dongyang, Zhejiang Province

A new titanosauriform sauropod Dongyangosaurus sinensis gen. et sp. nov. from the early Late Cretaceous of Dongyang County, Zhejiang Province, is erected based on a partial postcranial skeleton. It is characterized by complex laminae on the lateral surface of the neural spines and postzygapophyses of dorsal vertebrae, a distinct fossa on the ventral surfaces of the prezygapophyses of dorsal vertebrae, distinct fossae are also present on the lateral surface of the postzygapophysis of anterior caudal vertebrae; pubis is shorter than ischium, the small obturator foramen of pubis elongated, and nearly closed. The lamina complexity of dorsal vertebrae in Dongyangosaurus indicates that a higher diversity of titanosauriformes occurred during the early Late Cretaceous in China.     

Avian and mammalian bone taphonomy in southern continental Patagonia: A comparative approach

In southern Patagonia, the occurrence of large seabird nesting colonies condition the features of the regional bone record, which is characterized by a large amount of bird remains, despite their small body size. Bird and mammal bones have remarkably different taphonomic histories in this region: mammal remains are less damaged by carnivores and resist weathering for long periods, whereas bird bones show a greater initial destruction by carnivore activities and faster deterioration by weathering. A comparison of these results with results from research conducted in several African parks (particularly Amboseli) shows that differences in both records are mainly due to differences in community composition and predator–prey dynamics in both ecosystems. Furthermore, while in both ecosystems bird bones weather more rapidly than mammal bones, destruction by this process is more rapid in Patagonia. Overall, the analysis reinforces the need to generate specific models to understand taphonomic histories of archaeofaunal assemblages from Patagonia.     

New Eoenantiornithid Bird from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Western Liaoning, China

1 Introduction Enantiornithes were the most blooming branch among the early birds and had distinct diversities. They flourished in the Early Cretaceous (Kurochkim, 1985; Chiappe, 1991; Sanz and Bonaparte, 1992; Boles, 1995; Elzanowski, 1995), and become extinct at the end of the Late Cretaceous. Lots of the birds have been reported in western Liaoning, China (Sereno and Rao, 1992; Zhou, 1995; Hou, 1996, 1997; Sanz and Chiappe, 1996; Sanz et al., 1997; Hou and Chen, 1999; Hou et al., 1…     

Effect of aluminum and chromium on the germination and growth of two Vigna species

The study deals with the effect of metal toxicity (aluminum, chromium and combination of both the metals) on seed germination, root length, shoot length, seedling length and dry biomass of Vigna radiata and V. sinensis. Chromium adversely affected the seedling by significantly reducing the growth whereas aluminum did not show such effect in both the species. Percentage of germination was good in both the species at different concentration of treatment (aluminum, chromium and combined treatment). Shoot length was also not much affected in V. sinensis as it was greatly inhibited in V. radiata. Both the species showed the purpling of stem. Dry biomass of V. radiata showed positive effect than V. sinensis. However, dry biomass decreased to a lesser extent when treated with aluminum, chromium and combined treatment as compared to control.     

云南东部早寒武世关山动物群中的Tuzoia sinensis Pan

文中详细描述了云南东部地区早寒武世关山动物群中的典型分子Tuzoia sinensis Pan,对其形态特征做出了补充,通过与相关种的比较与讨论,对其鉴定方法做出了进一步探讨,并基于对壳体表面网格密度的研究推测了T.sinensis的俯视形态图。研究发现：T.sinensis的侧脊上分布有一系列锥状突起,这些突起的表面具有与壳体表面相同的网状纹饰,这提示Tuzoia侧脊上的基部宽大的三角形刺（frills）即由这种锥状突起侧压保存而形成;研究还发现：T.sinensis的三角形刺较其它种更为发达,其壳体在保存过程中易产生形变,但多而发达的三角形刺受后期改造影响较小,因而建议可以将其作为T.sinensis的典型鉴定特征之一而区别于其它种。