北半球白垩纪-古近纪之交生物灭绝期孢粉地层学

长期以来,科学家们对白垩纪-古近纪(K-Pg)之交陆地上生物大灭绝事件的趋势与灭绝速率争论不断。这些争论主要集中在脊椎动物上,尤其是非鸟恐龙。尽管如此,在理解K-Pg之交的生物响应以及相关的生态系统扰动时,植被的演化也是一个重要的组成部分。本文综述北半球内白垩纪晚期至古近纪Aquilapollenites古孢粉地理大区的孢粉地层学:在美国,晚白垩世生物组合以一系列关键门类的出现为标志,其中三冬期—坎潘期过渡期以Aquilapollenites以及相关的三突起型属的出现为标志,而马斯特里赫特阶的底界以睛形型的Wodehouseia属与Kurtzipitessp.的出现为标志;Wodehouseia spinata生物组合带以较大的个体与复杂的壁构造为特征,其中一系列的被子植物孢粉单元在K-Pg之交的记录中消失了,这使得K-Pg灭绝事件容易识别;具孔类花粉和Momipites与Caryapollenites两个属的关键种的出现,标志着古近纪孢粉植物群的复苏。近期的资料涵盖了北美大陆的大部分记录,而中国、欧洲和南半球的更多研究将更有助于理解全球陆地生物圈对K-Pg之交撞击事件的响应。     

Slavin Yar: a new Upper Cenozoic reference section in the Tunka rift valley (Southwestern Baikal region)

The biostratigraphic study of a new Upper Cenozoic reference section in the Tunka rift valley (southwestern Baikal region) accompanied by radiocarbon measurements made it possible to date its lithological units. It is established that the section is largely composed of Upper Pleistocene fluvial sediments resting with distinct angular unconformity uapon Pliocene conglomerates. The revealed structural features of the section confirm the views that the directed development of the Tunka depressions was complicated by local inversions, when the sedimentation area became reduced. The main sedimentation features during the Late Cenozoic and its stages are reconstructed for the studied area.     

Stratigraphic reconstruction of the Strzelecki Group outcrops in west Gippsland: new data on the present-day thickness and amount of erosion

The Lower Cretaceous Strzelecki Group forms the basement to the eastern part of the Gippsland Basin, but is exposed in the west and forms spectacular outcrops, especially along the coastal area between San Remo and Inverloch. The coastal area is highly faulted and lacks stratigraphic markers so matching sections in different fault blocks based only on lithology has not been possible. A combination of mapping, detailed logging, vitrinite reflectance measurements and palynology were used to determine the present-day thickness of the coastal sections and the amount of erosion that occurred during the Late Cretaceous. A total thickness of about 1500 m is inferred between Harmers Haven and Inverloch but because of the amount of faulting and probable repeated sections, the true thickness of Strzelecki Group exposed in the coastal outcrops is only about 300 m. Based on palynology and vitrinite reflectance results, the reconstructed Strzelecki Group stratigraphy has been subdivided into three distinct ‘bio-blocks’, with an eroded section estimated to range from 1.5 km (0.3–2.6 km at ±95% confidence limits) to 2.7 km (2.2–3.1 km at ±95% confidence limits).     

北美西部陆相白垩系-古近系界线孢粉学特征简介——兼评中国东部白垩系-古近系界线研究

已经报道的北美西部陆相白垩系-古近系界线剖面已达近百处,这些剖面分布在阿拉斯加南部向南经加拿大直到美国南部的新墨西哥州北部的广大北美西部内陆地区,其中很多属迄今所知全球很好的陆相白垩系-古近系界线剖面。这些剖面常有标志性的界线黏土,并伴有其他地球化学、生物地层学特征。因为这些剖面所在地当时都在湿润或半干旱地区内,有利于生物化石,特别是孢粉化石的保存,易于开展孢粉学研究。经过近四十年不懈努力,孢粉学已经成为北美精确确定陆相白垩系-古近系界线最重要的、也是迄今为止所知最为有效的古生物学工具。孢粉植物群在界线上下特征差别显著,容易区分。界线之下含有大量主要繁盛于白垩纪的被子植物花粉,而在临近界线时则突然消失或仅零星出现,界线附近则以一层孢子异常丰富层为古近系底部特征。进入古近纪之后,虽然被子植物花粉有所恢复,但是繁盛于白垩纪的成分却很少出现。北美和新西兰、日本白垩系-古近系界线附近在沉积岩和孢粉学方面的相似性表明这一事件可能是全球性事件。简要回顾和讨论了我国与孢粉学相关的几个热点地区陆相白垩系-古近系界线的研究概况,我国东北及江苏北部和北美西部大部分地区白垩系-古近系界线附近的孢粉植物群及其沉积环境比较类似,在苏北到东北地区范围内首次发现陆相白垩系-古近系界线地层的可能性比其他地区大。     

Palaeoecological investigations towards the reconstruction of the post-glacial environment at Lough Doo,County Mayo,Ireland

Results of palaeoecological studies involving pollen analytical, chemical and palaeomagnetic investigations on a 3 m core from Lough Doo, NE County Mayo, are presented. The record, which commences shortly after 7000 BP, shows a sharp Alnus expansion coinciding with a decline in Pius at 6400 BP, an elm decline taking place in the context of severe soil erosion and the final decline of Pinus occurring as the chemical record indicates onset of severe reducing conditions in the catchment. Pine becomes extinct at or shortly before 3200 BP in the context of increased farming activity and the expansion of blanket bog in the adjacent upland areas. A later feature (c. 1880 BP) is the expansion of Taxus to 7.1% of total pollen. On the basis of the palynological evidence, it is concluded that there were no major Neolithic Landnam phases, which contrasts sharply with the evidence for widespread woodland clearance and the laying out of extensive and regular field systems in the northern coastal part of County Mayo. In the upper part of the core a severe inversion of ¹⁴C dates is recorded. On the basis of the palaeomagnetic and pollen evidence this began at c. 1500 BP and is considered to have been initiated in the context of woodland clearance and a renewal in farming activity.     

Oscillations of levels and cool phases of the Laurentian Great Lakes caused by inflows from glacial Lakes Agassiz and Barlow-Ojibway

Two distinct episodes of increased water flux imposed on the Great Lakes system by discharge from upstream proglacial lakes during the period from about 11.5 to 8 ka resulted in expanded outflows, raised lake levels and associated climate changes. The interpretation of these major hydrological and climatic effects, previously unrecognized, is mainly based on the evidence of former shorelines, radiocarbon-dated shallow-water sediment sequences, paleohydraulic estimates of discharge, and pollen diagrams of vegetation change within the basins of the present Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Nipissing. The concept of inflow from glacial Lake Agassiz adjacent to the retreating Laurentide Ice Sheet about 11–10 and 9.5–8.5 ka is generally supported, with inflow possibly augmented during the second period by backflooding of discharge from glacial Lake Barlow-Ojibway.Although greater dating control is needed, six distinct phases can be recognized which characterize the hydrological history of the Upper Great Lakes from about 12 to 5 ka; 1) an early ice-dammed Kirkfield phase until 11.0 ka which drained directly to Ontario basin; 2) an ice-dammed Main Algonquin phase (11.0–10.5 ka) of relatively colder surface temperature with an associated climate reversal caused by greater water flux from glacial Lake Agassiz; 3) a short Post Algonquin phase (about 10.5–10.1 ka) encompassing ice retreat and drawdown of Lake Algonquin; 4) an Ottawa-Marquette low phase (about 10.1–9.6 ka) characterized by drainage via the then isostatically depressed Mattawa-Ottawa Valley and by reduction in Agassiz inflow by the Marquette glacial advance in Superior basin; 5) a Mattawa phase of high and variable levels (about 9.6–8.3 ka) which induced a second climatic cooling in the Upper Great Lakes area. Lakes of the Mattawa phase were supported by large inflows from both Lakes Agassiz and Barlow-Ojibway and were controlled by hydraulic resistance at a common outlet — the Rankin Constriction in Ottawa Valley — with an estimated base-flow discharge in the order of 200000 m³s^–1. 6) Lakes of the Nipissing phase (about 8.3–4.7 ka) existed below the base elevation of the previous Lake Mattawa, were nourished by local precipitation and runoff only, and drained by the classic North Bay outlet to Ottawa Valley.Geological Survey of Canada Contribution 42488.This is the twelfth of a series of papers to be published by this journal that was presented in the paleolimnology sessions organized by R. B. Davis and H. Löffler for the XIIth Congress of the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA), which took place in Ottawa, Canada in August 1987. Dr. Davis is serving as guest editor of this series.     

西藏仲巴白垩纪—古近纪孢粉组合及其意义

西藏的白垩—古近纪孢粉资料迄今鲜有发掘,因此我们对西藏当时的古植物区系、古植被和陆地生态系统等的了解也就甚为了了。本文对位处当时劳亚大陆南部边缘的仲巴县错江顶白垩系—古近系进行了孢粉分析。研究揭示,剖面的孢粉组合可划分为两个孢粉组合带,自下而上分别为ClassopollisExesipollenitesCycadopites组合和PinuspollenitesQuercoiditesTrilobapollis组合,其时代分别为晚白垩世晚期Santonian—Maastrichtian和古近纪古新世—始新世。剖面的白垩系/古近系界线可能位于曲贝亚组和曲下组之间。针叶树花粉大量繁盛,特别是一些类型如Abiespollenites、Cedripites、Piceapollis和Tsugaepollenites仅见于曲下组顶部至加拉孜组底部的孢粉组合,反映了一次与构造运动密切相关的古环境变化事件,可能指示了印度—劳亚板块碰撞的开始。研究区孢粉植物区系与中国南方植物区系有很好的可比性,而与印度北缘同期植物区系区别明显,暗示着印度与劳亚大陆之间的海域直至始新世仍然具有明显的隔离作用,阻碍着两侧大陆上植物区系间的交流。     

Neotropical vegetation response to rapid climate changes during the last glacial period: Palynological evidence from the Cariaco Basin

We present new palynological information from the anoxic Cariaco Basin, off Venezuela, that provides insight into the response of northernmost South American vegetation to rapid climate changes between 68 and 28 ka, specifically during North Atlantic Heinrich events (HEs) and Dansgaard/Oeschger cycles. We defined three different vegetation modes: (1) an interstadial mode characterized by the highest pollen concentration and the maximum extension of semi-deciduous and evergreen forests; (2) a stadial mode characterized by increases of salt marshes, herbs, and montane forests; and (3) a Heinrich event mode characterized by the lowest pollen concentrations, abrupt increases of salt marshes, and decreased forest abundance. Similarly, indices of C4/C3 plants show increases during stadials with clear peaks during the onset of HEs, though grasslands did not become dominant during these periods. We alternatively propose that these expansions of C4 plants are associated with the expansion of coastal salt marshes. Our vegetation record suggests the prevalence of humid conditions during interstadials, dry and cold conditions during stadials, and dry and cold conditions together with changes in sea level during HEs. This new palynological evidence supports previous interpretations that main environmental changes in northernmost South America were driven by latitudinal displacements of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and sea-level changes.     

Holocene pollen assemblages from coastal wetlands: differentiating natural and anthropogenic causes of change in the Thames estuary,UK

Simultaneous changes in the representation of wetland and dry land taxa are a common feature of mid and late Holocene pollen diagrams from the coastal wetlands of North‐West Europe. Distinguishing both the areas affected and between natural and anthropogenic causes can be problematic. High temporal resolution, improved taxonomic procedures and multivariate statistics have been applied to two Thames estuary sites, along with simulation models, to resolve these issues. Large Poaceae pollen grains appear to be derived from wild grasses rather than cereals, while modelling indicates that even extensive clearance in dry land areas produces relatively minor changes in pollen assemblages where fen carr is the in situ vegetation. It is concluded that rapid/abrupt simultaneous pollen stratigraphic events in coastal wetlands are likely to have been caused by wetland vegetation changes alone. Simultaneous events, dating from c. 2150–1300 cal a BC, can be distinguished at 12 Thames estuary pollen sites. During this interval inter‐tidal environments expanded creating areas attractive to human populations for pasturage. This exploitation is likely to have led to further changes in wetland vegetation and increased clearance activity on adjacent dry land areas. In such circumstances disentangling the processes causing vegetation change is challenging, although considerably aided by the techniques adopted in this paper. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Late Quaternary vegetation,climate and fire dynamics inferred from the El Tiro record in the southeastern Ecuadorian Andes

In order to study the stability and dynamics of mountain rainforest and paramo ecosystems, including the biodiversity of these ecosystems, the Holocene and late Pleistocene climate and fire variability, and human impact in the southeastern Ecuadorian Andes, we present a high‐resolution pollen record from El Tiro Pass (2810 m elevation), Podocarpus National Park. Palaeoenvironmental changes, investigated by pollen, spores and charcoal analysis, inferred from a 127 cm long core spanning the last ca. 21 000 cal. yr BP, indicate that grass‐paramo was the main vegetation type at the El Tiro Pass during the late Pleistocene period. The grass‐paramo was rich in Poaceae, Plantago rigida and Plantago australis, reflecting cold and moist climatic conditions. During the early Holocene, from 11 200 to 8900 cal. yr BP, subparamo and upper mountain rainforest vegetation expanded slightly, indicating a slow warming of climatic conditions during this period. From 8900 to 3300 cal. yr BP an upper mountain rainforest developed at the study site, indicated by an increase in Hedyosmun, Podocarpaceae, Myrsine and Ilex. This suggests a warmer climate than the present day at this elevation. The modern subparamo vegetation became established since 3300 cal. yr BP at El Tiro Pass. Fires, probably anthropogenic origin, were very rare during the late Pleistocene but became frequent after 8000 cal. yr BP. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.