显生宙碳循环异常环境的地球生物学过程研究

该研究以显生宙碳循环异常环境的地球生物学过程为研究主体,重点研究二叠纪-三叠纪之交和晚泥盆世两大重大地质突变期的地球生物学过程特点和规律,查明碳循环异常的起因及其对生态系统的影响,探索生物与环境的相互作用。二叠纪—三叠纪之交是古生代海洋生态系破坏和中生代型海洋生态系开始重建的转折点,古海洋缺氧对该转折影响深远。通过对华南多条剖面高精度碳同位素、碳-硫形态、碳酸盐晶格硫(CAS)、DOP和Δδ13C等分析测试,该年度研究在认识该时期古海洋缺氧的时限、程度、演化和成因机制等方面取得明显进展。大灭绝前的二叠纪浅水碳酸盐岩台地以氧化环境为主。由于火山活动释放大量的CO2、SO2等气体,导致气温上升、陆地生态系统开始瓦解、陆源输入增加、海洋贫氧层(OMZ)扩张,大灭绝后海洋环境向缺氧环境转变。早三叠世早期δ34SCAS明显比晚二叠世偏重,波动剧烈,且与δ13Ccarb明显正相关(3次同步正漂),意味着严重的海洋缺氧、硫化事件,海水硫酸盐浓度很低(<3 m M)。早三叠世早期δ13Ccarb频繁和幅度较大的波动,指示了动荡不稳定的海洋碳循环;之后δ13Ccarb和δ34SCAS变化率同步减小,两者呈现负相关关系,可能是由于海水温度下降、海水循环增强,海洋碳循环趋于稳定。中三叠世δ34SCAS下降,变化率进一步降低,碳-硫同位素的正相关关系逐渐消失,反映该时期海洋硫酸盐浓度进一步升高,以正常的氧化状态为主。大灭绝后动荡的海洋碳-硫循环及缺氧环境导致了生物复苏迟缓。晚泥盆世弗拉斯-法门(F-F)生物大灭绝事件是显生宙又一重大地质转折时期,集中体现在生物礁生态系中,菌藻类取代后生动物(珊瑚-层孔虫)造礁。对华南地区多个剖面细致的观察和统计分析表明,菌藻类可侵入"活着"的后生动物并抑制后生动物的发育。后生动物骨骼虽然具有自我修复功能,并对菌藻类有反抑制作用,但在环境恶化时,这种平衡会被打破,导致后生动物个体无法生长而死亡,直至后生动物生物礁被菌藻类生物礁取代。中-晚泥盆世植物登陆,陆生植物粗大根系的发育,导致陆地生物-化学风化急剧增加,近岸海域海水营养水平激增,可能是晚泥盆世菌藻类"大举入侵"珊瑚-层孔虫礁生态系最终取而代之的直接推手。

古海水温度重建指标新进展

古海水温度不仅是古海洋研究中的重要参数,而且对研究地质历史时期的全球气候变化具有重要的意义。长期以来,重建古海水温度一直是研究重大地质突变期生物与环境事件的前沿科学问题,因此其重建理论和方法也备受关注。目前,古海水温度重建方法主要包括古生物学指标和地球化学指标两大类。古生物学指标从最初仅能够定性分析的标志种及其组合等方法,发展到能够定量分析的转换函数统计法;地球化学指标从传统的氧同位素过渡到微量元素、生物标志化合物、耦合同位素Δ47等指标。对目前古海水温度重建方法进行了系统介绍,特别是从方法的原理、适用范围及优缺点等方面对近年来新发展的指标(如:Uk′37、TEX86、Δ47等)进行了评述,并对将来古海水温度重建方法的发展作了展望。

Lower Triassic and Induan-Olenekian Boundary in Chaohu,Anhui Province,South China

Since the West Pingdingshan Section in Chaohu was proposed as the candidate of the Global Stratotype Section and Point of the Induan-Olenekian boundary in 2003, the Lower Triassic of Chaohu has been extensively studied. Based on the studies on the Lower Triassic of Chaohu, （1） a continuous conodont zonation is established, which has become an important reference for Lower Triassic stratigraphic correlation over the world; （2） the First Appearance Datum of conodont Neospathodus waageni was suggested and has been basically accepted as the primary marker to define the InduanOienekian boundary; （3） a characteristic Lower Triassic excursion of carbon isotopes was brought to light and has been proven to be not only an excellent index for the stratigraphic correlation but also a unique indication for the perturbation of ecological environments in the aftermath of the end-Permian mass extinction; （4） a magnetostratigraphic sequence is constituted with a certain biostratigraphic control in the low-latitude region and it presents an important correlation to the Boreal sequence; （5） a cyclostratigraphic study provides an alternative method to constrain the age of the chronostratigraphic units; and （6） a scheme of the Olenekian subdivision is recently suggested to define the boundary between the Smithian and Spathian Substages. In addition, Chaohu is also the type locality of the Chaohuan Stage, the upper stage of the Lower Triassic in the China Chronostratigraphic System.Thus, the Lower Triassic of Chaohu is not only a classic sequence in South China, but also a key reference sequence to the investigation of the corresponding stratigraphy and geological events over the world. The recent achievements are viewed here for an overall understanding of the sequence. Then the current situation of the Induan-Olenekian and Smithian-Spathian boundaries is discussed to provide a reference for later works.

Sequence Stratigraphy of the Permian--Triassia Boundary Section of Changxing, Zhejiang, Southern China

Three third-order sequences and about one hundred high-frequency cycles or Milankovitchcycles within the Late Permian Changxingian to Early Triassic Griesbachian are identified in theMeishan Section of Changxing, Zhejiang Province, southern China, the candidate stratotype sec-tion of the global Permo-Triassic boundary, based on a detailed study of the biological,ecological and high-resolution allochthonous cyclic events, microfacies and depositional systems.Furthermore, the stacking pattern of the depositional systems across various Changxingian andGriesbachian sedimentary facies of the Lower Yangtze and the sequence stratigraphic frameworkare outlined with the Meishan section as the principal section. In this paper the habitat types offossil biota are applied to semiquantitative palaeobathymetry and the study of relative sea levelchanges.

A Review on the Global Stratotype Section and Point of the Permian-Triassic Boundary

This paper provides a synthetic review of researches on Meishan Section D, the Global Stratotype Section and Point of the Permian-Triassic Boundary （PTB）. The history of research, geographic and geological setting of the section are briefly introduced. Changhsingian to ＂Griesbachian＂ conodont and ammonoid zonations, the most perfect Permo-Triassic zonations over the world, are presented, with a short discussion on the age of Otoceras, The Changhsingian to ＂Griesbachian＂ strata are subdivided into three 3rd order sequences, and the sedimentary structure of each sequence is indicated. The paper presents a correlation of the Changhsingian to ＂Griesbachian＂ magneetostratigraphy of the Meishan section with the general scale, and informed the negation of a short magnetic reversal at the PTB suggested by Zhu and Liu （1999）. Recent developments of chemostratigraphy of δ^13C and δ^34S are introduced, especially the discovery of more than one negative δ^13C excursions across the PTB. Two important molecular researches reveal the profound changes at the base of eco-system, the microbial catastrophy, and the euxinic conditions in the photic zone during the Permian-Triassic superanoxic event. The paper reports the changes in dating the age of PTB since 2001. According to recent achievements, the age of volcanogenic claybed 25, 14 cm below the PTB, is now set at 252.4±0.3 Ma. A discussion on the eventostratigraphy concludes that, although there is a major event episode at beds 25-26, the events across the PTB at Meishan are multi-episodic and commenced prior to the Event Beds 25-26, thus the possibility that the mass extinction was mainly induced by an exterrestrial impact is largely excluded.

Suggestion of Meishan Section as GlobalStratotype Section and Point （GSSP） of Permian－Triassic Boundary

The Meishan Section of Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, China and the base of its Bed 27c,in which Hindeodus parvus first occurs, are recommended as the GSSP of Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB).The present paper introduces a description of the section. Biostratigraphic correlation with other famous sections shows the completeness of this section and justifies choice of H. Parvus as the index fossil. Chemostratigraphic investigation provides the δ￣13C excursion and the moderate but inconsistent Ir spike as auxiliary symbols for the PTB. This boundary is closely related to transgression,anoxia,volcanism,mass extinction and possible impact events which can be correlated with those in South China and other parts of the world .

Transgressive Surface as Sequence Boundary

Analysis of the four cases of the sequence boundary (SB)-transgressive surface (TS) relation in nature shows that applying transgressive surfaces as sequence boundaries has the following merits: it improves the methodology of stratigraphic subdivision; the position of transgressive surface in a sea level curve is relatively fixed; the transgressive surface is a transforming surface of the stratal structure; in platforms or ramps, the transgressive surface is the only choice for determining the sequence boundary; the transgressive surface is a readily recognized physical surface reflected by seismic records in seismostratigraphy. The paper reaches a conclusion that to delineate a SB in terms of the TS is theoretically and practically better than to delineate it between highstand and lowstand sediments as has been done traditionally.

如何评价古、中生代之交大灭绝事件对当代生物多样性的影响?

研究表明,古、中生代之交的大灭绝不仅是显生宙生物演化史上最为严重的大灭绝事件,而且也导致了地球生物群和生态系统的最重大变革,正是从此之后才正式开启了当代生物群多样性发展和现代型生态系统构建的新篇章.事实果真如此吗?如何判别和评价?这应该是我们认识当代“宜居地球”生物圈、保护当代生物多样性和维护当代生态系统稳固的根基.

神农架成冰纪宋洛生物群的赋存层位厘定

新元古代成冰纪末期“雪球地球”中的宏体化石是认识早期生命演化与极端环境变化的关键.神农架的宋洛生物群是华南成冰纪地层中唯一有详细报道的宏体藻类化石记录.然而,对这套宏体藻类化石赋存层位的认识存在归属南沱组还是大塘坡组两种不同的观点,因此其地层序列和宏体化石赋存层位亟需进一步厘定.笔者通过大量野外地质工作,对神农架宋洛地区宋洛生物群的赋存层位及空间分布开展调查研究.宋洛剖面沿公路出露时发育3个正断层,造成部分地层(如第9~11层)多次重复出现,易引起混淆,产生不同的认识.厘定后的宋洛剖面具有24层,其中第1~19层归属南沱组,而第20~24层为陡山沱组.基于南沱组中发育多个黑色页岩层、黑色页岩夹层上下岩性特征相似、不同黑色页岩夹层内化石面貌不同、神农架地区大塘坡组只分布在神农架西侧、以及黑色页岩具有极低的锰含量等5个原因,认为宋洛生物群的赋存层位为南沱组,而非大塘坡组.

湖北宜昌樟村坪地区陡山沱组地层划分与对比

华南峡东地区(黄陵隆起南缘)的陡山沱组是国际上埃迪卡拉纪地层和生物与环境事件的研究热点之一,但近在咫尺的黄陵北缘陡山沱组地层研究相对较少,已有的研究不足以反映黄陵北缘陡山沱组地层的特征,甚至与黄陵南缘地区未能建立起明确的对比关系.选取了黄陵北缘樟村坪及其周边地区的4个完整的陡山沱组剖面进行研究,以完整连续的钻孔剖面为依据,配合露头剖面的宏观沉积现象,对埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组进行详细的划分和对比.将樟村坪地区陡山沱组岩石地层划分出4个岩性段,并在层序地层学上划分出两个半三级层序,层序界面分别位于陡山沱组底界、陡山沱组第二段第二亚段顶界和陡山沱组第三段与第四段分界处.通过与黄陵隆起南缘陡山沱组各段岩性比较分析,建立了南、北缘地层对比联系,从而为黄陵北缘磷矿区的地层学研究奠定了基础.

早三叠世海洋异常的碳-氮-硫同位素记录

早三叠世作为显生宙最大生物灭绝之后的一段特殊地质历史时期,不仅见证了海洋生物的迟缓复苏,而且记录了极其动荡的海洋环境变化,该时期异常的生物环境事件及其机制已经成为当前国际地质学者关注的重大科学问题之一.近些年来,研究学者在早三叠世的碳-氮-硫异常循环研究中取得了许多重要的进展,这对深入理解该时期的环境演变及其对生物复苏的影响十分重要.重点回顾近年来关于早三叠世古海洋碳-氮-硫循环方面的研究进展,对当前存在的科学问题及发展趋势进行分析和总结.

黔西滇东地区二叠纪-三叠纪之交有机碳同位素和生物地层对比

二叠纪-三叠纪之交海、陆相地层对比研究对陆相二叠系-三叠系界线的定义以及全面认识该全球性重大生物与环境突变事件具有重要意义,是当前国际古生物学与地层学研究的重点和难点.选择贵州六盘水仲河二叠系-三叠系界线剖面为研究对象,系统研究了该剖面的化石面貌和有机碳同位素演变特征.结合黔西滇东地区二叠纪-三叠纪之交良好的陆相、海陆过渡相和浅海碎屑岩相地层记录,初步搭建了海、陆相生物地层与有机碳同位素地层对比框架.值得关注的是,综合已有研究的陆相和海陆过渡相剖面植物有机碳同位素和海相剖面无机碳同位素数据,发现均存在相同的碳同位素演变特征,且与生物地层对比方案一致.据此,认为高分辨率的有机碳同位素化学地层是实现海-陆相地层对比的有效手段之一.

Ecological evolution across the Permian/Triassic boundary at the Kangjiaping Section in Cili County, Hunan Province, China

The stratigraphic sequence of calcimicrobialite facies at the Permian-Triassic (P/Tr) boundary has well recorded the biotic and environmental transition across the end-Permian catastrophic events. The biostratigraphy, microfacies, carbon isotopes, and fossil records across the P/Tr boundary have been studied at the Kangjiaping Section in Cili County, Hunan Province. Three biostratigraphic zones, Palaeofusulina-Colaniella Zone, Hindeodus parvus Zone, and Isarcicella staeschei Zone, are identified. The excursion of δ13Ccarb exhibits a sharp negative shift in the calcimicrobialite at the P/Tr boundary, which is roughly accordant with the abrupt bioclastic decline. In addition, five types of microfacies are recognized, including algal-foraminifer bioclastic limestone, algal-laminated calcimicrobial limestone, oolitic grainstone, vermiculate limestone, and intraclastic wackstone. The results indicate that the changeover of ecosystem from metazoan reef to calcimicrobialite in Cili is a classic case of marine ecological evolution during the Paleozoic-Mesozoic transition.

Cyclostratigraphy of the Induan (Early Triassic) in West Pingdingshan Section,Chaohu,Anhui Province

The Induan sequence in the West Pingdingshan Section, Chaohu, Anhui Province, displays a series of superimposed mudstone/limestone cycles. The lithological character of the cycles, combined with power spectral and wavelet analysis of magnetic susceptibility readings, reveals 12 short eccentricity and 56 precession Milankovitch cycles - obliquity cycles are not apparent. The uniformity of cycle thicknesses indicates a stable depositional setting making this section ideal to perform various geo-logical studies. Accordingly, the Induan Stage is estimated to have lasted 1.1 Ma, and the depositional rate for this part of the section is about 3.7 cm/ka. This places the Induan-Olenekian boundary in the West Pingdingshan Section at about 251.5 Ma based on an age of 252.6 Ma for the Permian-Triassic boundary.

The large increase of δ^(13)C_(carb)-depth gradient and the end-Permian mass extinction

Carbonate carbon isotope δ(13Ccarb) has received considerable attention in the Permian-Triassic transition for its rapid negative shift coinciding with the great end-Permian mass extinction event.The mechanism has long been debated for such a δ13Ccarb negative excursion through the end-Permian crisis and subsequent large perturbations in the entire Early Triassic.A δ13Ccarb depth gradient is observed at the Permian-Triassic boundary sections of different water-depths,i.e.,the Yangou,Meishan,and Shangsi sections,and such a large δ13Ccarb-depth gradient near the end-Permian mass extinction horizon is believed to result from a stratified Paleotethys Ocean with widespread anoxic/euxinic deep water.The evolution of δ13Ccarb-depth gradient combined with paleontological and geochemical data suggests that abundant cyanobacteria and vigorous biological pump in the immediate aftermath of the end-Permian extinction would be the main cause of the large δ13Ccarb-depth gradient,and the enhanced continental weathering with the mass extinction on land provides a mass amount of nutriment for the flourishing cyanobacteria.Photic zone anoxia/euxinia from the onset of chemocline upward excursion might be the direct cause for the mass extinction whereas the instability of chemocline in the stratified Early Triassic ocean would be the reason for the delayed and involuted biotic recovery.

Lower Triassic Smithian-Spathian Boundary at West Pingdingshan Section in Chaohu,Anhui Province

The West Pingdingshan Section in Chaohu, Anhui Province, has been extensively studied in recent years and become one of the classic Lower Triassic sequences well-clarified in multiple stratigraphies. Also it is an important section that defines the Smithian-Spathian (S-S) boundary within the Olenekian Stage. The S-S boundary strata at the section are restudied in high-resolution conodont biostratigraphy and carbon isotopes. The refined S-S boundary defined by the FAD of conodont Neospathodus pingdingshanensis is at 30 cm above the base of Bed 52, corresponding to a rapid diversification of conodonts. A sharp positive shift of δ13Ccarb curve co-occurs at the S-S boundary and it can be used as a key reference to define the boundary. The defined S-S boundary position and carbon isotopes curve can be well correlated globally.

Two episodic changes of trace fossils through the Permian-Triassic transition in the Meishan cores,Zhejiang Province

Six ichnogenera,Chondrites,Palaeophycus,Planolites,Rhizocorallium,Skolithos,and Thalassinoides,were identified from the drilling cores near the Global Stratotype Section and Point(GSSP) of Permian-Triassic boundary at Meishan,Zhejiang Province.The ichnological indices,including abundance,bioturbation index,and disturbed depth of trace fossils,show two episodes of intense changes near the Permian-Triassic Boundary(PTB).Episode I occurred in Beds 25-27b when the ecologically complicate forms such as Chondrites,Skolithos,Rhizocorallium,and Thalassinoides disappeared hereafter,the bioturbation index reduced from 1-5 to 1-3,and the disturbed depth declined from 5-66 to 2-5 cm.Episode II took place at the base of Bed 33 with the disappearance of Palaeophycus and Planolites,and subsequent absence of trace fossils and bioturbation till the middle-upper part of Bed 41 when the disturbed structures reoccurred,but they are only tiny Planolites and the bioturbation index was never higher than 3 and the disturbed depth less than 4 mm.Episode I shows an intense change,corresponding to the main stage of the end-Permian mass extinction,whereas Episode II is relatively weak,corresponding to the epilogue of the mass extinction of trace makers in the Early Triassic.Subsequently,ichnofossils were dominated by surface tracks in simple ecological habit and structures.This phenomenon indicates that the Early Triassic benthonic fauna is changed from sessile benthic system to mobile benthic system after the end-Permian mass extinction.In other words,the evolution of the trace fossils across the Permian-Triassic transition had an episodic process similar to the body fossils.In addition,the change of ichnofabrics is well coincided with the negative excursion of carbon isotopes and the expansion of cyanobacteria.As the results of physical and biogenic processes,trace fossils provided unique materials for the study of the biotic and environmental events,as well as their coupling evolution through the great Permian-Triassic transition.

The microfacies and sedimentary responses to the mass extinction during the Permian-Triassic transition at Yangou Section, Jiangxi Province, South China

A Permian-Triassic(P-Tr) boundary section of continuous carbonate facies, which well recorded the biotic and environmental processes through the great P-Tr transition in the shallow non-microbialite carbonate facies, has been studied in Yangou, Leping County, Jiangxi Province. The P-Tr sequence is well correlated with the Meishan section according to the conodont biostratigraphy and the excursion of carbon isotopes. A series of high-resolution thin-sections from the P-Tr boundary carbonate rocks at the Yangou section are studied to explore the interrelation between environmental change and biological evolution during the transitional time. Six microfacies have been identified based upon the observation of the thin-sections under a microscope on the grains and matrix and their interrelation. Combined with the data of fossils and carbon isotopes, Microfacies 4(MF-4), coated-grain-bearing foraminifer oolitic sparitic limestone, and Microfacies 6(MF-6), dark shelly micritic limestone, should be the different responses to the two episodes of mass extinction and environmental events that can be correlated throughout South China and even over the world. The oolitic limestone of MF-4 is the first finding from the latest Permian strata in South China and it might be a proxy of an unusual environmental condition of high pCO2, low sulfate concentration and of microbial blooming in the aftermath of the latest Permian mass extinction. The micritic limestone of MF-6 containing rich micro-gastropods and ostracods probably represents the blooming event of disaster taxa in the earliest Triassic environment. The microfacies analysis at the Yangou section can well reveal the episodic process of the biological evolution and environmental change in the shallow non-microbialite carbonate facies throughout the great P-Tr transition, thus the Yangou section becomes an important complement to the Meishan section.

全球古-中生代之交牙形石研究进展

古-中生代之交发生了许多重要的地质事件,包括“Pangea”大陆的解体、大火成岩省的喷发、晚古生代大冰期的消逝、极端高温事件、两次生物大灭绝以及迟缓的生物复苏等.牙形石作为该时期主要的标准化石,是进行地层对比以及生物与环境协同演化研究的重要依据.近些年,此阶段的牙形石相关研究取得了许多重要的进展,这些新的材料和技术手段上的突破,为人们进行高精度的地层对比、定量重建该时期地球的生物及环境演变起到了关键作用.本文系统地对该时期全球牙形石的研究,包括牙形石的生物学、地层学以及地球化学研究等进行了总结,也提出了部分亟待解决的问题.未来,随着更多技术手段的开发以及更多基础材料的发现,将加强研究人员对该时期牙形石演化的理解,必然也会在研究这段地质历史转折与突变期的古海洋、古环境、古生物过程中发挥更大的作用.