Genesis and tectonic setting of Early Jurassic granitic rocks in Huashan Town,Xingcheng,western Liaoning

There are a large number of Mesozoic intrusive and volcanic rocks in western Liaoning of China,which is an ideal place to study the Mesozoic Paleo-Pacific subduction processes,and lithospheric destruc-tion of North China Craton.Detailed petrographic,zircon U-Pb dating and geochemical studies of the Early Jurassic granites in Huashan pluton,Xingcheng,western Liaoning,indicate that the Early Jurassic granites were formed at 184-174 Ma,mainly composed of syenite and monzogranite.The geochemical characteristics show high contents of SiO_(2),Al_(2)O_(3)and Na_(2)O+K_(2)O,low contents of Fe_(2)O_(3)and MgO,enrichment in LREEs and LILEs,and depletion in HREEs and HFSEs,and have a high content of Sr and low contents of Y and Yb,with weak negative Eu anomalies and slightly negative anomalies of Ce,indicating that they are a set of intermediate-acidic adakitic granites in high-K calc-alkaline series.All the facts significantly suggest that the Early Jurassic adakitic granites were formed at the active continental margin in the context of Paleo-Pacific plate subduction.

Survey and Countermeasures on Current Status of Farmer Training and Education Informatization in Western Liaoning Province

This study summarized the main achievements of farmers’training and rural informatization construction in the past few years,and explored the needs of rural informatization in western Liaoning Province.The current status of agricultural development in western Liaoning and farmers’needs for education and training and rural education informatization were surveyed.The construction of an education and technical support service platform for scientific and technological farmers in western Liaoning was proposed,aiming to use information technology to train modern professional farmers.Through independent and self-learning education and training methods,it is expected to promote great improvement in the scientific and technological quality and moral level of farmers in western Liaoning and cultivate professional farmers who are educated and understand both agricultural techniques and business management.

Analysis on the Satisfaction Degree of Agricultural Water Demand in Semiarid Area of Western Liaoning

[Objective] The satisfaction degree of agricultural water demand was analyzed to provide climate basis for the agricultural structure adjustment and good harvest.[Method] By using integral humidity index and climatic tendency rate,the satisfaction degree of water demand of crops and its trend variation were studied.[Result] The precipitation in the growing season of crops showed decrease trend in western Liaoning,and the climatic tendency rate was-8.660--18.560 mm/10 a,with the precipitation decrease of 43-93 mm in recent 50 years.The satisfaction degree of agricultural water demand was up to 72%-88% in average,and over 80% satisfaction degree accounted for 30%-60%,while water shortage probability reached 68%-90%.The satisfaction degree of Chaoyang,Lingyuan and Beipiao was the lowest,while that of Jianchang and Jiangping was relative higher.The satisfaction degree of gross agriculture water demand went down with the time,and climate tendency rate was up to-2.490%--3.863%/10 a,with the decrease of 12%-19% in recent 50 years.[Conclusion] With the reduction of precipitation,the satisfaction degree of water demand of crops went down,and the climate in western Liaoning became more and more dry.

A New Troodontid (Theropoda: Troodontidae) from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Western Liaoning, China

A specimen collected from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western Liaoning, China, represents a new genus and species of troodontid theropod. The new taxon is named and described on the basis of the holotype and the only known specimen, which comprises an articulated skeleton with the presacral vertebral, shoulder girdle and forelimbs missing as preserved. Diagnostic features of the new species include nasals that are sinusoid in lateral view, absence of a passage connecting the antorbital and maxillary fenestrae, relatively large teeth, plate-like chevrons forming a band along most of the length of the tail, and a long neck between the femoral head and shaft. The temporal constraints of the three paravian groups (Troodontidae, Dromaeosauridae and Aves) combined with the character distributions among the earliest known troodontids indicate a rapid evolution at the base of the Troodontidae.

A New Darwinopterid Pterosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Western Liaoning,Northeastern China and its Ecological Implications

A new species of Darwinopterus,D.robustodens sp.nov.is described and named.Based on the new specimen,the diagnostic characters of Darwinopterus are amended and include：rostral dentition composed of well-spaced,spike-like teeth;the longest teeth are confined to the anterior half of the tooth row;tooth alveoli have raised margins;nasoantorbital fenestra confluent;inclined quadrate;elongate cervical vertebrae with low neural spine and reduced or absent ribs;long tail of more than 20 caudals partially enclosed by filiform extensions of the pre-and postzygapophyses;short metacarpus less than 60 per cent length of humerus,fifth toe with two elongate phalanges and curved second pedal phalanx of the fifth toe with the angle between the proximal and distal segments about 130 degrees.The complete specimen of the new pterosaur D.robustodens sp.nov.provides much more osteological information.The differences in tooth morphologies between Darwinopterus modularis and D.robustodens sp.nov.suggest that they filled different ecological niches.The hard integument-bearing Coleoptera may have been the main food source of Darwinopterus robustodens.

Precious Fossil-Bearing Beds of the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation in Western Liaoning Province, China

Based on the subdivision into three members of the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation in western Liaoning, this paper deals mainly with the division and correlation of precious fossil birdand reptile-bearing beds of the formation in the Dachengzi, Chaoyang, Dapingfang.Meileyingzi and Fuxin-Yixian basins. Among them, the precious fossil-bearing beds in the Dachengzi Basin may be recognized as the Xidagou Bed of the second member and the Yangcaogoudonggou Bed of the third member; those in the Chaoyang Basin may be confirmed as the Shangheshou Bed of the second member and the Dongpochi Bed of the third member; those in the Dapingfang-Meileyingzi Basin are as the Lamagou Bed of the second member, the Huanghuagou Bed of the lower third member and the Yuanjiawa Bed of the upper third member; and those in the Fuxin-Yixian Basin are listed as the Tuanshanzi Bed of the second member and the Pijiagou Bed of the third member. Since these basins are distinctly separated and the bird and reptile fossils are mostly new genera and species, we have to use the associated fossil ostracod assemblages as index to correlate the Xidagou Bed with the Shangheshou Bed and the Lamagou Bed, and to correlate the Yuanjiawa Bed with the Yangcaogoudonggou Bed and the Pijiagou Bed. Primarily, we established the sequence of the precious fossil-bearing beds of the Jiufotang Formation in western Liaoning. They are represented by, in ascending order, the Xidagou Bed of the second member, the Huanghuagou Bed of the lower third member, and the Yuanjiawa Bed of the upper third member. Obviously, this work has significance for the study on the time-space distribution and radiation of birds and dinosaurs during the period of the middle Early Cretaceous.

Dongbeititan dongi,the First Sauropod Dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Group of Western Liaoning Province,China

We herein describe a partial postcranial skeleton of a sauropod dinosaur recovered from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Group in the Beipiao area of western Liaoning Province, northeastern China. A suite of features it possesses, including the camellate internal structure of its presacral elements, the existence of pneumatocoels on the proximal ends of the dorsal ribs, and especially the medially deflected proximal portion of the femur, definitively establish the titanosauriform affinities of the specimen. It differs from other titanosauriforms in having a craniocaudally elongate coracoid with a squared cranioventral extreme and a long, smooth, and slightly convex acetabular edge of the pubis. It represents a new taxon, Dongbeititan dongi gen. et sp. nov. Comparative studies suggest that Dongbeititan is a basal titanosauriform, more derived than Euhelopus, Fusuisaurus, and Huanghetitan, but less derived than Gobititan and Jiutaisaurus. Dongbeititan represents the first sauropod dinosaur reported from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Group of western Liaoning Province.

An Early Cretaceous Avialian Bird, Shenzhouraptor sinensis from Western Liaoning, China

This paper describes an avialian bird from the Early Cretaceous JiufotangFormation in Yixian county, western Liaoning China, which is named as Shenzhouraptor sinensis by Jiet al. on July 15, 2002. Shenzhouraptor sinensis is characterized by no teeth in its mouth, theforelimbs longer than the hindlimbs, a long tail with more than 23 caudal vertebrae, U-shapedwishbone, and remiges longer than the total length of ulna and manus. It is certain that the newavialian bird is really capable of powerful flight, representing a missing link between theropoddinosaurs and birds.

An Adult Specimen of Hongshanosaurus houi (Dinosauria:Psittacosauridae) from the Lower Cretaceous of Western Liaoning Province, China

A new specimen consisting of a complete skull and lower jaw was discovered from the Lujiatun bed of the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation in the Lujiatun site, Beipiao, western Liaoning Province. It represents an adult specimen of Hongshanosaurus houi. Comparative studies show that Hongshanosaurus is distinguishable from its sister taxon Psittacosaurus by having the preorbital portion about half of the basal skull length, and the elliptical external naris, orbit, and a lower temporal fenestra oriented caudodorsally.

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

Enantionithine birds are the most blooming branch of early birds and have distinct diversities. A large number of enantionithine birds have been reported from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation in western Liaoning, China. Recently, we discovered a new eoenantiornithid bird from the Jiufotang Formation in Dapingfang Town, western Liaoning. A new eoenantiornithid bird, Dapingfangornis sentisorhinus gen. et sp. nov., is erected based on this complete skeleton with a skull. The new bird is distinguished from other known Mesozoic birds in a medium to small size, a distinct thorn-like process on the nasals, a sternum with a long and a short lateral processes. The thorn-like process on the nasal has not been discovered among known fossil birds, thus the discovery also provides new materials on the diversities of early birds.

Largest Toothed Pterosaur Skull from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Western Liaoning, China, with Comments on the Family Boreopteridae

A new pterosaur Moganopterus zhuiana gen. et sp. nov. is erected based on a complete skull with lower jaws and anterior cervical vertebrae. It is characterized by much elongated upper and lower jaws with at least 62 total, long, curved teeth with sharp tips, a well developed parietal crest extending posterodorsally, forming an angle of 15 degrees with the ventral margin of the skull, the ratio of length to width of cervical vertebrae greater than 5：1. The skull length is 750 mm, and it is the largest toothed pterosaur found so far in the world. Based on this new pterosaur, the Boreopteridae can be divided into two subgroups： Boreopterinae sub-fam, nov. and Moganopterinae sub-fam, nov., which is also confirmed by the phylogenetic analysis.

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

An incomplete caudal vertebral series (IVPP V11309) from the Yixian Formation of late Mesozoic, Jianshangou 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 modern 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 V11309 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.

A New Pterodactyloid Pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous of the Western Part of Liaoning Province, Northeastern China

Pangupterus liui gen. et sp. nov. from the Jiufotang Formation of Sihedang, Lingyuan City, Liaoning Province is erected based on a nearly complete lower jaw. It is characterized by having a total of 36 slender curved teeth with sharp tips, forming a distinct fish-grabbing mechanism; the teeth are well-spaced and are circular in section; the length ratio of the mandibular symphysis to the whole jaw is 20%; and the ratio of the tooth root width to tooth length is 12%. Toothed pterosaurs make up about 56.3% of the pterosaur assemblage from the Jiufotang Formation, which indicates that toothed forms played a key role in the ecosystem.

A New Genus of Fossil Cycads Yixianophyllum gen. nov. from the Late Jurassic Yixian Formation, Western Liaoning, China

A new genus of fossil Cycads, Yixianophyllum gen. nov., is reported here. The specimens were collected from the southern hill of Jinjiagou village, Toudaohezi Town, Yixian County, western Liaoning Province, China. The fossil plant-beating bed belongs to the lower part, the Zhuanchengzi bed, of the Upper Jurassic Yixian Formation （Yixianian）. The new genus in leaf shape, venation and epidermal structure shows a transitional form between Mesozoic Cycads （Ctenis, Nilssonia） and modem Cycads （Stangeria and Encephalartos）. Since the features of these specimens differ from any known genera of Cycads, a new generic name Yixianophyllum is proposed for these leaves. Typical species, Yixianophyllum jinjiagouense gen. et sp. nov. is described here. A supposed evolutionary tendency of Cycadean leaf-forms with Taeniopteris-type is discussed.

Analysis on the Changes of Temperature and Heat Resources in Rural Area of Chaoyang in Western Liaoning

[Objective] The aim was to study the change characteristics of temperature and heat resources in rural area of Chaoyang in western Liaoning. [Method] Based on the data from rural meteorological station in Chaoyang in western Liaoning from 1966 to 2010, the change characteristics of temperature and heat resources in rural area in Chaoyang were analyzed by means of serial correlation and climate tendency method, so as to master its climate situation. [Result] The annual average value of daily average temperature, daily maximum temperature and daily minimum temperature in rural area of Chaoyang in western Liaoning from 1966 to 2010 showed fluctuation variation, and the annual average value of daily maximum temperature increased most obviously with the climatic tendency of 0.328 ℃/10 a and highest significant level, so it played an important role in temperature increase, next came daily average temperature (0.151 ℃/10 a), while there was no obvious decrease in daily minimum temperature. The average of daily maximum temperature in winter half year increased more obviously than that in summer half year, with the climatic tendency of 0.417 and 0.250 ℃/10 a, respectively; the trend of daily average temperature reached low significant level, and there was no obvious variation in daily minimum temperature. In addition, ≥10 ℃ accumulated temperature in rural area of Chaoyang in western Liaoning went up obviously, with the climatic tendency of 42.59 ℃·d/10 a, namely it increased by 192 ℃·d in recent 45 years. [Conclusion] The study could provide climatic reference for the adjustment of agriculture structure and varieties distribution.

New Fossil Liverworts from the Lower Cretaceous of Western Liaoning, China

Sixteen liverwort specimens collected from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Huangbanjigou Village, Liaoning Province, China are studied in this work. The plants are thalloid and preserved in brown arenaceous mudstone as impressions. Based on examinations, the liverworts are assigned to two new genera and five new species： Riccardiothallus palmata sp. nov., Pallaviciniites stricta sp. nov., Pellites latithallus gen. et sp. nov., Conocephalumites hexagonites gen. et sp. nov. and Metzgerites multifidus sp. nov., belonging to five families and five genera. The fossil research indicates that the divergence of families, Aneuraceae and Metzgeriaceae, Pallaviciniaceae and Hymenophytaceae,Pelliaceae and Fossombroniaceae, was in the Lower Cretaceous（125 Ma）. The research provides significant additions to the fossil liverwort records in Western Liaoning and offers fossil evidence for studying the classification and evolution of extant liverworts.

New Material of Feilongus(Reptilia: Pterosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Western Liaoning

Based on a new nearly naturally preserved skull and four cervical vertebrae of the pterosaur Feilongus sp. from the lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Beipiao, western Liaoning province, northeastern China, the diagnosis of Feilongus is amended. The revised diagnosis notes long, curved, needle-shaped teeth that are confined to the jaw far anterior to the nasoantorbital fenestra; posterior teeth that are slightly smaller than the anterior teeth; cervical vertebrae elongated with a ratio of length to width greater than 5; tooth number of about 78; and two cranial sagittal crests.

New Material of Pterosaur Sinopterus (Reptilia:Pterosauria) from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation,Western Liaoning,China

Based on a new nearly complete postcranial skeleton of an adult specimen of Sinopterus from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of western Liaoning, China, the diagnosis of Sinopterus is amended. The revised diagnosis of Sinopterus includes skull relatively elongate with weakly developed cranial crest; ratio of the length of Ph2d4 to that of Ph1d4 is approximately 0.73; ratio of the length of wing metacarpal to that of metatarsal 3 is 4.5; ratio of the length of mt3 to that of tibia is approximately 0.21, and wing phalanges 1 and 2 are straight. Comparison between the ratios of the limb bones between non-adult and adult individuals of Sinopterus indicates that during the ontogenetic process, some ratios between bones are constant, such as the first wing phalanx to the second wing phalanx, the wing metacarpal to the metatarsal 3, metatarsal 3 to the tibia, but others are not, such as humerus to wing metacarpal and femur to tibia, in which the former grows faster than the latter.

A New Female Cone,Araucaria beipoiaoensis sp.nov.from the Middle Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation,Beipiao,Western Liaoning,China and Its Evolutionary Significance

A new species of Araucaria, Araucaria beipiaoensis sp. nov., collected from the Middle Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation, southern hill of Shebudai village, near Beipiao city, western Liaoning is based on a permineralized female cone, which is ovate to elliptical in shape, about 11 cm × 7 cm × 4.5 cm in size. The cone bears rhomboid bracts that are spirally attached, texture thicker, with wings on both sides, with a detached lamina-like apex at the tip. In inner structure the ovuliferous scales are thicker and fused with bracts at the end with a ligular sulcns. There is one wingless ovule/seed per seed-scale complex embedded in the ovuliferous scale tissue, with the micropyle directed toward the cone axis. The ovules/seeds are long ovate or elliptical in shape, 1 cm long and near the base about 3 mm in diameter; the ovule/seed integuments have begun differentiation into 3 layers： the sarcotesta, sclerotesta, and endotesta. The nucellus is free from the enclosing integuments except in the chalazal region where it is fused to the inner layer （endotesta） of integument. Some ovules show cellularized nucellar tissue. Mature seeds exhibit the papery-thin wavy nucellus characteristically near to the micropyle. The embryonic tissue appears to be four cotyledons. The morphology and structure of the cone shows a close relationship to the araucarian cones of fossil and living genera but differs from any known species. The new species is distributed in the Middle Jurassic of the northern hemisphere, especially Asia, and has important significance for the evolution of the Family Araucariaceae.

A reassessment of Iteravis huchzermeyeri and Gansus zheni from the Jehol Biota in western Liaoning, China

The authors reassessed the taxonomic distinction of Iteravis huchzermeyeri and Gansus zheni,which are two species of Ornithuromorpha based on specimens from the same locality in western Liaoning and derive from the Jehol Biota.The detailed comparisons of the holotype and referred specimens of both species,reveal no anatomical features that distinguish these taxa as separate species.Some minor differences are considered to relate to ontogenetic or interspecific differences.The stratigraphic occurrence for both specimens is the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation.Accordingly,the authors conclude that Iteravis huchzermeyeri has priority,by 15 days,for this taxon and that Gansus zheni is a junior synonym.The diagnosis of Iteravis huchzermeyeri is revised based on further study on all specimens referred to this species.Its generic distinction from Gansus is maintained thereby removing a potential genus-level correlation linking Xiagou Formation in Gansu Province with the Jiufotang Formation in Liaoning Province.