Diatom assemblages in surface sediments from the South China Sea as environmental indicators

We studied diatom distribution from 62 samples from the uppermost 1 cm of sedimem in the South China Sea （SCS）, using grabs or box corers in three cruises between 2001-2007. Fifty six genera, 256 species and their varieties were identified. Dominating species included Coscinodiscus africanus, Coscinodiscus nodulifer, Cyclotella stylorum, Hemidiscus cuneiformis, Melosira sulcata, Nitzschia marina, Roperia tesselata, Thalassionema nitzschioides, Thalassiosira excentrica, and Thalassiothrix longissima. Most surface sediments in the SCS were rich ill diatoms, except for a few coarse samples. Average diatom abundance in the study area was 104 607 valve/g. In terms of the abundance, ecology, and spatial distribution, seven diatom zones （Zones 1-7） were recognized. Zone 1 （northern continental shelf） is affected by warm currents, SCS northern branch of the Kuroshio, and northern coastal currents; Zone 2 （northwestern continental shelf） is affected by intense coastal currents; Zone 3 （Xisha Islands sea area） is a bathyal environment with transitional water masses; Zone 4 （sea basin） is a bathyal-to-deep sea with stable and uniform central water masses in a semi-enclosed marginal sea; Zone 5 （Nansba Islands marine area） is a pelagic environment with relatively high surface temperature; Zone 6 （northern Sunda Shelf） is a tropical shelf environment; and Zone 7 （northern Kalimantan Island shelf area） is affected by warm waters from the Indian Ocean and coastal waters. The data indicate that these diatom zones are closely related to topography, hydrodynamics, temperature, nutrients and especially the salinity. Better understanding of the relationship between diatom distribution and the oceanographic factors would help in the reconstruction of the SCS in the past.

Early Cambrian Ichnofossils from the Mussoorie Syncline and revision of Trace Fossil Biozonation of the Lesser Himalaya, India

A new locality bearing ichnofossils of the Cruziana Assemblage Zone-Ⅲ from the Mussoorie syncline,Lesser Himalaya,is located in rocks of Member-B of the Dhaulagiri Formation,Tal Group,exposed along the Maldewta-Chhimoli fresh road cut section.The site yielded ichnofossils Bergaueria perata,Cochlichnus anguineus,？Diplocraterion isp.,Dimorphichnus obliquus,diplichnitiform Cruziana bonariensis,Diplichnites gouldi,Glockeria isp.,Helminthopsis isp.,Monomorphichnus lineatus,Phycodes palmatum,Palaeophycus striatus,Planolites beverleyensis,Planolites montanus,Treptichnus cf.T.pedum,scratch marks and an undetermined worm impression.An Early Cambrian age （Cambrian Series 2） is assigned to the ichnofossil-bearing strata based on the stratigraphic position between the Drepanuroides and Palaeoolenus trilobite zones.A revised Cambrian ichnofossil zonation is presented for the Tal Group of the Mussoorie syncline.Together with their occurrence on rippled surfaces,and the lateral displacement of some trackways （due to current action）,a sub-aqueous shallow-marine depositional setting is proposed for the rocks of Member-B.

Discovery of Trace Fossils from the Sinian-Cambrian Boundary Beds in Eastern Yunnan and Their Significance for Global Correlation

There are abundant and highly varied trace fossils in the Sinian-Cambrian boundary beds in eastern Yunnan. Collections from 27 sections and their study give altogether 45 ichnogenera and 87 ichnospecies. Among them, 2 ichnogenera and 7 ichnospecies are new, and 31 known ichnogenera and 38 known ichnospecies first found in the region. According to their order of appearance in the boundary beds and their assemblage features, the trace fossils in the Sinian-Cambrian boundary beds in the region may fall into 4 trace fossil assemblage zones in ascending order. In the paper they are correlated with those in the equivalent horizons abroad and their geological significance is discussed preliminarily.

Altitudinal changes of surface pollen and vegetation on the north slope of the Middle Tianshan Mountains,China

To provide information on vegetation patterns and altitudinal distributions of pollen assemblage in surface soil layers,their complicated relationships in a dryland mountain-basin system in northwestern China and a realistic basis for paleovegetational reconstruction,we investigated 86 vegetation quadrats and analyzed 80 soil samples from the surface soil layers along an altitudinal transect on the north slope of the Middle Tianshan Mountains from alpine cushion vegetation at 3,510 m near glacier to desert vegetation at 460 m in the Gurbantunggut Desert.According to surface pollen assemblages and the results of the detrended correspondence analysis,the transect can be divided into six major altitudinal pollen zones as alpine cushion vegetation,alpine and subalpine meadows,montane Picea forest,forest-steppe ecotone,Artemisia desert and typical desert,which basically reflect the characteristics of the mountainous vegetation patterns on the north slope of the Middle Tianshan Mountains.However,Picea pollen also exists outside the spruce forest,Chenopodiaceae and Artemisia pollen appeared above the elevation of 1,300 m,indicating that most of them might be introduced from lower elevations by upslope winds.Airborne pollen researches from three regions at different elevations further suggest that a high-frequency northwest anabatic wind has a remarkable influence on the transportation and dispersion of surface pollen in the area.

Palaeoclimate of the Paleogene Dongying Formation in Bozhong Sag of Bohai Bay Basin

It was showed that the sedimentary environment of lacustrine basins is more susceptible to basin size than that of marine basins,leading to frequent changes in sedimentary environment and large differences in sediment supply and types.Based on the comprehensive analysis of clay minerals,spore pollen,major elements and trace elements,the sedimentary environment of Dongying Formation and its evolution in Bozhong Sag were studied.The results showed that during the sedimentary period of Dongying Formation,the study area was in a subtropical warm and humid climate as a whole.In addition,the vertical distribution of spore pollen and algae was divided into four zones and each one represents different sedimentary environments.Combination zone I is characterized by a large number of spore pollen and algae,including juglanspollenites verus,ulmipollemites minor,abietineaepollenites and pinuspollenites,taxodiaceaepollenites hiatus,leiosphaeridia and granodiscus,and it indicates a relatively hot and dry climatic;Combination zone II mainly contains juglanspollenites verus,ulmipollemites minor,abietineaepollenites and pinuspollenites,pediastrum and leiosphaeridia.Compared with I,the number of spore pollen and algae decreases,but the number of pediastrum increases a lot,which represents warm and humid climate.The combination zone III is dominated by abietineaepollenites and pinuspollenites and chaetosphaeridium,and the species and quantity decrease significantly.It indicates a relatively hot and humid climate at that time.Combination zone IV contains a small amount of spore pollen and algae,and it means the climate was warm and humid at that period.The frequent changes of sedimentary environment in lacustrine basins are influenceded by regional tectonic environment and basin scale.Using S/A and E-T parameters,the paleoclimate in the study area was delineated and 10 sedimentary environment interfaces were identified,which further illustrated the characteristics of frequent fluctuations of sedimentary environment in lacustrine basins.