A brief introduction to the Middle Jurassic Daohugou Flora from Inner Mongolia, China

Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and biostratinomic analysis of the Jurassic Yanliao Lagerstätte in northeastern China

“…The relatively high abundance of land plant debris in pyroclastic flow deposits and the paucity of epiclasts derived from weathering suggest that the region adjacent to the lake(s) was well vegetated. This is consistent with the inferred warm and humid climate reflected by the Yanliao flora (Liu et al, 2010;Na et al, 2015;Na et al, 2017;Pott and Jiang, 2017).…”

“…The presence of highlands surrounding the lake(s) is supported by extensive fan-delta deposits and the preservation of alpine insects and upland plants in the lacustrine deposits (Liu et al, 2010;Na et al, 2015;Na et al, 2017;Pott and Jiang, 2017). The relatively high abundance of land plant debris in pyroclastic flow deposits and the paucity of epiclasts derived from weathering suggest that the region adjacent to the lake(s) was well vegetated.…”

How deep is the conflict between molecular and fossil evidence on the age of angiosperms?

“…A general problem is that the proposed Jurassic angiosperms known as isolated reproductive structures ( Solaranthus , Euanthus , Nanjinganthus , Xingxueanthus ) occur in compression floras that are rich in typical Jurassic ferns, ginkgophytes, cycadophytes, and conifers (e.g. Na et al ., ; Pott & Jiang, ; Fu et al ., ) but contain no leaves with distinctive angiosperm apomorphies (several orders of reticulate venation, etc. ), whereas those known as nearly whole plants ( Schmeissneria , Juraherba , Yuhania ) have leaves with no angiosperm features.…”

Application of neutron tomography in studying new material of Ixostrobus Raciborski from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, China

“…The present specimens were collected from the greyish tuffaceous siltstone at the Daohugou fossil site (N41°18′34″, E119°13′15″), near Daohugou Village in Ningcheng County, Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia, close to the borders of Hebei and Liaoning provinces, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, in northeast China (Figure 1). The fossil‐bearing deposits were previously attributed to the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation or Tiaojishan Formation (Jiang, 2006; Na et al, 2015, 2017; Pott et al, 2012; Shen et al, 2003; Sullivan et al, 2014; Sun et al, 2015). After extensive review of previous works on lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic correlations and radiometric dating of the volcanic or pyroclastic samples from the Daohugou locality, Sullivan et al (2014) summarized that biostratigraphic correlation may place the fossil‐bearing strata in the Jiulongshan Formation, but there seems to be insufficient evidence to rule out that at least a part of the strata belongs to the Tiaojishan Formation.…”

“…Various fossil plant and animal taxa have been documented from the Daohugou Biota (e.g., Heinrichs, Wang, Ignatov, & Krings, 2014; Huang et al, 2017; Ji, Luo, Yuan, & Tabrum, 2006; Jiang, 2006; Li, Li, Wang, Zheng, & Zhang, 2004; Na et al, 2017; Na, Manchester, Sun, & Zhang, 2015; Na, Sun, Li, & Li, 2014; Pott, McLoughlin, Wu, & Friis, 2012; Pott, Wang, & Zheng, 2015; Ren, 2002; Shen, Chen, & Huang, 2003; Sun, Taylor, Na, Li, & Krings, 2015; Wang, 2000; Wang, Zheng, & Jin, 2010; Zhang, D'Rozario, Wang, Li, & Yao, 2012; Zhang, D'rozario, Yao, Wu, & Wang, 2011; Zheng, Zhang, & Gong, 2003; Zhou, Zheng, & Zhang, 2007). Most paleobotanical research studies focus on the characters of the whole flora or on leaves of specific fossil taxa.…”