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First report of a phytogeographically mixed (transitional) Middle-Late Permian fossil wood assemblage from the Hami area, northwest China, and implications for Permian phytogeographical, paleogeographical and paleoclimatic evolution in central Asia
journal contribution
posted on 2016-04-15, 00:00 authored by X Wei, X Zhang, Guang ShiGuang Shi, X Zhao, X Huang, T LuanA diverse and well-preserved fossil wood assemblage is described, for the first time, from the Middle Permian Taerlang Formation and the Upper Permian Quanzijie Formation in the vicinity of the Tianshan Town, Hami City of northwestern China. On the basis of wood microstructure, the fossil woods are classified into three genera and five species, including one new genus: Prototianshanoxylon gen. nov. and two new species: Prototianshanoxylon erdaogouense sp. nov., Prototianshanoxylon hamiense sp. nov. The new genus is characterized by window-like cross-field pitting and mixed tracheid radial wall pitting that suggest a transitional type between araucarioid-type and protopinoid-type pittings.Phytogeographically, the fossil wood assemblage is characterized by an admixture of elements of both temperate Angaran (represented by wood specimens with moderately to well defined growth rings in their secondary xylem) and tropical-subtropical north subregion of the Cathaysian floras (with wood specimens lacking well-defined growth rings). Such a phytogeographically mixed fossil wood assemblage is interpreted to represent a transitional and complex climate condition between a cool temperate and tropical to subtropical zones, showing both seasonal variation and unstable climate conditions. Previously, similarly mixed floras have already been found to exist widely in northern China ranging in age from Early to Late Permian, but the mechanisms thought to be responsible for their formation were varied and remain controversial. In this study, the formation of these mixed Permian floras of North China is linked to the closure of the Tianshan-Hingan seaway coupled with the collision and amalgamation of Siberia with North China and the Tarim block, in a manner much like closing a pair of scissors with the closure of the seaway proceeding gradually and progressively from west to the east.
History
Journal
Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecologyVolume
448Pagination
125 - 140Publisher
ElsevierLocation
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublisher DOI
ISSN
0031-0182Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2016, ElsevierUsage metrics
Categories
Keywords
Middle–Late Permianfossil woodmixed Permian floraspaleophytogeographypaleoclimateXinjiangChinaScience & TechnologyPhysical SciencesLife Sciences & BiomedicineGeography, PhysicalGeosciences, MultidisciplinaryPaleontologyPhysical GeographyGeologyMiddle-Late PermianPETRIFIED FORESTARTHROPITYS-BISTRIATACATHAYSIA-FLORACONIFER WOODSGEN. NOV.BASINGYMNOSPERMGROWTHEASTEvolutionary BiologyGeologyEcology
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