A research team led by Profs.ZHU Min, LU Jing, and ZHU You’an from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences published two back-to-back cover stories in ...A research team led by Profs.ZHU Min, LU Jing, and ZHU You’an from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences published two back-to-back cover stories in the journal Nature on March 4, reporting new discoveries about the origin of bony fishes.展开更多
Small shelly fossils(SSFs)have long been recognized as important to the studies of both metazoan evolution and the onset of biomineralization during the Cambrian radiation.The marked decline in the occurrence,diversit...Small shelly fossils(SSFs)have long been recognized as important to the studies of both metazoan evolution and the onset of biomineralization during the Cambrian radiation.The marked decline in the occurrence,diversity and abundance of SSFs in the middle to late Cambrian,when compared with the early Cambrian,has often been regarded as a result of the closure of a phosphatization window.Despite this,there have been numerous and consistent reports of SSFs from the middle Cambrian and younger deposits.To identify possible factors influencing SSF preservation,five microfacies including bioclastic limestone,flat-pebble conglomerates with bioclasts,hummocky cross-stratified grainstone with bioclasts,bioclastic grainstone in hardgrounds and glauconite bioclastic wackstone-packstone,from Cambrian Series 2 to Miaolingian in North China are compared to assess how differences in lithology impact the preservation potential of SSFs.Our results,based on 35,161 SSF specimens from deposits across six sections,suggest that there are still abundant and diverse SSFs in the middle Cambrian of North China preserved in ways not exclusively reliant on the presence of phosphate and that SSF preservation can be linked to the differences in microfacies in the early to middle Cambrian of North China.展开更多
The micromammal fossils collected from the Shangzhuang Formation of the Linxia Basin,Gansu,are described here.The assemblage consists of 16 species of 13 genera belonging to 7 families,including one new species and on...The micromammal fossils collected from the Shangzhuang Formation of the Linxia Basin,Gansu,are described here.The assemblage consists of 16 species of 13 genera belonging to 7 families,including one new species and one taxon previously unknown from China.Among them 5 genera are Oligocene holdovers and 11 genera/species are known to make their first appearances in Early Miocene,indicating an Early Miocene age for the Gucheng Fauna.The absence of Oligocene survivors such as Tataromys,Yindirtemys,Eucricetodon and Tachyoryctoides,which usually occur in the Xiejian age of Early Miocene,and the presence of newcomers Protalactaga,Megacricetodon and Gobicricetodon,that made their first appearance only in the Shanwangian age of late Early Miocene,suggest that the Gucheng Fauna is of a later age of Early Miocene.The new species,Sinolagomys guchengensis,showing more derived morphology than in S.ulunguensis,seems to support an assessment of the fauna in Shanwangian age.Thus,the Gucheng Fauna may belong to late Early Miocene Shanwangian,partially equivalent to MN 3/4 of the European land mammal zonation.Ecological analysis of the fauna indicates that the palaeoecological condition of the Gucheng area might still be a predominantly arid shrub-steppe in late Early Miocene.展开更多
Evergreen broad-leaved forests(EBLFs) are widely distributed in East Asia and play a vital role in ecosystem stability. The occurrence of these forests in East Asia has been a subject of debate across various discipli...Evergreen broad-leaved forests(EBLFs) are widely distributed in East Asia and play a vital role in ecosystem stability. The occurrence of these forests in East Asia has been a subject of debate across various disciplines. In this study, we explored the occurrence of East Asian EBLFs from a paleobotanical perspective. By collecting plant fossils from four regions in East Asia, we have established the evolutionary history of EBLFs. Through floral similarity analysis and paleoclimatic reconstruction, we have revealed a diverse spatio-temporal pattern for the occurrence of EBLFs in East Asia. The earliest occurrence of EBLFs in southern China can be traced back to the middle Eocene, followed by southwestern China during the late Eocene-early Oligocene. Subsequently, EBLFs emerged in Japan during the early Oligocene and eventually appeared in central-eastern China around the Miocene. Paleoclimate simulation results suggest that the precipitation of wettest quarter(PWet Q, mm) exceeding 600 mm is crucial for the occurrence of EBLFs. Furthermore, the heterogeneous occurrence of EBLFs in East Asia is closely associated with the evolution of the Asian Monsoon. This study provides new insights into the occurrence of EBLFs in East Asia.展开更多
This report is about the first record of non-avian dinosaur eggs in the Hefei Basin,Anhui Province,China.Based on the combination of elongated egg body,linear ridges on the outer surface and two structure layer,the eg...This report is about the first record of non-avian dinosaur eggs in the Hefei Basin,Anhui Province,China.Based on the combination of elongated egg body,linear ridges on the outer surface and two structure layer,the eggs can be referred to Elongatoolithidae.The gradual boundary between the cone and the column layers as well as the relative thin eggshell(less than 1 mm)indicates its affinity within Elongatoolithus.The eggs are identified as Elongatoolithus oosp.,as they were severely compressed and experienced erosion on both inner and outer surfaces.The discovery of egg fossil in the Hefei Basin offers evidence for stratum comparison in this region and supplements the diversity of egg fossils in Anhui.Meanwhile,this discovery also enriches the paleogeographic distribution of elongatoolithids.展开更多
A biostratigraphic study on calcareous nannofossils from the CM3D06 Co-rich ferromanganese crust from the Magellan seamounts in the northwestern Pacific enabled estimation of depositional age.The bio-imprinting of cal...A biostratigraphic study on calcareous nannofossils from the CM3D06 Co-rich ferromanganese crust from the Magellan seamounts in the northwestern Pacific enabled estimation of depositional age.The bio-imprinting of calcareous nannofossils and other fossil species suggests six age ranges for the nannofossils:late Cretaceous,late Paleocene,(early,middle,late)Eocene,middle Miocene,late Pliocene,and Pleistocene.Gas chromatography(GC)and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)were used to test the Co-rich crusts,and a variety of molecular fossils were detected,such as chloroform bituminous"A",n-alkane,isoprenoid and sterol.Peak carbon and molecular indices(such as C23-/C24+,CPI,Pr/Ph,PrC17,PhCxs and j13C)indicate that the parent organic matter is dominated by marine phytoplankton and thallogen whereas there is little input of terrestrial organic matter.Researches on calcareous nannofossils,molecular fossils and molecular organic geochemistry data reveal that the Paleocene/Eocene(P/E)global event is recorded in the cobalt-rich crusts from the northwestern Pacific Ocean.A succession of biomes can be observed near the 85 mm boundary(about 55 Ma),i.e.,the disappearance of the late Cretaceous Watznaueria barnesae and Zigodicus spiralis,and Broisonia parka microbiotas above the P/E boundary,and the bloom of Coccolithus formosus,Discoaster multiradiatus,Discoaster mohleri and Discoaster sp.below the boundary.Typical parameters of molecular fossils,such as saturated hydrocarbon components and carbon-number maxima,Pr/Ph,Pr/C17,Ph/C18,distribution types of sterols,Ts/Tm ratios and bacterial hopane,also exhibit dramatic changes near the P/E boundary.These integrated results illustrate that the biome succession of calcareous nannofossils,relative content of molecular fossils and molecular indices in the cobalt-rich crusts near the 85 mm boundary faithfully record the P/E global event.展开更多
In order to depict the distribution of diatom fossils in surface sediments and to establish a reliable reference data for further paleoenvironmental study in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary and its adjacent wat...In order to depict the distribution of diatom fossils in surface sediments and to establish a reliable reference data for further paleoenvironmental study in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary and its adjacent waters, the diatom fossils from 34 surface sediment samples and their relationship with environmental variables were analyzed by principal component analysis and redundancy correspondence analysis. The diversity and abundance of diatom fossils were analyzed. Some annual average parameters of the overlying water (salinity, temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, depth, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, dissolved inorganic phosphate and dissolved inorganic silicate) were measured at each sampling site. A total of 113 diatom taxa and one silicoflagellate species were identified in the investigation area. Diatom fossils were better preserved in fine sediments. The absolute abundance of diatom fossils did not significantly diff er between inshore and off shore areas, the species diversity decreased from inshore to off shore. This may be because high nutrients and low salinity promoted the growth of more brackish species in coastal waters. The diatom taxa were divided into three groups, on the basis of their response and indication to environmental changes. For example, Actinocyclus ehrenbergii and Cyclotella stylorum were dominant in coastal waters (Group 1 and Group 3) with high nutrients and low salinity;the relative abundances of Paralia sulcata and Podosira stelliger were significantly higher in off shore sites (Group 2, average 39.5%), which were characterized by high salinity and deep water. Four environmental variables (salinity, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, temperature and water depth) explained the composition and distribution of diatom taxa independently ( P< 0.05), this finding can be applied in further paleoenvironmental reconstruction research in this area.展开更多
Based on the analysis of trace fossils collected from the typical outcrop of the Lower Cambrian Wusongger Formation in the Kalpin area, ten ichnospecies of six ichnogenus were identified in the upper member of the Wus...Based on the analysis of trace fossils collected from the typical outcrop of the Lower Cambrian Wusongger Formation in the Kalpin area, ten ichnospecies of six ichnogenus were identified in the upper member of the Wusongger Formation, with most of them being found for the first time. The trace fossils are described seriatim. The ichnospecies are mainly represented by such common trace fossils as Ophiomorpha nodosa, Helminthopsis hieroglyphica, Helminthopsis ichnosp., Planolites beverleyensis, Planolites vulgaris, Planolites montanus, Palaeophycus striatus, Palaeophycus curvatus, Cochlichnus anguineus and Rituichnus elongatum. The trace fossils are of high diversity and low abundance, and can be diagnosed as the Cruziana ichnofacies. They can be interpreted as having formed in a shallow water environment.展开更多
We describe new material of three-dimensionally phosphatized small shelly fossils Acanthocassis and Xinlispina gen.nov.from the Fortunian Stage(early Cambrian) of southern Shaanxi and northern Sichuan Provinces.The ...We describe new material of three-dimensionally phosphatized small shelly fossils Acanthocassis and Xinlispina gen.nov.from the Fortunian Stage(early Cambrian) of southern Shaanxi and northern Sichuan Provinces.The new materials allow description of the delicate morphology of these skeletons, and also their skeletogenesis.Acanthocassis and Xinlispina have comparable morphological features: a main branch and radially arranged sub-branches.They differ from each other in many details, e.g., the presence of a single central branch only in Xinlispina, and the presence of small nodes only in Acanthocassis.Acanthocassis cannot be a naked anthopolyp or hydropolyp because of the more-or-less stiffened cuticle and the absence of a mouth.Acanthocassisand Xinlispina differ from coeval sponge spicules and chancelloriid sclerites and rosettes of crossed pedicellariae of echinoderms, and might be cuticular ornaments of animals of unclear affinities.They occur in the first small shelly fossil assemblage zone, and could be adopted as auxiliary fossils for biostratigraphic correlation in southern China.展开更多
Silica-phosphatic nodules are abundant in black shales of the Yanjiahe Formation in the Three Gorges Area of South China,which is correlated to the Fortunian Stage,Terreneuvian Series,Cambrian System.The nodules are r...Silica-phosphatic nodules are abundant in black shales of the Yanjiahe Formation in the Three Gorges Area of South China,which is correlated to the Fortunian Stage,Terreneuvian Series,Cambrian System.The nodules are rich in small shelly fossils and hence attract the attention of numerous paleontologists and sedimentary geologists.However,the genesis of the nodules and the preservation of the small shelly fossils are poorly understood.Here we analyze morphological,structural,mineralogical and chemical features of the nodules in multiscale using a combination of micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy,X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser Raman spectroscopy.Results reveal that nodules are concentric in chemical and mineralogical compositions,comprising a silica-phosphatic core encrusted sequentially by a phosphatic zone,a siliceous zone and a very thin pyrite outer rim.The black shales hosting the nodules demonstrate a laminated texture of alternating clayey and silty laminae,which were respectively deposited in sulfidic/less sulfidic,high/low production,intense/weak chemical weathering conditions.The phosphogenesis of the nodules resulted in the phosphatization of small shelly fossils,which prevented the fossils from being dissolved during diagenesis,whereas the silica encrustation sealed the fossils within the nodules and thus protected the fossils from alteration by deep burial and surface weathering.展开更多
1 Dinosaur Eggs in Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province In February 2017, dinosaur egg fossils were discovered in China Town part of Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province. They were confirmed by dinosaur experts from the Zhejiang Muse...1 Dinosaur Eggs in Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province In February 2017, dinosaur egg fossils were discovered in China Town part of Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province. They were confirmed by dinosaur experts from the Zhejiang Museum of Natural History to be those of Mesozoic herbivorous dinosaurs (Fig. 1). Not long before, Yiwu Museum staff had discovered dinosaur eggs close by this place.展开更多
Diverse small shelly fossils and other associated fossils were recently recovered from the Cambrian Hanaeri section, southwestern Mungyeong, Korea. The fauna includes conoidal problematica, poriferans (sponge spicule...Diverse small shelly fossils and other associated fossils were recently recovered from the Cambrian Hanaeri section, southwestern Mungyeong, Korea. The fauna includes conoidal problematica, poriferans (sponge spicules), coeloscleritophorans (chancelioriids), brachiopods, monoplacophorans, trilobite (?) fragments, echinoderms, and conodonts. A preliminary assessment of faunal associations, stratigraphic implications, and the correlation of these skeletal fossils is given, based on occurrences of Actinotheca cf. mira (He), Microcornus sp., Torellela laevigata (Linnarsson), Torellela sp., Archiasterella quadratina Lee, Chancelloria sp., LinguleUa sp., Prototreta sp., Phakelodus tenuis (Miiller), Phakelodus elongates (An), Hertzina sp., and Furnishina sp.展开更多
The paper deals with the new phaeophycean fossils in the Early Cambrian from Chengjiang Biota at Ercai Village of Haikou, Kunming, Yunnan, Southwest China. Three new taxa, Punctatiopsis latifolia gen. et sp. nov., P. ...The paper deals with the new phaeophycean fossils in the Early Cambrian from Chengjiang Biota at Ercai Village of Haikou, Kunming, Yunnan, Southwest China. Three new taxa, Punctatiopsis latifolia gen. et sp. nov., P. simplex gen. et sp. nov. and Vendotaenia cf. antiqua Gnilovskaya axe described here in detail. These new findings show that the Chengjiang Biota is high in species diversity of fossil algae and might offer new evidence for a better understanding of the Cambrian explosive biological evolution. The fossil genus described here is found to have a close relationship with the living Punctatia based on similar morphology. The results suggest that the Chengjiang Biota in Haikou area of Kunming was living in an intertidal and subtidal seawater environment.展开更多
This paper deals with the new leaf-like rhodophycean fossils in the Early Cambrian from Chengjiang Biota at Mafang Village of Haikou,Kunming,Yunnan,Southeast China.The new taxa Paradelesseria sanguinea gen.et sp.nov.i...This paper deals with the new leaf-like rhodophycean fossils in the Early Cambrian from Chengjiang Biota at Mafang Village of Haikou,Kunming,Yunnan,Southeast China.The new taxa Paradelesseria sanguinea gen.et sp.nov.is found to have a close relationship with the living Delesseria according to detailed morphological study between the fossil and modem Delesseria.These new findings show that the Chengiiang Biota is high in species diversity of fossil algae and might offer new evidence for a better understanding of the Cambrian explosive biological evolution and its paleoenvironment.The Biota in Haikou district of Kunming was living in subtidal and lower intertidal marine environment,up to 30 m below surface of the water based on the comparative study of extant red algae.展开更多
Abundant medusoid soft-bodied metazoan fossils have been found in the Sinian Xingmincun Formation(with an isotopic age of 650 Ma) at Qipanmo, Qidingshan and Yangtun of the Dalian-Jinzhou area, southern Liaoning Provin...Abundant medusoid soft-bodied metazoan fossils have been found in the Sinian Xingmincun Formation(with an isotopic age of 650 Ma) at Qipanmo, Qidingshan and Yangtun of the Dalian-Jinzhou area, southern Liaoning Province; in addition, a number of macroscopic algal fossils have been discovered for the first time in the Getun Formation overlying the Xingmincun Formation. Medusoid fossils include 3 genera and 6 species(all of which are new). Judging from their biological characters, these medusoid fossils are considered to have an intimate affinity with the Ediacara fauna in the terminal Precambrian of Australia, as their characters are close to each other. The authors suggest that these medusoids and the Edicara fauna might be the products of the same period. The discovery of the medusoid fauna in the Xingmincun Formation marks an important event in the evolution of the terminal Precambrian organisms in China, and it is of major practical significance in the study of the Sinian System of China and the correlation of the Sinian strata of northern and southern China.展开更多
It has been an intense debate on the exact boundary between Ediacaran and Cambrian in the southwest Yangtze Block.The calibration of this critical boundary has a remarkable influence on the further investigation of th...It has been an intense debate on the exact boundary between Ediacaran and Cambrian in the southwest Yangtze Block.The calibration of this critical boundary has a remarkable influence on the further investigation of the break-up of the Rodinia Supercontinent,the early life evolution,and the mechanism of the phosphorite deposit.Ediacaran and Cambrian strata and fossils are widely distributed in Anning,Yunnan Province in China.In recent years,the Xiaowaitoushan Member from the Lower Yuhucun Formation has been studied.Through this interval with continuous collections,the first appearance datums(FADs)of the protoconodont(Fomitchella cf.inchoate Yang et He,Protohertzina cf.anabarica Missarzhevsky)and globular embryos fossil(Olivooides sp.)earlier than these in the Lower Cambrian strata of the Meishucun Formation were discovered.This discovery indicates that the Xiaowaitoushan Member has included more FADs than the previously discovered single FAD of Anabarites primitivus Qian et Jiang,and the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary in southwest China should be replaced below the Point“A”of the Meishucun Formation in Yunnan Province.The Point“B”of the Meishucun Formation is younger than the suggested age 541 Ma of the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary and can no longer reference the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point(GSSP)correlation in southwest China.It can be suggested based on the previous stratigraphy and palaeontology studies from northern Sichuan and southern Shaanxi and the FAD of the globular embryos fossils that the Ediacaran‒Cambrian boundary in the southwest Yangtze Block should be placed at the base of the Xiaowaitoushan Member;other phosphorite strata refer to Xiaowaitoushan Member.The discovery of the FADs of the shelly fossils in the Xiaowaitoushan Member provides new evidence for the global correlation of the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary in the southwest Yangtze Block.The conodont discoloration index(CAI)of the specimens in Anning is between 2 and 3,which indicates that the organic matter in Xiaowaitoushan Member is matured and has high potential to form a shale gas reservoir.展开更多
Plant fossils from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP), China are critical to understand not only the diversification history of plants there, but also the paleoenvironmental conditions. Alnus are deciduous trees, main...Plant fossils from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP), China are critical to understand not only the diversification history of plants there, but also the paleoenvironmental conditions. Alnus are deciduous trees, mainly distributed in temperate and subtropical regions of Eurasia and North America, and they are well known in the fossil records throughout the Cenozoic in the Northern Hemisphere. We collected numerous well‐preserved Alnus leaf and infructescence fossils from the Lawula Formation (~34.6 Ma with 40Ar/39Ar dating) at the present elevation of 3910 m a.s.l. in the southeastern QTP. Based on detailed morphological comparisons with existing and fossil species, these fossils show closest affinity to Alnus ferdinandi‐coburgii C. K. Schneid., and we refer to these fossils as A. cf. ferdinandi‐coburgii. These specimens comprise the oldest megafossil record of Alnus in the QTP, and provide solid evidence for the distribution of Alnus there as early as the late Eocene. Extant A. ferdinandi‐coburgii is distributed in areas with mean annual temperature values between 9.7 °C and 16.9 °C, and mean annual precipitation values ranging from 896.2 mm to 1161.2 mm;therefore, fossils of A. cf. ferdinandi‐coburgii suggest a much warmer and wetter climate during the late Eocene than today in the southeastern QTP. This finding is consistent with other evidence for continued uplift of the southeastern QTP after the late Eocene that might be due to the eastward extension of the QTP.展开更多
Recent paleobotanical investigations in Vietnam provide a good opportunity to improve our understanding of the biodiversity and paleoclimatic conditions in the geological past of Southeast Asia.Palms(Arecaceae)are a d...Recent paleobotanical investigations in Vietnam provide a good opportunity to improve our understanding of the biodiversity and paleoclimatic conditions in the geological past of Southeast Asia.Palms(Arecaceae)are a diverse family of typical thermophilous plants with a relatively low tolerance for freezing.In this study,we describe well-preserved fossil palm leaves from the Oligocene Dong Ho Formation of Hoanh Bo Basin,northern Vietnam.Characters of the fossil leaves,such as a fan-shaped costapalmate lamina,an unarmed petiole,a costa slightly enlarged at the base that then tapers distally into the blade,and well-preserved amphistomatic leaves with cuticles,suggest that they represent a new fossil species,which we herein designate Sabalites colaniae A.Song,T.Su,T.V.Do et Z.K.Zhou sp.nov.Together with other paleontological and palaeoclimatic evidence,we conclude that a warm climate prevailed in northern Vietnam and nearby areas during the Oligocene.展开更多
The phylogeny of extant Menispermaceae (Ranunculales) is reconstructed based on DNA sequences of two chloroplast genes (rbcL and atpB) from 94 species belonging to 56 genera. Fossilized endocarps represent 34 gene...The phylogeny of extant Menispermaceae (Ranunculales) is reconstructed based on DNA sequences of two chloroplast genes (rbcL and atpB) from 94 species belonging to 56 genera. Fossilized endocarps represent 34 genera. The positions of these are inferred using 30 morphological characters and the molecular phylogeny as a backbone constraint. Nine of the thirteen nodes that are each dated by a fossil are used as calibration points for the estimates of molecular divergence times. BEAST is used to estimate stem age (121.2 Myr) and crown age (105.4 Myr) for Menispermaceae. This method does not require an input tree topology and can also account for rate heterogeneity among lineages. The sensitivity of these estimates to fossil constraints is then evaluated by a cross-validation procedure. The estimated origin for Menispermaceae is dated to the mid-Jurassic if the customary maximum age of 125 Myr for eudicots is not implemented. All constraints when used alone failed to estimate node ages in some parts of the tree. Fossils from the Palaeocene and Eocene impose strict constraints. Likewise, the use of Prototinomiscium as a dating constraint for Menispermaceae appears to be a conservative approach.展开更多
We propose a simple statistical approach for using Dispersal-Vicariance Analysis(DIVA)software to infer biogeographic histories without fully bifurcating trees.In this approach,ancestral ranges are first optimized for...We propose a simple statistical approach for using Dispersal-Vicariance Analysis(DIVA)software to infer biogeographic histories without fully bifurcating trees.In this approach,ancestral ranges are first optimized for a sample of Bayesian trees.The probability P of an ancestral range r at a node is then calculated as P(rY)=∑t^n=1 F(rY)t Pt where Y is a node,and F(rY)is the frequency of range r among all the optimal solutions resulting from DIVA optimization at node Y,t is one of n topologies optimized,and Pt is the probability of topology t.Node Y is a hypothesized ancestor shared by a specific crown lineage and the sister of that lineage"x",where x may vary due to phylogenetic uncertainty(polytomies and nodes with posterior probability〈100%).Using this method,the ancestral distribution at Y can be estimated to provide inference of the geographic origins of the specific crown group of interest.This approach takes into account phylogenetic uncertainty as well as uncertainty from DIVA optimization.It is an extension of the previously described method called Bayes-DIVA,which pairs Bayesian phylogenetic analysis with biogeographic analysis using DIVA.Further,we show that the probability P of an ancestral range at Y calculated using this method does not equate to pp*F(rY)on the Bayesian consensus tree when both variables are〈100%,where pp is the posterior probability and F(rY)is the frequency of range r for the node containing the specific crown group.We tested our DIVA-Bayes approach using Aesculus L.,which has major lineages unresolved as a polytomy.We inferred the most probable geographic origins of the five traditional sections of Aesculus and ofAesculus californica Nutt.and examined range subdivisions at parental nodes of these lineages.Additionally,we used the DIVA-Bayes data from Aesculus to quantify the effects on biogeographic inference of including two wildcard fossil taxa in phylogenetic analysis.Our analysis resolved the geographic ranges of the parental nodes of the lineages of Aesculus with moderate to high probabilities.The probabilities were greater than those estimated using the simple calculation ofpp*F(rY)at a statistically significant level for two of the six lineages.We also found that adding fossil wildcard taxa in phylogenetic analysis generally increased P for ancestral ranges including the fossil's distribution area.The AP was more dramatic for ranges that include the area of a wildcard fossil with a distribution area underrepresented among extant taxa.This indicates the importance of including fossils in biogeographic analysis.Exmination of range subdivision at the parental nodes revealed potential range evolution(extinction and dispersal events)along the stems ofA.californica and sect.Parryana.展开更多
摘要A research team led by Profs.ZHU Min, LU Jing, and ZHU You’an from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences published two back-to-back cover stories in the journal Nature on March 4, reporting new discoveries about the origin of bony fishes.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2023YFF0803600)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42302009,42072003,and W2441016)+3 种基金HYZ thanks the Shaanxi Province postdoctoral research project and China Scholarship Council(202306970031)We also thank the Department of Science and Technology of Shaanxi Province(2022TD-11)TPT also acknowledges the Swedish Research Council(VR2017-05183 and VR2021-04295)This is also a contribution to the project of Theory of Hydrocarbon Enrichment under MultiSpheric Interactions of the Earth(THEMSIE04010106).
摘要Small shelly fossils(SSFs)have long been recognized as important to the studies of both metazoan evolution and the onset of biomineralization during the Cambrian radiation.The marked decline in the occurrence,diversity and abundance of SSFs in the middle to late Cambrian,when compared with the early Cambrian,has often been regarded as a result of the closure of a phosphatization window.Despite this,there have been numerous and consistent reports of SSFs from the middle Cambrian and younger deposits.To identify possible factors influencing SSF preservation,five microfacies including bioclastic limestone,flat-pebble conglomerates with bioclasts,hummocky cross-stratified grainstone with bioclasts,bioclastic grainstone in hardgrounds and glauconite bioclastic wackstone-packstone,from Cambrian Series 2 to Miaolingian in North China are compared to assess how differences in lithology impact the preservation potential of SSFs.Our results,based on 35,161 SSF specimens from deposits across six sections,suggest that there are still abundant and diverse SSFs in the middle Cambrian of North China preserved in ways not exclusively reliant on the presence of phosphate and that SSF preservation can be linked to the differences in microfacies in the early to middle Cambrian of North China.
摘要The micromammal fossils collected from the Shangzhuang Formation of the Linxia Basin,Gansu,are described here.The assemblage consists of 16 species of 13 genera belonging to 7 families,including one new species and one taxon previously unknown from China.Among them 5 genera are Oligocene holdovers and 11 genera/species are known to make their first appearances in Early Miocene,indicating an Early Miocene age for the Gucheng Fauna.The absence of Oligocene survivors such as Tataromys,Yindirtemys,Eucricetodon and Tachyoryctoides,which usually occur in the Xiejian age of Early Miocene,and the presence of newcomers Protalactaga,Megacricetodon and Gobicricetodon,that made their first appearance only in the Shanwangian age of late Early Miocene,suggest that the Gucheng Fauna is of a later age of Early Miocene.The new species,Sinolagomys guchengensis,showing more derived morphology than in S.ulunguensis,seems to support an assessment of the fauna in Shanwangian age.Thus,the Gucheng Fauna may belong to late Early Miocene Shanwangian,partially equivalent to MN 3/4 of the European land mammal zonation.Ecological analysis of the fauna indicates that the palaeoecological condition of the Gucheng area might still be a predominantly arid shrub-steppe in late Early Miocene.
基金supported by National Key R&D Program of China(No.2022YFF0800800)National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(No.32225005)+3 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(Nos.42072024,42320104005,42372033)the Young and Middle-aged Academic and Technical Leaders of Yunnan(No.202305AC160051)Basic Research Project of Yunnan Province(No.202401AT070222)the 14th Five-Year Plan of the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden,Chinese Academy of Sciences(Nos.XTBG-1450101,E3ZKFF7B).
摘要Evergreen broad-leaved forests(EBLFs) are widely distributed in East Asia and play a vital role in ecosystem stability. The occurrence of these forests in East Asia has been a subject of debate across various disciplines. In this study, we explored the occurrence of East Asian EBLFs from a paleobotanical perspective. By collecting plant fossils from four regions in East Asia, we have established the evolutionary history of EBLFs. Through floral similarity analysis and paleoclimatic reconstruction, we have revealed a diverse spatio-temporal pattern for the occurrence of EBLFs in East Asia. The earliest occurrence of EBLFs in southern China can be traced back to the middle Eocene, followed by southwestern China during the late Eocene-early Oligocene. Subsequently, EBLFs emerged in Japan during the early Oligocene and eventually appeared in central-eastern China around the Miocene. Paleoclimate simulation results suggest that the precipitation of wettest quarter(PWet Q, mm) exceeding 600 mm is crucial for the occurrence of EBLFs. Furthermore, the heterogeneous occurrence of EBLFs in East Asia is closely associated with the evolution of the Asian Monsoon. This study provides new insights into the occurrence of EBLFs in East Asia.
摘要This report is about the first record of non-avian dinosaur eggs in the Hefei Basin,Anhui Province,China.Based on the combination of elongated egg body,linear ridges on the outer surface and two structure layer,the eggs can be referred to Elongatoolithidae.The gradual boundary between the cone and the column layers as well as the relative thin eggshell(less than 1 mm)indicates its affinity within Elongatoolithus.The eggs are identified as Elongatoolithus oosp.,as they were severely compressed and experienced erosion on both inner and outer surfaces.The discovery of egg fossil in the Hefei Basin offers evidence for stratum comparison in this region and supplements the diversity of egg fossils in Anhui.Meanwhile,this discovery also enriches the paleogeographic distribution of elongatoolithids.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41076072 and 40676025)
摘要A biostratigraphic study on calcareous nannofossils from the CM3D06 Co-rich ferromanganese crust from the Magellan seamounts in the northwestern Pacific enabled estimation of depositional age.The bio-imprinting of calcareous nannofossils and other fossil species suggests six age ranges for the nannofossils:late Cretaceous,late Paleocene,(early,middle,late)Eocene,middle Miocene,late Pliocene,and Pleistocene.Gas chromatography(GC)and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)were used to test the Co-rich crusts,and a variety of molecular fossils were detected,such as chloroform bituminous"A",n-alkane,isoprenoid and sterol.Peak carbon and molecular indices(such as C23-/C24+,CPI,Pr/Ph,PrC17,PhCxs and j13C)indicate that the parent organic matter is dominated by marine phytoplankton and thallogen whereas there is little input of terrestrial organic matter.Researches on calcareous nannofossils,molecular fossils and molecular organic geochemistry data reveal that the Paleocene/Eocene(P/E)global event is recorded in the cobalt-rich crusts from the northwestern Pacific Ocean.A succession of biomes can be observed near the 85 mm boundary(about 55 Ma),i.e.,the disappearance of the late Cretaceous Watznaueria barnesae and Zigodicus spiralis,and Broisonia parka microbiotas above the P/E boundary,and the bloom of Coccolithus formosus,Discoaster multiradiatus,Discoaster mohleri and Discoaster sp.below the boundary.Typical parameters of molecular fossils,such as saturated hydrocarbon components and carbon-number maxima,Pr/Ph,Pr/C17,Ph/C18,distribution types of sterols,Ts/Tm ratios and bacterial hopane,also exhibit dramatic changes near the P/E boundary.These integrated results illustrate that the biome succession of calcareous nannofossils,relative content of molecular fossils and molecular indices in the cobalt-rich crusts near the 85 mm boundary faithfully record the P/E global event.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41506142)the NSFC-Shandong Joint Fund for Marine Science Research Centers(No.U1606404)the Sino-Australian Centre for Healthy Coasts of National Key Research and Development Plan(No.2016YFE0101500)
摘要In order to depict the distribution of diatom fossils in surface sediments and to establish a reliable reference data for further paleoenvironmental study in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary and its adjacent waters, the diatom fossils from 34 surface sediment samples and their relationship with environmental variables were analyzed by principal component analysis and redundancy correspondence analysis. The diversity and abundance of diatom fossils were analyzed. Some annual average parameters of the overlying water (salinity, temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, depth, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, dissolved inorganic phosphate and dissolved inorganic silicate) were measured at each sampling site. A total of 113 diatom taxa and one silicoflagellate species were identified in the investigation area. Diatom fossils were better preserved in fine sediments. The absolute abundance of diatom fossils did not significantly diff er between inshore and off shore areas, the species diversity decreased from inshore to off shore. This may be because high nutrients and low salinity promoted the growth of more brackish species in coastal waters. The diatom taxa were divided into three groups, on the basis of their response and indication to environmental changes. For example, Actinocyclus ehrenbergii and Cyclotella stylorum were dominant in coastal waters (Group 1 and Group 3) with high nutrients and low salinity;the relative abundances of Paralia sulcata and Podosira stelliger were significantly higher in off shore sites (Group 2, average 39.5%), which were characterized by high salinity and deep water. Four environmental variables (salinity, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, temperature and water depth) explained the composition and distribution of diatom taxa independently ( P< 0.05), this finding can be applied in further paleoenvironmental reconstruction research in this area.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41072102)the National Basic Research Program of China(No.2012CB214804)
摘要Based on the analysis of trace fossils collected from the typical outcrop of the Lower Cambrian Wusongger Formation in the Kalpin area, ten ichnospecies of six ichnogenus were identified in the upper member of the Wusongger Formation, with most of them being found for the first time. The trace fossils are described seriatim. The ichnospecies are mainly represented by such common trace fossils as Ophiomorpha nodosa, Helminthopsis hieroglyphica, Helminthopsis ichnosp., Planolites beverleyensis, Planolites vulgaris, Planolites montanus, Palaeophycus striatus, Palaeophycus curvatus, Cochlichnus anguineus and Rituichnus elongatum. The trace fossils are of high diversity and low abundance, and can be diagnosed as the Cruziana ichnofacies. They can be interpreted as having formed in a shallow water environment.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41072012 and 41102003)the State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (113115 and 20132107)+2 种基金the Key Project of Central University Fund (CHD2012ZD017)College Students’ Innovative Entrepreneurial Training Program (201410710144 and 201410710105)The Ninth "Challenge Cup" Competition of College Students’ Extracurricular Academic and Technological Achievements, Chang’an University
摘要We describe new material of three-dimensionally phosphatized small shelly fossils Acanthocassis and Xinlispina gen.nov.from the Fortunian Stage(early Cambrian) of southern Shaanxi and northern Sichuan Provinces.The new materials allow description of the delicate morphology of these skeletons, and also their skeletogenesis.Acanthocassis and Xinlispina have comparable morphological features: a main branch and radially arranged sub-branches.They differ from each other in many details, e.g., the presence of a single central branch only in Xinlispina, and the presence of small nodes only in Acanthocassis.Acanthocassis cannot be a naked anthopolyp or hydropolyp because of the more-or-less stiffened cuticle and the absence of a mouth.Acanthocassisand Xinlispina differ from coeval sponge spicules and chancelloriid sclerites and rosettes of crossed pedicellariae of echinoderms, and might be cuticular ornaments of animals of unclear affinities.They occur in the first small shelly fossil assemblage zone, and could be adopted as auxiliary fossils for biostratigraphic correlation in southern China.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant nos.41890843 and 41920104009)the Innovation Group Project of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Zhuhai)(Grant No.311021003)。
摘要Silica-phosphatic nodules are abundant in black shales of the Yanjiahe Formation in the Three Gorges Area of South China,which is correlated to the Fortunian Stage,Terreneuvian Series,Cambrian System.The nodules are rich in small shelly fossils and hence attract the attention of numerous paleontologists and sedimentary geologists.However,the genesis of the nodules and the preservation of the small shelly fossils are poorly understood.Here we analyze morphological,structural,mineralogical and chemical features of the nodules in multiscale using a combination of micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy,X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser Raman spectroscopy.Results reveal that nodules are concentric in chemical and mineralogical compositions,comprising a silica-phosphatic core encrusted sequentially by a phosphatic zone,a siliceous zone and a very thin pyrite outer rim.The black shales hosting the nodules demonstrate a laminated texture of alternating clayey and silty laminae,which were respectively deposited in sulfidic/less sulfidic,high/low production,intense/weak chemical weathering conditions.The phosphogenesis of the nodules resulted in the phosphatization of small shelly fossils,which prevented the fossils from being dissolved during diagenesis,whereas the silica encrustation sealed the fossils within the nodules and thus protected the fossils from alteration by deep burial and surface weathering.
摘要1 Dinosaur Eggs in Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province In February 2017, dinosaur egg fossils were discovered in China Town part of Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province. They were confirmed by dinosaur experts from the Zhejiang Museum of Natural History to be those of Mesozoic herbivorous dinosaurs (Fig. 1). Not long before, Yiwu Museum staff had discovered dinosaur eggs close by this place.
基金supported by Korea Research Foundation Grant KRF-2004-043-C00006
摘要Diverse small shelly fossils and other associated fossils were recently recovered from the Cambrian Hanaeri section, southwestern Mungyeong, Korea. The fauna includes conoidal problematica, poriferans (sponge spicules), coeloscleritophorans (chancelioriids), brachiopods, monoplacophorans, trilobite (?) fragments, echinoderms, and conodonts. A preliminary assessment of faunal associations, stratigraphic implications, and the correlation of these skeletal fossils is given, based on occurrences of Actinotheca cf. mira (He), Microcornus sp., Torellela laevigata (Linnarsson), Torellela sp., Archiasterella quadratina Lee, Chancelloria sp., LinguleUa sp., Prototreta sp., Phakelodus tenuis (Miiller), Phakelodus elongates (An), Hertzina sp., and Furnishina sp.
摘要The paper deals with the new phaeophycean fossils in the Early Cambrian from Chengjiang Biota at Ercai Village of Haikou, Kunming, Yunnan, Southwest China. Three new taxa, Punctatiopsis latifolia gen. et sp. nov., P. simplex gen. et sp. nov. and Vendotaenia cf. antiqua Gnilovskaya axe described here in detail. These new findings show that the Chengjiang Biota is high in species diversity of fossil algae and might offer new evidence for a better understanding of the Cambrian explosive biological evolution. The fossil genus described here is found to have a close relationship with the living Punctatia based on similar morphology. The results suggest that the Chengjiang Biota in Haikou area of Kunming was living in an intertidal and subtidal seawater environment.
摘要This paper deals with the new leaf-like rhodophycean fossils in the Early Cambrian from Chengjiang Biota at Mafang Village of Haikou,Kunming,Yunnan,Southeast China.The new taxa Paradelesseria sanguinea gen.et sp.nov.is found to have a close relationship with the living Delesseria according to detailed morphological study between the fossil and modem Delesseria.These new findings show that the Chengiiang Biota is high in species diversity of fossil algae and might offer new evidence for a better understanding of the Cambrian explosive biological evolution and its paleoenvironment.The Biota in Haikou district of Kunming was living in subtidal and lower intertidal marine environment,up to 30 m below surface of the water based on the comparative study of extant red algae.
摘要Abundant medusoid soft-bodied metazoan fossils have been found in the Sinian Xingmincun Formation(with an isotopic age of 650 Ma) at Qipanmo, Qidingshan and Yangtun of the Dalian-Jinzhou area, southern Liaoning Province; in addition, a number of macroscopic algal fossils have been discovered for the first time in the Getun Formation overlying the Xingmincun Formation. Medusoid fossils include 3 genera and 6 species(all of which are new). Judging from their biological characters, these medusoid fossils are considered to have an intimate affinity with the Ediacara fauna in the terminal Precambrian of Australia, as their characters are close to each other. The authors suggest that these medusoids and the Edicara fauna might be the products of the same period. The discovery of the medusoid fauna in the Xingmincun Formation marks an important event in the evolution of the terminal Precambrian organisms in China, and it is of major practical significance in the study of the Sinian System of China and the correlation of the Sinian strata of northern and southern China.
基金The authors appreciate the comments given by the reviewers and editors.The work was financially supported by projects of“1∶50000 Regional Geological Survey of Samaki,Yinmin,Guicheng”and“Shugu Sheets in Yunnan Province by Land and Resources Department of Yunnan Province”(D201905)project of“1∶50000 Regional Geological Survey of Erjie,Yimen,Mingyihe,and Shangpubei Sheets in Yunnan Province”(DD20160017)“Regional Geological Survey Area Summary and Service Product Development in Yunnan Province”by China Geological Survey(121201102000150012-02,DD20190008)).
摘要It has been an intense debate on the exact boundary between Ediacaran and Cambrian in the southwest Yangtze Block.The calibration of this critical boundary has a remarkable influence on the further investigation of the break-up of the Rodinia Supercontinent,the early life evolution,and the mechanism of the phosphorite deposit.Ediacaran and Cambrian strata and fossils are widely distributed in Anning,Yunnan Province in China.In recent years,the Xiaowaitoushan Member from the Lower Yuhucun Formation has been studied.Through this interval with continuous collections,the first appearance datums(FADs)of the protoconodont(Fomitchella cf.inchoate Yang et He,Protohertzina cf.anabarica Missarzhevsky)and globular embryos fossil(Olivooides sp.)earlier than these in the Lower Cambrian strata of the Meishucun Formation were discovered.This discovery indicates that the Xiaowaitoushan Member has included more FADs than the previously discovered single FAD of Anabarites primitivus Qian et Jiang,and the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary in southwest China should be replaced below the Point“A”of the Meishucun Formation in Yunnan Province.The Point“B”of the Meishucun Formation is younger than the suggested age 541 Ma of the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary and can no longer reference the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point(GSSP)correlation in southwest China.It can be suggested based on the previous stratigraphy and palaeontology studies from northern Sichuan and southern Shaanxi and the FAD of the globular embryos fossils that the Ediacaran‒Cambrian boundary in the southwest Yangtze Block should be placed at the base of the Xiaowaitoushan Member;other phosphorite strata refer to Xiaowaitoushan Member.The discovery of the FADs of the shelly fossils in the Xiaowaitoushan Member provides new evidence for the global correlation of the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary in the southwest Yangtze Block.The conodont discoloration index(CAI)of the specimens in Anning is between 2 and 3,which indicates that the organic matter in Xiaowaitoushan Member is matured and has high potential to form a shale gas reservoir.
摘要Plant fossils from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP), China are critical to understand not only the diversification history of plants there, but also the paleoenvironmental conditions. Alnus are deciduous trees, mainly distributed in temperate and subtropical regions of Eurasia and North America, and they are well known in the fossil records throughout the Cenozoic in the Northern Hemisphere. We collected numerous well‐preserved Alnus leaf and infructescence fossils from the Lawula Formation (~34.6 Ma with 40Ar/39Ar dating) at the present elevation of 3910 m a.s.l. in the southeastern QTP. Based on detailed morphological comparisons with existing and fossil species, these fossils show closest affinity to Alnus ferdinandi‐coburgii C. K. Schneid., and we refer to these fossils as A. cf. ferdinandi‐coburgii. These specimens comprise the oldest megafossil record of Alnus in the QTP, and provide solid evidence for the distribution of Alnus there as early as the late Eocene. Extant A. ferdinandi‐coburgii is distributed in areas with mean annual temperature values between 9.7 °C and 16.9 °C, and mean annual precipitation values ranging from 896.2 mm to 1161.2 mm;therefore, fossils of A. cf. ferdinandi‐coburgii suggest a much warmer and wetter climate during the late Eocene than today in the southeastern QTP. This finding is consistent with other evidence for continued uplift of the southeastern QTP after the late Eocene that might be due to the eastward extension of the QTP.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(31800183,41922010,42002020,41661134049)Yunnan Basic Research Projects(202001AU070137,2019FB026)+2 种基金Chinese Academy of Sciences"Light of West China"Program(2020000023)the CAS 135 program(2017XTBG-T03)Project“Study,collection of fossil woods in Vietnam for exhibition in System of Vietnam National Museum of Nature”(CT0000.01/19-21).
摘要Recent paleobotanical investigations in Vietnam provide a good opportunity to improve our understanding of the biodiversity and paleoclimatic conditions in the geological past of Southeast Asia.Palms(Arecaceae)are a diverse family of typical thermophilous plants with a relatively low tolerance for freezing.In this study,we describe well-preserved fossil palm leaves from the Oligocene Dong Ho Formation of Hoanh Bo Basin,northern Vietnam.Characters of the fossil leaves,such as a fan-shaped costapalmate lamina,an unarmed petiole,a costa slightly enlarged at the base that then tapers distally into the blade,and well-preserved amphistomatic leaves with cuticles,suggest that they represent a new fossil species,which we herein designate Sabalites colaniae A.Song,T.Su,T.V.Do et Z.K.Zhou sp.nov.Together with other paleontological and palaeoclimatic evidence,we conclude that a warm climate prevailed in northern Vietnam and nearby areas during the Oligocene.
基金supported by a 973 grant (no. 2007CB411601)the Chinese Academy of Sciences (grant no. KSCX2-YW-R-136)+1 种基金a Chinese post-doctorate grant (no. 20080431286)a grant from the Key Laboratory, Kunming Institute of Botany(no. 086341121)
摘要The phylogeny of extant Menispermaceae (Ranunculales) is reconstructed based on DNA sequences of two chloroplast genes (rbcL and atpB) from 94 species belonging to 56 genera. Fossilized endocarps represent 34 genera. The positions of these are inferred using 30 morphological characters and the molecular phylogeny as a backbone constraint. Nine of the thirteen nodes that are each dated by a fossil are used as calibration points for the estimates of molecular divergence times. BEAST is used to estimate stem age (121.2 Myr) and crown age (105.4 Myr) for Menispermaceae. This method does not require an input tree topology and can also account for rate heterogeneity among lineages. The sensitivity of these estimates to fossil constraints is then evaluated by a cross-validation procedure. The estimated origin for Menispermaceae is dated to the mid-Jurassic if the customary maximum age of 125 Myr for eudicots is not implemented. All constraints when used alone failed to estimate node ages in some parts of the tree. Fossils from the Palaeocene and Eocene impose strict constraints. Likewise, the use of Prototinomiscium as a dating constraint for Menispermaceae appears to be a conservative approach.
基金a National Science Foundation(USA)grant made to Xiang(DEB-0444125)supported by a NSF grant funded to D.E.Soltis(DEB-0090283)
摘要We propose a simple statistical approach for using Dispersal-Vicariance Analysis(DIVA)software to infer biogeographic histories without fully bifurcating trees.In this approach,ancestral ranges are first optimized for a sample of Bayesian trees.The probability P of an ancestral range r at a node is then calculated as P(rY)=∑t^n=1 F(rY)t Pt where Y is a node,and F(rY)is the frequency of range r among all the optimal solutions resulting from DIVA optimization at node Y,t is one of n topologies optimized,and Pt is the probability of topology t.Node Y is a hypothesized ancestor shared by a specific crown lineage and the sister of that lineage"x",where x may vary due to phylogenetic uncertainty(polytomies and nodes with posterior probability〈100%).Using this method,the ancestral distribution at Y can be estimated to provide inference of the geographic origins of the specific crown group of interest.This approach takes into account phylogenetic uncertainty as well as uncertainty from DIVA optimization.It is an extension of the previously described method called Bayes-DIVA,which pairs Bayesian phylogenetic analysis with biogeographic analysis using DIVA.Further,we show that the probability P of an ancestral range at Y calculated using this method does not equate to pp*F(rY)on the Bayesian consensus tree when both variables are〈100%,where pp is the posterior probability and F(rY)is the frequency of range r for the node containing the specific crown group.We tested our DIVA-Bayes approach using Aesculus L.,which has major lineages unresolved as a polytomy.We inferred the most probable geographic origins of the five traditional sections of Aesculus and ofAesculus californica Nutt.and examined range subdivisions at parental nodes of these lineages.Additionally,we used the DIVA-Bayes data from Aesculus to quantify the effects on biogeographic inference of including two wildcard fossil taxa in phylogenetic analysis.Our analysis resolved the geographic ranges of the parental nodes of the lineages of Aesculus with moderate to high probabilities.The probabilities were greater than those estimated using the simple calculation ofpp*F(rY)at a statistically significant level for two of the six lineages.We also found that adding fossil wildcard taxa in phylogenetic analysis generally increased P for ancestral ranges including the fossil's distribution area.The AP was more dramatic for ranges that include the area of a wildcard fossil with a distribution area underrepresented among extant taxa.This indicates the importance of including fossils in biogeographic analysis.Exmination of range subdivision at the parental nodes revealed potential range evolution(extinction and dispersal events)along the stems ofA.californica and sect.Parryana.