Influence Of Geological Events Research Articles

The coal-forming environment during mass extinction in the latest permian: Evidence from geochemistry of rare Earth elements

The C1 coal of Latest Permian during mass extinction in eastern Yunnan was studied to reveal the terrestrial paleoenvironment and influence of geological events on coal-formation during mass extinction. An analysis of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) was conducted on the C1 coal from the Yantang Mine of Xuanwei, eastern Yunnan Province, which was deposited during the latest Permian. A total of 24 samples from coals, partings, roofs and floors from the C1 coal were taken from the fresh face in the underground mine. The results of the REEs analysis indicated that the total REE content (∑REE) in the C1 coal varies from 23.99 μg/g to 267.94 μg/g, averaged 122.69 μg/g. The C1 coal is enriched in light REE (LREE) relative to heavy REE (HREE), signifying the fractionation between LREE and HREE. Most samples of the coal seam C1 are depleted in Eu in various degrees and slightly depleted in Ce, especially two partings in sub-seams B1 and B3 which show the significant negative Eu anomalies. The geochemical characteristics of REE reveal that the C1 coal was deposited in a weak oxidation environment; the sedimentary environment was turbulent during the middle-later stage of coal-forming process; the C1 coal was affected by the basalt clastic materials from the Khangdian Oldland and acidic synsedimentary volcanic ash in the coal-forming period. The geochemical characteristics of Tonsteins in C1 coal are similar to those of marine Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB) volcanic ash layers in South China, which are both derived from the felsic volcanism caused by the closure of the Paleo-Tethys at the southwestern margin of the South China. Furthermore, the C1 coal was also affected by the eruption of Siberian large igneous province (SLIP) in the early stage.

The influence of geological events on the endemism of East Asian birds studied through comparative phylogeography

AbstractAimEast Asia is known for its exceptionally high biological diversity and endemism. Various geological and climatic events during the Pliocene and Pleistocene have been invoked to explain this high endemism, and these processes have had different impacts on different organisms. Herein, we investigate the relative role of these historical processes in the genetic evidence for endemism of intraspecific lineages of two East Asian species: the grey‐cheeked fulvetta (Alcippe morrisonia) and the red‐headed tree babbler (Stachyridopsis ruficeps).LocationEast Asia.MethodsWe studied the genetic structure based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA and evaluated the phylogeographical lineages using coalescent species tree approaches. The influences of different historical processes on diversification among phylogeographical lineages were analysed using coalescent models. We tested correlations between ecological divergence and phylogeographical splits.ResultsThe genetic structure analysis and species tree estimation revealed three deeply divergent lineages within both species. One lineage is endemic to the mountains of Southwest China and the other to Taiwan. Coalescent simulations suggested that lineage diversification mostly occurred during the late Pliocene. Within this time frame, uplift of the mountains of Southwest China and formation of the island of Taiwan are geological events consistent with the geographical isolation and ecological niche divergence of these phylogeographical lineages.Main conclusionsOur results suggest that the main driver of avian endemism in East Asia was the formation of new montane and island habitats following the uplift of the mountains of Southwest China and formation of the island of Taiwan in the Pliocene. However, the populations in the two regions were affected differently by the climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene. The mountains of Southwest China were climatically stable during glaciations, allowing populations to persist throughout the Pleistocene and maintain their genetic uniqueness. In contrast, glaciations resulted in lowered sea levels, allowing dispersal between the island of Taiwan and mainland China, thus obscuring the genetic endemism of the Taiwanese populations.

Early diversification trend and Asian origin for extent bat lineages.

Bats are a unique mammalian group, which belong to one of the largest and most diverse mammalian radiations, but their early diversification is still poorly understood, and conflicting hypotheses have emerged regarding their biogeographic history. Understanding their diversification is crucial for untangling the enigmatic evolutionary history of bats. In this study, we elucidated the rate of diversification and the biogeographic history of extant bat lineages using genus-level chronograms. The results suggest that a rapid adaptive radiation persisted from the emergence of crown bats until the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum, whereas there was a major deceleration in diversification around 35-49 Ma. There was a positive association between changes in the palaeotemperature and the net diversification rate until 35 Ma, which suggests that the palaeotemperature may have played an important role in the regulation of ecological opportunities. By contrast, there were unexpectedly higher diversification rates around 25-35 Ma during a period characterized by intense and long-lasting global cooling, which implies that intrinsic innovations or adaptations may have released some lineages from the intense selective pressures associated with these severe conditions. Our reconstruction of the ancestral distribution suggests an Asian origin for bats, thereby indicating that the current panglobal but disjunct distribution pattern of extant bats may be related to events involving seriate cross-continental dispersal and local extinction, as well as the influence of geological events and the expansion and contraction of megathermal rainforests during the Tertiary.

Influence of geological events on surficial and underground waters during the Pleistocene

Alternation of the cool and warm periods during the Pleistocene strongly affected the underground waters in the karstic and gravel aquifers of Slovenia. Great lowering of the Adriatic sea level during cool periods caused gradual deepening of the groundwater flows of the Slovenian littoral karst region deep below the present sea level. In the Sava river walley the groundwater level in gravel deposits has risen because of strong river unloading. Simultaneously the gravel beds modestly cemented during the warm periods were partly washed out. During the warm periods the river erosion lowered the groundwater level whereas the process of the gravel cementation continued. In the Sava river walley there are numerous well cemented gravel beds intercalated with very porous and poorly cemented layers indicating a number of strong climatic changes in the course of the Pleistocene period.