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Article: Biostratinomic analysis of Lycoptera beds from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation, western Liaoning, China

Publication: Palaeontology
Volume: 58
Part: 3
Publication Date: May 2015
Page(s): 537 561
Author(s): Yanhong Pan, Franz T. Fürsich, Jiangyong Zhang, Yaqiong Wang and Xiaoting Zheng
Addition Information

How to Cite

PAN, Y., FÜRSICH, F.T., ZHANG, J., WANG, Y., ZHENG, X. 2015. Biostratinomic analysis of Lycoptera beds from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation, western Liaoning, China. Palaeontology, 58, 3, 537-561.

Author Information

  • Yanhong Pan - Key Laboratory of Economic Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China (email: yhpan@nigpas.ac.cn)
  • Franz T. Fürsich - GeoZentrum Nordbayern, FG Paläoumwelt, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany (email: franz.fuersich@fau.de)
  • Franz T. Fürsich - State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
  • Jiangyong Zhang - Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing, China (email: zhangjiangyong@ivpp.ac.cn)
  • Yaqiong Wang - Key Laboratory of Economic Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China (email: yqwang@nigpas.ac.cn)
  • Xiaoting Zheng - Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature, Pingyi, Shandong, China (email: ty4291666@163.com)
  • Xiaoting Zheng - Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Linyi University, Linyi City, Shandong, China

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 21 APR 2015
  • Article first published online: 9 MAR 2015
  • Manuscript Accepted: 13 FEB 2015
  • Manuscript Received: 25 NOV 2014

Funded By

National Natural Science Foundation of China. Grant Number: 41472009
National Basic Research Program of China. Grant Number: 2012CB821906
Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province. Grant Number: BK20141056
Open-Lab Grants of the State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, CAS

Online Version Hosted By

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Abstract

Little is known about the palaeoenvironments of the Early Cretaceous lakes of western Liaoning. Uncertainties exist especially about the water depth, water temperatures and annual temperature fluctuations. Here, we analyse the preservation of the most abundant fish of the lakes, the teleost Lycoptera, articulated skeletons of which occur in large concentrations suggestive of mass mortality. Taphonomic features such as degree of disarticulation, orientation patterns and displacement of skeletal elements reveal distinct preservational patterns. They suggest that the water temperature was low during winter and exhibited pronounced seasonal fluctuations. The depth of the lakes was not deep. Possible causes of the fish mortality are discussed, of which anoxia is favoured. This leads to a more refined palaeoenvironmental model for these palaeolakes, which harbour one of the most important Mesozoic Lagerstätten.

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