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The discovery of Jurassic plants in Shenzhen of Guangdong, southern China and related significance

  • Article
  • Geology
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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

Investigations of major marine and non-marine geologic and biotic events across the Triassic-Jurassic transition rely predominantly on detailed stratigraphic frameworks and biodiversity analyses. The alternating sequences of marine and terrestrial Triassic-Jurassic formations in Guangdong Province represent one of the most remarkable coal-bearing series in southern China. The Lower Jurassic Jinji Formation is widely distributed in Guangdong, with continuously outcropped sections and rich marine and non-marine fossil fauna. However, as little research has been conducted on fossil plant remains in the Jinji Formation, it is difficult to understand the systematics, diversity, and floral aspects of the Jurassic. Here we reports on the recent collection of rich fossil plants from the Jinji Formation in the Dapeng area of Shenzhen, southern Guangdong Province. Our studies demonstrate taxonomical affiliations, preservation status, and diversity features of these plant fossils, which are marked by the close association of densely preserved, pinnae and rachis connected leaves, and the bennettitalean reproductive organs of Williamsoniella, which may represent an Early Jurassic plant community dominated by Otozamites of the bennettitales. This work not only represents the first discovery of fossil plants in the Shenzhen area, but is also the first documentation of Jurassic plants in Guangdong and the Pearl River Delta regions. Research related to these plant fossils will be helpful in the correlation of the Early Mesozoic coal-bearing strata in Guangdong, and will provide a deeper understanding of variations in plant diversity of the Triassic and Jurassic transition in southern China. Additionally, it will provide terrestrial plant evidence for explorations in Jurassic palaeoecology, palaeoclimatology, and palaeogeography of southern China.

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Acknowledgments

The present study was jointly supported by the State Basic Research Program of China (2012CB822003), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41272010, 40972008), the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX2-YW-154), and the Team Program of Scientific Innovation and Interdisciplinary Cooperation of Chinese Academy of Sciences. This is a contribution of IGCP 632.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China

    Yongdong Wang, Xiangwu Wu, Xiaoju Yang & Liqin Li

  2. Shenzhen Mesozoic Culture Communication Co. LTD, Shenzhen, 518081, China

    Wei Duan

Authors
  1. Yongdong Wang
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  2. Xiangwu Wu
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  3. Xiaoju Yang
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  4. Wei Duan
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  5. Liqin Li
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Correspondence to Yongdong Wang.

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Wang, Y., Wu, X., Yang, X. et al. The discovery of Jurassic plants in Shenzhen of Guangdong, southern China and related significance. Chin. Sci. Bull. 59, 3630–3637 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-014-0449-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-014-0449-5

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