Early Triassic trace fossils from South China marginal-marine settings: Implications for biotic recovery following the end-Permian mass extinction

Abstract

Research Article| August 16, 2018 Early Triassic trace fossils from South China marginal-marine settings: Implications for biotic recovery following the end-Permian mass extinction Li-Jun Zhang; Li-Jun Zhang † 1Institute of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Biogenic Traces and Sedimentary Minerals of Henan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center of Coalbed Methane and Shale Gas for Central Plains Economic Region, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, P.R. China †ljzhanghpu@gmail.com, luis.buatois@usask.ca, gabriela.mangano@usask.ca, qiya@hpu.edu.cn, taichao@hpu.edu.cn. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Luis A. Buatois; Luis A. Buatois † 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada †ljzhanghpu@gmail.com, luis.buatois@usask.ca, gabriela.mangano@usask.ca, qiya@hpu.edu.cn, taichao@hpu.edu.cn. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. Gabriela Mángano; M. Gabriela Mángano † 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada †ljzhanghpu@gmail.com, luis.buatois@usask.ca, gabriela.mangano@usask.ca, qiya@hpu.edu.cn, taichao@hpu.edu.cn. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Yong-An Qi; Yong-An Qi † 1Institute of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Biogenic Traces and Sedimentary Minerals of Henan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center of Coalbed Methane and Shale Gas for Central Plains Economic Region, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, P.R. China †ljzhanghpu@gmail.com, luis.buatois@usask.ca, gabriela.mangano@usask.ca, qiya@hpu.edu.cn, taichao@hpu.edu.cn. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Chao Tai Chao Tai † 1Institute of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Biogenic Traces and Sedimentary Minerals of Henan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center of Coalbed Methane and Shale Gas for Central Plains Economic Region, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, P.R. China †ljzhanghpu@gmail.com, luis.buatois@usask.ca, gabriela.mangano@usask.ca, qiya@hpu.edu.cn, taichao@hpu.edu.cn. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Li-Jun Zhang † 1Institute of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Biogenic Traces and Sedimentary Minerals of Henan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center of Coalbed Methane and Shale Gas for Central Plains Economic Region, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, P.R. China Luis A. Buatois † 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada M. Gabriela Mángano † 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada Yong-An Qi † 1Institute of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Biogenic Traces and Sedimentary Minerals of Henan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center of Coalbed Methane and Shale Gas for Central Plains Economic Region, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, P.R. China Chao Tai † 1Institute of Resources and Environment, Key Laboratory of Biogenic Traces and Sedimentary Minerals of Henan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center of Coalbed Methane and Shale Gas for Central Plains Economic Region, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, P.R. China †ljzhanghpu@gmail.com, luis.buatois@usask.ca, gabriela.mangano@usask.ca, qiya@hpu.edu.cn, taichao@hpu.edu.cn. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 21 Jun 2017 Revision Received: 01 Jun 2018 Accepted: 20 Jul 2018 First Online: 16 Aug 2018 Online Issn: 1943-2674 Print Issn: 0016-7606 © 2018 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2019) 131 (1-2): 235–251. https://doi.org/10.1130/B31867.1 Article history Received: 21 Jun 2017 Revision Received: 01 Jun 2018 Accepted: 20 Jul 2018 First Online: 16 Aug 2018 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Li-Jun Zhang, Luis A. Buatois, M. Gabriela Mángano, Yong-An Qi, Chao Tai; Early Triassic trace fossils from South China marginal-marine settings: Implications for biotic recovery following the end-Permian mass extinction. GSA Bulletin 2018;; 131 (1-2): 235–251. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B31867.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The Longmendong section is one of the few Early Triassic successions containing fluvial to marine deposits in South China. No trace fossils have been recorded in the fluvial deposits, but a total of 26 ichnospecies are reported from the Lower Triassic Dongchuan, Feixianguan and Jialingjiang formations in this section. This ichnofauna represents brackish-water conditions during the late Dienerian to Smithian, and fully shallow-marine settings in the Spathian. Several ichnologic metrics, such as ichnodiversity, ichnodisparity, ichnoabundance, bioturbation intensity, burrow size, and depth of bioturbation, have been analyzed in order to evaluate the role of environmental and evolutionary factors. Although the upward increases in ichnodiversity, ichnodisparity, burrow size, and bioturbation intensity may be linked to the biotic recovery after the end-Permian mass extinction, environmental controls also play an important role in this case. Transgressive-estuarine successions typically show a vertical decrease in the salinity stress, showing the passage of brackish-water ichnofaunas to more diverse associations showing more marine affinities. However, the vertical increase in depth of bioturbation cannot be explained by environmental controls alone, instead most likely reflecting the phase of biotic recovery. Overall, ichnologic data suggest that the brackish-water ecosystem was less impacted by the end-Permian mass extinction than the fully marine realm. The shallow, fully marine benthos completely recovered in the Spathian as is the case for other areas in South China. This study underscores the importance of a careful evaluation of sedimentary facies and environmental conditions as a prerequisite for interpreting evolutionary mechanisms of biotic recovery. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.