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Biostratinomic analysis of Lycoptera beds from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation, western Liaoning, China
Author(s) -
Pan Yanhong,
Fürsich Franz T.,
Zhang Jiangyong,
Wang Yaqiong,
Zheng Xiaoting
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
palaeontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.69
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1475-4983
pISSN - 0031-0239
DOI - 10.1111/pala.12160
Subject(s) - yixian formation , taphonomy , cretaceous , paleontology , geology , fish <actinopterygii> , china , geography , ecology , physical geography , biology , archaeology , mesozoic , fishery , structural basin
Little is known about the palaeoenvironments of the E arly C retaceous lakes of western L iaoning. 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 L ycoptera , 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 M esozoic L agerstätten.