Language
Country/Area
No result found
Amazing Wetland Ecosystems: What's the Secret of the Lower Cretaceous Biodiversity at Erhe?
During the Lower Cretaceous period, about 130 million years ago, wetland ecosystems in North China were among the most biologically diverse environments on Earth. This period is called the "Erhe Biota" and includes all the organisms in today's Northeast China. But how was the ecosystem of this area formed? Why does it preserve such a rich fossil record? These questions have attracted the attention of many scientists and allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of the biological world at that time.
Characteristics of an Ecosystem
The ecosystem of the Erhe Biota is dominated by wetlands and lakes, and the climate is quite mild, with frequent seasonal rainfall. The existence of these environments has had a profound impact on the evolution and diversity of life. Studies have shown that the evolution of this ecosystem was influenced by intermittent volcanic eruptions, which deposited volcanic ash in lake sediments, providing excellent conditions for the preservation of biological remains.
The Erhe Biota contains not only a large number of fossils, but also excellent preservation, often including fully articulated skeletons, soft tissues, color patterns and even plant leaves and flowers.
Fossil preservation and research
The Yixian and Jiufotang formations in Erhe are considered ideal fossil preservation areas and are also known as Lagerstätte. The high degree of preservation of these fossils allows scientists to analyze the structural characteristics and living habits of early organisms. According to the study, these animals and plants entered the lake in a relatively stable environment, so they were not damaged by the flood.
The rapid deposition of volcanic ash created an oxygen-deprived environment around the fossils, preventing predators, a key factor in the organisms' excellent preservation.
Biodiversity and Evolution
The biodiversity of the Erhe Biota is extremely amazing. In addition to a variety of plant and animal fossils, many "relict" species that were only known in the Late Jurassic or earlier periods have been discovered. These species not only reflect the ecological changes at that time, but also show the important position of Northeast Asia in the evolution of dinosaurs.
For example, the discovery of Sinosauropteryx, an early ornithischian dinosaur, and Dendrorhynchoides, one of the early pterosaurs, are amazing fossil evidence.
What we see is not only a record of history, but also an important milestone on the road of evolution.
Progress in scientific research
The study of Jehol Biota began in the 1960s. With the discovery of fossils and the advancement of technology, the scientific community's understanding of this biota has gradually deepened. As more discoveries are made, scientists continue to explore the evolutionary relationships of these biomes and their interconnections with global biodiversity.
For example, Gu first introduced the name "Jehol Biota" in 1962, and with subsequent research, this term describes the evolution of organisms since the late Jurassic period. These studies provide important information for understanding the evolution of ecosystems and the impacts of environmental change.
Geologists and paleontologists have dedicated themselves to piecing together the complex puzzle of life in the Jehol region, revealing insights into how ancient ecosystems functioned and adapted.
Challenges and future research directions
Although great progress has been made in our understanding of the Erhe biota, many questions remain unanswered. Scientists need more stratigraphic analysis of the shield to better understand the evolution of the ecosystem. At the same time, we must also combine these findings with global ecosystem changes to understand the overall evolution of biodiversity.
Current scientific research shows that Erhe is not a simple isolated ecology, but includes species from all over the world, forming a diverse and rich biota. With deeper exploration in the future, will we be able to uncover more secrets behind this biodiversity?
