Characteristics of Paleontological Communities in Surface Sediments of the Southern South China Sea and Their Paleoclimatic and Paleoenvironmental Significance

Jing Zhao; Li Zhang; Xiaoyan Wang; Jinglian Ge; Min Xu; Wei Chen; Mao Luo; Qianyong Liang; Qiuhua Yu; Shuaibing Luo; Wenkun Qie

doi:10.1007/s12583-023-1910-5

Volume 35 Issue 1

Feb 2024

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Journal of Earth Science > 2024 > 35(1): 144-154.

Jing Zhao, Li Zhang, Xiaoyan Wang, Jinglian Ge, Min Xu, Wei Chen, Mao Luo, Qianyong Liang, Qiuhua Yu, Shuaibing Luo, Wenkun Qie. Characteristics of Paleontological Communities in Surface Sediments of the Southern South China Sea and Their Paleoclimatic and Paleoenvironmental Significance. Journal of Earth Science, 2024, 35(1): 144-154. doi: 10.1007/s12583-023-1910-5

Citation:

Jing Zhao, Li Zhang, Xiaoyan Wang, Jinglian Ge, Min Xu, Wei Chen, Mao Luo, Qianyong Liang, Qiuhua Yu, Shuaibing Luo, Wenkun Qie. Characteristics of Paleontological Communities in Surface Sediments of the Southern South China Sea and Their Paleoclimatic and Paleoenvironmental Significance. Journal of Earth Science, 2024, 35(1): 144-154. doi: 10.1007/s12583-023-1910-5

Citation:

Jing Zhao, Li Zhang, Xiaoyan Wang, Jinglian Ge, Min Xu, Wei Chen, Mao Luo, Qianyong Liang, Qiuhua Yu, Shuaibing Luo, Wenkun Qie. Characteristics of Paleontological Communities in Surface Sediments of the Southern South China Sea and Their Paleoclimatic and Paleoenvironmental Significance. Journal of Earth Science, 2024, 35(1): 144-154. doi: 10.1007/s12583-023-1910-5

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Characteristics of Paleontological Communities in Surface Sediments of the Southern South China Sea and Their Paleoclimatic and Paleoenvironmental Significance

doi: 10.1007/s12583-023-1910-5

Jing Zhao^{1, 2
,},
Li Zhang^{1, 2},
Xiaoyan Wang³,
Jinglian Ge³,
Min Xu^{3
,
,
,},
Wei Chen³,
Mao Luo³,
Qianyong Liang^{1, 2},
Qiuhua Yu^{1, 2},
Shuaibing Luo^{1, 2},
Wenkun Qie³

1.
Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resoures, Ministry of Natural Resources, Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou 511458, China
2.
National Engineering Research Center for Gas Hydrate Exploration and Development, Guangzhou 511458, China
3.
State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China

More Information

Corresponding author: Min Xu, minxu@nigpas.ac.cn
Received Date: 17 Apr 2023
Accepted Date: 21 Jun 2023

Available Online: 01 Mar 2024

Issue Publish Date: 29 Feb 2024

Abstract

Abstract

Understanding the spatial and temporal distribution of different paleontological communities in the southern South China Sea (SCS) is fundamental to explore its paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes. In this study, foraminifera, pollen and diatoms from 100 surface sediment samples covering 40 000 km² of sea floor in the southern SCS were comprehensively investigated in terms of their assemblage and distribution. The results showed the existence of abundant foraminifera and pollen in most of the samples, although diatom communities were relatively scarce. Foraminifera were dominated by G. sacculifer, G. menardii, G. ruber, while diatoms were characterized by T. simonsenii, T. nitzschioides and T. longissima, indicating a typical tropical marine environment. The pollen assemblages showed a better reflection of montane rainforest, tropical rainforest and mangrove. The spatial differences among foraminifera assemblages may indicate the effect of water depth and a warmer environment in the southeast part of the study area, while the spatial patterns of diatom and pollen assemblages imply the influence of coastal current. Our study also noted that the compositions of paleontological communities in the SCS can vary significantly in a short distance, and synthesized studies on multiple biological groups are needed to reconstruct the Quaternary climate and the oceanographic environment.
- southern South China Sea,
- sediments,
- foraminifera,
- diatom,
- pollen

Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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