Marine Ecosystem Changes from the Latest Permian to Middle Triassic in Qingyan Area, Guizhou, Southwest China

摘要

The Permian-Triassic (P-T) mass extinction not only resulted in a great depletion of biodiversity (Alroy et al., 2008; Sepkoski, 1981), but also reorganized marine ecosystems (Chen Z Q et al., 2010; Bottjer et al., 2008). The general picture of ecosystem changeover through the P-T transition is well recorded in the uppermost Permian to Middle Triassic successions in the Qingyan area, Guizhou, Southwest China (Fig. 1a). This study aims to document ecosystem's collapse in the P-T mass extinction and rebuilding in Early-Middle Triassic in the Qingyan area using various measuring proxies such as benthic community structures, trace-fossil assemblages, bioturbation levels and unusual sedimentary structures.