Journal of Palaeogeography（Chinese Edition） ›› 2026, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (2): 782-789. doi: 10.7605/gdlxb.2026.028

• BIOPALAEOGEOGRAPHY AND PALAEOECOLOGY • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Two species of Acer from the Early Miocene in Chifeng,Inner Mongolia and their implications for palaeoclimate and palaeogeography

WANG Xiaoyan1(), XIA Mingzhe1(), JI Deshuang1, YANG Fan1, LIU Ying1, LI Xiangchuan1,2,3, XIAO Liang1,2,3()   

  1. 1 Key Laboratory of Western China’s Mineral Resources and Geological Engineering,Ministry of Education, School of Earth Science and Resources,Chang’an University,Xi’an 710054,China
    2 Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Nanjing 210008,China
    3 Key Laboratory of Early Life and Environment of Shaanxi Province,Northwest University,Xi’an 710069,China
  • Received:2025-05-31 Revised:2025-07-12 Online:2026-04-01 Published:2026-04-07
  • Contact: XIAO Liang,born in 1980,is a professor and doctoral supervisor at Chang’an University. He is mainly engaged in researches on paleontology and stratigraphy. E-mail: .
    XIA Mingzhe,born in 1979,is an associate professor and masteral supervisor at Chang’an University. He is mainly engaged in research on petrology. E-mail: .
  • About author:

    WANG Xiaoyan,born in 2000,is a master’s degree candidate at Chang’an University. She is mainly engaged in research on paleobotany. E-mail: .

  • Supported by:
    Natural Science Basic Research Program in Shaanxi Province of China(2025JC-YBMS-272); Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of Chang'an University(300102272206); National Natural Science Foundation of China(41872017)

内蒙古赤峰早中新世两种槭属化石及其古气候、古地理意义*

王孝燕1(), 夏明哲1(), 纪德爽1, 杨帆1, 刘英1, 李相传1,2,3, 肖良1,2,3()   

  1. 1 西部矿产资源与地质工程教育部重点实验室,长安大学地球科学与资源学院,陕西西安 710054
    2 中国科学院南京地质古生物研究所,江苏南京 210008
    3 陕西省早期生命与环境重点实验室(西北大学),陕西西安 710069
  • 通讯作者: 肖良,男,1980年生,长安大学教授、博士生导师,主要从事古生物学与地层学研究。 E-mail: 。
    夏明哲,男,1979年生,长安大学副教授、硕士生导师,主要从事岩石学研究。 E-mail: 。
  • 作者简介:

    王孝燕,女,2000年生,长安大学硕士研究生,主要从事古植物学研究。 E-mail: 。

  • 基金资助:
    * 陕西省自然科学基础研究计划项目(2025JC-YBMS-272); 长安大学中央高校基本科研业务费专项(300102272206); 国家自然科学基金项目(41872017)

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Abstract:

Acer Linn. represents a significant component among the northern temperate broad-leaved forests,with a wide geographical distribution across the northern temperate regions and occasionally extending into certain subtropical zones. In this study,we document nine leaf fossils and two samara fossils of Acer from the Laoliangdi Formation in Chifeng,Inner Mongolia. These fossils were identified as A. cf. sinense of section Palmata and A. cf. buergerianum of section Oblonga based on detailed morphological observations and comparisons. Furthermore,we reconstructed the dispersal routes of these two sections using the fossil record. During the Paleocene,section Palmata was restricted to East Asia. By the Late Eocene,it expanded into Europe via the Turgai Strait. During the Oligocene and Miocene,this section became widespread across Eurasia. In the Pliocene and Pleistocene,its distribution was again limited to East Asia. However,during the Holocene,section Palmata expanded from East Asia to North America,resulting in the current disjunct distribution between these two continents. Section Oblonga likely migrated from the high latitudes of North America to the mid-latitudes of East Asia via the Bering Land Bridge during the Late Eocene. After the Miocene,this section disappeared from North America and persisted exclusively in East Asia,where it remains widely distributed today. The distinct dispersal histories of sections Palmata and Oblonga highlight the need for further investigation into the biogeographical pathways of Acer species across different sections. Additionally,by integrating the current climatic parameters of the habitats of A. sinense and A. buergerianum with those of the reported Early Miocene plant fossils in Chifeng,Inner Mongolia,we estimate that the mean annual temperature in Chifeng during the Early Miocene ranged from 10.6 to 18.2 ℃,with annual precipitation ranging from 950 to 1492 mm. These data indicate a warm and humid climate in the Early Miocene. This study further enriches the plant diversity in Early Miocene eastern Inner Mongolia and provides new evidence for the climate of this region during the Early Miocene.

Key words: Acer, palaeogeography, palaeoclimate, Laoliangdi Formation, Miocene, Inner Mongolia

摘要：

槭属(Acer Linn.)是现今北温带阔叶林的重要组成分子,广泛分布于北温带和部分亚热带地区。本研究对内蒙古赤峰中新统老梁底组的9块槭属叶片化石和2块槭属翅果化石进行了系统分类学研究,将其鉴定为鸡爪槭组(section Palmata)的中华槭(相似种)Acer cf. sinense Pax和全缘槭组(section Oblonga)的三角槭(相似种)Acer cf. buergerianum Miq.。依据化石记录,重建了鸡爪槭组和全缘槭组的传播路径: 鸡爪槭组在古新世时仅生长于东亚地区,至晚始新世越过图尔盖海峡扩散至欧洲地区,渐新世和中新世鸡爪槭组分布于欧亚大陆,上新世和更新世鸡爪槭组退缩到东亚地区,而在全新世,该组从东亚向北美地区扩散,形成当今东亚—北美间断分布的格局。全缘槭组在晚始新世可能通过白令陆桥从北美高纬度地区传播至东亚中纬度地区,自中新世之后,该组在北美地区消失,当前仅在东亚地区广泛分布。鸡爪槭组和全缘槭组的传播路径存在一定的差异,表明分组对槭属植物传播路径进行研究的必要性。结合现生中华槭和三角槭分布区及内蒙古赤峰已报道的早中新世植物化石的现生亲缘种分布区的气候参数,推测赤峰地区早中新世的年均气温为10.6~18.2 ℃,年均降水量为950~1492 mm,气候温暖湿润。本研究不仅进一步丰富了内蒙古东部早中新世的植物多样性,也为该地区早中新世的气候研究提供了新的证据。

关键词: 槭属, 古地理, 古气候, 老梁底组, 中新世, 内蒙古

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