Brachiopods around the Permian-Triassic Boundary of South China

This timely book documents marvelous brachiopod fossils from the Palaeozoic-Mesozoic transition of South China. Numerous beautiful pictures and detailed descriptions (specifically the measurements of body size) of brachiopod species are presented. Systematic discussion on the evolution of brachiopod biodiversity and morphological features across the critical interval is not only extremely important for paleontologists to understand the marine ecosystem evolution from the Palaeozoic to the Mesozoic, but also attractive for students who need to know about the end-Permian mass extinction.

The book distinguishes itself from other studies by its detailed study of the taxonomy, biodiversity and paleoecology of Permian-Triassic brachiopods from different palaeogeographic facies, especially from the deep-water environment in South China. The book also offers a unique study of the response of morphological features of brachiopods to palaeoenvironmental changes, providing insights for the process of Permian-Triassic crisis.

Introduction: HE Weihong, SHI GR, SHEN Shuzhong.- Geographical location and palaeogeographic setting of studied sections: HE Weihong, ZHANG Kexin, SHI GR.- Depositional sequences, biotic assemblages and review on Changhsingian (or late Changhsingian) palaeo-water depths of studied sections: HE Weihong, ZHANG Kexin, SHI GR, XIAO Yifan, BU Jianjun.- Age analysis and stratigraphic correlation: HE Weihong, SHI GR, ZHANG Kexin, WU Shunbao.- Materials and methods: HE Weihong, SHI GR, YANG Tinglu, WANG Yongbiao.- Evolution of brachiopod diversity across the PTB in varied palaeogeographic settings: HE Weihong, SHI GR.- Spatial and temporal body-size changes of brachiopods in relation to varied palaeogeographic settings: HE Weihong, SHI GR.- Discussion on changes of brachiopod diversity and morphologic features and their implications for the environmental crisis of the Great Dying: HE Weihong, SHI GR, BU Jianjun.- Systematic Palaeonology:HE Weihong, SHI GR, SHEN Shenzhong, YANG Tinglu, ZHANG Yang, WU Huiting, WANG Han, BU Jianjun.