Paleoecology and Stratigraphy of Cretaceous Terrestrial Systems
Summary
The Cretaceous interval (circa 145–66 Ma) represents a pivotal chapter in Earth history, marked by greenhouse climates, fluctuating sea levels and the breakup of Pangaea. Terrestrial stratigraphic successions—spanning fluvial channels, floodplains, lacustrine basins and deltaic complexes—preserve a rich record of ancient ecosystems. Palaeoecological analyses integrate sedimentary facies, fossil assemblages and geochemical proxies to reconstruct vegetation shifts, hydrological regimes and faunal dynamics, including the rapid diversification of angiosperms and the zenith of dinosaurian clades. Stratigraphic frameworks employ biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy and chemostratigraphy to establish high-resolution correlations among continents, revealing synchronous ecological events and regional heterogeneities. Episodic volcanic activity and bolide impacts are recorded as marker beds or geochemical anomalies, offering insights into biotic stress responses. Advances in U-Pb geochronology and palaeoclimate modelling have tightened age constraints and illuminated feedbacks between climate, tectonics and biodiversity. Together, these approaches elucidate the interplay of environmental drivers and biological evolution during the Cretaceous, informing both fundamental questions of Earth system science and applied endeavours such as resource exploration and geological heritage conservation.
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Paleoecology and Stratigraphy of Cretaceous Terrestrial Systems publication trend
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Technical terms
Palaeoecology: Study of interactions between ancient organisms and their environments.
Stratigraphy: Analysis of rock layers (strata) and their temporal and spatial relationships.
Facies: Distinctive characteristics of a rock unit reflecting its depositional environment.
Biostratigraphy: Use of fossil assemblages to establish relative ages and correlate strata.
Chronostratigraphy: Discipline concerned with the absolute timing and age relationships of rock units.
References
- Stratigraphic characteristics and geological significance of Qingshankou Formation in Songliao Basin. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science (2021).
- A New Understanding of the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation in Western Liaoning. Open Journal of Geology (2019).
- Cretaceous Stratigraphy, Paleoenvironment and Terrestrial Biota in Shandong Province. Open Journal of Geology (2019).
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