Late Miocene <i>Pseudolarix amabilis</i> bract-scale complex from Zhejiang, East China

<div><p>Previously, the identification of fossil <i>Pseudolarix</i> at the species level has been based on the morphology of the bract-scale complex of the seed cone. The morphological consistence of fossils through most of the Cenozoic with extant <i>P</i>. <i>amabilis</i> has led them to be considered conspecific, suggesting that <i>P</i>. <i>amabilis</i> is an extraordinary example of morphological stasis. However, the lack of cuticular evidence, especially for the leaf-homologous bract, reduces the accuracy of fossil identification based on morphology, thus weakening the evidence for morphological stasis in <i>P</i>. <i>amabilis</i>. For the first time, we provide cuticular evidence of the bract-scale of fossil <i>P</i>. <i>amabilis</i> based on the bract-scale complex from the late Miocene Shengxian Formation, Zhejiang, East China, which improves the identification accuracy and reinforces the concept of morphological stasis in this species. Second, we preliminarily reveal the niche stability of <i>P</i>. <i>amabilis</i>, which corresponds to its morphological stasis. Finally, we infer that the late Miocene forest containing <i>P</i>. <i>amabilis</i> in Zhejiang was an evergreen sclerophyllous broad-leaved or mixed mesophytic forest, which combined with the evergreen broad-leaved forest suggested by previous megafossil studies, indicates the occurrence of vertical vegetation zonation.</p></div

The MAT requirements of <i>Pseudolarix amabilis</i> through geological time^a.

<p>The MAT requirements of <i>Pseudolarix amabilis</i> through geological time<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0180979#t001fn001" target="_blank">^a</a>.</p

MAT requirements for the survival of <i>Pseudolarix amabilis</i> compared with global climate over the Cenozoic.

<p>(A) Global benthic δ¹⁸O record (modified from Zachos et al. [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0180979#pone.0180979.ref007" target="_blank">7</a>]). (B) MAT requirements of <i>P</i>. <i>amabilis</i> at different time slices during the Cenozoic (for details, see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0180979#pone.0180979.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>). The dashed line shows the linear trend in the median required MAT values.</p

Wood Usage and Fire Veneration in the Pamir, Xinjiang, 2500 yr BP

<div><p>Located on the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang Province, China, the Ji’erzankale Necropolis dates back to 2500 yr BP. Many materials that have been unearthed in this cemetery, including shoo konghou (musical instrument), bronze mirrors and glass beads, suggest cultural transference between East and West. Furthermore, small-sized and rounded fire altars made from sweet-scented <i>Sabina</i> were found for the first time and regarded as implements for fire veneration. We identified 70 wooden objects from 25 tombs within the Necropolis, and found that each object had been made from one of seven tree species. Analysis revealed that the inhabitants of the region mainly used the most widely available types of wood, namely <i>Betula</i> and <i>Populus</i>. People also specifically chose inflammable <i>Populus</i> wood to make hearth boards and hand drills (both are used for making fire by drilling), rigid <i>Betula</i> wood to craft wooden plates. <i>Salix </i>was used for fashioning wooden sticks, while sweet-scented <i>Sabina</i> was the preferred choice for making fire altars. <i>Lonicera</i> was selected for arrow shaft manufacture and <i>Fraxinus syriaca</i>, which has a beautiful grain, was chosen for making musical instruments. Conscious selection of different types of wood indicates that people of the Pamir Plateau were aware of the properties of various types of timbers, and were able to exploit these properties to the full. In turn, this demonstrates their wisdom and their ability to survive in, and adapt to, their local environment.</p></div

Photographs of wooden objects from Ji’erzankale Necropolis.

<p>(a)Top view of fire altar; (b) Front view of fire altar; (c) Arrow shaft; (d) Hearth board and hand drill; (e) Hand drill; (f) Hearth board; (g) Top view of wooden plate; (h) Top view of shoo konghou.</p

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates from the Ji’erzankale Necropolis.

<p>Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates from the Ji’erzankale Necropolis.</p

The use and species of wood found in Ji’erzankale Necropolis.

<p>The use and species of wood found in Ji’erzankale Necropolis.</p