Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 252 (2007) 291 – 303

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Abundance anomalies of aromatic biomarkers in the

Permian–Triassic boundary section at Meishan, China — Evidence
of end-Permian terrestrial ecosystem collapse
Chunjiang Wang a,⁎, Henk Visscher b
a
Laboratory of Geochemistry and Environmental Science, Faculty of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
b
Laborotary of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, 3584 CD Utrecht, The Netherlands
Accepted 30 November 2006

Abstract

Several aromatic biomarkers detected in solvent extracts and kerogen pyrolysates from samples of the Global Stratotype Section
and Point (GSSP) for the Permian–Triassic boundary at Meishan, China, show distinctive relative-abundance anomalies that may
be related to the end-Permian biotic crisis on land. Enrichment of dibenzofuran homologues across the Permian–Triassic boundary
may corroborate the concept of excessive soil erosion following loss of rooted vegetation. Enrichment of alkylphenol entities
occurs just below the main marine mass extinction horizon and prior to the characteristic end-Permian δ13C decline. The
alkylphenols were probably derived from lignin and may provide a molecular record of dieback of woody vegetation. Highly
decreased relative abundances of dibenzothiophenes could be indicative of excessive supply of Fe2+. It is suggested that Fe2+ was
land-derived and may have originated from soils. In addition to the Permian–Triassic boundary interval, biomarker abundance
anomalies also occur around the Wuchiapingian–Changhsingian boundary in the basal part of the Meishan section.
© 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Permian–Triassic boundary; Aromatic biomarkers; Biotic crisis; Soil erosion

1. Introduction Palynological studies show that terrestrial ecosystems

End-Permian extinctions devastated both marine and
terrestrial ecosystems (Erwin, 1993). Comparison of the
timing of biotic crises on land and in the sea indicates that
these were coincident events (Twitchett et al., 2001). Most
of our understanding of the extinctions has been based on
the study of marine biota, but in recent years the severity
of the terrestrial crisis is increasingly recognized.
⁎ Corresponding author. Tel.: +86 10 89733399; fax: +86 10
89733422.
E-mail address: wchj333@126.com (C. Wang).
0031-0182/$ - see front matter © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2006.11.048
experienced preferential dieback of woody vegetation,
while in many parts of the world surviving herbaceous
lycopsids played a pioneering role in repopulating
deforested terrain (Looy et al., 1999, 2001). Peat
formation ceased to occur (Retallack et al., 1996).
Evidence for terrestrial ecosystem collapse is also
provided by a proliferation of fungal remains in
Permian–Triassic transition sections from various parts
of the world (Eshet et al., 1995; Visscher et al., 1996;
Steiner et al., 2003). These remains have been interpreted
as terrestrial microfossils reflecting massive decomposi-
tion of dead plant material. Further confirmation of the
292 C. Wang, H. Visscher / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 252 (2007) 291–303

Fig. 1. Variation in relative abundance of dibenzofurans and dibenzothiophenes across the Meishan section. Lithological subdivision and age after
Jin et al. (2000). L, Longtan Formation; ∑OF, C0–C3-dibenzofurans; ∑SF, C0–C3-dibenzothiophenes; ∑F, C0–C3-fluorenes; Ar, total ions of various
series of aromatic compounds, including C0–C3-naphthalenes, C0–C3-biphenyls, C0–C3-phenanthrenes, C0–C3-dibenzofurans, C0–C3-
dibenzothiophenes, C0–C3-fluorenes, C0–C2-fluoranthenes and pyrenes, C0–C2-chrysenes, C0–C2-benzonaphthothiophenes, C0–C2-benzofluor-
anthenes and benzopyrenes, C26–C28 triaromatic-steranes. Individual compounds are quantified by calculating their peak area on the specific mass
chromatogram of the series of compounds.

severity of the crisis comes from worldwide occurrences
of abnormal morphotypes of spores and pollen, which
may be considered to reflect increased mutagenesis
during a period of excessive environmental stress
(Visscher et al., 2004; Foster and Afonin, 2005). Apart
from floral turnover, dramatic changes on land are also
indicated by widespread soil redeposition (Retallack,
2005) and changing fluviatile regimes due to massive loss
of rooted plant life (Ward et al., 2000; Michaelsen, 2002;
Arche and López-Gómez, 2005). Marine environmental
changes that have been ascribed to effects of terrestrial
ecosystem crisis are related to an elevated freshwater
input into shallow seas (Kozur, 1998; Korte et al., 2003).
In recent years, several molecular organic geochemical
studies of the biological and environmental changes
during the end-Permian biotic crisis have been carried out
(Sephton et al., 1999, 2001; Schwab and Spangenberg,
2004; Sephton et al., 2005; Watson et al., 2005; Xie et al.,
2005; Grice et al., 2005a,b; Wang et al., 2005a,b; Wang,
2007). Some of the results provide organic–geochemical
confirmation of the terrestrial crisis. In shallow-marine
Permian–Triassic sections in northern Italy, an unusual
abundance of oxygen-containing aromatic compounds
(such as dibenzofurans) has been discovered close to the
extinction interval. These compounds represent land-
derived diagenetic products of polysaccharides, and may
be indicative of massive soil erosion (Sephton et al.,
2005).
Also in the Meishan section, China, the Global
Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the Permian–
Triassic boundary (PTB), a variety of organic–geo-
chemical features have been found. Anomalous dis-
tributions of pristane (Wang et al., 2005a) and hopane
(Xie et al., 2005; Wang, 2007) near the PTB reflect
dramatic changes in marine ecosystems. In order to
obtain further information on possible effects of
terrestrial ecological crises around the PTB, the present
paper focuses on the detection and interpretation of
aromatic biomarkers through this important reference
section.
 C. Wang, H. Visscher / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 252 (2007) 291–303 293

2. Sampling and experimental
2.1. Samples
The Permian–Triassic boundary section at Meishan
is exposed in a series of abandoned limestone quarries
near Meishan in Changxing County, Zhejiang Province,
China. The quarries are labeled A, B, C, D, E and Z from
west to east. Quarry D serves as the GSSP of the PTB.
For locality and lithological description of the individual
beds, see Yin et al. (1996, 2001, 2005). The section
comprises the Changxing Formation and the lower part
of the Yinkeng Formation (Fig. 1). Bed 27 is
lithologically homogeneous but is subdivided into 27a,
27b, 27c and 27d on the basis of fossil assemblages;
the PTB is defined at the base of Hindeodus parvus
(conodont) horizon, i.e. the base of Bed 27c (Yin et al.,
2001, 2005). The illite–montmorillonite claystone of
Bed 25 is of volcanic origin and is regarded as the
principal event horizon. Bed 24e represents the last-
appearance datum of a wide variety of Late Permian
faunal species (Jin et al., 2000). Apart from the PTB, the
Meishan section also includes the proposed GSSP for
the Wuchiapingian–Changhsingian boundary (WCB,
located in the basal part of Bed 4; Jin et al., 2003). This
boundary is characterized by the extinction of a
significant number of marine faunal elements (Jin
et al., 1995; Knoll et al., 1996; Bowring et al., 1998).

Fig. 2. Partial aromatic TIC and the integrated mass chromatogram (m/z 168 + 196 + 210 + 224) showing the relative abundance and distribution of
dibenzofurans in Bed 24 and Bed 26. OF, dibenzofuran; MOF, C1-dibenzofurans; DMOF, C2-dibenzofurans; TMOF, C3-dibenzofurans; Ph,
phenanthrene; M-Ph, methylphenanthrene.
294 C. Wang, H. Visscher / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 252 (2007) 291–303

A total of 64 samples, collected from quarries B, C
and D, was selected for this study (Fig. 1). Samples are
representative of each individual bed, including various
lithological types, so that the possible effect of lithology
on molecular composition could be taken into account.
2.2. Experimental
The samples were Soxhlet extracted (with solvent
dichloromethane/methanol, 97:3), and the extracts were
separated into maltene and asphaltene fractions by
precipitation in heptane. The maltenes were fractionated
by silica–alumna column chromatography into aliphat-
ic, aromatic and polar fractions by silica–alumna
column chromatography, using hexane, benzene, and
alcohol as the developers, respectively. To obtain the
kerogen, the extracted samples were subjected to cyclic
treatments with hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids. In
preparation for pyrolysis, the kerogens were extracted
with dichloromethane.
The detection and identification of the aromatic
compounds was performed on a Finnigan SSQ710 GC–
MS using a HP-5MS (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 μm)
flexible quartz capillary column. EI mode, helium was
used as carrier gas. After an initial period of 1 min at
80 °C, the column was heated to 250 °C at 7 °C/min, and
then to 300 at 2 °C/min, followed by an isothermal
period of 15 min. Pyrolysis–GC analysis was carried out
using a SGE II pyroprobe coupled to a HP5890 II Plus
GC with a HP5 column (30 m × 0.32 mm × 0.25 μm),
and with flame ionization detector (FID). The flash
pyrolysis temperature was 610 °C (10 s). Helium was
used as carrier gas. The GC was held isothermally at
30 °C for 5 min and then ramped at 5 °C/min to 300
where it was held for 10 min. The Py–GC–MS system
was equipped by a CDS pyroprobe 2000 fitted with a
CDS1500 valve interface held at 250 °C and coupled to
a Finnigan Voyager GC800TOP GC–MS with a CP-
SIL5-CB column (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 μm). Follow-
ing heating to 610 °C at a rate of 20 °C/ms the sample
was held at this temperature for 10 s in a flow of helium.
The GC–MS conditions, EI mode, helium was used as
carrier gas; the GC was held isothermally at 35 °C for
5 min and then ramped at 3 °C/min to 300 °C where it
was held for 10 min.
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Enrichment of dibenzofurans around the PTB
Dibenzofuran (DBF) homologues in the aromatic
fractions of the samples have been detected from the

Fig. 3. Partial TIC and selected mass chromatograms (m/z 168+182+196+210+224) from Py–GC–MS analysis of kerogen showing the relative abundance
and distribution of dibenzofuran entities in the Bed 24e. Squares are used to indicate dibenzofuran homologues: A, dibenzofuran; B–C, C1-dibenzofurans; E–F,
C2-dibenzofurans; G–H, C3-dibenzofurans. Alkene/alkane pairs are indicated by inverted “V”. Mass spectra are shown in Fig. 4.
 C. Wang, H. Visscher / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 252 (2007) 291–303
base of the Changxing Formation up to the lower part of
the Yinkeng Formation (Fig. 1). Quantification of the
DBF record was based on gas chromatography–mass
spectrometry (GC–MS) traces of total ion current (TIC)
of the aromatic compound fraction and integrated mass
chromatograms (m/z 168 + 196 + 210 + 224) showing the
relative DBF abundance of dibenzofurans in the
individual beds of the Meishan section. Examples for
Bed 24 and Bed 26, shown in Fig. 2, indicate similar
distribution patterns of the DBF entities, which occur
irrespectively of differences in sedimentary facies or
lithology (the two beds are composed of dark grey
micrites and dark grey shale, respectively). There are
only small differences in demethylation and isomeriza-
tion of methyldibenzofurans (MDBFs) between differ-
ent beds. These are probably related to lithologic
variation because the DBF/MDBFs values in carbonates
are higher than those in mudstones.
In Fig. 1 we use the ∑OF/∑(OF + SF + F) and (OF +
MOF)/tAr ratios to show the variation in relative
abundance of DBF entities. Values of both ratios vary
in a rather regular way: higher values in Beds 1–6,
followed by lower values in Beds 7–19, and then
increased values in Beds 20–32. Highest levels occur in
Beds 23–26. It is obvious that the sediments from the
Fig. 4. Mass spectra corresponding to the retention times of compounds A to G in Fig. 3. The exact positions of the methyl substituents are unknown.
295
uppermost Changxing Formation and the lower Yinkeng
Formation are significantly enriched in DBF entities,
with the two ratios being higher than 0.50 and 0.20,
respectively.
DBF entities are also present in the kerogens derived
from individual beds near the PTB at Meishan. Fig. 3
gives a partial TIC and selected mass chromatograms
(m/z 168 + 182 + 196 + 210 + 224) showing the relative
abundance and distribution of DBF entities obtained by
Py–GC–MS analysis of kerogen from Bed 24e. Results
of Py–GC analysis of kerogens are shown in Fig. 5.
DBF entities are abundant in the interval from Bed 22 to
Bed 30, except Bed 27.
3.2. Causes of the enrichment of dibenzofurans
DBF and its derivatives may be common compo-
nents in the aromatic fraction of extracts from terrestrial
sediments, which are rich in plant organic matter (e.g.
Fan et al., 1990; Radke et al., 2000). However, the
Meishan strata represent typical marine sediments
deposited in slope to shallow-water basin facies under
predominant anoxic/dysoxic conditions (Wignall and
Hallam, 1993; Yin and Tong, 1998; Wignall and
Twitchett, 2002; Grice et al., 2005a; Wang et al., 2005a).
296 C. Wang, H. Visscher / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 252 (2007) 291–303

In marine PTB sections in northern Italy, abundant
DBF entities were found in solvent extracts and kerogen
pyrolysates from organic-rich marls at the top of the
shallow-marine Bellerophon Formation, just below the
Tesero horizon (Sephton et al., 1999, 2001, 2005;
Watson et al., 2005). Microscopic sedimentary organic
matter in these marls was essentially land-derived. The
furan-containing compounds are interpreted as the
remains of dehydrated polysaccharides originating
from eroded soils of terrestrial ecosystems (Sephton
et al., 2005).
At Meishan, overall organic matter composition is
different from that in northern Italy. Because of its
amorphous character and the rarity of distinctive land
plant debris, microscopic sedimentary organic matter of
the Changxing Formation and the Yinkeng Formation is
considered to be predominantly marine (Wang et al.,
2005a). In palynomorph assemblages, terrestrial com-
ponents are rare (Li et al., 2004). Dominance of marine
organic matter may be supported by molecular
and compound-specific carbon-isotopic studies of n-
alkanes, isoprenoid HCs, aryl isoprenoids and 2-
methylhopanes (Wang et al., 2005a; Grice et al.,
2005a; Xie et al., 2005).
In theory, DBFs might be partly derived from marine
organisms including algae, fungi and bacteria. How-
ever, there are no records that these organisms actually
produce precursor compounds for furan structures.
Interestingly, the enrichment of DBF moieties at
Meishan does not correlate with other biomarker indices,
such as the pristane/phytane ratio (Wang et al., 2005a),
and the hopane/sterane and moretane/hopane ratios

Fig. 5. a: Py–GCs of the kerogens from Beds 26–30 in the lowermost Yinkeng Formation. B, benzene; T, toluene; b: Py–GCs of the kerogens from Beds
23–24e at the top of the Changxing Formation; c: Py–GCs of the kerogens from selected beds in the middle part of the Changxing Formation. X, xylene;
P, phenol; MP, C1-phenol; DMP, C2-phenol; DMN, C2-naphethalene; OF, dibenzofuran; MOF, C1-dibenzofurans; DMOF, C2-dibenzofurans; TMOF,
C3-dibenzofurans. Compounds marked with filled squares could not be identified.
 C. Wang, H. Visscher / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 252 (2007) 291–303
Fig. 5 (continued ).
(Wang, 2007) around the PTB. This lack of correlation
substantiates the concept that the DBFs were not derived
from marine biota.
Consequently, in view of the fact that elevated DBF
concentrations are indicative of terrestrial organic
matter, accumulations around the PTB in the Meishan
marine sediments are likely to be the result of excessive
input of land-derived degradation products of poly-
saccharides. Because of the scarcity of particulate land-
derived organic matter in the deeper-marine Meishan
sediments, influx of submicroscopic DBFs should have
been directly from terrestrial sources. In terrestrial
ecosystems, polysaccharides, particularly cellulose of
vascular plants, form the bulk of organic matter added to
soils. Furan structures can be produced through
microbially mediated dehydration of soil polysacchar-
ides (Huang et al., 1998). Therefore, similar to the
situation in northern Italy (Sephton et al., 2005), DBF
297
enrichment in Beds 23–26 at Meishan may point to
massive soil erosion following end-Permian destruction
of land vegetation.
Soil-derived end-Permian DBF enrichment provides
independent evidence of terrestrial ecosystem collapse
that may have been caused by atmospheric acidification
and enhanced UV-B radiation resulting from strato-
spheric ozone depletion induced by the Siberian Trap
volcanism (Campbell et al., 1992; Wignall, 2001;
Visscher et al., 2004; Sephton et al., 2005). In contrast
to the Italian sections, DBF occurrences at Meishan are
not restricted to the PTB interval. Occurrences of DBFs
throughout the Changxing Formation may therefore
corroborate the concept of a prolonged period of
ecosystem destabilization preceding ecosystem col-
lapse. Particularly the WCB interval in the lowermost
part of the section may be characterized by increased
input of soil organic matter.
298 C. Wang, H. Visscher / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 252 (2007) 291–303
Fig. 5 (continued ).
3.3. Lowered abundance of dibenzothiophenes around
the PTB and WCB
The relative abundance of S- and O-heterocyclic
families in sedimentary organic matter notably varies
with depositional environment. Alkyldibenzothio-
phenes (DBTs or SF) are particularly abundant in
marine organic-rich deposits where they dominate over
alkylfluorenes (F) and alkyldibenzofurans (DBF or OF)
(Radke et al., 2000). The latter seem to prevail in
organic-rich freshwater deposits and coal measures (Fan
et al., 1990; Radke et al., 2000). The relative abundances
of the three series of compounds are usually used as
proxies for depositional conditions such as redox status.
In Fig. 1, the relative abundance of DBT entities
shows an opposite trend to that of DBF entities. The
Beds 7–19, characterized by the absence of terrestrial
organic matter and deposited under reducing condi-
tions as evidenced by low Pr/Ph values and low
abundance of DBFs, are enriched in DBT entities. In
marked contrast, the relative abundance of DBTs is
lowered in Beds 1–6 and Beds 23–32, (SF + MSF)/tAr
values being basically lower than 0.1. These low values
would suggest that these beds were formed under
oxygenated and freshwater depositional conditions.
Such an interpretation conflicts with the well-estab-
lished anoxic depositional conditions around the PTB
(Wignall and Hallam, 1993; Yin and Tong, 1998;
Wignall and Twitchett, 2002; Grice et al., 2005a; Wang
et al., 2005a), and around the WCB (Wang, 2007).
Thus, the formation of DBT entities in the Meishan
section needs a re-evaluation.
Organic sulfur-containing compounds such as DBTs
are predominantly formed by the reaction of reduced
inorganic sulfur species with functionalized organic
molecules during deposition and early diagenesis
 C. Wang, H. Visscher / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 252 (2007) 291–303 299

(Hughes, 1984; Sinninghe Damsté and De Leeuw,
1990). A critical factor controlling the formation of
DBTs should be the input of Fe2+ relative to that of S2−.
In carbonate depositional environments, the supply of
S2− is generally excessive over Fe2+ owing to extensive
development of sulphate-reducing bacteria, which
enable organic molecules with functional groups
(mainly double bonds) to combine with S2− to form
organic S-containing compounds, including DBTs.
Conversely, in situations of excessive Fe2+ supply, S2−
will prefer to react with Fe2+ to form FeS2 while
formation of DBTs is inhibited. It is likely, therefore,
that increased Fe2+ input has played an important role in
lowering DBT concentrations in the PTB and WCB
intervals of the Meishan section. Soils were a plausible
source of Fe2+. Loss of rooted vegetation may have
resulted in excessive Fe2+ transport by river action to
marine depositional environments. Alternatively, there
may have been a role for the iron cycle, in which iron-
containing soil dust is transported from land through the
atmosphere to the oceans (Jickells et al., 2005).
3.4. Enrichment of alkylphenols preceding the marine
mass extinction level
In the Meishan section, also the aromatic group of
alkylphenols shows variation in relative abundances.
Fig. 5a, b, and c shows the variation in relative abun-
dance and in distribution of alkylphenol entities in
selected beds from the middle part of the Changxing
Fm. to the lower part of the Yinkeng Fm. Notably the
interval of Bed 23 to Bed 24e is enriched in alkylphenol
entities (Fig. 5b). Fig. 6 gives the partial TICs and
selected mass chromatograms (m/z 94 + 108 + 122 + 136)
based on Py–GC–MS analysis of kerogen samples from
two key beds below and above the mass extinction level
(the base of Bed 25). It is clear that the distribution of
alkylphenol entities in Bed 24e and Bed 26 are very

Fig. 6. Partial TICs and selected mass chromatograms (m/z 94 + 108 + 122 + 136) from Py–GC–MS analysis of kerogens. It is clear that the
alkylphenols are much more abundant (as main peaks) in Bed 24e than in Bed 26. A, phenol (P); B–C, C1-phenols (MP); E–G, C2-phenols (DMP);
H–J, C3-phenols (TMP). Mass spectra are shown in Fig. 7.
300 C. Wang, H. Visscher / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 252 (2007) 291–303
Fig. 7. Mass spectra corresponding to the retention times of compounds A to J in Fig. 6. A, phenol; B, 2-me-phenol; C, 4- + 3-me-phenol. The exact
positions of the methyl substituents in C2- and C3-phenols are unknown.
similar. However, the relative abundances of alkylphe-
nols, as compared with n-alkanes, are different. TIC
traces indicate that alkylphenols are much more
abundant in Bed 24e than in Bed 26.
The alkylphenol-rich interval is also characterized by
the onset of other important geochemical changes, such
as the onset of DBF enrichment (Fig. 1), the hopane
distribution anomaly (Wang, 2007), and the onset of the
characteristic end-Permian negative shift in δ13Ccarb (Li,
1999; Jin et al., 2000; Cao et al., 2002; Wang et al.,
2005b). Accordingly, the geochemical significance of
the enrichment of alkylphenol entities in Beds 23–24
needs further explanation.
Phenols are the main units in the chemical structure
of suberine (Kolattukudy, 1980). Alkylphenols, along
with methoxy-substituted alkylphenols and alkylated
catechols, are typical pyrolysis products of lignins and
altered lignins (Saiz-Jimenez and De Leeuw, 1986; Saiz-
Jimenez et al., 1987; Nip et al., 1987; Hatcher and
Clifford, 1997). They are also major components of the
pyrolysates of coals (Khorasania and Michelsen, 1991).
Because the distribution of alkylphenol entities in Beds
23–24 is basically similar to that in coals, enrichment is
here considered to be indicative of a significant input of
lignin-derived organic material to the marine environ-
ment. As evidenced by a predominantly amorphous
nature, the remains of woody plants must have been
heavily biodegraded. Only a small amount could be
identified as a typical lignin-derived maceral (vitrinite)
(Wang et al., 2005a).
In theory, there may be many other potential
precursors of alkylphenols, including marine algae
(Van Heemst et al., 1999). However, since alkylphenol
enrichment is restricted to Beds 23–24, a predominant
marine origin would be difficult to explain.
Enrichment of alkylphenols occurs just before the
main marine mass extinction event recognized at the
base of Bed 25 (Jin et al., 2000). Considering a
terrestrial origin of the alkylphenols, their enrichment in
marine sediments may record the onset of ecological
crisis on land characterized by collapse of woody
vegetation. The duration of this molecular record could
be in the order of several hundred thousands years, but
is considerably shorter than the record of DBF
enrichment, which can be traced up to Bed 30
(Fig. 1). Interestingly, the enrichment interval of the
 C. Wang, H. Visscher / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 252 (2007) 291–303
alkylphenol entities basically precedes the onset of the
characteristic negative shift in δ13 Ccarb (Li, 1999; Jin
et al., 2000; Cao et al., 2002), δ13 Ckerogen value (Cao et
al., 2002; Wang et al., 2005b), and in δ 13 C values of
individual biomarkers (Wang et al., 2005a,b), which
ranges in the Meishan section from the top of Bed 24e to
the base of Bed 26. This timing is in accordance with
high-resolution palynomorph records from East Green-
land, which indicate rapid conversion from closed-
canopied gymnosperm woodland to open lycopsid-
dominant vegetation at the end of the Permian (Looy
et al., 2001; Visscher et al., 2004).
4. Conclusions
Molecular geochemical study of aromatic fractions
in solvent extracts and kerogen pyrolysates from
samples from the Permian–Triassic transition section
at Meishan reveals an enrichment of dibenzofuran in
Beds 22–32 around the Permian–Triassic boundary.
Dibenzofurans are probably degradation products of
polysaccharides in soils. Their enrichment in marine
sediments is suggested to be the result of excessive soil
erosion following collapse of terrestrial ecosystems.
Alkylphenol entities are notably enriched in Beds 23–
24e, just below the main marine mass extinction
horizon (base of Bed 25), and prior to the characteristic
negative δ13 Ccarb excursion. The alkylphenols are
probably derived from lignin and may provide an
important molecular record of massive dieback of
woody vegetation. Highly decreased relative abun-
dances of dibenzothiophenes in Beds 1–6 and Beds
23–32 could be indicative for excessive supply of Fe2+
around the Wuchiapingian–Changhsingian and Perm-
ian–Triassic boundaries, respectively. It is suggested
that Fe2+was land-derived and may have originated
from soils.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Prof. Jin Yugan of Nanjing
Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, for his helpful discussions and
suggestions, Dr. Peng Ping-an of Guangzhou Institute of
Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, for Py–
GC–MS analysis, Dr. Su Xuefeng of Huabei Institute of
Petroleum Sciences, China National Petroleum Corpo-
ration, for Py–GC analysis. We thank Dr. Thomas
Algeo, Dr. Mark Sephton and an anonymous reviewer
for their constructive comments. This work was
supported by the National Natural Science Foundation
of China (Grant No. 40272056).
301
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