Abstract:

 Three terrestrial biotas, i.e., the Yanliao, Jehol and Fuxin biotas, existed around the North China during the Late Mesozoic. Evolutionary radiation of the biotas accompanied with a series of geological events, such as lithospheric thinning, magmatic activities, metamorphic core complex and extensional basins, which suggests a mechanism of interaction and response in the Earth surface systems. Radiation and extinction of the biotas were highly coincident with large igneous provinces (Tiaojishan Fm.Zhangjiakou Fm. and Dabeigou Fm.Yixian Fm.) in geochronological perspectives. Ecosystems and palaeogeography of the Earth surface system were strongly, directly or indirectly, affected or reformed by those contemporaneous geological events, and for surviving the biotas had to change themselves and to radiate to adapt the affected ecosystems or palaeogeography. Ecosystems or evolutionary radiation was also affected by volcanic eruptions and magmatic activities. The biota (fossils) are mostly preserved in lacustrine deposits bearing a number of volcanic tuffs or interclations of lavas, which provide a window for understanding the interaction and response. A remarkable geological event and a response to global Earth surface system, i.e., the North China Cratonbreakingup, occurred during the Late Mesozoic, which was recorded within the contemporaneous sedimentary successions and a series of characterized terrestrial deposits. Synthesized researches on biotic evolution, alternation and accurate chronological dating, taphonomy of vertebrate or invertebrate fossils and elemental or isotopic geochemistry of bones of fossils and sediments, i.e., HBCNOS and COSr, could help us to well understand the biotic and environmental response to the geological events on the Earth surface system and reconstructed the palaeogeography, palaeoecologic environment and palaeoecosystem of the Late Mesozoic, North China.

Key words: Key words: Late Mesozoic; Earth surface; geological events; environment; biota