L'importance de l'approche qualitative en paléontologie: L'exemple des “Neuroptéridées” (ptéridospermées du Carbonifère). Quelques implications
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- 作者：Jean-Pierre Laveine ; Shanzhen Zhang ; Yves Lemoigne
- 关键词：Carboniferous ; Neuropterids ; Architecture ; Frond ; Qualitative Analysis ; Palaeogeography
- 刊名：Geobios
- 出版年：1997
- 出版时间：1997
- 年：1997
- 卷：30
- 期：Supplement 1
- 页码：315-329
- 全文大小：1894 K
文摘
“Neuropterids” are one of the dominant groups of Carboniferous “pteridophylla” adpressions. The originaldefinition of Neuropteris was based on the shape, the mode of attachment to the rachis, and the venation of the pinnules. Various features related to frond architecture, reproductive organs, anatomy, morphology and venation of the pinnules were subsequently circumscribed, showing in fact that the original taxon was comprising many genera, belonging to several distinct families of pteridosperms. Unfortunately, these relevant characters are not equally known within each group, and not always available through usual field-work collecting, generally restricted to the record of numerous small-size fragments. Various quantitative treatments are sometimes applied to such small fragments, with the hope improving systematic delimitation. However, through persevering and careful collecting, it is usually possible to find a few more significant specimens, allowing the recognition of some of the main qualitative characteristics of the frond architecture. Such characteristics represent a crucial level of information, essential for reaching a minimal “natural” level of taxonomic precision, from which depends the reliability of any of the conclusions related with palaeobotanical analyses, i.e. evolution, biostratigraphy, palaeobiogeography, and palaeoecology. In this respect, “Neuropterids” provide some fine examples of the importance of such qualitative information.