Plant mobility in the Mesozoic: Disseminule dispersal strategies of Chinese and Australian Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous plants

摘要: Abstract Four upper Middle Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous lacustrine Lagerstatten in China and Australia (the Daohugou, Talbragar, Jehol, Koonwarra biotas) offer glimpses into the representation of plant disseminule strategies during that phase Earth history which flowering plants, birds, mammals, modern insect faunas began diversify. No seed or foliage species is shared between Northern Southern Hemisphere fossil sites only a few are assemblages respective regions. Free-sporing including broad range bryophytes, major components studied attest similar moist growth habitats adjacent all four preservational sites. Both simple unadorned seeds winged constitute significant proportions diversity each assemblage. Anemochory, evidenced by development wings pappus, remained key dispersal strategy through interval. Despite rise feathered birds fur-covered evidence for epizoochory minimal assemblages. Those Early detached reproductive structures bearing spines were probably adapted anchoring aquatic debris soft substrates. Several relatively featureless potentially barochory endozoochory—the latter especially presence smooth vertebrate gut contents regurgitant coprolitic masses. Hydrochory inferred several plants notably bear small seeds, particularly aggregated detachable pods.