GYMNOSPERMS ON THE EVE OF THE TERMINAL PERMIAN MASS EXTINCTION IN NORTH CHINA AND THEIR SURVIVAL STRATEGIES

Main characteristics of the Permian redbed gymosperms in North China h ave been summarized: dominant peltasperms and conifers, numerous enigm atics such as Gigantonoclea and Psygmophyllum, and abundant precursors of Mesozoic gymnosperms. Furthermore, stresses affecting these plants survival are suggested to be paleoatmospheric CO2 concentration, wate r stress, wind and fire activities, and fungal infection. Consequently , a preliminary analysis accounts for the ecological strategies of the se gymnosperms to the P-Tr event.