Bing Shen

Dr. Bing Shen

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Department of Earth Sciences, Rice University

MS126. 6100 Main St. Houston, TX. 77005

Email: bing.shen@rice.edu

Phone: 281-733-6317

Education:

PhD: Virginia Tech, 2008

BSc: Beijing University, 2001

Research Interests:

● Geobiology

● Stable isotope geochemistry

● Earth system science

● Evolutionary theories

Journal Articles

1. Shen, B., Xiao, S., Zhou, C. and Kaufman, A. J., 2010. Carbon and sulfur isotope chemostratigraphy of the Neoproterozoic Quanji Group of the Chaidam Basin, NW China: basin stratification in the aftermath of an Ediacaran glaciation postdating the Shuram event?. Precambrian Research. DOI: 10.1016/j.precamres.2009.12.006.

2. Xiao, S., Kowalewski M., Shen, B., Dong, L. and Laflamme M., 2009. The Rise of bilaterians: A reply. Historical Biology. DOI: 10.1080/08912960903471659.

3. Shen, B., Jacobsen, B., Lee, C.-T. A., Yin, Q.-Z., and Morton, D. M., 2009. The Mg isotopic systematics of granitoids in continental arcs and implications for the role of chemical weathering in crust formation, Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences of the United State of America. 106, 20652-20657. [PDF]

4. Shen, B., Xiao, S., Zhou, C., Yuan, X., 2009, Yangtziramulus zhangi new genus and species, a carbonate-hosted Ediacaran macrofossil from the Dengying Formation in the Yangtze Gorges area, South China, Journal of Paleontology. 83: 575-587. [PDF]

5. Dong, L., Xiao, S., Shen, B., Zhou, C., Li, G., and Yao, J., 2009, Basal Cambrian microfossils from the Yangtze Gorges area (South China) and the Aksu area (Tarim Block, northwestern China). Journal of Paleontology. 83: 30-44. [PDF]

6. Shen, B., Dong, L., Xiao, S. and Kowalewski, M., 2008. The Avalon explosion: Expansion and saturation of Ediacara morphospace. Science. 319: 81-84. [PDF]

7. Shen, B., Xiao, S., Bao, H., Kaufman, A. J. and Zhou, C., 2008. Stratification and mixing of the post-glacial Neoproterozoic ocean: Evidence from carbon and sulfur isotopes in a cap dolostone from northwest China. Earth and Planetary Science Letter. 265: 209-228. [PDF]

8. Dong, L., Xiao, S., Shen, B., Yuan, X., Yan, X. and Peng, Y., 2008 Restudy of the worm-like carbonaceous compression fossils Protoarenicola, Pararenicola, and Sinosabellidites from early Neoproterozoic successions in North China. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 258: 138-161. [PDF]

9. Dong, L., Xiao, S., Shen, B. and Zhou, C., 2008. Silicified Horodyskia and Palaeopascichnus from upper Ediacaran cherts in South China: tentative phylogenetic interpretation and implications for evolutionary stasis. Journal of the Geological Society, London. 165: 367-378. [PDF]

10. Shen, B., Xiao, S., Dong, L., Zhou, C. and Liu, J., 2007. Problematic macrofossils from Ediacaran successions in the North China and Chaidam blocks: implications for their evolutionary root and biostratigraphic significance. Journal of Paleontology, 81: 1406-1421. [PDF]

11. Schiffbauer, J.D., Yin, L., Bodnar, R.J., Kaufman, A.J., Meng, F., Hu, J., Shen, B., Yuan, X., Bao, H. and Xiao, S., 2007. Ultrastructural and geochemical characterization of Archean-Paleoproterozoic graphite particles: Implications for recognizing traces of life in highly metamorphosed rocks. Astrobiology, 7: 684-704. [PDF]

12. Xiao, S., Shen, B., Zhou, C., Xie, G. and Yuan, X., 2005. A uniquely preserved Ediacaran fossil with direct evidence for a quilted bodyplan. Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences of the United State of America, 102: 10227-10232. [PDF]

13. Shen, B., Wen, Y. and Bai, Z., 2001. Using paleontological clock to explore the extraterrestrial impact. Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Pekinensis, 37: 508-514.

The transition between the Proterozoic and Phanerozoic Earth systems in the last ~100 million years of Precambrian [the Ediacaran Period (635 Ma ~ 542 Ma)] evidenced dramatic changes in biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. I apply multidisciplinary approaches to understand the processes and causes of this great transition in the Earth history.

Invited Talks

● Oct 2007, Texas A& M University: Glaciation, Oxidation and Evolution: The Tale of the Garden of Ediacara.

● April 2008, University of California, Los Angelus: Understanding the Evolutionary Pattern and Environmental Context in the Ediacaran Period.

● April 2008, Geobiology of Proterozoic and Cambrian Symposium at Harvard University: Morphological and Taxonomical Evolution of the Ediacara Biota.

Current Research Projects

Awards

● Outstanding PhD Student Award, 2008, College of Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institutes and State University

● Commendation Award for Outstanding Dissertation, 2008, Graduate School, Virginia Polytechnic Institutes and State University

Journal Links

Updated: January 8, 2010

Collaborators

Huiming Bao (Louisiana State University)

Michal Kowalewski (Virginia Tech)

Alan Jay Kaufman (University of Maryland)

Cin-Ty Lee (Rice University)

Jianbo Liu (Beijing University)

Shuhai Xiao (Virginia Tech)

Qingzhu Yin (University of California, Davis)

Xunlai Yuan (Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology)

Chuanming Zhou (Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology)

The dawn of animal life

The Cambrian Explosion might have had a Precambrian evolutionary root. For example, the macroscopic Ediacara biota (575 Ma~542 Ma) is regarded as “the dawn of animal life” and “the prelude of Cambrian Explosion”. However, their anatomy, ecology, and phylogeny have long been controversial due to the casts and molds preservation in siliciclastic rocks. On the one hand, We can study the uniquely preserved Ediacara fossils from non-siliciclastic rocks (e.g. carbonate and chert). On the other, quantitatively analyses on the evolutionary patterns of the Ediacara biota would provide us additional information about the evolution before the Cambrian Explosion.

Biogeochemical cycles and environmental changes

The establishment of the Phanerozoic Earth system involved dramatic changes in environment. For example, to sustain animal lives, atmosphere experienced an elevation of oxygen level, and the deep ocean progressively became oxic during the Ediacaran Period. Such changes are reflected by the variations in global biogeochemical cycles. We can use stable isotopes (such as carbon and sulfur) to trace changes in global biogeochemical cycles, so as to understand the environmental triggers for the Cambrian explosion.

Ediacaran glaciation

Unlike their Cryogenian counterpart (the snowball Earth), the Ediacaran glaciations might be regional and diachronous. However, Ediacaran glaciations might have directly triggered the evolution of Ediacaran biota and ignited the fuse of the Ediacaran oxidation events. The Ediacaran glaciations are recorded in North China, Tarim and Chaidam blocks in the northwestern China.

Mg accounts for 2% of Earth’s crust in mass, and Mg isotopes (²⁴Mg, ²⁵Mg, and ²⁶Mg) fractionate in low-T reactions in the surface Earth. Thus Mg isotope is a useful tool in tracing various low-T reactions occurred in the surface Earth, such as chemical weathering and dolomite formation.

Chemical weathering vs. continental evolution

Evolution of continental crusts requires Mg loss, driving continental crust toward felsic compositions. Mg loss in continents could be due to either high temperature igneous processes or low temperature chemical weathering. Mg isotopes fractionate during chemical weathering but are less affected in high temperature reactions. Thus we can use Mg isotopes to trace chemical weathering signals in igneous rocks.

The dolomite problem

The widespread dolostone in the geological records that is in sharp contrast to its limited distribution in modern environment has puzzled geologists for more than 150 years. Mg is the key element in dolomite; thus Mg isotope may provide the key constraints on the formation of dolomite during Earth history.