Changhsingian Radiolarian Fauna from the Meishan D Section and Sea-Level Changes

There is relatively less research for radiolarian fauna in the Meishan D Section of Changxing County, Zhejiang Province. The radiolarian species in each sample from the Meishan D Section were identified, and the individuals in 0.5 g dried samples (sieved through 300 meshes) were counted out. The research shows the abundance and diversity are closely related to sea level changes of Changhsingian age at the Meishan D Section. Where abundance and diversity reach higher values, the sea level would have peaked (e. g. maximum transgression surfaces). The abundance and diversity of radiolarians from the early Changhsingian is greater than that of the late Changhsingian age, which coincides with the opinion that the marine water was deeper in the early Changhsingian than in the late Changhsingian. This conclusion provides evidence that radiolarian abundance and diversity are indicators for investigating sea-level changes.