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CORRECTION article

Front. Mar. Sci., 12 November 2025

Sec. Marine Biogeochemistry

Volume 12 - 2025 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1703935

Correction: The resilient Middle Triassic habitable climate following Early Triassic severe carbon isotope oscillations: contributions from microbialites, Upper Yangtze Block

  • 1Key Laboratory of Deep-time Geography and Environment Reconstruction and Applications of Ministry of Natural Resources, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
  • 2State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
  • 3Department of Earth Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada

There was a mistake in the captions of Figures 1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 published. In Figure 1, the global paleogeographic map has been replaced with a new version created using GPlates software to ensure proper copyright compliance. Typographical errors in Figures 3 and 4 have been corrected. Figure 9 caption has been revised to acknowledge the source of the global paleogeographic map included as an inset. Figure 10 and its caption have been modified to correctly credit the conceptual model adapted from Boussagol et al. (2024). The caption of Figure 11 has been updated to cite the source of the global paleogeographic map shown in the inset.

The corrected Figures 1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and their captions appear below.

Figure 1
Geological diagram showing the Yangtze Platform with various geological features, including carbonate platforms and basins. Inset map displays the location within Pangea during the Paleozoic era. Key symbols identify sections, cities, and lithologies such as limestone and dolostone. A stratigraphic column illustrates the Middle Triassic Leikoupo Formation, indicating lithology variations and sample positions.

Figure 1. Geological background and stratigraphic column of the study area. (A) Paleogeographic map during the Middle Triassic (~247 Ma). Source: Map generated using GPlates software (https://www.gplates.org) and the latest pyGPlates release (v1.0.0). (B) Lithofacies paleogeographic map of the Middle-Upper Yangtze Platform during the Middle Triassic, showing major blocks and the approximate location of the Hanwang section (red arrow; E104°09’48.10”, N31°27’39.14”). (C) Stratigraphic framework of the Hanwang section showing sampling depths.”

Figure 3
Geological images depicting various rock formations and textures. Panel A shows thick-bedded microbialites and thin-bedded micritic dolomite with white lines indicating layers. Panel B features a rock surface with a pen for scale. Panel C displays a close-up of fine grain layers. Panel D shows stratified rock layers with another pen for scale. Panel E highlights vertical lines on a rock surface. Panel F presents a microscopic view of rock texture with a scale of two millimeters. Panel G displays fossil-like patterns on a rough rock surface with a pen tip visible.

Figure 3. Field photographs of the Hanwang outcrop showing the features of the depositional transition from underlying thin-layered micrite dolostones to overlying thick-layered microbialites. (A) Panoramic macro-photos of HW sections (multiple images stitched together). (B) Horizontal bedding at the bottom of the Leikoupo Formation. (C) Micritic dolostones at approximately 160 m. (D) Layered structure at the bottom of the Leikoupo Formation. (E) Thin dolostone bed interspersed with dolomicrite at the bottom of the Leikoupo Formation. (F) Granular dolostone at 180 m. (G) Bioclastic grain-dominated dolostone at the bottom of the Leikoupo Formation.

Figure 4
Panel of geological images showing different rock structures. (A) and (C) display laminar layers with arrows and scale references. (B) features a rock surface with a tool for scale. (D) and (E) show wavy-laminated structures, highlighted with yellow lines. (F) demonstrates domal-laminated texture with a marked line. (G) presents a rock section with a measurement of fifty-four centimeters, indicated in red. (H) highlights a thickening formation in a rock seam, marked with a blue triangle.

Figure 4. Field photographs of the stromatolite outcrops and thin-section photomicrographs of the Stromatolites. (A) Field photo showing domal stromatolite morphology (HW sample 540 m), interpreted as in-situ microbial buildup. Note that the black arrows indicate the laminar structure formed in the microbialites. The pen is 20 cm in length. (B) Stromatolite with laminar structure at approximately 517 m. (C) Light grey stromatolite with laminar structure in the middle of Leikoupo Formation (approximately 470 m). Note that the black arrow conveys the same meaning. (D) Stromatolite at approximately 420 m. Note that the yellow wavy line represents the structure of wavy-laminated. (E) Stromatolite at 400.15 m. Note that the yellow wavy line represents the structure of wavy-laminated. (F) Dark grey stromatolite at the top of the Leikoupo Formation (approximately 510 m). Note that the yellow wavy line represents the structure of a domal-laminated. (G) The single-layer thickness of Microbialites (approximately 500 m. The geological hammer is ~40 cm in length. (H) Transition from thin layer to thick layer in the middle part of the Leikoupo Formation (approximately 250 m).

Figure 9
Geological chart comparing carbon isotope data (δ 13C ‰ VPDB) across five sections: Hanwang, Guandao, Desli Caira & Agighiol, Meishan, and North-Central Coast of Vietnam. Each section shows isotope variations with stratigraphic intervals (indicated as Ples., Illy., Bith., Aeg.) and is aligned with timelines, highlighting isotopic shifts. An inset map illustrates locations in South China and IndoChina, marked by red dots. Black dashed lines indicate isotopic trends.

Figure 9. Carbon isotope stratigraphic correlations of the Leikoupo Formation in the HanWang section (this study); the Guandao section from Li et al. (2018); the North-Central Coast region of Vietnam from Ha et al. (2019); the Desli Caira and Agighiol section, North-Dobrogea from Atudorei et al. (1997); Meishan section from Chen and Benton (2012). Source for the global paleogeographic map: As in Figure 1 (https://www.gplates.org).

Figure 10
Diagram illustrating the formation of stromatolites in the Middle Triassic Leikoupo Formation. The left side shows lithology and granularity columns indicating stromatolite layers. The right side depicts a microbial carbonate factory, with chemical interactions involving CO2, HCO3-, Ca2+, and Mg2+. Cyanobacteria promote carbonate particle formation and create structures trapping sediments. An inset details thrombolite and stromatolite formation. Accompanying icons classify various geological components and microbial materials.

Figure 10. Expansion of microbialites and changes in carbonate factories from the late Early Triassic to the Middle Triassic, as well as the pattern diagram of the formation of stromatolites and thrombolites promoted by microorganisms. Source: Pattern diagram adapted from Boussagol et al. (2024), published under CC BY NC ND 4.0 License.

Figure 11
Composite image depicting geological and climate changes from the mid-Triassic period. It includes data on δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O isotopes, atmospheric CO₂, and Sr ratios, with a timeline of humid and arid events. A diagram shows global diversity and largest known gastropods. Inset map indicates prehistoric continental positions. Additional graphics reference biological evolution and reef development.

Figure 11. The expansion of the microbial carbon sink coincided with the stabilization of the Middle Triassic climate and the recovery of Earth’s ecosystems. The δ13Ccarb is from this study; δ18Oapatite is from Li et al. (2018); Luoping faunas are from Benton et al. (2013); Reef, Global Diversity, Largest known gastropods and Dasyclad algae are from Flügel (2002) and Payne et al. (2004); Calcareous sponges and Scleractinian corals are from Kiessling, (2010); Reconstruction of atmosphere pCO2 is from Joachimski et al (2022); Climate is from Stefani et al. (2010). Source for the global paleogeographic map: As in Figure 1 (https://www.gplates.org).

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Keywords: Middle Triassic, carbonate succession, microbialite, habitable environment, South China

Citation: Wang X, Azmy K, Chen A, Sun S and Li S (2025) Correction: The resilient Middle Triassic habitable climate following Early Triassic severe carbon isotope oscillations: contributions from microbialites, Upper Yangtze Block. Front. Mar. Sci. 12:1703935. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2025.1703935

Received: 12 September 2025; Accepted: 30 October 2025;
Published: 12 November 2025.

Edited and reviewed by:

Khan M. G. Mostofa, Tianjin University, China

Copyright © 2025 Wang, Azmy, Chen, Sun and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Anqing Chen, YXFpbnRoQDE2My5jb20=

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.