- Grupo de Paleobotánica Ibérica
Transcripción
- Grupo de Paleobotánica Ibérica
16th OFP INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS. PRESENT ADN FUTURE OF PALAEOBOTANY IN SOUTHWEST EUROPE, in honour of Robert H. Wagner Aguilar de Campoo (Spain), 9‐11 September 2009 Coordinated by: Edited by: José Bienvenido Diez Ferrer Organisation Francophone de Paléobotanique Printed by: GAMESAL – VIGO ISBN: 978‐84‐692‐5534‐6 16th OFP International Congress PRESENT AND FUTURE OF PALAEOBOTANY IN SOUTHWEST EUROPE in honour of Robert H. Wagner Aguilar de Campoo (NW Spain) 9-11 September 2009 Organisation Francophone de Paléobotanique With the support of: Ayuntamiento Aguilar de Ayuntamiento de Barruelo de Campoo Santullán With the institutional support of: Universidad de Valladolid Universidade de Vigo Universidad de Zaragoza Sociedad Española de Paleontología Asociación Palinólogos de Lengua Española ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Coordinator: José Bienvenido Diez Ferrer. Universidade de Vigo José Maria del Arco. Universidad de Valladolid Antoine Bercovici. Université de Rennes Fernando Cuevas. Centro Interpretación de la Minería, Barruelo de Santull.an Javier Ferrer Plou. Universidad de Zaragoza Estefanía Puente Arauzo. Univ. de Zaragoza, Univ. de Vigo Raquel Sánchez Pellicer. Universidade de Vigo Luis José Sardina Antolín. Barruelo de Santullán Luis Miguel Sender Palomar. Universidad de Zaragoza Uxue Villanueva Amadoz. Universidad de Zaragoza Collaborators. Natalia Martínez Carreño. Universidade de Vigo Marta Pérez Martínez. Universidade de Vigo Cristóbal Rubio. Universidad de Zaragoza, Paleoymas Local organization: María Mar Espartero Que Aguilar de Campoo se convierta en el foro de discusión de expertos investigadores del más alto nivel sobre paleobotánica de todo el mundo es, sin duda, una oportunidad única para promover y difundir el rico patrimonio geológico de la Montaña Palentina. Como Presidente de la Diputación considero un honor que la organización del Congreso Presente y futuro de la Paleobotánica en Europa del Sur Oeste haya elegido la localidad aguilarense para celebrar esta reunión científica a nivel internacional. No cabe duda de que esta iniciativa para potenciar la ciencia española revertirá en nuestra provincia en un importante beneficio para las localidades implicadas, no sólo directamente, ya que la celebración de este encuentro supondrá la puesta en valor del importante patrimonio paleobotánico de la provincia de Palencia, del que es buena muestra la Montaña Palentina; sino porque, indirectamente, será el escaparate internacional en el que promocionar a través de los representantes europeos nuestros numerosos atractivos turísticos, y el patrimonio natural, cultural e histórico de nuestras comarcas. Conscientes del valioso aprovechamiento socioeconómico de un evento de estas características, desde la Diputación de Palencia hemos querido ofrecer todo nuestro apoyo a la organización del congreso, más aún, al rendir homenaje al profesor R. H. Wagner, cuyas investigaciones han venido desarrollándose en la Montaña Palentina desde el año 1951. Toda una vida dedicada al estudio de los materiales carboníferos de la región que se ha visto plasmada en más de 150 publicaciones, logrando así una gran difusión de nuestro rico patrimonio geológico. Por tanto, sólo me queda felicitar al profesor por sus reconocidos trabajos científicos y desear a los participantes y expertos que nos visiten estos días que disfruten de un foro tranquilo y de una feliz estancia en la bella localidad de Aguilar de Campoo. Enrique Martín Presidente de la Diputación de Palencia Es un honor y una gran satisfacción recibir en nuestro municipio de Aguilar de Campoo a un nutrido grupo de expertos en Paleobotánica. Aguilar de Campoo es una hermosa villa en la que se respira por todos sus rincones arte, historia y cultura. La gran concentración de Románico, el magnífico paisaje, y desde luego, sus habitantes, hacen de ella un lugar perfecto donde desarrollar cualquier tipo de actividad, cultural, artística, deportiva, lúdica... El acogedor ambiente que se respira hace que el visitante se sienta como en casa y establezca unos lazos de unión que no romperá jamás. En Septiembre nuestra villa se convertirá en la sede del Congreso Internacional de Paleobotánica, donde se darán cita Franceses, Belgas, Portugueses, Italianos, Japoneses, Mexicanos, Ingleses y por supuesto Españoles. Sus conferencias versaran sobre un tema que hasta hoy era un autentico desconocido y que forma parte importante de nuestra historia pues no podemos olvidar la importancia que dentro de la formación geológica tiene nuestra Montaña Palentina, donde encontramos importantes referencias como el Bosque Fósil de Verdeña entre otros puntos de gran interés. Espero y deseo que este Congreso sea de interés para todos cuantos participan en él y para todos los que deseen acercarse para conocer un poco más sobre un tema interesante y desconocido como es la Paleobotánica. A todos los participantes y visitantes desearles una feliz estancia e invitarles a conocer nuestra villa y sus rincones, pues estoy segura que disfrutarán y se irán con el deseo de volver y un “dulce” recuerdo. Bienvenidos a la villa de los Cinco Sentidos. Mª José Ortega Gómez. Alcaldesa-Presidenta del Ayuntamiento de Aguilar de Campoo La celebración del Congreso Internacional de Paleobotánica en este bello rincón de la Montaña Palentina, es un gran honor y un privilegio. Recibir la visita de estudiosos de numerosos países para exponer en público los resultados de las investigaciones efectuadas durante los últimos años, será muy atractivo para estudiantes e investigadores y también para los ciudadanos de Barruelo de Santullán y comarca, que conocerán en profundidad la riqueza geológica que atesora esta tierra. Es una ocasión que queremos aprovechar para rendir homenaje al doctor Robert H. Wagner estudioso e investigador incansable a quien debemos el descubrimiento de tantos yacimientos y vestigios del carbonífero superior del Norte de España que han significado grandes adelantos en la Paleobotánica y en la historia geológica del sudeste de Europa. Roberto Wagner que en la década de los 50 vino a trabajar a las explotaciones mineras de Barruelo de Santullán, es un gran experto que ha desarrollado una labor incansable y fructífera durante tantos años y que ha cristalizado en numerosos descubrimientos científicos que han labrado su prestigio internacional en el presente y futuro de la Paleobotánica mundial. Quiero aprovechar esta oportunidad para dar a conocer los numerosos atractivos que presentan nuestro pueblo Barruelo y el Valle de Santullán. Un entorno natural privilegiado (limitando con el Parque Natural Fuentes Carrionas Fuente Cobre Montaña Palentina, con una flora y fauna riquísimas), un patrimonio histórico profundo (Románico, Geológico, Industrial, Arqueológico, etc.), un enorme patrimonio cultural, gastronómico, etnológico. El Museo Minero y la Mina Visitable reciben miles de visitas todo el año, así como el museo de madera y maquetas móviles de Herminio Revilla. En nuestro entorno se pueden practicar todo tipo de actividades y deportes relacionados con la naturaleza, montañismo, senderismo, escalada, la nieve en los inviernos ofrece muchas posibilidades. Barruelo de Santullán es un lugar ideal para visitar o para residir y disfrutar de épocas vacacionales, de ocio y descanso. Invitar a todos a conocer Barruelo y su encantador Valle de Santullán y sobre todo a su gente tan acogedora, abierta y hospitalaria, nuestro lema, Barruelo de Santullán ver, oír y vivir. Arturo Ruiz Aguilar Alcalde de Barruelo de Santullán La Fundación para el Estudio de los Dinosaurios en Castilla y León se constituyó el 20 de enero de 2004 al amparo de la Ley 13/2002, de Fundaciones de Castilla y León. Nace como necesidad para la gestión del patrimonio arqueológico y paleontológico tan amplio y rico de la Comunidad de Castilla y León. Promovida por el Ayuntamiento de Salas de los Infantes y el Colectivo Arqueológico - Paleontológico Salense (CAS) y apoyada por Caja de Burgos, Cajacírculo y la Excma. Diputación Provincial de Burgos, apuesta por la colaboración y cooperación con todo tipo de instituciones públicas o privadas y personas que impulsen nuestros proyectos. La Fundación Dinosaurios promueve en el ámbito estatal e internacional servicios y programas de formación científica y didáctica a través del Museo de Dinosaurios, ya que éste cuenta con piezas fósiles que lo convierten en uno de los principales museos de dinosaurios de España. Esto se debe a que se muestran restos únicos en España, en Europa y en el mundo, y posee una amplia diversidad y cantidad de fósiles de dinosaurios. Las visitas periódicas de expertos nacionales e internacionales, los intercambios y colaboraciones con universidades y de centros de investigación, ratifican su carácter de lugar de referencia necesaria para la comunidad científica. La Fundación Dinosaurios pretende aportar su contribución a la sociedad desde el apoyo al estudio, protección y difusión de los restos de fósiles e icnitas de Dinosaurios y desde la participación y la implicación de todas las personas, grupos y organizaciones que persigan los mismos fines. Fernando Castaño Camarero Presidente de la Fundación para el estudio de los dinosaurios en Castilla y León Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe INDEX Timetable .......................................................................................................................................2 Abstracts ................................................................................................................................................ 9 Barrón, E.; Comas-Rengifo, M.J.; Duarte, L.V. Palynomorph assemblage succession in the proposed GSSP for the base of the Toarcian Stage (Lower Jurassic) of Peniche (Portugal). .... 11 Barrón, E.; Lassaletta, L.; Comas-Rengifo, M.J.; Alcalde-Olivares, C. New vegetational data and climatic implications of the southwestern lacustrine outcrops of the La Cerdaña Basin (Late Miocene, Spain). ....................................................................................................... 12 Barrón, E.; Ureta, S.; Goy, A.; Lassaletta, L. Palynology of the Toarcian–Aalenian Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) at Fuentelsaz (Lower–Middle Jurassic, Iberian Range, Spain). ................................................................................................................. 13 Bartiromo, A.; Gaiotto, G.; Romano, R.; Roghi, G. The Cretaceous flora from Faierazzo, Friulia Venezia Giulia, Italy: preliminary results. ...............................................................................14 Bercovici, A.; Villanueva-Amadoz, U.; Hadley, A. Improving depth of field resolution for palynological photomicrography...................................................................................................15 Calvillo-Canadell, L.; Rodríguez-Reyes, O.; Cevallos-Ferriz, S.R.S. Early evidence of a dry tropical vegetation in Eocene sediments of La Popa, Nuevo León, México. ...............................16 Cascales-Miñana, B.; Martínez-Pérez, C.; Botella, H. The oldest macrofossil remains of vascular plant in the Iberian Peninsula, Spain. ............................................................................17 Cascales-Miñana, B.; Muñoz-Bertomeu, J.; Ros, R.; Segura, J. Trends and patterns in vascular plants evolution: Macroevolutionary implications of multilevel taxonomic analysis. ......18 Castro, M.P. The Stephanian B flora of the La Magdalena Coalfield (León, NW Spain), an European reference......................................................................................................................19 Carrión, J.; Fernández, S. General trends and and unexpected trajectories in the Late Quaternary vegetation dynamics of the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands. ...............................20 Cevallos-Ferriz, S.R.S.; González-Torres, E.A.; Calvillo-Canadell, L. Geologic factors promoting increased plant diversity during the Cenozoic in Mexico. ..............................................21 Cleal, C. The biogeographical relationships of late Westphalian and earliest Stephanian floras of the Iberian Peninsula...................................................................................................... 22 De Franceschi, D.; Solé, F. Premiers éléments de paléoflore d'un nouveau gisement Paléogène dans l'Oise. ........................................................................................................................23 Galtier, J. Morphology and ecology of the Paleozoic Tedelean ferns. ...........................................24 Gerrienne, P.; Meyer-Berthaud, B. On some specimens of the putative early lignophyte Crossia (Stenokoleales) from Ronquières (Middle Devonian, Belgium). .......................................25 Gómez-Orellana, L.; Ramil-Rego, P.; Muñoz Sobrino, C. Upper Pleistocene in NW Iberia: vegetation dynamics during the last 80 ky BP. ..................................................................................26 Gonez, P.; Gerrienne, P. Unusual vegetative body, growth and affinities of Tarrantia, an early Polysporangiophyte from the Lower Devonian of Brazil. .................................................... 27 Legrand, J.; Pons, D.; Yamada, T.; Nishida, H.; Broutin, J. Palynoflores des Formations Ashakajima et Kimigama (Groupe Choshi, Zone Externe du Japon). ............................................28 Meyer-Berthaud, B.; Dambreville, A.; Rey, H.; Barczi, J.F. Numerical modeling of Pseudosporochnus (Cladoxylopsida), a tree of Middle Devonian age. ..........................................29 Montero, A. The Paleobotanical Museum of Córdoba (Spain). .......................................................30 1 16th OFP International Congress. Nishida, H.; Hinojosa O., L.F.; Uemura, K.; Terada, K.; Yamada, T.; Asakawa, T.; Rancusi H., M. New permineralized plant-debri assemblage from the Upper Cretaceous of south Chile............................................................................................................................................. 31 Puente-Arauzo, E.; Sender, L.M.; Torcida, F.; Diez, J.B.; Ferrer, J.; Huerta Hurtado, P.; Villanueva-Amadoz, U. Paleobotanical heritage of classical dinosaurs sites of Early Cretaceous of Salas de los Infantes (Burgos, Spain). ......................................................................32 Rivas-Carballo. M.R.; Valle Hernández, M.; Alcalde Olivares, C. Nuevos datos sobre la vegetación neógena de la provincia de Burgos (España) a partir de la palinología. .................. 33 Rubio, C.; Ferrer, J.; Diez, J.B. Paleobotanical and paleoecological data from Lower-Middle Miocene in Alto Ballester ravine cite of Rubielos de Mora (Teruel, Spain). ..................................... 34 Sender, L.M.; Diez, J.B.; Ferrer, J.; Villanueva-Amadoz, U.; Puente-Arauzo, E. Freshwater aquatic plants from the Upper Albian – Lower Cenomanian of Teruel province (Northeastern Spain). ...........................................................................................................................35 Sender, L.M.; Diez, J.B.; Villanueva-Amadoz, U.; Puente-Arauzo, E.; Ferrer, J.; Bercovici, A.; Sánchez-Pellicer, R.; Paleoibérica’08 & 09 teams. Preliminary data on a new Upper Albian – Lower Cenomanian flora from the NE Spain. .........................................................................36 Strullu-Derrien, C.; Gerrienne, P.; Georges-Strullu, D. Echoes of the paleozoic terrestrialization. .......................................................................................................................... 37 Vieira, M.; Pais, J.; Pereira, D. Pliocene flora of Portugal: present knowledge. ......................... 38 Villanueva-Amadoz, U.; Diez, J.B.; Ferrer, J.J.; Pons, D. Palynological studies of the transitional marls unit (Albian-Cenomanian) from the Northeastern Spain. Paleophytogeographical implications. ......................................................................................... 39 Wagner, R.H. Omphalophloios, a Pennsylvanian lycopsid. ........................................................ 40 Wagner, R.H.; Castro, M.P. A study of compositional changes in Stephanian B flora at La Magdalena (León, NW Spain) in the context of a basin at the western end of the Palaeotethys. ............................................................................................................................... 41 Fieldtrips..................................................................................................................................... 43 Precongress Fieldtrip Tuesday 8th September ..................................................................................45 Congress Fieldtrip Thursday 10th September ....................................................................................47 Wagner, R.H. Geology of the Palaeozoic strata in northern Palencia. ....................................... 49 List of Participants .................................................................................................................... 71 NOTES ........................................................................................................................................ 77 2 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Timetable 3 16th OFP International Congress. 4 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Tuesday 8th Departure 9:00/Return 20:00 – Precongress Fieldtrip. Geological tour of the Northern Province of Palencia. Meeting Point – Monastery of Santa María la Real. Wednesday 9th Morning - Opening 09:00 Registration at Monastery of Santa María la Real. Uploading of Powerpoint presentations. 10:30 Opening. 13:00 Reception by town council of Aguilar de Campoo. 14:00 – 15.30 Lunch Afternoon - 1st Session Oral Presentations. Conveners: Cascales-Miñana, B. & Galtier, J. 15:30 Keynote: Galtier, J. Morphology and ecology of the Paleozoic Tedelean ferns. 16:10 Cascales-Miñana, B.; Muñoz-Bertomeu, J.; Ros, R.; Segura, J. Trends and patterns in vascular plants evolution: Macroevolutionary implications of multilevel taxonomic analysis. 16:30 Strullu-Derrien, C.; terrestrialization. 16:50 Gerrienne, P.; Meyer-Berthaud, B. On some specimens of the putative early lignophyte Crossia (Stenokoleales) from Ronquières (Middle Devonian, Belgium). 17:10 Gonez, P.; Gerrienne, P. Unusual vegetative body, growth and affinities of Tarrantia, an early Polysporangiophyte from the Lower Devonian of Brazil. 17:30 Coffee break and Palaeobotanical carboniferous fossils- Luis Sardina collection's. 18:10 Cascales-Miñana, B.; Martínez-Pérez, C., Botella, H. The oldest macrofossil remains of vascular plant in the Iberian Peninsula, Spain. 18:30 Cleal, C. The biogeographical relationships of late Westphalian and earliest Stephanian floras of the Iberian Peninsula. 18:50 Wagner, R.H. Omphalophloios, a Pennsylvanian lycopsid. 19:10 Wagner, R.H.; Castro, M.P. A study of compositional changes in Stephanian B flora at La Magdalena (León, NW Spain) in the context of a basin at the western end of the Palaeotethys. 19:30 OFP Meeting. Gerrienne, P.; Strullu, D.G. Echoes of the paleozoic 5 16th OFP International Congress. Thursday 10th Departure 9:00/Return 20:00 - Fieldtrip Verdeña Paleoforest and Barruelian Stratotype. Meeting Point – Monastery of Santa María la Real. Friday 11th Morning - 2nd Session Oral Presentations. Conveners: Sender, L.M. & Pons, D. 08:30 Keynote: Sender, L.M.; Diez, J.B.; Ferrer, J.; Villanueva-Amadoz, U.; Puente Arauzo, E. Freshwater aquatic plants from the upper Albian – lower Cenomanian of Teruel province (NE Spain). 09:10 Barrón, E.; Comas-Rengifo, M.J.; Duarte, L.V. Palynomorph assemblage succession in the proposed GSSP for the base of the Toarcian Stage (Lower Jurassic) of Peniche (Portugal). 09:30 Bartiromo, A.; Gaiotto, G.; Romano, R.; Roghi, G. The Cretaceous flora from Faierazzo, Friulia Venezia Giulia, Italy: preliminary results. 09:50 Villanueva-Amadoz, U.; Diez, J.B.; Ferrer, J.J.; Pons, D. Palynological studies of the transitional marls unit (Albian-Cenomanian) from the Northeastern Spain. Paleophytogeographical implications. 10:10 Bercovici, A.; Villanueva-Amadoz, U.; Hadley, A. Improving depth of field resolution for palynological photomicrography. 10:30 Coffee break and Poster session (see list). 11:30 Legrand, J.; Pons, D.; Yamada, T.; Nishida, H.; Broutin, J. Palynoflores des Formations Ashakajima et Kimigama (Groupe Choshi, Zone Externe du Japon). 11:50 Nishida H.; Hinojosa, L.F.; Uemura, K.; Terada, K.; Yamada, T.; Asakawa, T.; Rancusi H., M. New permineralized plant-debri assemblage from the Upper Cretaceous of south Chile. 12:10 Cevallos-Ferriz, S.R.S.; González-Torres, E.; Calvillo-Canadell, L. Geologic factors promoting increased plant diversity during the Cenozoic in Mexico. 12:30 Calvillo-Canadell, L.; Rodríguez-Reyes, O.; Cevallos-Ferriz, S.R.S. Early evidence of a dry tropical vegetation in Eocene sediments of La Popa, Nuevo León, México. 12:50 Social Program - Visit guided ROM Museum. 14:00 - 15:30 Lunch Afternoon - 3th Session Oral Presentations. Conveners: Vieira, M. & Carrión, J. 15.30 Keynote: Carrión, J.; Fernández, S.; González Sampériz, L. General trends and unexpected trajectories in the Late Quaternary vegetation dynamics of the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands. 16:10 Rivas-Carballo. M.R.; Valle Hernández, M.; Alcalde Olivares, C. Nuevos datos sobre la vegetación neógena de la provincia de Burgos (España) a partir de la palinología. 16:30 De Franceschi, D.; Solé, F. Premiers éléments de paléoflore d'un nouveau gisement Paléogène dans l'Oise. 6 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe 16:50 Vieira, M.; Pais, J.; Pereira, D. Pliocene flora of Portugal: present knowledge. 17:10 Montero, A. The Palaeobotanical Museum of Córdoba (Spain). 17:30 Coffee break. 18:00 Act in Honour of Dr. R.H. Wagner. Laudatio by C. Cleal. 19:00 Closing ceremony. 21:00 Conference dinner in the city centre. Saturday 12th Morning – Post-congress, optional social program 09:00 – 13:00 Visit to 12th and 13th century romanesque churches of Palentian Mountain. LIST POSTER COMMUNICATIONS Castro, M.P. The Stephanian B flora of the La Magdalena Coalfield (León, NW Spain), an European reference. Barrón, E.; Ureta, S.; Goy, A.; Lassaletta, L. Palynology of the Toarcian–Aalenian Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) at Fuentelsaz (Lower–Middle Jurassic, Iberian Range, Spain). Puente Arauzo, E.; Sender, L.M.; Torcida, F.; Diez, J.B.; Ferrer, J.; Huerta Hurtado, P.; Villanueva-Amadoz, U. Paleobotanical Heritage of classical dinosaurs sites of Early Cretaceous of Salas de los Infantes (Burgos, Spain). Sender, L.M.; Diez, J.B.; Villanueva-Amadoz, U.; Puente Arauzo, E.; Ferrer, J.; Bercovici, A.; Sánchez-Pellicer, R.; Paleoibérica'08 & 09 Teams. Preliminary data on a new Upper Albian - Early Cenomanian flora from the Northeastern Spain. Rubio, C.; Ferrer, J.; Diez, J.B. Paleobotanical and paleoecological data from Lower-Middle Miocene in Alto Ballester ravine cite of Rubielos de Mora (Teruel, Spain). Barrón, E.; Lassaletta, L.; Comas-Rengifo, M.J.; Alcalde-Olivares, C. New vegetational data and climatic implications of the southwestern lacustrine outcrops of the La Cerdaña Basin (Late Miocene, Spain). Gómez-Orellana, L.; Ramil-Rego, P.; Muñoz Sobrino, C. Upper Pleistocene in NW Iberia: vegetation dynamics during the last 80 ky BP. 7 16th OFP International Congress. 8 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Abstracts 9 16th OFP International Congress. 10 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Palynomorph assemblage succession in the proposed GSSP for the base of the Toarcian Stage (Lower Jurassic) of Peniche (Portugal) Barrón, E.1; Comas-Rengifo, M.J.2; Duarte, L.V.3 1 Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME), Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid (Spain) 2 Departamento y UEI de Paleontología (UCM-CSIC), José Antonio Nováis 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain 3 Departamento de Ciências da Terra and IMAR-CMA, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia. Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal. Keywords: Palynology; Pliensbachian/Toarcian; Early Jurassic; GSSP; Peniche; Portugal The proposed candidate for the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Toarcian Stage (Lower Jurassic) is the Peniche section which is located in western Portugal. This section comprises a Late Pliensbachian to Early Toarcian marine hemipelagic succession of coccolith-bearing marls and limestones, deposited on a NW-facing carbonate ramp in the extensional Lusitanian Basin. The strata from Peniche have a good biostratigraphic record, based mainly on ammonites. The present work reports qualitative and quantitative palynological data of the Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary in this section. All studied levels yielded low diverse assemblages dominated by pollen grains of anemophilous gymnosperms. Particularly, Classopollis dominates in the Pliensbachian levels whereas Spheripollenites is relevant in the Toarcian ones. Other gymnospermous pollen grains such as Araucariacites, Cerebropollenites and Ginkgocycadophytus sporadically occur. Spores of vascular cryptogams of genera Cyathidites, Dictyophyllidites, Lycopodiumsporites, Leptolepidites and Anapiculatisporites scarcely appear. In addition, acritarchs of the genera Michrystridium and Baltisphaeridium as well as phycomes of Prasinophiceae and dinoflagellate cysts are relevant in some levels. The obtained taxonomical data are in concordance with the preliminary study of Veiga de Oliveira et al. (2007). All identified palynomorphs exhibit widespread and temporally long ranging along the Lower and Middle Jurassic. Three different assemblages mainly based in the abundance of gymnospermous pollen grains have been inferred: (i) the basal one is Late Pliensbachian in age and was distinguished by the abundance of Classopollis classoides and Classopollis torosus, (ii) the lowermost Toarcian (levels 3 to 41, Polymorphum Zone) is determined by the abundance of both Classopollis and Spheripollenites, (iii) the Toarcian levels up to level 41 (base of Levisoni Zone) present very high values of Spheripollenites psilatus which becomes the unique identified taxa in levels 91 and 96 (middle part of the Levisoni Zone). The quantitative results exhibit in the first and third assemblages a similar pattern to the regarded in the Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary in the Rambla del Salto section (Iberian Range, Spain). This abstract is a contribution to the Research Project: CGL2008-03112. 11 16th OFP International Congress. New vegetational data and climatic implications of the southwestern lacustrine outcrops of the La Cerdaña Basin (Late Miocene, Spain) Barrón, E.1; Lassaletta, L.2; Comas-Rengifo, M.J.3; Alcalde-Olivares, C.4 1 Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME), Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid (Spain) 2 Departamento de Ecología (UCM), José Antonio Nováis 2, 28040 Madrid (Spain) 3 Departamento y UEI de Paleontología (UCM-CSIC), José Antonio Nováis 2, 28040 Madrid (Spain) 4 Departamento de Silvopascicultura, Unidad de Botánica, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Montes, Universidad Politécnica, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid (Spain) Key Words: Palynology; Vegetation; Palaeoclimatology; Late Miocene; La Cerdaña basin; Spain The La Cerdaña basin is one of the small basins that formed during the Neogene in connection with a series of NE–SW- and east–west-running fractures in the Axial Zone of the Eastern Pyrenees. This basin is characterised by siliciclastic sedimentation in alluvial, fluvial, deltaic, and lacustrine depositional settings. Two depositional units which correspond with two stages in the evolution of the Neogene basin have been distinguished: (i) the Lower Unit (Vallesian; early Late Miocene) where the majority of the outcrops with palaeobotanical content occur (ii) the Upper Unit (late Turolian; Uppermost Miocene) only preserved at the southern edge of the basin. A palynological study has been conducted in three successive Vallesian lacustrine outcrops from the eastern sector of the basin, and in another one located in the base of the Turolian Upper Unit. Forest vegetation determined by temperate taxa such as Pinus, Abies, Ulmaceae, Carya, Fagus, deciduous Quercus, Alnus, Betula, Corylus and Tilia has been inferred. Coniferous forests were predominant in a regional context. The presence of Abies, Fagus, Acer, Tilia and several herbs such as Ranunculaceae, Caryophyllaceae and Asteraceae reflects more local pollen input. Riparian communities were mainly characterised by Alnus and hygrophilous plants such as Sparganium and Typha. Mixed mesophytic forests with several subtropical elements such as Sapotaceae, Acacia, Engelhardia and Platycarya developed in the basin. The application of the “coexistence approach” analysis of every studied outcrop indicates a mean annual temperature which ranges between 15.6º to 17ºC, a mean temperature of the warmest month which was between 24.7º y 26.3ºC and a mean temperature of the coldest month which indicates the non-existence of frosts. The calculated mean annual precipitation shows a wide interval which ranges between 823 and 1167 mm. In the first two dimensions of a multivariate statistical analysis (CA) were identified five groups which could related to Vallesian mixed mesophytic vegetation, Vallesian coniferous forests, Vallesian pioneer vegetation, Turolian mixed mesophytic vegetation and Turolian per-humid vegetation. This abstract is a contribution to the Research Project: CGL2008-03112. 12 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Palynology of the Toarcian–Aalenian Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) at Fuentelsaz (Lower– Middle Jurassic, Iberian Range, Spain) Barrón, E.1; Ureta, S.2; Goy, A.2; Lassaletta, L.3 1 Departamento de Investigación en Recursos Geológicos, Área de Investigación en Patrimonio Geológico y Minero, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME), Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid (Spain). 2 Departamento de Paleontología y UEI de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas e Instituto de Geología Económica (CSIC–UCM), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, José Antonio Novais 2, 28040 Madrid (Spain). 3 Departamento de Ecología (UCM), José Antonio Novais 2, 28040 Madrid (Spain). Keywords: Toarcian–Aalenian stratotype; Palynology; Biostratigraphy; Environmental conditions The Fuentelsaz Section is located in the Castilian Branch of the Iberian Range (Guadalajara, Spain). Its exceptional Lower–Middle Jurassic transition outcrops led to its designation as the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the base of the Aalenian by the International Commission on Stratigraphy (under the auspices of the International Union of Geological Science) during the 31st International Geological Congress (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2000). The sediments of the Toarcian–Aalenian transition at Fuentelsaz are composed of marls with interbedded limestones in rhythmic alternation. Marls are dominant in the Toarcian and the Opalinum Zone up to the middle part of the Comptum Subzone. In the remaining Comptum Subzone, marly materials are scarce and limestones predominate. Sedimentation at Fuentelsaz took place over an extensive marine epeiric carbonate platform that was well connected with the open sea. Hydrodynamic conditions were generally of low energy, with the sea bottom located below fair weather wave action but at a shallow depth. In a study of the Fuentelsaz Section, a total of 43 palynomorph taxa were recorded: 23 spore taxa, 13 pollen taxa, 4 acritarchs, 2 prasinophytes and 1 dinoflagellate cyst. The studied sediment samples were always dominated by terrestrial allochthonous miospores. In general, miospore assemblages are biased due to the transport of pollen from land or islands to the continental platform. Spheripollenites, Classopollis or indeed both pollens numerically dominate the assemblages. Other miospores appear in low numbers. Aquatic palynomorphs are also scarce; Michrystridium lymensis is the most common. Five palynological assemblages (PA) were distinguished: PA1, PA2 and PA3 are Toarcian in age, PA4 is located at the boundary between the Toarcian and the Aalenian, and PA5, in the Comptum Subzone of the Aalenian, shows a strong reduction in palynomorph diversity and preservation. All these assemblages, the compositions of which are not significantly different from a biostratigraphic point of view, are compared with others similar in age from Europe and North Africa. Palaeoecological analysis of the palynomorphs indicated the presence of calm, oligotrophic sea water. The palaeofloral communities of gymnosperms and vascular cryptogams - which grew in subtropical arid conditions - were poorly diversified. This abstract is a contribution to the Research Project: CGL2008-03112. 13 16th OFP International Congress. The Cretaceous flora from Faierazzo, Friulia Venezia Giulia, Italy: preliminary results Bartiromo, A.1; Gaiotto, G.2; Romano, R.3; Roghi, G.4 1 Dipartimento delle Scienze Biologiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Via Mezzocannone, 8, 80134, Napoli. 2 Via Giacomo Leopardi 19, Cordignano, 31016, Treviso. 3 Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Via Saragat, 1, 44100, Ferrara. 4 Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse -CNR -, Via Matteotti 30, 35137, Padova. The Cretaceous palaeoflora from Faierazzo (Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Italy) represents an important and rich flora known since 1881. It belongs stratigraphically to the Albian-Cenomanian? bitouminous shale and mudstone interval intercalated in the active reef growing in the Friuli Platform. It is impossible to date the section because the levels bearing the fossils result tectonized and the direct contact with the above or below limestone has not been found. The macroflora is composed of impressions, compressions and carbonaceous compressions belonging to Pteridophyte, Gymnosperm, Angiosperms? and unrecognizable plant detritus. The following genera have been recognized up to now: Ruffordia, Phlebopteris, Sagenopteris, Frenelopsis and Ranunculus? It is worthy to note the presence of the sterile and fertile frond fragments belonging to the genus Phlebopteris. The details of pinnules and sorus are well visible, but the sporangia have not preserved any structure. Moreover, some specimens are preserved with a root systems. The genus Frenelopsis is preserved with branched (up to 24 cm) and isolated axes; the internodes are difficult to elucidate and cuticle remains (~ 10 μm in thickness) show monocyclic stomatal apparati (~ 50 μm in diameter) aligned along longitudinal rows. The plants debris are found in levels belonging to little anoxic basins near or inside a Friuli Carbonate Platform. Their presence could be ascribed to storm events which can remove large plant fragments. Moreover, the type of preservation assumes that the vegetal remains have been fossilized under anoxic conditions. It is difficult to establish the distance of the source area but owing to the dimension and the anatomical connection of the specimens, a parautochtonous condition could be hypothesized. Although preliminary, the general composition of the flora well fits with that of the EuroSinian province of the Northern Hemisphere. 14 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Improving depth of field resolution for palynological photomicrography Bercovici, A1.; Villanueva-Amadoz, U2.; Hadley, A.3 1 UMR 6119 (CNRS/INSU), Géosciences Rennes, Université de Rennes 1, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France. 2 Departamento Ciencias de la Tierra (Paleontología), Universidad de Zaragoza. C/Pedro Cerbuna, 12. 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. 3 5 Ronald Road, Darnall, Sheffield, UK. Keywords: Image processing; Optical microscopy; Optical sections; Palynology; Depth of field reconstruction Optical microscopy continues to be the preferred method for imaging in paleopalynology. While the usefulness of other tools, such as the scanning electron microscope, is not questioned, the ease of use and rapidity of optical microscopy remains unsurpassed. However, obtaining good quality microphotographs requires the use of the highest magnifying power objectives available, which are inevitably associated with very limited depth of field. To avoid the need for multiple photomicrographs to fully describe each palynomorph, a software solution for reconstructing depth of field is proposed. While some free and commercially available software already propose depth of field reconstruction algorithms, they are usually targeted to work on scenery and opaque object and were found to produce disappointing results on translucent palynomorphs. To address this issue, collaboration with Alan Hadley, creator of the free open sourced CombineZP software, allowed for improvements over the rendition of such objects. A set of workflows (do stack and do weighted average) allows for the reconstruction of a subset of the focus plane or its entirety. Additionally, a batch processing module was created in order to process large number of specimens (groups of optical sections) automatically. This solution allows for keeping the main advantages of high magnifying power objectives (better resolution and improved contrast) while suppressing their main weakness. In addition, microphotographs published using depth of field reconstruction has a more natural appearance, similar to when directly viewed with the eye under the microscope. The technique can be applied similarly to many other paleontological and geological objects as well. 15 16th OFP International Congress. Early evidence of a dry tropical vegetation in Eocene sediments of La Popa, Nuevo León, México. Calvillo-Canadell, L.1; Rodríguez-Reyes, O.2; Cevallos-Ferriz, S.R.S.1 1 Depto. De Paleontología, Instituto de Geología, UNAM; Ciudad Universitaria, Del. Coyoacàn, 04510 México DF., México 2 Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092. 8232 Balboa, Ancon Republic of Panama or Unit 0948, APO AA 34002-0948 USA Keywords: Dry topical vegetation; Eocene; Leguminosae; Burseraceae Fossil plants represent a unique source of information to become aware of diversification processes. The relative scarce information on fossil plants from Mexico has been overcome in the last decades, and the new information has suggested that a diverse tropical Cretaceous community from northern Mexico was the source of different types of vegetation further south, as sea retrited. Leaf architecture and fruit morphology of the fossil plants from the Eocene La Carroza Formation in La Popa, Nuevo León, include members of Inga, Chamaecrista, Senna (Leguminosae) Lannea, Astronium y Pentaspadon (Anacardiaceae), Bursera (Burseraceae), and Myrcia (Myrtaceae), as well as pollen of Bombacaceae, Arecaceae, Fagaceae, Sapindaceae and Aquifoliaceae. The sedimentary sequence is composed of sandstones, siltstones, shales, with intercalations of lake coquinas, volcanic ashes, and paleosoils. The floristic elements of the La Poppa region and the sedimentary sequence contrast with the paleosoil analysis; the leaves and sediments suggest based on size, abundance, diversity and taxonomic affinity some humidity in the region, in contrast the analysis of the paleosoils proposed the presence of a xeric place. Plant affinities can be traced to the Cretaceous/Paleocene floras from southern North America (USA) and Coahuila, Mexico, from which plants suggesting warm and humid environments are well known. Their presence in areas where water availability appears to be a conflict may be overcome by postulating that in the Middle Eocene in La Poppa region seasonality was well marked, perhaps with a relatively short humid season during which plants completed their life cycle, that alternated with a larger warmer and water restricted season. This scenario is compatible with natural areas occupied today with some members of the families so far recognized. 16 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe The oldest macrofossil remains of vascular plant in the Iberian Peninsula, Spain Cascales-Miñana, B.1; Martínez-Pérez, C.2; Botella, H.2 1 Department of Plant Biology. Faculty of Pharmacy. University of Valencia. Av/ Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjasot (Valencia, Spain) 2 Department of Geology. Faculty of Biological Sciences. University of Valencia. C/ Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjasot (Valencia, Spain) Keywords: Zosterophyll-like plan; Lower Devonian plants; Spain Lower Devonian flora illustrates one of the most important episodes in plant life history, marked by the important diversification of land plants. Unfortunately, the fossil record of this flora is scarce; therefore, all new data concerning their diversity, morphology and geographical distribution are important to increase the understanding of their early evolution and diversification. Although, studies on Devonian flora have increased during last decades, in the Iberian Peninsula they are rare and limited to precise findings (Montero, 2008). As far as we know, to date, the oldest unequivocal vascular plants macroremains in the Iberian Peninsula belong to Lepidodendraceae indet. from the Emsian (Lower Devonian) of Ciudad Real (Pardo, 1997, see Montero, 2008 for discussion). Here, we describe the first record of early vascular plants from the Lochkovian (Lower Devonian) of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain). The new material studied here have been recovered from levels of the Nogueras Formation, in the locality South of Barranco Santo Domingo (Province of Teruel, Spain, see e.g. Carls, 1999). Plant remains present small predominantly dichotomous axes with a pseudomonopodical pattern of branching, and lateral sporangia distributed along the length of stems which follow the Zosterophylls-like plan. Zosterophylls were one of the most important groups among the first vascular plants, being a characteristic element of the flora during Lower Devonian times. Our finding increases the palaeogeographical distribution of this important group of primitive vascular plants. 17 16th OFP International Congress. Trends and patterns in vascular plants evolution: Macroevolutionary implications of multilevel taxonomic analysis Cascales-Miñana, B.; Muñoz-Bertomeu, J.; Ros, R.; Segura, J. Department of Plant Biology. University of Valencia. Av/ Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjasot (Valencia, Spain). [email protected] Keywords: Vascular plant; Radiation; Extinction; Diversification; Fossil record; Evolutionary innovations. Several investigations have documented the plant life history on the basis of evolutionary patterns from the reconstruction of the fossil record. Nevertheless, the divergence of plant life has been mainly studied in specific groups or periods. In the present investigation we have analyzed the macroevolutionary patterns of vascular plants from the Silurian to the present time providing a global vision of plant life evolution. We focus on the biotic crises, the origination processes, the floral turnover patterns and the structural diversity. We also discuss the concept of mass extinction in vascular plants. Our methodology is based on palaeobiological and evolutionary inference. First of all, we analyzed the evolutionary rates (origination, extinction and diversification) of vascular plants at four taxonomic levels (families, orders, classes and divisions). Subsequently, abundance and richness analyses at 21 time intervals were performed. Finally, an accumulative analysis based on total plant fossil record, accumulated extinction and relative diversity was undertaken. The diversification rate showed a unique constant and progressive reduction from the end of the Carboniferous to the Permian, where the lowest values were registered. The Cretaceous extinction seems to be reflected as very small peaks for families. The abundance analysis showed that only two intervals of time presented clearly higher extinction than origination at Family level. The richness and accumulative analyses showed that only 32% of families analyzed become extinct and approximately 90% of them disappeared at the Palaeozoic. The taxonomic composition of the plant records shows a turnover process in a macroevolutionary scale. The absence of important extinction events or evolutionary innovations caused diversification patterns without abrupt changes. Our results support that plants did not suffer mass extinction events in the sense of the “big five” but mass ecological reorganization. 18 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe The Stephanian B flora of the La Magdalena Coalfield (León, NW Spain), an European reference. Castro, M.P. c/ Guzmán el Bueno, 84, 28003 Madrid, Spain. Keywords: Carboniferous; Stephanian; NW Spain; Cantabrian Mountains; province León In NW Spain, the Cantabrian Mountains contain the most complete succession of Stephanian floras in the World, thus becoming a necessary reference for comparison elsewhere. La Magdalena Coalfield, in the northwestern part of the province of León, is a tectonic remmant of a post-Asturian basin which represents the latest part in the tectonostratigraphic history of the Cantabric-Asturian arcuate fold belt. With 1,200 m of plantbearing strata, La Magdalena succession represents fluvio-lacustrine environments on an alluvial plain and is justly famous for its abundance of plant fossils as reported since 1950s that constitute a beautiful representation of mid-Stephanian B flora. For a systematic taxonomic study, floral assemblages of plant impressions were collected here from a total of 85 localities along three transects in the steeply dipping normal flank of an isoclinal syncline. They have yielded 4,827 samples containing 11,334 identifiable fossil plant remains which were identified as belonging to 140 paleobotanical taxa, representing to c. 100 natural species. A compositional analysis shows a predominance of pteridosperms in this coalfield, as well as a proportional increase in pecopterid ferns in the higher part of the succession, accompanied by a decrease in calamitalean sphenopsids. 19 16th OFP International Congress. General trends and unexpected trajectories in the Late Quaternary vegetation dynamics of the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands Carrión, J.1; Fernández, S.2; González Sampériz, P.3 1 Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain. 2 Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain. 3 Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología. Dpto. Procesos Geoambientales y Cambio Global. Av/ de Montañana 1005, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain Keywords: palaeobotany, palaeoecology, historical biogeography, palynology, Iberia, Quaternary, Pleistocene, Holocene. Here we discuss long term vegetation dynamics in the Iberian Peninsula during the Late Quaternary with emphasis on the lateglacial and Holocene. Along this period, landscape diversity, ecological history, fire activity and long-term human occupation have often defined unexpected vegetation responses. Human occupation has played a determinant role shaping the Iberian landscapes as we know them since the MidHolocene; grazing, agriculture, mining, coppicing, burn and slash, etc., are all activities exerting deep transformations. As we gain resolution in pollen records, we can see concentration of the major changes into relatively short episodes; the rate of change is definitively uneven, which points to the need of a conceptualization based in an ecological-contingent rather than a deterministic approach. 20 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Geologic factors promoting increased plant diversity during the Cenozoic in Mexico Cevallos-Ferriz, S.R.S.1; González-Torres, E.A.2; Calvillo-Canadell, L.1 1 Depto. de Paleontología; Instituto de Geología, UNAM; Ciudad Universitaria; Coyoacan; 04510 México D.F.; México 2 Depto. de Geología Regional; Instituto de Geología, UNAM; Ciudad Universitaria; Coyoacan; 04510 México D.F.; México. Keywords: Diversity; Mexico; Cenozoic; Geologic activity; Physiography Plant diversity in Mexico has been explained most of the time as a recent phenomenon, due to the expansion of the Neotropical and Neartic floras toward low latitude North America; an aspect facilitated by the establishment of the Isthmus of Panama. Recognizing that at least some plant lineages that today are an important component of the Neotropical flora were incorporated from the north some time during the Cenozoic has complemented this idea. Several examples have been used to explain this expansion of area distribution, like Inga, Pithecellobium, and Prioria (Leguminosae), or Tapirira and Haplorhus, but the simple expansion of distribution of taxa does not explain the increased biodiversity, to the point that today Mexico is considered one of the megadiversity sites of the world. We propose that both tectonic and volcanic activities are responsible of promoting biological processes that increased biodiversity. It is the geological instability the responsible of offering plants continues varied condition that influences main habitat types and species grouping. Emphasis will be given to two geological models responsible of altering the physiographic of the regions, i) creation of a volcanic belt and 2) physiographic changes due to tectonism. These geologic processes will alter edaphic, atmospheric, and other climatic/environmental conditions that will further select plant types. Three particular areas will help to exemplify this situation, suggesting that the diverse vegetation types recognized today in Mexico evolved from a warm humid (tropical) vegetation. First a Cretaceous-Eocene replacement of a paratropical forest for a dry forest in Coahuila and Nuevo León. Second, continues change from an evergreen forest to the establishment of conifer forest and grasslands in central Mexico (Tlaxcala, Puebla and Hidalgo). Finally, modification of a wet tropical forest to a somehow drier tropical forest in Chiapas will introduce the need to recognize paleodiversity-paleogeographic zones through the Cenozoic in Mexico. 21 16th OFP International Congress. The biogeographical relationships of late Westphalian and earliest Stephanian floras of the Iberian Peninsula Cleal, C. Department of Biodiversity & Systematic Biology, National Museum Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NP, UK Keywords: Carboniferous Biogeography Pteridosperms Lycophytes The late Westphalian and earliest Stephanian medullosalean pteridosperms and arborescent lycophytes from the Iberian Peninsula give different signals as to their biogeographical relationships with the rest of Europe and easternmost North America (the Canadian Maritimes). Although there are a number of species in common, the overall composition of the Iberian medullosaleans seems quite different. In contrast, the lycophytes seem to be generally similar to those of the rest of the European Variscan Foreland basins, but different from those of the Canadian Maritimes. These different biogeographical signals can probably be explained through differences in the reproductive and dispersal strategies of these two groups of plants. 22 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Premiers éléments de paléoflore d'un nouveau gisement Paléogène dans l'Oise De Franceschi, D.1; Solé, F.2 1 UMR7207 MNHN-CNRS-UPMC57 rue Cuvier CP3875231 Paris cedex 05 2 UMR 7207 MNHN-CNRS-UMPC57 rue Cuvier75231 Paris cedex 05 Keywords: Paléocène; Graines; Bois; Lodes; Vitaceae Après la dècouverte d'ambre et d'une paléoflore très riche d'âge Eocène inférieur au Quesnoy (Houdancourt, Oise, France), un nouveau gisement très proche à Rivecourt (Oise), présente également une flore diversifiée, mais légèrement différente. Conifères et Angiospermes dicotylédones sont très biens représentées particulièrement par des structures végétatives dans les sédiments ligniteux d'âge probable Paléocène terminal. Les Arecaceae sont également révélés par la présence de leurs structures anatomiques caractéristiques. On retrouve aussi sous forme de graines, le genre Iodes (Icacinaceae) et des Vitaceae variées, comme déjà observés sur le site du Quesnoy, mais présentant ici de petites différences. Les études sédimentologiques en cours et des fouilles méthodiques permettront une meilleure connaissance de cette paléoflore qui permettra la comparaison entre Paléocène et Eocène. 23 16th OFP International Congress. Morphology and ecology of the Paleozoic Tedelean ferns Galtier, J. Laboratoire de Botanique et bioinformatique de l’architecture des plantes (AMAP), UMR 5120 CNRS, CIRAD, TA -51/PS2, Boulevard de la Lironde, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 05, France The Tedeleaceae are late Paleozoic Filicalean ferns with two known genera, Ankyropteris and Senftenbergia, which partially overlap morphologically and have the same known stratigraphic ranges – Namurian A to Lower Permian in Euramerica. Ankyropteris is anatomically known and Senftenbergia is almost exclusively based on compression specimens. Both genera exhibit abaxially, laminar-borne sori and/or solitary sporangia with some schizaeoid attributes. The sporangia are pyriform, erect to slightly curved with a two to multiseriate apical annulus and mature spores usually of the Raistrickia type. Detailed morphological comparisons of Ankyropteris with Senftenbergia emphasize generic overlaps. Ankyropteris brongniartii provides recurrent ecological observations of habit and associated plants in ecotonal swamp reaches as well as in volcanic environments and on other clastic substrates. Ankyropteris may have originated from the clepsydroid zygopterid clade outside of the swamps. Ankyropteris brongniartii occurred as an epiphytic vine on Psaronius tree ferns as they expanded into coal swamps and often co-occurred with Paralycopodites even earlier in Middle Pennsylvanian. Vine stem anatomy and functional morphology of aphlebiae are emphasized in A. brongniartii with comparisons to Austroclepsis, an early “vining” false tree fern. Anatomical comparisons of Ankyropteris species based on shoots emphasize divergent habits with similar robust sizes, all exhibited aphlebiae. Known only from coal balls, A. corrugata (Westphalian A-B) had a rampant habit on exposed peat with a succulent, dichotomous rhizome and erect fronds. The Lower Pennsylvanian specimen of A. hendricksii is a compact tree fern with crowded frond bases and intercalated roots. Tyloses commonly occur in A. corrugata and A. brongniartii indicating water stressed conditions. Apical meristems of shoot and fronds are reported for the first time, suggesting response growth to disturbance and rapid burial. 24 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe On some specimens of the putative early lignophyte Crossia (Stenokoleales) from Ronquières (Middle Devonian, Belgium) Gerrienne, P.1; Meyer-Berthaud, B2 1 Paléobotanique, Paléopalynologie et Micropaléontologie, Département de Géologie, Université de Liège, B18, Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium, [email protected]; 2 Botanique et bioinformatique de l’architecture des plantes, AMAP-CIRAD, TA40/PS2, Boulevard de la Lironde, 34398 Montpellier cedex 5, France, [email protected]. The Middle Devonian is a period of important taxonomic turnover for early terrestrial plants, which showed high origination rates. This pattern coincides with the evolution of phenotypic novelties (tree habit, megaphyllous leaves with increasing laminate surfaces, proto-ovules) that potentially increased the range of growth, reproductive, and dispersal strategies of the plants, modified interactions between organisms, and may have initiated a profound modification of terrestrial landscapes. Based on current evidence, the lignophytes (plants that possess a bifacial vascular cambium, producing secondary phloem-inner bark-outwards, and secondary xylemwood-inwards) evolved during Middle Devonian times. Plant deposits of Middle Devonian age are numerous and widely distributed over the Palaeozoic palaeocontinents; yet the richest and most diverse in terms of lignophytes and related taxa occur in Laurussia, a distribution also observed in the Late Devonian. The genus Crossia has been originally reported from an Eifelian locality from Virginia (Beck and Stein, 1993). The authors described a narrow peripheral zone of radially aligned tracheids from a single specimen, and interpreted it as a small amount of secondary xylem. On this basis, the genus has been presented as the earliest lignophyte (Kenrick and Crane, 1997), even though the presence of a bifacial vascular cambium has still to be demonstrated. In this presentation, we focus on the occurrence of permineralized remains of Crossia from a middle to late Givetian (TA spore Zone) locality in the Ronquières area (Belgium). The locality is contemporaneous and geographically close to the locality that provided the proto-ovule Runcaria (Gerrienne et al., 2004) which is no longer accessible. Seven permineralized axes have been collected. All are similar to the single fragment interpreted as a first-order axis by Beck & Stein (1993). They show a large three-ribbed protostele containing a central protoxylem stand and up to 20 protoxylem strands arranged along the mid-planes of the primary xylem. Lateral appendages are produced alternately and in pairs, each member of a pair containing two separate strands of unequal size proximally. We demonstrate that a ring of secondary xylem with radially aligned tracheids and narrow rays is present in several specimens from Ronquières. Pitting is continuous over the radial and tangential walls of tracheids. Rays are 1-3 seriate and up to 45 cells high. Until now, we failed to demonstrate the presence/absence of a bifacial vascular cambium and of secondary phloem. The primary body of Crossia is compared to coeval or slightly younger woody plants and early spermatophytes. The phylogenetic position of Crossia is discussed. Beck, C.B. and Stein, W.E., 1993. Crossia virginiana gen. et sp. nov., a new member of the Stenokoleales from the Middle Devonian of southwestern Virginia. Palaeontographica, 229B: 115-134. Gerrienne, P., Meyer-Berthaud, B., Fairon-Demaret, M., Streel, M. and Steemans, P., 2004. Runcaria, a Middle Devonian seed plant precursor. Science, 306: 856-858. Kenrick, P. and Crane, P.R., 1997. The origin and early diversification of land plants. A cladistic study. Smithsonian Series in Comparative Evolutionary Biology. Smithsonian Institution press, Washington and London, 441 pp. 25 16th OFP International Congress. Upper Pleistocene in NW Iberia: vegetation dynamics during the last 80 ky BP Gómez-Orellana, L.1; Ramil-Rego, P.1; Muñoz Sobrino, C.2 1 2 GI-TTB Lab. Botánica & Biogeografía, IBADER, Universidade de Santiago, E-27002 Lugo, Spain Departamento de Biología Vexetal e Ciencias do Solo, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade de Vigo, Campus de Marcosende s/n, E-36200 Vigo, Spain Keywords: Upper Pleistocene; Pollen; Vegetation dynamic; NW iberia During the last decades several detailed stratigaphical, cronological and pollen analyses have been performed in NW Iberia. These data enable: 1) the reconstruction of regional vegetation dynamics, which can be compared with other pollen sequences in SW Europe, and 2) a better knowledge of the major climatic events affecting the area since the Upper Pleistocene, which can be contrasted with the North Atlantic isotopic records. Most of these data were obtained in ponds or peatbogs covering to the last 18 ky BP. Nevertheless, a number of sites near the coastline also include some limnetic facies that were formed during the Upper Pleistocene. The coastal deposit of Area Longa (Gómez-Orellana et al. 2007) is located in the country of A Mariña Lucense (Lugo, NW Iberia), a rather plain territory extending between the Galician-Asturian Mountains and the Cantabrian Sea. Its record extents from the Prewürm towards the last Würm stadial. Furthermore, several other sites recording different stages of the last 25 ky BP exist located between the inner mountains and the shoreline. Therefore, the data from Area Longa may be combined with other deposits to obtain a regional sequence that records the major climatic oscillations driving vegetation changes in the western corner of Iberia during the last 85 ky BP. The obtained regional record starts in the Prewürm. Palaeoecological data for this stage show a dominance of woodland, with high percentages of Fagus pollen. Subsequently, a landscape of grassland and shrub prevails during the first stadial stage. Later, the pleniglacial interstade reflects a complex period (“A Mariña Complex”) in which three warmer woodland phases alternated with periods of more open vegetation. The upper pleniglacial reveals a new woodland retreat. Late-glacial enclose two main colder periods: Oldest Dryas and Younger Dryas intercalated with a warmer Late-glacial interstadial. Postglacial tree colonization follows the following sequence: Betula-Pinus-Quercus. Nevertheless, the representation of pine is much reduced in these oceanic areas that it was recorded in the innermost mountains, so no Pinus expansion has been recorded in any site from the Cantabrian coastal mountains. Alternatively, a final Corylus expansion is also commonly recorded in the Cantabrian territories that have not been recorded in other southernmost areas (Ramil-Rego et al. 1998; Muñoz Sobrino et al. 2007). Gómez-Orellana L, Ramil-Rego P, Muñoz Sobrino C (2007) The Würm in NW Iberia, a pollen record from Area Longa (Galicia). Quaternary Res 67: 438-452 Muñoz Sobrino C, Ramil-Rego P, Gómez-Orellana L (2007) Late Würm and early Holocene in the mountains of northwest Iberia: biostratigraphy, chronology and tree colonization. Veg Hist Archaeobot 16: 223-240 Ramil-Rego P, Muñoz Sobrino C, Rodríguez-Guitián M, Gómez-Orellana L (1998) Differences in the vegetation of the North Iberian Peninsula during the last 16,000 years. Plant Ecol 138: 41-62 26 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Unusual vegetative body, growth and affinities of Tarrantia, an early Polysporangiophyte from the Lower Devonian of Brazil Gonez, P.; Gerrienne, P. Université de Liège Laboratoire PPM - Département de Géologie – Bât. B18, Parking 40Allée du 6 Août, Sart Tilman4000 Liège 1BELGIUM; Keywords: Tarrantia; Lower Devonian; Early land plants; Asymmetric branching Thirteen specimens of Tarrantia Fanning et al. 1992 have been collected from two Lower Devonian localities of the Paraná Basin (Brazil). The genus was originally described on the basis of fragmentary and poorly preserved material from the Lower Devonian of Wales. The Brazilian specimens are well preserved compression fossils and provide additional information. Eight specimens show an almost complete vegetative body. Five of these eight specimens that show more than one branching level present asymmetric branching. This plasticity of the vegetative body is consistent with the concept of overtopping. The sporangium is precisely described. Some specimens show morphological disparities within their sporangia. Some of these sporangia, on the basis of growth reconstruction, are interpreted as immature and compared to those of Salopella marcensis Fanning et al. 1992. Several specimens of Tarrantia and other taxa from the Paraná Basin flora present a very long proximal axis. They suggest that the Lower Devonian green mats were structured as a minute canopy. 27 16th OFP International Congress. Palynoflores des Formations Ashakajima et Kimigama (Groupe Choshi, Zone Externe du Japon) Legrand, J.1,2; Pons, D.1; Yamada, T.3; Nishida, H.2,4; Broutin, J.1 1 Université Pierre-et-Marie Curie, UMR 7207 CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Paléobiodiversité et Paléoenvironnements (CR2P), MNHN, Paris, France; [email protected] 2 Université de Tokyo, Japon 3 Université de Kanazawa, Japon 4 Université Chuo, Tokyo, Japon Mots-clés: Palynologie ; Barrémien ; Flore de type Ryoseki ; Groupe Choshi ; Japon. Les plantes du Jurassique supérieur – Crétacé inférieur sont abondantes et diversifiées dans le Sud-Est asiatique. Dans la Région Euro-Sinienne, les flores montrent d'importantes différences par rapport à celles de la Région Sibéro-Canadienne des hautes latitudes et celles du Gondwana situé plus au Sud. Au Japon, on reconnaît deux flores distinctes: la Flore de type Tetori comparable à celle de la région sibérienne au niveau de la zone interne (côté ouest le long de la Mer du Japon), et la Flore de type Ryoseki possédant des éléments des flores euro-sinienne ou sud laurasienne au niveau de la Zone Externe (côté Sud-Est, le long de l'Océan Pacifique). Entre ces deux flores coexiste une flore mixte regroupant des éléments appartenant soit à la Flore « Tetori » soit à la Flore « Ryoseki ». Seules de rares études palynologiques ont déjà été effectuées sur des sédiments d'âge Crétacé inférieur au Japon. Les auteurs présentent les premières associations palynologiques préaptiennes découvertes dans le Groupe Choshi. Le Groupe Choshi, affleure au niveau d'une zone étroite qui court le long de la côte Est de la Péninsule de Choshi, Préfecture de Chiba, Sud-Est du Japon. Ce Groupe comprend cinq Formations lithologiques: Ashikajima, Kimigahama, Inubouzaki, Toriakeura et Nagasakihana, datées par les biozones à Ammonites. La localité de Choshi, située dans la Province floristique Ryoseki, a été largement étudiée pour sa riche macroflore contenant des organes de plantes perminéralisés remarquablement conservés. Les échantillons étudiés pour la palynologie proviennent des argiles compactées et des limons des Formations Ashikajima et Kimigahama, toutes deux assignées à un âge barrémien par les ammonites Holcodiscus ojii et Hamulina aff. Brestakensis et les assemblages de foraminifères. Les Formations, déposées en milieu côtier à marin peu profond, contiennent de riches assemblages, caractérisés par une prédominance de divers palynomorphes terrestres associés à des dinoflagellés et tests de foraminifères. On note l’abondance et la variété des spores triletes lisses et des spores cicatricosées (Appendicisporites, Cicatricosisporites). Les autres spores ornementées (verrues, bacules, épines, cônes, poils etc...) sont moins abondantes, mais très diversifiées. Les gymnospermes sont présentes essentiellement sous la forme de grains monosulqués. Les bisaccates sont peu nombreux et les Araucariaceae, rares, en dehors du genre Araucariacites. En revanche les genres Spheripollenites et Classopollis atteignent de forts pourcentages. Dicheiropollis est trouvé pour la première fois au Japon. C’est une microflore très originale qui possède des éléments floristiques communs avec ceux de la Région Euro-Sinienne définie par Vakhrameev et le Royaume téthysien. 28 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Numerical modeling of Pseudosporochnus (Cladoxylopsida), a tree of Middle Devonian age Meyer-Berthaud, B.; Dambreville, A.; Rey, H.; Barczi, J.F. Address (all authors): botAnique et bioinforMatique de l'Architecture des Plantes (AMAP), ℅ Cirad, TAA51/PS2, Boulevard de la Lironde, F-34398 Montpellier cedex 5 Keywords: Cladoxylopsida, Paleozoic, Devonian, tree architecture, 3-D numerical modeling, carbone There have been a few attempts to date to use numerical models in the architectural reconstruction of fossil plants (Daviero & Lecoustre 2000; Daviero et al. 2000). Here we present a new approach applicable to a wide range of fossil taxa, and show the type of information than can be derived from such studies. The earliest plants to have reached the tree habit belong to the Pseudosporochnales, a Middle Devonian order of Cladoxylopsida. Several divergent reconstructions of arborescent pseudosporochnaleans have been presented in the 20th century literature. The recent reassessment of Belgian remains of Pseudosporochnus together with the discovery of wellpreserved specimens of Wattieza borne on Eospermatopteris stumps at Gilboa (New York) have provided a wealth of information relative to the morphology of these trees, and suggested a high level of consistency in the architecture of the Pseudosporochnales (Schweitzer 1973; Fairon-Demaret & Li 1993; Berry & Fairon-Demaret 2002; Stein et al. 2007). These leafless plants comprise a main stem, or trunk, bearing closely spaced determinate branches. These branches are digitate and covered with small lateral branching systems of various morphologies, that eventually bear pairs of sporangia. The root system appears entirely adventitious and borne on the swollen base of the stem. The 3-D numerical plant model we propose for Pseudosporochnus incorporates this information supplemented by that derived from the quantitative analysis of a large number of specimens of Pseudosporochnus nodosus from the collections of Laboratoire de Paléobotanique, Paléopalynologie et Micropaléontologie de l'Université de Liège. These specimens were formerly studied and illustrated by S. Leclercq, M. Fairon-Demaret and C. Berry. The data are processed with the AmapSim software (Barczi et al. 2008) in order to construct and simulate a 3-D growing numerical plant model. Two contrasting hypotheses of growth have been modeled: (i) the "tree fern hypothesis" presented by Meyer-Berthaud et al. (in press) where secondary growth is considered insignificant for the radial expansion of the stem and where the maximal diameter of the trunk is acquired early during ontogeny; (ii) the "Berry and Fairon-Demaret hypothesis" where the radial expansion of the stem results from secondary growth, and where the maximal diameter of the trunk is acquired late during ontogeny. The two scenarios provide significant differences in the morphology of the juvenile states. We made an attempt to use these 3-D numerical models to estimate the amount of carbon that Pseudosporochnus may have accumulated during its growth. This preliminary analysis suggests that Pseudosporochnus sequestered a low amount of carbon. Despite their large size and wide paleogeographical distribution, the impact of such trees on the carbon cycle may have been moderate. Barczi, J.-F. et al., 2008. AmapSim: A Structural whole-plant simulator based on botanical knowledge and designed to host external functional models. Ann. Bot, 101(8): 1125-1138. Berry, C.M. & Fairon-Demaret, M., 2002. The architecture of Pseudosporochnus nodosus Leclercq et Banks: a Middle Devonian cladoxylopsid from Belgium. Int. J. Plant Sci., 163: 699-713. Daviero, V. et al., 2000. Computer simulation of sphenopsid architecture. I. Principles and methodology. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 109: 121-134. Daviero, V. & Lecoustre, R., 2000. Computer simulation of sphenopsid architecture. II. Calamites multiramis Weiss, as an example of Late Paleozoic arborescent sphenopsids. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 109: 135-148. Fairon-Demaret, M. & Li, C.-S., 1993. Lorophyton goense gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Givetian of Belgium and a discussion of the Middle Devonian Cladoxylopsida. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 77: 1-22. Meyer-Berthaud, B. et al. (in press). The land plant cover in the Devonian: a reassessment of the evolution of the habit. In: M. Vecoli et al. (eds) The terrestrialization process: Modelling complex interactions at the biosphere-geosphere interface. Geological Society of London, Special Vol. Schweitzer, H.P., 1973. Die Mitteldevon-Flora von Lindlar (Rheinland). 4. Filicinae - Calamophyton primaevum Kräusel & Weyland. Palaeontographica B, 140: 117-150. Stein, W.E. et al., 2007. Giant cladoxylopsid trees resolve the enigma of the Earth's earliest forest stumps at Gilboa. Nature, 446: 904-907. 29 16th OFP International Congress. The Paleobotanical Museum of Córdoba (Spain) Montero, A. Centro Paleobotánico, Jardín Botánico de Córdoba The Palaeobotanical Museum is located in a late medieval water mill in the Guadalquivir River, adjoining the Botanical Garden of Córdoba. The building was restored in 1998-2002, and the Museum opened in 2002. It consists of two exhibition rooms in the higher part of the building (1st and 2nd floors). Furthermore, several large specimens are displayed outside the Museum, Syringodendron (lycopsid), Calamites (sphenopsid) and a fern frond 2 m width. All of these specimens were obtained from Stephanian B coal-measures at Villablino (León). A number of specimens of silicified wood from the latest Carboniferous/basal Permian of Valdeviar in Sevilla province are displayed as well. The exhibition within the Museum is organised so as to ascend through geological time with regard to plant records, from Devonian times to the Present, with a particularly good representation of Carboniferous and Permian. There are a few notable elements such as the full size reconstruction, of the isoetalean tree Omphalophoios; a display of a fossil site (a Palaeobotanical Pompei), a large board with a visual image of the successive geological periods with landscapes and the principal stages in the history of land plants on Earth, etc. 30 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe New permineralized plant-debri assemblage from the Upper Cretaceous of south Chile Nishida, H.1; Hinojosa O., L.F.2; Uemura, K.3; Terada, K.4; Yamada, T.5; Asakawa, T.6; Rancusi H., M.7 1 Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan 2 Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile 3 National Science Museum, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan 4 Fukui Prefectural Danosaur Museum, Katsuyama, Fukui, Japan 5 Faculty of Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan 6 Faculty of Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan 7 Colegio Compania de Maria, Santiago, Chile We here preliminarily report a new finding of permineralized fossil assemblage consisting of a variety of plant debri preserved in calcareous concretions derived from shallow marine sediments of the Late Cretaceous Quiriquina Formation (CampanianMaastrichtian) exposed at coastal cliff north of Temu (approx. 36°S, 73°W), VIII Region, Chile. Associated marine mollusca such as ammonoids can be used for age determination. The plant debri are well-preserved with their internal anatomy, and are composed of fragments representing various parts of plants. Based on five concretions studied, it has been identified by now a lycopsid strobilus; fern rhizomes and rachises, including those of possible dennstaedtioid ferns; conifer wood and leaves; and various angiosperm remains. Other organisms such as wood decay fungi are also preserved. The assemblage shows a diverse array of plants that probably had been components of humid temperate mixed forest during the latest Cretaceous. We have already reported the occurrence of similar plant-containing concretions of Late Cretaceous to Early Eocene in age from Magallanes Province of Chilean Patagonia. Such permineralized debri assemblage can provide anatomy-based rich paleobiological information in southern South America in the future. This work is supported by Monbusho Grant #18405013 to HN, and is realized with the courtesy of Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales de Chile, under permission #0022 of the year 2007. 31 16th OFP International Congress. Paleobotanical heritage of classical dinosaurs sites of Early Cretaceous of Salas de los Infantes (Burgos, Spain) Puente-Arauzo, E.1,2; Sender, L.M.1; Torcida, F.3; Diez, J.B.2; Ferrer, J.1; Huerta Hurtado, P.3; Villanueva-Amadoz, U.1 1 Departamento Ciencias de la Tierra (Paleontología), Universidad de Zaragoza C/Pedro Cerbuna, 12. 50009 Zaragoza, Spain, [email protected] 2 Departamento Geociencias Marinas y Ordenación del Territorio. Universidad de Vigo Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, 36200 Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain 3 Museo de Dinosaurios de Salas de los Infantes, Burgos, Spain The Salas de los Infantes region is located at south-east of Burgos Province, northcentral Spain and it is placed between the Duero Basin and the Demanda Massif. This region contains a hight diversity of fossils plants early Cretaceous in age. This paper deals with the rich collection of paleoflora exhibited in the Museum of Dinosaurs of Salas de los Infantes and with the fossil plants which have been recently found in several outcrops of this region. The area of Rabanera del Pinar shows two main outcrops containing fossil plants within the Upper Barremian-Lower Aptian (Castrillo de la Reina Fm.). The first one, that is named as Arroyo de la Vega site, contain several types of microfossil and macrofossil plants corresponding to spores of briophytes and pteridophytes and pollen grains of various types of gimnosperms, pinnae of ferns, axes of conifers, trunks of Cycadophytes and several plant remains of uncertain affinities. The second site is located in an abandoned railway tunnel in the same area of Rabanera. The Museum of Dinosaurs of Salas de los Infantes exhibit a trunk of Bennettital found in this site. This specimen show in section, the different parts of the trunk, the bases of leaves and the cones which are extraordinary well preserved. Fragments of fossil trees are common in the early Cretaceous deposits of this region and some of them have been yet studied by paleobotanist. However, villagers of the region have frequently found long fragments of fossil logs in this area. This is the case of the fossil trunk found in the Ledania of Salas de los Infantes, Hacinas, Castrillo and Monasterio de la Reina. The big fossil log (18 m long, at the moment, and 60 cm wide) which is located on the deposit called Matalaguna site within the Upper HauterivianLower Barremian (Pinilla de los Moros Fm.). The Museum of Dinosaurs of Salas de los Infantes exhibit several big trunks of Bennettitals and a long fragment of the cretaceous fossil tree fern Tempskya riojana. This specimen was found in the Horcajuelos site corresponding to the Castrillo de la Reina Fm. (Barremian-Aptian) It is noteworthy remarkably that this fossil specimen show two rings of scars in its apical zone corresponding to the insertion of fronds. Apart from the museum of Salas de los Infantes, there is the Fossil Tree Visitors' Centre situated in the locality of Hacinas, where principally it is possible to contemplate a recreation of the subtropical landscapes of the Cretaceous Period, approximately 120 million years ago. The fossils that played a leading role of this iniciative were found by habitants of the village and the scientific community baptized Protopodocarpoxylon hacinensis and Agathoxylon (García Esteban et al., 2006). Both fossil trees were formed part of dense forests of coniferous where once fallen and transported by fluvial currents, remained buried until today. The perspectives of study in this region will be pointed to the identification of the plant taxa that have been found in both old and newly discovered fossil sites, to characterize, the taphonomic processes implicated in the preservation of the fossil tree trunks from a geochemical point of view, and to improve the techniques of datation of the fossil sites by using pollen and paleomagnetism. 32 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Nuevos datos sobre la vegetación neógena de la provincia de Burgos (España) a partir de la palinología Rivas-Carballo. M.R.1; Valle Hernández, M.1; Alcalde Olivares, C.2 1 Dpt. Geología (Paleontología). Fac. Ciencias, Universidad de Salamanca. 37008 Salamanca. [email protected]; [email protected] 2 Dpto. de Silvopascicultura, Unidad de Botánica, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Montes, Universidad Politécnica, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid. [email protected] Desde que se comenzaron los análisis palinológicos en la Cuenca del Duero se observo que la zona nororiental, correspondiente al corredor de los Montes de Oca y conocida como Paraje de La Bureba, presentaba una composición florística diferente a la del resto de la Depresión (Valle et al, 1995). Si bien en un principio de pensó que esta diferencia se debía a la edad de los sedimentos (García Talegón, 1989), posteriores trabajos han puesto de manifiesto que también puede deberse a unas condiciones geográficas particulares y que su ubicación facilitaría el establecimiento de refugios de vegetación (Valle et al., 2006). Durante estas revisiones también se ha observado la similitud existente con la palinoflora de otros afloramientos, situados en la parte oriental de la provincia de Burgos (Civis et al 1990), por lo que se está realizando, en diferentes puntos de la provincia, análisis para determinar las variaciones del clima aplicando el método de aproximación de Mosbrugger y Utescher (1997) que implica el uso del software ClimStat y la base de datos Paleoflora. En La presente comunicación se presentan los primeros resultados. García Talegón, 1989. Estratigrafía del Terciario continental en el sector: Belorado-Pradoluengo (Burgos). Tesis de Licenciatura.(no publicada) Civis, J. Valle, M., González, J.A., Armenteros, I., Sierro, F.J., Flores, J.A., Andrés, I. y Rivas, M.R., 1990. Invertebrados y Palinofloras en el Neógeno de la provincia de Burgos (Cuenca del Duero). Actas de Paleontología, 103-119. Valle, M., Alonso Gavilán, G., Rivas Carballo, M. R., 1995. Analyse palynologique préliminaire du Miocene dans le NE de la Dépression du Duero (Aire de Belorado, Burgos, España). Geobios, 28, 407-412 Mosbrugger, V., Utescher, T., 1997. The coexistence approach – a method for quantitative reconstructions of Tertiary terrestrial paleoclimate data using plantfossils. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 134, 61–86. Valle, M. Rivas Carballo, M.R., 2006. Síntesis de la vegetación y clima durante el Mioceno de la Cuenca del Duero. Geotemas 9, 213-217 33 16th OFP International Congress. Paleobotanical and paleoecological data from Lower-Middle Miocene in Alto Ballester ravine cite of Rubielos de Mora (Teruel, Spain) Rubio, C.1,2; Ferrer, J.1; Diez, J.B.3 1 Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra (Paleontología), Universidad de Zaragoza. C/ Pedro Cerbuna, 12. 50009 Zaragoza, Spain 2 Paleoymás, Actuaciones Museísticas y Paleontológicas S.L. Pol. Empresarium, C/ Retama 17, nave 24c 50720 La Cartuja Baja, Zaragoza ([email protected]) 3 Departamento Geociencias Marinas y Ordenación del Territorio. Universidad de Vigo. Campus LagoasMarcosende, 36200 Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain The basin of Rubielos de Mora is formed by lacustrine Miocene deposits where three different sedimentological units are observed. Micromammal fauna of the Upper Unit is assigned to the lower-middle Miocene (Ramblian-Aragonian). Plant remains are preserved in marls and lutites from the centre of the paleolake. Macroflora preservation was favored by low oxygen concentration. Leaf remains and pollen from two outcrops have been studied. Several ecological groups have been distinguished: - Thermophilous elements: Taxodium dubium, Glyptostrobus europaeus, Myrica lignitum, Quercus rhenana, Daphnogene polymorpha, Lindera benzoin, Daphnogene sp., Laurus primigenius, Lomatites aquensis and pollen grains of Taxodiaceae, Myrica, Nyssa. - Mesophilous elements: Sequoia langsdorfii, Cathaya, Carya minor, Comptonia oeningensis, Carpinus suborientalis, Ulmus cf. campestris, Zelkova zelkovifolia and also Carya, Engelhardia, Platycarya, Ulmus and Zelkova in the palynoflora. - Mountain elements: Abies, Calocedrus sp., Betula insignis, Acer integerrimum, Acer sp. aff. A. Heldreichii, Acer decipiens, Acer tricuspidatum, Sorbus cf. aucuparia. - Aquatic elements: Potamogeton, Sparganium, Botryococcus. - Riparian elements: Thuya sp., Alnus julianaeformis, Populus cf. tremula, Salix. - Xerophilous elements: pollen of Ceratonia, Olea, Phillyrea, Microtropis fallax and Artemisa. Identified taxa from Rubielos testify to the existence of mesophilous forest vegetation growing under warm to warm-temperate and humid climatic conditions. 34 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Freshwater aquatic plants from the Upper Albian – Lower Cenomanian of Teruel province (Northeastern Spain) Sender, L.M.1; Diez, J.B.2; Ferrer, J.1; Villanueva-Amadoz, U.1; Puente-Arauzo, E.1,2 1 Departamento Ciencias de la Tierra (Paleontología), Universidad de Zaragoza. C/Pedro Cerbuna, 12. 50009 Zaragoza, Spain, [email protected] 2 Departamento Geociencias Marinas y Ordenación del Territorio. Universidad de Vigo. Campus LagoasMarcosende, 36200 Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain Macrofloral and microfloral remains from the Lower and Middle Albian deposits of Teruel Province (northeastern Spain) are very abundant and diverse. The various plant fossil assemblages include both vegetative and fertile remains of briophytes, pteridophytes, gimnosperms (conifers, cycadales, bennetitales, ginkgoales and gnetales) and also angiosperms of terrestrial affinity. Nevertheless, deposits from the Upper Albian – Lower Cenomanian in this area show a remarkably change in relation to previous plant fossil assemblages. In this frame, one of the most striking points of divergence consists of the presence of diverse plant macrofossil taxa with aquatic and hydrophytic affinities. They are associated to other typically terrestrial plants (conifers, arbustive pteridophytes and broad leaved angiosperms) within fluvial and freshwater swampy related deposits. The upper part of the Utrillas Fm. where these aquatic plants were found consists of a succession of sand bodies and light brown sandstone intercalated with coloured silty claystones which increase upwards. The thin laminated sediments deposited in lacustrine environments of moderate energy containing minute leaves of the aquatic angiosperm Ploufolia cerciforme, which is probably associated to Nymphaeales. Related deposits corresponding to nearshore and shoreline freshwater bodies presents massive accumulations of leaves of the hydrophytic angiosperm Klitzschophyllites choffati. In some cases, the latter taxon occurs in association with leaves or occasionally complete plants of the aquatic lycopod Isoetites sp. Fine grained and laminated sediments which are related to oxbow lake and channel-fill depositional environments contain floated-body Nymphaeales corresponding to Aquatifolia cf. fluitans species. These deposits also show abundant leaves of Klitzschophyllites choffati, which is probably related to Ranunculaes, besides of containing several kinds of aquatic plants of undetermined affinity. Several of these plant fossil taxa and their related facies at Teruel are equal to those of the same age found in several outcrops of Portugal, North Africa, North America and South America. Palaeogeographycal and palaeoecological implications can be infered from these new findings for the Upper Albian – Lower Cenomanian interval of the northeastern of Iberian Peninsula. This work is a contribution to the Research Projects CGL2005-01121/BTE and CGL2008-00809 of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of the Spanish government. 35 16th OFP International Congress. Preliminary data on a new Upper Albian – Lower Cenomanian flora from the Northeastern Spain Sender, L.M.1; Diez, J.B.2; Villanueva-Amadoz, U.1; Puente-Arauzo, E.1,2; Ferrer, J.1; Bercovici, A.3; Sánchez-Pellicer, R.2; Paleoibérica’08 & 09 teams 1 Departamento Ciencias de la Tierra (Paleontología), Universidad de Zaragoza C/Pedro Cerbuna, 12. 50009 Zaragoza, Spain, [email protected] 2 Departamento Geociencias Marinas y Ordenación del Territorio. Universidad de Vigo Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, 36200 Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain 3 UMR 6119 (CNRS/INSU), Géosciences Rennes, Université de Rennes 1, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France This paper focused in a new and important palaeoflora recently discovered near the village of Estercuel that is located at North of Teruel Province (NE Spain). The outcrop is located in the Oliete subbasin within deposits of the Utrillas Fm. This unit is composed of sand bodies and light brown sandstone intercalated with coloured silty claystones which increase upwards. The upper part of this unit comprises a negative sequence that finish with grey to dark coloured marls containing the studied flora. The outcrop is wedge shaped laterally and it is composed of two main levels differentiated by their floral assemblages. The stratigraphic level at the base is composed of grey clays and claystones intercalated with mid grained yellow sandstones, which probably were deposited in a fluvial sedimentary environment tidally influenced. It contains the most diverse and exceptionally well-preserved floral assemblage of the outcrop. It is composed of a great abundance of conifer axis corresponding to form genera Pagiophyllum and Brachyphyllum, male and female cones of conifers with different sizes and a scarcity of shoots of genus Frenelopsis. Terrestrial angiosperms in this level are represented almost exclusively by simple mesophyll leaves up to 25 cm long and 10 cm wide, elliptical to spatulate in shape with strong decurrent lamina tissue, emarginate apex, margin structurally reinforced, primary vein strong and pinnate, and secondary veins semicraspedodromus departing at right angles in the base to acute angles at the apex. Aquatic angiosperms consists of great accumulations of leaves of Klitzschophyllites genus, floral receptacles of Nymphaeales and plants of the unique Aquatifolia cf. fluitans species which developed a spherical float on the petiole. The Filicales are present in a less number consisting in a few fragments of primary pinnae of dicksoniales (Coniopteris sp. and Onychiopsis cf. psilotoides), schizaeaceales (Anemia cf. dicksoniana) and in a much less quantity of ferns of the Cladophlebis type. Leaves of aquatic lycopods (Isoetites sp.) and remains of Marchantiales constitute a residual component of this assemblage. The upper stratigraphic level consists of dark grey to black claystones deposited in a swampy environment containing much less quantity of floral elements. In this assemblage prevail in number the axis and shoots of scaly conifers and in less quantity the fragmented remains of undetermined angiosperms of simple leaves and broad and long parallel veined leaves of genus Pelourdea with undetermined affinity. These floral assemblages and their related facies and sedimentary environments can be compared directly with those of the same age found in the deposits of the lower part of the Dakota Formation which are located in the east and mid-west of North America. This work is a contribution to the Research Projects CGL2005-01121/BTE and CGL2008-00809 of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of the Spanish government. 36 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Echoes of the paleozoic terrestrialization Strullu-Derrien, C.1,2; Gerrienne, P.2; Georges-Strullu, D.1 1 Laboratoire Mycorhizes, UFR Sciences, Université d’Angers, 2 bd Lavoisier, 49045 Angers Cedex, France 2 Paléobotanique, Paléopalynologie et Micropaléontologie, Département de Géologie, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège 1, Belgium. Keywords: Lower Devonian plants; Psilophyton; Symbiosis; Mycorrhization Major advances have recently been made in understanding the terrestrialization processes, and especially the development of the early vegetation and the interactions between microorganisms and plants. We present here our results focusing on these two aspects. 1. A new Lower Devonian plant from France Striking changes in the evolution of plants occurred during Lower Devonian times. A new plant of this age represented by compression/impression and permineralized specimens has recently been discovered in the Châteaupanne Unit (Armorican Massif, France). In compressions, axes divide anisotomously and produce helically arranged lateral branches that divide again up to three times. They bear longitudinal ribbing and punctiform scars. Some of those plant remains are close in vegetative morphology to the genera Pertica, Trimerophyton and Psilophyton. Short length axes are permineralized by pyrite and occur isolated in the sediment. In transverse section, axes show a massive circular to elliptical xylem strand with an elongate centrarch to mesarch protoxylem area. The central part of the strand with randomly arranged tracheids is surrounded by a zone of tracheids placed in radial rows. Xylem comprises P-type tracheids. Those anatomical features are characteristic of the genus Psilophyton. On the basis of their anatomy, and on the presence of dispersed paired fusiform sporangia, our specimens are attributed to the genus Psilophyton, and possibly represents a new species. 2. New insights into the symbiosis sensu de Bary Plants associated with microorganisms colonized lands in a complicated network that can be related to de Bary’s definition of symbiosis, i.e. a phenomenon in which « unlike organisms live together ». This definition included mutualism and parasitism. We describe the mutualistic aspect of the symbiosis in the Carboniferous material from Grand’Croix (Massif Central, France), in which Cordaites (basal conifers) are the major component of the flora. Our study documents the unequivocal mycorrhizal status of Radiculites-type cordaitalean rootlets. Evidence is given by the occurence of the fungal zone in the inner cortex and by the arbuscules. Mycorrhization takes place on primary roots that are characterized by a reticulum of thickening material including phi thickenings. On the other hand, the reinvestigation of the English Oliver and Scott’s collections has allowed to document for the first time the parasitic nature of the association occuring on the pteridosperm Lyginopteris. Rootlets host structures in a definite zone of the cortex, just outside the endodermis, in a pattern similar to a fungal arbuscular zone. However, this association differs from mycorrhizae. The endodermis is exempt of infection, but the cylinder strand is attacked. Zoospore cysts have been observed in the outer cortex of a stem. The microorganism involved in this colonization is unknown to date, but it is tentatively related to modern members of the Peronosporomycetes. 37 16th OFP International Congress. Pliocene flora of Portugal: present knowledge Vieira, M.1,2,a; Pais, J.2,b; Pereira, D.1,c 1 Centro de Geologia da Universidade do Porto / Núcleo de Ciências da Terra, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal 2 Centro de Investigação em Ciência e Engenharia Geológica, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Quinta da Torre, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal a b c Emails: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] The first palaeofloral studies undertaken in Portugal took place in the 1940´s. Between 1940 and 1950 Carlos Teixeira studied several Pliocene outcrops and found a diverse palaeobotanical assemblage with several macroremains including Glyptostrobus europaeus, Osmunda Strozzi, Salix nympharum, Fraxinus, Pinus sylvestris, Stratiotes, Lygodium gaudini, Nerium pliocenicum var. lusitanicum, Castanea sativa, Quercus robur, Castanea vulgaris, Acer negundiformis, Populus nigra, Salix sp., Phyllites sp., Osmunda strozii, Glyptostrobus europaeus, Tamus communis, Salix scalabitana, Populus balsamoides, Carpinus grandis, Fagus pliocenica, Quercus hispanica, Castanea vulgaris, Myrica oeningense, Laurus nobilis, Sassafras ferretianum, Acer trilobatum, Nerium oleander, Osmunda cf. parschugiana, Sequoia cf. langsdorfii, Pinus sp., Pinus praepinaster, Chamaerops humilis, Sabal cf. haeringiana, Cinnamomum polymorphum, Myrica sp., Salix sp., Fagus pliocenica, Quercus faginea, Oreodaphne heeri, Pittosporum tavaresi, Smilax targionii and Smilax mauritanica. Later, in the 1960´s, Filomena Diniz started to investigate the Rio Maior Basin. This palynological study was the first important contribution to characterisation of the PlioQuaternary vegetational history on the Southwestern Europe Atlantic margin. Recent studies of several outcrops and cores from the Pliocene of the Portuguese Atlantic margin have led to a better understanding of the history of vegetation and evolution of climatic conditions of this region. Palynological analysis shows a complex and diverse flora, which today is found in climatically contrasting regions. Several important climatic indicators were identified such as: Engelhardia, Nyssa, Taxodiaceae, Tsuga, Symplocos, Zanthoxylum, Trigonobalanopsis, Cercidiphyllum, Craigia, Mortoniodendron, Mastixiaceae (Diplopanax) and Sapotaceae (Manilkara, Sideroxylon) for the Pliocene. The flora contained relatively warm and humid climate taxa developed in subtropical– warm temperatures and wet climates up to the Piacenzian. In the Upper Pliocene, paratropical elements became rare and disappeared progressively, having been substituted by temperate species. 38 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Palynological studies of the transitional marls unit (AlbianCenomanian) from the Northeastern Spain. Paleophytogeographical implications Villanueva-Amadoz, U.1; Diez, J.B.2; Ferrer, J.1; Pons, D.3 1 Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra (PaleontologÍa), Universidad de Zaragoza. C/ Pedro Cerbuna, 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain 2 Dpt. Xeociencias Mariñas e Ordenación do Territorio, Facultade de Ciencias do Mar, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain 3 UMR 5143 CNRS, Universitè Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 6),12 rue Cuvier, 75 005 Paris, France Keywords: Palynology, Albian-Cenomanian boundary, Paleophytogeography Detailed records of spore-pollen assemblages from four sites located in the EscuchaUtrillas and in Oliete subbasins provide new insights into the palaeoclimatic and palaeogeographic settings during the Albian-Cenomanian boundary in the Maestrazgo basin (southeastern Spain). At the Aragonian Branch of the Iberian Range the passage from the continental Utrillas Formation to the marine Mosqueruela Fm. is through a marly unit informally defined as Transitional Marls. This unit, interpreted as lagoon bottom deposit, has been described as a deposit composed of green laminated marls intercalated with marly limestones and dolomitic limestones with ostracods, flora remains and other lamelibranches. The Transitional Marls Unit includes some taxa which do not extend through the Albian-Cenomanian boundary at the base of the unit (Cicatricosisporites subrotundus, Concavisporites punctatus, Concavissimisporites verrucosus, Converrucosisporites platyverrucosus, Ischyosporites disjunctus, Liliacidites doylei, Liliacidites inaequalis, Lophotriletes babsae, Microfoveolatosporis baconicus, Neoraistrickia robusta Perinopollenites halonatus, Plicatella potomacensis, P. tricostata, Reticulatisporites arcuatus, Singhia acicularis and Undulatisporites undulapolus), together with the presence of Crybelosporites pannuceus, Afropollis jardinus, Asteropollis asteroides, Rousea brenneri, R. georgensis distributed during the middle Albian-Cenomanian, Stellatopollis barghoornii during the middle Albian-middle Cenomanian, Elaterosporites klaszi, Equisetosporites ambiguus and Dichastopollenites reticulatus during the upper Albian-Cenomanian, Tricolpites blechrus during the upper Albian-Turonian, Cyclonephelium chabaca and Senectotetradites varireticulatus during the uppermost Albian-Cenomanian, Gabonisporis pseudoreticulatus during the upper Albianlowermost Turonian, allow us to stablish an uppermost Albian-lower Cenomanian age for this unit. The rapid diversification of early angiosperms during a phase of pronounced environmental instability in the uppermost Albian to Cenomanian was favored by the extensive marine transgression of the mid-Cretaceous permitting ecological strategies of early angiosperms and their dominance in coastal disturbed habitats. The sea level rise also permitted the dispersion of parent plants producing the spores and pollen grains across the Tethys from Northern Gondwana to Southern Laurasia and vice versa. In the area of study, the gondwanic influence on the flora is supported by the taxa Elaterosporites klaszi, Afropollis jardinus, Penetetrapites mollis and Stellatopollis barghoornii. These palynostratigraphical data improve our knowledge of the midcretaceous phytogeographical provinces and their distribution through time. 39 16th OFP International Congress. Omphalophloios, a Pennsylvanian lycopsid Wagner, R.H. Centro Paleobotánico, Jardín Botánico de Córdoba, Avenida de Linneo, s/n, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; e-mail: [email protected] Omphalophloios is an isoetalean lycopsid described by David White on a series of vegetative stem impressions, mixed in with the imprints of totally disarticulated fertile apices, which were mistaken for stem impressions. This genus has not been recorded very often because the stem imprints were probably regarded, more often than not, as poorly preserved Lepidodendron. However, the lepidodendroid leaf cushions and leaf scars only contain a vascular bundle (leaf trace), no parichnos. Omphalophloios is the same plant as Sporangiostrobus Bode and Bodeodendron Wagner & Spinner, referring to fertile and vegetative remains, respectively. Fertile remains are often quite fragmentary because the fertile apices of this monopodial plant (a small tree), with rare subequal dichotomies at the top, disarticulated on maturity, shedding distal laminae and sporangia successively, from the base upwards. It appears that the disarticulated remnants, sometimes with a few sporangia still attached, were shed from a tree which may have been capable of regenerating a new fertile apex in successive stages of its growth. The fertile apices were heterosporous, with micro- and megaspore-bearing sporangia occurring in patches without apparent organisation. Megaspores are Zonalesporites in some cases, Superbisporites in others. Microspores are densospores (Densosporites, Cristatisporites, Cingulizonates). Omphalophloios seems to have had a tolerance for mildly brackish conditions. The thousands of specimens collected from a volcanic ash band in coal of Stephanian C (= early Autunian) age in the Puertollano Coalfield of south-central Spain have allowed a full analysis of the morphology of this isoetalean lycopsid which seems to have been much more common than the published records suggest. Both habitat and taphonomic conditions played a role. 40 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe A study of compositional changes in Stephanian B flora at La Magdalena (León, NW Spain) in the context of a basin at the western end of the Palaeotethys Wagner, R.H.1; Castro, M.P.2 1 Centro Paleobotánico, Jardín Botánico de Córdoba, Avenida de Linneo, s/n, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; E-mail: [email protected] 2 c/ Guzmán el Bueno, 84, 28003 Madrid, Spain: E-mail; [email protected] Keywords: Palaeogeography, Carboniferous, Stephanian, floral assemblages, NW Spain, province León. The broad overall configuration is described of a post-Asturian basin of late Barruelian, Stephanian B and early Stephanian C ages. This basin represents the final episode in the tectono-stratigraphic history of the Cantabric-Asturian arcuate fold belt in NW Spain. Tectonically controlled erosional remnants of the landward part of this basin, which accumulated at least 6,700 m of strata, are found in a string of coalfields in northern León and western Asturias, following the outline of the arcuate fold belt. These show tightly compressed folds which are often near-isoclinal, and limited by steeply angled thrusts on the hinterland side. The thrusting is foreland-directed. An almost fully marine sucession was laid down on the foreland which had a Palaeotethyan connection. An initial basin of late Barruelian age coincides with the eastern end of the Sabero Coalfield. A brackish marine fauna has been recorded from these earliest deposits. Westerly onlap has been demonstrated for the occurrences in northern León, linking progressively higher parts of the overall stratigraphic succession as found in the Sabero, Ciñera-Matallana, La Magdalena, and Villablino coalfields. Lacustrine flooding events, represented by Leaia bands at the base of lacustrine intervals at Sabero and Ciñera-Matallana are most likely linked to marine transgressions on the foreland, coming in from the east where the Palaeotethys was situated. Sedimentary facies are discussed, with the general conclusion that a substantial palaeotopography was associated with the basin margin and the drainage area beyond (hinterland). The basinal area in northern León apparently corresponded to a broad alluvial plain, with a high rate of subsidence. A palaeobotanical study carried out in the La Magdalena Coalfield shows changes in overall floral composition in a c. 1,200 m thick succession of fluvio-lacustrine strata of mid-Stephanian B age. A total of 85 localities yielded 4,827 samples containing 11,334 identifiable remains attributed to 140 palaeobotanical taxa, representing about a hundred natural species. An overall compositional analysis shows a proportional increase in pecopterid ferns in the higher part of the succession, accompanied by a decrease in calamitalean sphenopsids. Though always a small percentage of the flora, lycopsids become a noticeable element of the floral composition in the highest interval, containing the more important coal seams. The changes in composition are commented on for four successive parts of the succession, and tentative conclusions are drawn with regard to facies changes in relation to palaeogeographic position on the alluvial plain. The broad groupings considered are pteridosperms, tree ferns, smaller ferns (possible undergrowth), calamitalean sphenopsids, sphenophylls, cordaitaleans, and lycopsids. The latter two are insignificant in proportion, cordaitaleans in part because of collector’s bias. The very significant sample size allows a quantitative approach, but statistical treatment is excluded because a rigorous sedimentological and palaeoecological analysis is still lacking. It is concluded that compositional changes in floral assemblages may reflect general changes in groundwater level in a broad alluvial plain environment. 41 16th OFP International Congress. Stephanian C (lower Autunian) Stephanian B (sensu St. Étienne) Stephanian B (sensu Carmaux) Barruelian (Stephanian A s.l.) Cantabrian 42 Saint-Étienne Assise d’Avaize (Beaubrun seams) Carmaux conferta angustifolium Assise de St. Étienne Assise de Tronquié hiatus Assise de Rive-de-Gier (lower Barruelian) Biozones Assise de Lentin zeilleri lamuriana cantabrica Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Fieldtrips 43 16th OFP International Congress. 44 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Precongress Fieldtrip Tuesday 8th September Leader R.H. Wagner. Centro Paleobotánico, Jardín Botánico de Córdoba, Avenida de Linneo, s/n, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; e-mail: [email protected] Departure 9.00/Return 20.00. Drive from Aguilar de Campoo to Cervera de Pisuerga. Turn off the main road for the “Ruta de los Pantanos”, past the Parador de Turismo and Ventanilla towards the watershed between the Pisuerga and Carrión river basins. Stop 1. Brief halt on the road beyond Ventanilla to explain the thrust units in the Palentian Domain (with a view of Peña Santa Lucía). Stop 2. General view across the Sierra del Brezo from the Mirador (viewing balcony) of Alto de la Varga, on the watershed. Explanation of the Carrionas Thrust Front separating areas of the Cantabrian Zone (Sierra del Brezo) and the Palentian Zone (North of the fault trace). Stop 3. Village of La Lastra. Explanation of exposures at the head of the Carrionas Thrust Sheet, showing a recumbent anticline in Famennian and Viséan nodular limestones followed by Serpukhovian and lowermost Bashkirian limestone (Barcaliente Formation) overlain disconformably (with a washed-out palaeokarst) by Lower Moscovian marine shales (Perapertú Formation). Time (not much) for refreshment. Stop 4. Return to Cervera for a brief visit to the “Casa del Parque”, taking the road to Potes afterwards. Drive to the watershed at the Piedrasluengas pass. Consume packed lunch at the Mirador (viewing balcony). Weather permitting, the Picos de Europa (Mons Albans) may be seen in the distance. Drive back through the Piedrasluengas Gorge in Lower Moscovian limestone, repeated by folding, and enter an upper Moscovian succession of shales and two major limestone formations (Cotarraraso/Camasobres and Sierra Coriza/Maldrigo limestones) in a major syncline and intervening anticline with axial depression (Castillería valley). These structures overlie a decollement plane at a low angle with respect to the strata overlying the Curavacas Conglomerate. If practicable, a brief stop on the road should allow explanation of the stratigraphic succession. Turn off towards San Felices de Castillería and Celada de Roblecedo. Stop 5. Before reaching Celada examine roadside exposures in Upper Moscovian (also lower Asturian) limestone overlain disconformably (erosion hollows on steeply dipping limestone surface) by lower Cantabrian strata. Stop 6 (time permiting). Return to San Felices and continue to Herreruela de Castillería for examination of upper Cantabrian Brañosera Formation with debris flows. Return to Aguilar de Campoo. End of field trip. Documentation: R.H. Wagner. Geology of the Palaeozoic strata in northern Palencia. (In this volume) 45 16th OFP International Congress. 46 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Congress Fieldtrip Thursday 10th September Leaders Wagner, R.H. Centro Paleobotánico, Jardín Botánico de Córdoba, Avenida de Linneo, s/n, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; e-mail: [email protected] Diez, J.B. Dpt. Xeociencias Mariñas e Ordenación do Territorio, Facultade de Ciencias do Mar, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain. [email protected] Departure 9.00/Return 20.00. Fieldtrip Verdeña Paleoforest and Barruelian Stratotype Stop 1. Guided tour of Carboniferous Paleoforest of Verdeña (see Wagner & Diez, 2007). Stop 2. Visit to “The Interpretation Centre of Coal Mining” Stop 3. Lunch by town council of Barruelo de Santullán. Stop 4. Visit to Barruelian stratotype. Stop 5. The Barruelian stratotype - Lecture of Dr. R.H. Wagner. Return to Aguilar de Campoo. End of field trip. Documentation: Wagner, R.H. Geology of the Palaeozoic strata in northern Palencia. (In this volume) Wagner, R.H.; Diez, J.B. 2007. Verdeña (Spain): Life and death of a Carboniferous forest community. C. R. Palevol, 6, p. 495-504. (Paper enclosed with the rest of the Congress documents). 47 16th OFP International Congress. 48 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Geology of the Palaeozoic strata in northern Palencia R.H. Wagner. Centro Paleobotánico, Jardín Botánico de Córdoba, Avenida de Linneo, s/n, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; e-mail: [email protected] Introduction The geology of this very complicated area was not understood until quite recently. Although the first attempt at a geological sketch map dates from Prado (1861) and incidental data were published in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was no geological map worthy of the name until Quiring (1939) published the results of his investigations carried out just before the Spanish Civil War. His maps covered a wide swathe of terrain in northern Palencia from the mining town of Guardo in the West to Barruelo de Santullán in the East. The latter had a long history of coal mining from strata dipping around 65º which were sheared with an overall loss of at least 15% of succession. The exploitation of these partially marine, coal-bearing strata was correspondingly difficult and very dangerous with periodic pit disasters in which whole shifts in certain workings died. Fig. 1.- General map of the Palaeozoic rocks in northern Palencia showing Palentian Domain overriding Asturian-Leonese Domain in Devonian, Mississippian and lower Pennsylvanian strata, and overlying deposits corresponding to different basins of later ages (Wagner & Winkler Prins, in prep.). 49 16th OFP International Congress. Quiring’s map was a creditable effort at a time when the topographic maps (at scale 1:50,000) were not very reliable and the mountainous area involved required physical exertion as well as geological expertise. However, it was totally superseded when a major geological mapping project by the University of Leiden commenced in 1950 with support from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas in Madrid, through the good offices of Professor B. Meléndez (Madrid) and Professor W.J. Jongmans (Heerlen). Various publications resulted from 1952 onwards culminating in 1980. These included doctoral theses as well as smaller publications. The resultant map differed significantly from that of Quiring, and brought out, for the first time, the substantial difference in geological history between an Asturian-Leonese Domain in the southern part of the Palaeozoic outcrops in northern Palencia (broadly coincident with the Sierra del Brezo) and a Palentian Domain to the North of a fault line which de Sitter (1962) called the León Line. This was interpreted as a basement fracture (although no basement outcrops exist) by de Sitter (1962) and a major strike-slip fault by Heward & Reading (1980). Presently, after a few decades of remapping of selected areas accompanied by detailed stratigraphic work, it is clear that major thrusting is involved, with large-scale southward translation of the Palentian Domain. This structure is totally different from the “Léon Line” as interpreted by de Sitter and subsequent authors (e.g. Keller et al., 2007). Remapping at scale 1:10,000 is required, as is a general recognition of the unsuitability of the wilder theories propounded up to quite recently. The existing map data were incorporated in the Barruelo, Camporredondo and Tudanca sheets (at 1:50,000) of the Instituto Geológico y Minero de España. These maps have been taken into account for the general summary map of Fig. 1, which also corrects some of the major errors in the published information. Geological history A total range of upper Silurian to upper Pennsylvanian strata is involved. This includes two different basins (with different palaeogeographical positions) for the earlier part, from late Silurian to Early Moscovian, altogether a succession of c. 4,000 m of strata. An Asturian-Leonese Domain is contrasted with a Palentian Domain. Whereas the former coincides with the Cantabrian Zone of Lotze (1945), occupying most of the Palaeozoic core of the Cantabrian Mountains (Cordillera Cantábrica), the latter occurs at present as a wedge squeezed in at the southeastern end of the Cantabrian Mountains and showing a stratigraphic development similar to that of the western Pyrenees. This is the Palentian Zone of Martínez-García (2006), which may have been situated originally due East of the Cantabrian Zone. Its present contacts with areas of the Cantabrian Zone are major thrust faults of different Pennsylvanian ages, early Westphalian (Moscovian) and Stephanian C (Gzhelian), respectively. In northern Palencia the Palentian Zone overrides sediments of Asturian-Leonese facies in southward direction (Carrionas Thrust Front) (Fig. 2). The other fault contact is with the Picos de Europa, an area of stacked thrust sheets in Carboniferous limestones (Tournaisian to Kasimovian included), which are thrust across sediments of the Palentian Zone, also approximately southwards (this fault strikes WSW-ENE). Both faults, the later one particularly, form part of the progressive tightening of the Cantabric-Asturian arcuate fold belt, which happened during Pennsylvanian times. This complex early history of the area has only recently become apparent. Within northern Palencia the most important tectonic line is the fault trace separating the Asturian-Leonese Domain as found in the Sierra del Brezo, extending from Guardo to Cervera de Pisuerga, from the Palentian area to the North. This fault trace, which was interpreted by de Sitter (1962) as a basement fracture, the so-called León Line, primarily corresponds to the head of a large thrust sheet involving c. 4,000 m of strata overriding the Sierra del Brezo (Figs 1, 2). Later fault movements (Ruesga Fault) modified part of the trace, but the head of the thrust sheet (a recumbent anticline) is 50 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe clearly visible south of the village of Santibañez de Resoba and westwards up to including La Lastra. Several tens of kilometres displacement is involved. Internal thrusting within this major thrust sheet has produced further shortening, so that a total shortening of perhaps a hundred kilometres or more may be involved. Fig. 2.- View eastwards from Alto de la Varga, showing Palentian Domain thrust across Asturian-Leonese Domain at the Carrionas Thrust Front. Overturned Serpukhovian-lowermost Bashkirian limestone (Barcaliente Formation) forms part of the anticlinal head of the thrust sheet which overrides upside-down mid-Bashkirian limestone (Valdeteja Formation) followed disconformably by Lower Moscovian submarine slide conglomerates in turbiditic shales and sandstones (Carmen Formation), also upside-down. Two different palaeogeographical areas (Palentian Zone and Cantabrian Zone) are in tectonic contact at the Carrionas Thrust Front. Arrows denote way-up. The stratigraphic development of Devonian, Mississippian and lower Pennsylvanian strata is markedly different for the Cantabrian and Palentian zones. Marine strata are involved in both areas, but the Devonian of the Cantabrian Zone shows near-shore facies, whereas the middle to upper Devonian deposits of the Palentian Zone were laid down in more condensed facies representing a area more remote from the shore. The most striking difference is found in a mid-Famennian uplift (Comte, 1938) affecting the foreland region of the Cantabrian Zone, whereas a continuous Devonian succession without any signs of uplift characterises the Palentian Zone. Equally striking differences exist with regard to the Carboniferous (Wagner & Winkler Prins, 2000). In the northern part of the Sierra del Brezo (Asturian-Leonese Domain, Cantabrian Zone) an E-W striking area of uplift produced two disconformities with palaeokarst surfaces corresponding to mid-Bashkirian and early Moscovian times (Fig. 3). 51 16th OFP International Congress. Fig. 3.- Two contrasting stratigraphic successions of Upper Devonian, Mississippian and lower Pennsylvanian strata belonging to the Palentian and Asturian-Leonese domains, respectively (after Wagner & Winkler Prins in Kullmann et al., 2007). A. Palentian Domain (southern part). B. Asturian Domain (northern subarea of the Sierra del Brezo). 52 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe In contrast, the Palentian area shows signs of uplift in latest Bashkirian times, also with palaeokarst phenomena. The various tectonic movements, of uplift and, more particularly, of compression, produced complex stratigraphic and structural relationships which are not reflected adequately on the published 1:50,000 scale geological maps. Tectonic structures include nappes. It is of historical interest that these are the first nappe structures documented from the Cantabrian Mountains. After all this complex tectonic deformation had taken place in Langsettian (also Early Moscovian) times, uplift and erosion produced an erosion surface characterised by a fairly spectacular palaeokarst (with karst breccia) where limestone outcrops were involved. Subsequently, after an astonishingly short time, a major conglomerate formation was laid down, viz. the 500-800 m thick Curavacas Conglomerate. This inaugurated a new palaeogeographic configuration which basically corresponds to the Palentian Zone, although this is not quite clear. Indeed, it is possible that the new area of sedimentation incorporated the old Asturian-Leonese Domain in the Sierra del Brezo. Fig. 4.- Map showing the decollement structures engendered by the Asturian Phase (mid-Barruelian) (from Wagner & Varker, 1971). The Castilleria Syncline is a synclinal depression on the anticlinal structure in between the near-isoclinal Casavegas and Redondo synclines. 53 16th OFP International Congress. Fig. 5.- Generalised stratigraphic succession of Bolsovian and lower Asturian strata East of Herreruela (Castillería area) (from Wagner & Winkler Prins, in Wagner et al., 1983). 54 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe The Curavacas Conglomerate Formation shows predominantly fluviatile facies in the lower part, with occasional marine intercalations. It appears that the coastline was orientated roughly SW-NE, with a hinterland to the Southeast. This must have had considerable topographic relief judging from the vast amount of quartzite boulders generated. Northwestwards, submarine fans existed, fed by the same conglomerates (Colmenero et al., 1988). These graded upwards into turbidites. The age of the Curavacas Conglomerate Formation has been established as late Langsettian and early Duckmantian (Stockmans & Willière, 1965; Wagner & Álvarez-Vázquez, 1995; Wagner in Kullmann et al., 2007). The subsequent turbidites are dated by inference as late Duckmantian and Bolsovian, since these are followed by deltaic deposits (Vergaño Formation) of early Asturian age (Fig. 5). Fig. 6.- Detail of the post-Leonian succession in the Casavegas Syncline (compare Fig. 4) (from Wagner & Varker, 1971). 55 16th OFP International Congress. Fig. 7.- Coarsening upward sequences in the upper Asturian Ojosa Formation, Casavegas Syncline (from Wagner & Varker, 1971). Compare Fig. 6. 56 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Fig. 8.- Scale diagram of sedimentation on W and E sides of the syn-sedimentary fault of Los Llazos, separating carbonate platform on the eastern basin margin, from the basinal succession in the West (compare Fig. 6) (from Wagner & Varker, 1971). Vertical scale = horizontal scale. Fig. 9.- Stratigraphic sections showing progressive thinning and feather-edging eastwards after uplift and fracturing of the carbonate platform limited by the Los Llazos syn-sedimentary fault (from Wagner & Winkler Prins, 1985). Vertical scale = horizontal scale. Interestingly, in the Sierra de la Demanda (Burgos province), at 120 km to the Southeast, conglomeratic valley fills are followed by mixed marine and terrestrial, coalbearing deposits which are dated as early Asturian. This is interpreted as a remnant of the hinterland which became gradually incorporated into the sedimentary basin. The valley fill conglomerates of the Sierra de la Demanda confirm the topographic relief associated with the hinterland of a very mobile basin in which c. 3000 m of sediment 57 16th OFP International Congress. accumulated during latest Langsettian, Duckmantian, Bolsovian and early Asturian times. In accordance with its palaeogeographical situation, the lower Asturian sediments in northern Palencia are more generally marine than those in the Sierra de la Demanda where marine facies are more incidental due to its more landward position. In the other direction, to the Northwest, entirely marine strata are found until the mixed marine and terrestrial strata of the Central Asturian Coalfield are reached. The physical connection between these two areas is unclear. Fig. 10.- Correlation between stratigraphic sections in La Pernía/Castillería (East) and different parts of the Guardo Coalfield (West) including area of valley fill deposits at Tejerina (NW basin margin in early Cantabrian times) (from Wagner & Winkler Prins, 1985). 58 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Fig. 11.- Successive stages in the development of the post-Leonian basin in late Asturian, Cantabrian and early Barruelian times, with fracturing of late Asturian carbonate platform in the East and palaeotopography (valley fills) in the West. (after Wagner & Winkler Prins, 1985). 59 16th OFP International Congress. Fig. 12.- Correlation between stratigraphic successions in different parts of the post-Leonian basin, from West (Casavegas Syncline) to East (Barruelo) (from Wagner & Varker, 1971). Westphalian D = Asturian Substage. Stephanian A = Barruelian Substage. 60 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe In northern Palencia, substantial movements of uplift, presumably linked to normal faulting, took place in mid-Asturian times. These produced an unconformable contact between lower and upper Asturian strata in the region known as La Pernía (Figs 4, 5). The unconformity is most apparent on the map (Fig. 6) where local sagging of the Sierra Coriza (= Maldrigo) Limestone (lower Asturian) produced small-scale depressions which received the first upper Asturian sediments. In the central parts of these depressions a false appearance of continuity in marine strata exists which hides a disconformity. This is only the case in La Pernía, however. On the broader scale in northern Palencia, a different palaeogeographic configuration is clearly apparent, the different elements of which have been elucidated by detailed stratigraphic work backed by geological mapping. The history of this later Palentian Basin has been outlined by Wagner & Winkler Prins (1985), and added to by Iwaniw (1985) and Wagner & Martínez-García (1998) (Figs 7-15). This basin accumulated a total of 5,500 to 6,000 metres of strata involving the upper Asturian, Cantabrian and lower Barruelian. It contains the boundary stratotypes of the Cantabrian and Barruelian substages (Fig. 16). Its area extended across the Sierra del Brezo which apparently experienced uplift prior to the late Asturian. On the southern flank of the Sierra del Brezo upper Asturian strata of the Guardo-Cervera Coalfield overlie the highly deformed Devonian, Mississippian and lower Pennsylvanian strata with high-angle unconformity. It is assumed that the c. 3,000 m of upper Langsettian to lower Asturian strata found elsewhere in northern Palencia were also deposited in the area of the Sierra del Brezo, and that this succession was removed by uplift prior to the deposition of the upper Asturian sediments. The history of this Palentian Basin and the palaeogeographic changes which took place during this history are well documented (op. cit.). During late Asturian (ex Westphalian D) times the eastern margin of the basin was marked by a carbonate platform accumulating a limestone succession totalling 90 m (Fig.8). Interestingly, the adjacent siliciclastic basin, accumulating a total succession of c. 2,500 m of strata, contains sporadic limestone intervals adding up to the same 90 m thickness as the carbonate platform succession. If proof was needed at all, this shows up the incompleteness of limestone successions and the greater potential of sediments represented by several different facies. The carbonate platform is separated from the basinal succession by the Los Llazos Fault (Fig.8), an approximately N-S striking normal fault on which repeated movements occurred. This started to break up in earliest Cantabrian times (Fig. 11). Both faulting and basinward tilting took place on the erstwhile platform. Both thinning and featheredging occurred in eastward direction (Fig. 12). Westwards, as recorded most convincingly in the Guardo-Cervera Coalfield succession bordering the Sierra del Brezo on its southern edge, alternating marine and terrestrial intervals (see Fig. 10) show thinning of the marine intervals westwards and the corresponding increase in coal-bearing strata. Also, boreholes in the Guardo-Valderrueda Coalfield, at the western end of the basin, proved that a fault-controlled western-northwestern basin margin existed, which was most apparent for the lower Cantabrian deposits. As investigated by Iwaniw (1985), this basin margin shows a strong palaeotopography with deeply incised valleys accumulating up to 150 m thick valley fills. Limestone ridges bordering these valleys show karst pipes and at least one fossilised limestone scree. The valley fills are coal-bearing and contain numerous limestone and quartzite conglomerate intervals which attest to periodic tectonic movements tilting the valley floors. These conglomerates are invariably coarse, with both pebbles and boulders, and containing a mixture of rather angular limestone clasts of local origin, and well rounded quartzite pebbles and boulders of more remote provenance. They were interpreted by Iwaniw (op. cit.) as containing both river bed load (quartzites) and 61 16th OFP International Congress. reworked scree material (limestones). Mixing will have taken place at the same time as this coarse material became mobilised as debris flows when periodic movements on the basin margin produced tilting of the valley floors. The debris flow conglomerates accumulated at the bottom end of the tilted valleys. Although the sea was never very far, only one marine horizon has been recorded from the coastal area with palaeovalleys, viz. the Otero Marine Band. This has been correlated with the rather substantial Verdeña Limestone at 40-45 km to the East (Fig. 10). Coal-bearing strata follow upon this marine interval (San Salvador coal-measures of La Pernía and Castillería). Near the top of the San Salvador Formation lies the sandstone surface with the imprints of rooting bases of lycopsid trees (Sigillaria, Omphalophloios?) and fallen logs of a cannelate Sigillaria and of a woody tree corresponding most likely to Cordaites. This is the Verdeña Forest as described most recently by Wagner & Diez (2007). Its life ended with a marine transgression provoked, most probably, by tectonic movements (faulting?). This early part of the history of the Palentian Basin, with a basin fill of up to 3,500 m of strata, was concluded before a major expansion of the sedimentary basin took place at mid-Cantabrian times. This was clearly tectonically induced and resulted in new, much expanded basin margins and a sudden deepening of the existing basinal area which shows up as a major marine transgression. The transgressive Brañosera Formation is widespread. The eastern basin margin is marked by limestone olistoliths in shales. These are exo-olistoliths of a Moscovian limestone on a tectonically mobile basin margin from which they slid into Kasimovian mudstones. Subsequent deposits are turbidites in a succession of c. 300 m thickness, following upon the c. 250 m of mudstones with bands of olistoliths. Another 300 m of more shallow marine mudstones with at least two lenticular limestone bands with brachiopods, crinoids and other fossils follow in succession until a mixed marine and terrestrial interval with several coal seams is reached. This is the Peñacorba coal-bearing unit of the Barruelo Coalfield, an interval of only a few tens of metres thickness but occurring over a wide area in the eastern part of the basin (Fig. 12). On the West side of the basin the Brañosera transgression is marked also by an abrupt contact of coal-bearing strata with totally marine deposits characterised by shales containing occasional sandy layers with sole markings. Substantial expansion of the Palentian Basin northwards is shown by a succession at Valdeón in northeastern León, at about 50 km WNW of the Barruelo region. Here, as in the Barruelo region, the succession equivalent to the Brañosera Formation overlies an Upper Moscovian formation with limestone, in this case limestone olistoliths in mudrock (Covarres Formation, a lateral equivalent of the Sierra Coriza Limestone in northern Palencia). It is followed by another marine succession with a small, lagoonal (?) interval with drifted plant remains near the top. This has been correlated with lower Barruelian coalmeasures at Barruelo (Palencia) (Wagner & Martínez-García, 1998). Returning to the well studied section at Barruelo, the Peñacorba coal-bearing interval is followed by c. 300 m of marine deposits which are succeeded by 60 m of coal-bearing strata (Carboneros), which have been designated the Barruelian boundary stratotype (Wagner & Winkler Prins, 1985). Another 200 m of totally marine strata follow in succession, after which the main coal-bearing interval (Calero beds) of the Barruelo Coalfield occurs. This is still largely marine in the lower part, with stigmarian rootlet beds and coals occurring at the top of coarsening upward sequences (seams numbered IV to VIII, in reverse order). However, in seam interval numbered III to IV, instead of marine fauna, there are a number of Leaia bands of lacustrine/brackish connotations. These have been used as marker bands in the whole length (11 km) of the Barruelo Coalfield. Subsequent deposits (Fig. 14) are almost wholly terrestrial. The southeastern part of the Barruelo Coalfields shows the more terrestrial facies in the 62 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Calero beds, whereas the marine influences are strongest towards the Northwest. Interestingly, this shows the same tendency as recorded for the earlier basin, of late Langsettian to early Asturian ages. In the seaward part, to the Northwest, there is a paucity of records, thus making it almost impossible to predict the total size of the sedimentary basin. However, marine deposits of approximately the same age have been recorded from an area at c. 90 km to the NW (Martínez-García et al., 1985). Fig. 13.- Generalised stratigraphic successions at Barruelo (Palencia) and Sabero (León) showing lower and upper Barruelian (which are in continuity with upper Cantabrian and lower Stephanian B, respectively) (from Wagner & Winkler Prins, 1985). 63 16th OFP International Congress. Fig. 14.- Stratigraphic succession at Barruelo de Santullán showing formations and members as well as the position of Cantabrian/Barruelian boundary. (from Wagner & Winkler Prins, 1985). 64 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Fig. 15.- Stratigraphic succession of upper Cantabrian and lower Barruelian in the eastern part of the Barruelo Coalfield. (from Wagner & Winkler Prins, 1985). Thickness in metres. 65 16th OFP International Congress. Fig. 16.- Detailed section of the Barruelian boundary stratotype in the old railway section at Barruelo/Helechar. (from Wagner & Winkler Prins, 1985). Thickness in metres. 66 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Fig. 17.- Cross section of the Barruelo Syncline produced by Asturian compressional phases and unconformable Stephanian B (to the left) and Permian/Triassic strata (on the right). (From Wagner & Winkler Prins, in Wagner et al., 1983). The lower Barruelian strata at Barruelo were folded into an isoclinal syncline (Fig. 17)in what appears to have been mid-Barruelian times. The overturned flank and remnants of the synclinal core are preserved, whereas the normal flank dipping approximately 65º NE has been eliminated by a steeply dipping major strike fault which brings the upper part of the lower Barruelian succession in contact with a variety of strata of earlier ages, including Devonian of the Palentian Domain. The steeply folded and faulted lower Barruelian strata of the Barruelo Coalfield are overlain with high-angle unconformity by Stephanian B conglomerates and coalbearing strata of the Peña Cildá outlier. This is the Asturian unconformity which underlies upper Stephanian strata everywhere in the Cantabrian Mountains and most notably in a string of tectonically isolated coalfields in northern León. These represent another change in palaeogeography with marine foreland deposits in the concavity of the Cantabric-Asturian arcuate fold belt and a large alluvial plain with coal-bearing deposits in between the marine foreland (with a Tethyan connection) and a rising hinterland to the West and Southwest. Most important for an understanding of the postAsturian basin is the fact that its earliest deposits (partially marine) occur in a basin sag at the eastern end of the Sabero Coalfield. These belong to the upper Barruelian. Western onlap links the successive coalfields in northern León, with a total recorded succession of 6,700 m of coal-bearing strata covering mainly Stephanian B. It is quite likely that the small outlier at Peña Cildá in northern Palencia, of Stephanian B age, represents an easterly onlap from Sabero, but the evidence is incomplete. The unconformable outlier at Peña Cildá is covered, also with total unconformity, by a practically unfolded succession of Autunian red beds followed, with low-angle unconformity, by fluviatile Triassic conglomerates. The Autunian red beds are most completely represented on the flank of Peña Labra, near the mountain pass of Piedrasluengas. Peña Labra is crowned by thick, flat-lying Triassic conglomerates. The Autunian red beds and the much later Triassic deposits are apparently unrelated to the Cantabric-Asturian arcuate fold belt which reached its final deformational stage in Stephanian C (= early Autunian) times. The Autunian (uppermost Carboniferous), Permian and Triassic cover rocks form part of a later history centred on the Mesozoic Basque-Cantabrian basin to the EastSoutheast. The town of Aguilar is built on Jurassic rocks and its castle is situated on 67 16th OFP International Congress. Jurassic limestone. However, this is a different history, not to be attempted in the present account. Summary of stratigraphic succession in northern Palencia (pre-Cretaceous) c. 450 m of mainly fluviatile deposits followed by marls and dolomites overlain Triassic by Jurassic limestones. _______ Autunian ~~~~~~~~ Stephanian B Uplift and tilting producing a low-angle unconformity Several hundred metres of red beds with volcaniclastic intervals. Folding and faulting associated with the final phase of tightening of the Cantabric-Asturian arcuate fold belt (high-angle unconformity). c. 500 m of fluviatile conglomeratic and coal-bearing deposits. ~~~~~~~~ Folding and thrusting including the decollement structure of La Pernía and Castillería (Asturian Phase of tectonic deformation). lower Barruelian Cantabrian upper Asturian up to 5,500-6,000 m of mainly shallow marine deltaic sediments with a major turbiditic and debris flow interval, and coal-measures on eight different horizons. _______ Generalised uplift associated with substantial normal faulting in part of the area (Leonian tectonic movements). lower Asturian Bolsovian c. 3,000 m of post-orogenic conglomerates followed by turbidites and deltaic deposits including shallow water limestones; also a few lensing coal-bearing Duckmantian intervals. uppermost Langsettian Major compressional tectonic movements producing the Carrionas Thrust ~~~~~~~~ Sheet, with thrust slices and nappe structures (Palentian Domain wedged in between Asturian-Leonese area of the Cantabrian Zone). Langsettian Namurian c. 4,000-4,500 m of marine strata in two different palaeogeographic regions Viséan (Palentian and Cantabrian zones), with rather different facies and histories of Tournaisian local and more regional uplifts. Devonian upper Silurian References Colmenero, J.R., Agueda, J.A., Fernández, L.P., Salvador, C.I., Bahamonde, J.R. & Barba, P. 1988. Fandelta systems related to the Carboniferous evolution of the Cantabrian Zone, northwestern Spain. In: W. Nemec & R.J. Steel (eds), Fan Deltas: Sedimentology and Tectonic Settings, 267-285. Comte, P. 1938. La transgression du Famennien supérieur dans la Cordillère cantabrique. Comptes rendus Académie des Sciences, Paris, 206, 17411743. Heward, A.P. & Reading, H.G. 1980. Deposits associated with a Hercynian to late Hercynian continental strike-slip system, Cantabrian Mountains, Northern Spain. Specíal Publication International Association Sedimentologists, 4, 105-125. Iwaniw, E. 1985. The sedimentology of lower Cantabrian basin margin deposits in NE León, Spain. In: Lemos de Sousa, M.J. & Wagner, R.H. (eds.), Papers on the Carboniferous of the Iberian Peninsula (sedimentology, stratigraphy, palaeontology, tectonics and geochronology). Anais da Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Supplement to volume 64 (1983), 49-115. Keller, M., Bahlburg, H., Reuther, C.D. & Weh, A. 2007. Flexural to broken foreland basin evolution as a result of Variscan collisional events in northwestern Spain. Geological Society of America, Memoir 200, 489-510. Kullmann, J., Wagner, R.H. & Winkler Prins, C.F. 2007. Significance for international correlation of the Perapertú Formation in northern Palencia, Cantabrian Mountains. Tectonic/stratigraphic context and 68 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe description of Mississippian and Upper Bashkirian goniatites. Revista Española de Paleontología, 22(2), 127-145. Lotze, F. 1945 Zur Gliederung der Varisziden der Iberischen Meseta. Geotektonische Forschungen, 6, 7892. Martínez-García, E. 2006. Proterozoic-Lower Paleozoic terrane accretion and Variscan domains in the Iberian Massif (Spain and Portugal). Zeitschrift der deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, 157/4, 559-574. Martínez-García, E., Rodríguez-Arango, R. & Villa, E. 1985. The unconformable marine Kasimovian strata of the Sellaño Basin. In: Lemos de Sousa, M.J. & Wagner, R.H. (eds.), Papers on the Carboniferous of the Iberian Peninsula (sedimentology, stratigraphy, palaeontology, tectonics and geochronology). Anais da Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Supplement to volume 64 (1983), 35-40. Prado, C. de 1861. Mapa geológico estratigráfico de las montañas de la provincia de Palencia. (Escala 1:100.000). Comisión de Estadística general del Reino. Quiring, H. 1939. Die ostasturischen Steinkohlenbecken. Archiv für Lagerstättenforschung, 69, 1-66. Sitter, L.U. de 1962. The structure of the southern slope of the Cantabrian Mountains: explanation of a geological map with sections scale (1:100.000). Leidse Geologische Mededelingen, 26, 255-264. Stockmans, F. & Willière, Y. 1965. Documents paléobotaniques pour l’étude du Houiller dans le NordOuest de l’Espagne. Mémoire de l’Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, 2, 79, 1-92. Wagner, R.H. & Álvarez-Vázquez, C. 1995. Upper Namurian/lower Westphalian of La Camocha, Asturias: Review of floral and faunal data. Coloquios de Paleontología, 47 (vol. Hom. profesor Bermudo Meléndez, II), 151-176. Wagner, R.H. & Diez, J.B. 2007. Verdeña (Spain): Life and death of a Carboniferous forest community. Comptes Rendus Palevol, 6, 495-504. Wagner, R.H. & Martínez-Garcia, E. 1998. Floral remains from the highest Valdeón Formation, a marine Stephanian unit south of the Picos de Europa, and comparisons with eastern Asturias, NW Spain. Revista Española de Paleontología, 13 (1), 93-106. Wagner, R.H., Martínez García, E., Winkler Prins, C.F. & Lobato, L. 1983. Carboniferous stratigraphy of the Cantabrian Mountains. X Internacional Congress of Carboniferous Stratigraphy and Geology, Madrid 1983. Guidebook Field Trip A, 212 p. Wagner, R.H. & Varker, W.J. 1971. The distribution and development of post-Leonian strata (upper Westphalian D, Cantabrian, Stephanian A) in northern Palencia, Spain. Trabajos de Geología, 4, 533601. Wagner, R.H. & Winkler Prins, C.F. 1985. The Cantabrian and Barruelian stratotypes: a summary of basin development and biostratigraphic information. In: Lemos de Sousa, M.J. & Wagner, R.H. (eds.), Papers on the Carboniferous of the Iberian Peninsula (sedimentology, stratigraphy, palaeontology, tectonics and geochronology). Anais da Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Supplement to volume 64 (1983), 359-410. Wagner, R.H. & Winkler Prins, C.F. 2000. Carboniferous stratigraphy of the Sierra del Brezo in northern Palencia (Cantabrian Mts, NW Spain): evidence of major uplifts. Trabajos de Geología, Universidad de Oviedo, 21 (for 1999: vol hom. Jaime Truyols), 385-403. Wagner, R.H. & Winkler Prins, C.F. in prep. Upper Devonian, Mississippian and lower Pennsylvanian sediments in the Palentian Domain, Cantabrian Mts, NW Spain: stratigraphic development and tectonics. 69 16th OFP International Congress. 70 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe List of Participants 71 16th OFP International Congress. 72 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Castro, M. Paz C/ Guzmán El Bueno, 84 28003 Madrid, España [email protected] Álvarez Vázquez, Carmen Centro Paleobotánico, Jardín Botánico de Córdoba Avda. de Linneo, s/n. 14004 Córdoba, España Cevallos-Ferriz, Sergio Depto. de Paleontología, Instituto Geología, UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria 4510 Coyoacan, México D.F. México [email protected] Barrón, Eduardo Instituto Geológico y Minero de España Ríos Rosas 23 28003 Madrid, España [email protected] Cleal, Christopher Department of Biodiversity & Systematic Biology, National Museum Wales CF10 3NP Cardiff, Great Britain [email protected] Bartiromo, Antonello Dipartimento delle Scienze Biologiche Via Mezzocannone, 8 80134 Naples, Italia [email protected] Bercovici, Antoine UMR 6119 (CNRS/INSU), Géosciences Rennes, Université de Rennes 1, Campus de Beaulieu 35042 Rennes Cedex, France [email protected] Botella, Héctor Department of Geology. Faculty of Biological Sciences. University of Valencia C/ Dr. Moliner 50 46100 Burjasot (Valencia), España [email protected] De Franceschi, Dario UMR7207 CR2P MNHN CP38 - 57 rue Cuvier F-75231 Paris, France [email protected] Diez Ferrer, José Bienvenido Universidad Vigo, Campus Marcosende, S/N. 36200 Vigo, España [email protected] Lagoas- Fernández Jiménez, Santiago Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia 30100 Murcia, España [email protected] Broutin, Jean Batiment Géologie MNHN 43 rue Buffon F-75231 Paris, France [email protected] Calvillo-Canadell, Laura Depto. de Paleontología, Instituto Geología, UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria. 4510 Coyoacan, México D.F. México [email protected] de de Carrión, José Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia 30100 Murcia, España [email protected] Cascales-Miñana, Borja Department of Plant Biology. Faculty of Pharmacy. University of Valencia. Av/ Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n 46100 Burjasot (Valencia) España [email protected] Ferrer, Javier Dep. Ciencias de la Tierra. Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad de Zaragoza. Pedro Cerbuna 12 50009 Zaragoza, España [email protected] Fierro Enrique, Elena Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia 30100 Murcia, España [email protected] Gallo, Alfonso Universidad Vigo, Marcosende, S/N. 36200 Vigo, España [email protected] Campus Lagoas- 73 16th OFP International Congress. Montero, Angel Centro Paleobotánico, Jardín Botánico de Córdoba. Avda. de Linneo, s/n. 14004 Córdoba, España [email protected] Galtier, Jean AMAP, CIRAD 34398 Montpellier, France [email protected] Gerrienne, Philippe Université de Liège, Dépt de Géologie, Paléobotanique 4000 Liege, Bélgique [email protected] Gómez-Orellana Rodríguez, Luis IBADER. Campus de Lugo s/n E-27002 Lugo, España [email protected] Gonez, Paul Université de Liège - Laboratoire PPM, Département de Géologie, Bát. B18 4000 Liège, Belgique [email protected] Gutiérrez, Esther Universidad Vigo, Campus Marcosende, S/N. 36200 Vigo, España [email protected] Lagoas- Herrero, Baudilio E.T.S. de Ingenierías Agrarias Universidad de Valladolid Avenida Madrid, 57 34004 Palencia, España [email protected] Knight, John Harworth Minerals Consultancy, 2 Church Street, Shirland, Alfreton, Derbyshire DE55 6BJ Derby, Great Britain [email protected] Martínez-Pérez, Carlos Department of Geology. Faculty of Biological Sciences. University of Valencia. C/ Dr. Moliner 50 46100 Burjasot (Valencia), España [email protected] Meyer-Berthaud, Brigitte UMR AMAP, CIRAD, TA-A51/PS2, boulevard de la Lironde 34398 Montpellier cedex 5, France [email protected] 74 Mosquera, Lara Universidad Vigo, Campus Marcosende, S/N. 36200 Vigo, España [email protected] Lagoas- Nishida, Harufumi 3-316-20-209 Kemigawa, Hanamigawa 262-0023 Chiba, 日本 [email protected] Pons, Denise MNHN -Batiment de Géologie, CP 48, 57 rue Cuvier F-75231 PARIS, France [email protected] Prestianni, Cyrille Unité P.P.M Allée du 6 aout B18/P40 4000 Liège, BE [email protected] Puente Arauzo, Estefanía Universidad Vigo, Campus Marcosende, S/N. 36200 Vigo (Pontevedra), España [email protected] Rial Muiños, Gonzalo Universidad Vigo, Marcosende, S/N. 36200 Vigo, España [email protected] Campus Lagoas- Lagoas- Rivas Carballo, M. Rosario Dept. Geología (Paleontología). Ciencias. Univ. Salamanca 37008 Salamanca, España [email protected] Fac. Rubio, Cristobal Área Paleontología, Edificio C (Geológicas), Universidad Zaragoza, C/ Pedro Cerbuna 12 50009, Zaragoza, España [email protected] Sánchez-Pellicer, Raquel Universidad Vigo, Campus Marcosende, S/N. 36200 Vigo (Pontevedra), España [email protected] Lagoas- Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe Sardina Antolín, Luis Jose Bartolomé de Carranza Nº 42 4 IZDA 31008 PAMPLONA, España [email protected] Sender, Luis Miguel Área y Museo de Paleontología. Facultad de Ciencias (Edificio Geológicas). Universidad de Zaragoza. C/ Pedro Cerbuna, 12 50009 Zaragoza, España [email protected] Strullu-Derrien, Christine Laboratoire Mycorhizes, Faculté des sciences, Université d'Angers, 2 boulevard Lavoisier 49045 Angers Cedex, France [email protected] Valle Hernández, María Dept. Geología (Paleontología). Fac. Ciencias. Univ. Salamanca 37008 Salamanca, España [email protected] Vieira, Manuel Universidade do Minho - Departamento de Ciencias da terra, Campus de Gualtar 4710-057 Braga, Portugal [email protected] Villanueva Amadoz, Uxue Área Paleontología, Edificio C (Geológicas), Universidad Zaragoza, C/ Pedro Cerbuna 12 50009 Zaragoza, España [email protected] Wagner, Roberth H. Centro Paleobotánico, Jardín Botánico de Córdoba. Avda. de Linneo, s/n. 14004 Córdoba, España [email protected] 75 16th OFP International Congress. 76 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe NOTES 77 16th OFP International Congress. 78 Present and Future of Palaeobotany in SW Europe NOTES 79