scholarly journals The Middle Miocene Central European Plant Record Revisited; Widespread Subhumid Sclerophyllous Forests Indicated

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 115-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Kovar-Eder ◽  
Vasilis Teodoridis

The Middle Miocene plant record from the wider Central Paratethys region (Central Paratethys, the North Alpine Foredeep, Carpathian Foredeep, the Swabian Alb and southern parts of the Bohemian Massif) was analysed by the Integrated Plant Record (IPR) vegetation analysis to assess major vegetation types. The plant assemblages at 27 sites accumulated under very different sedimentological settings and refl ect heterogeneous environments. Although of very different origin, the plant record delivers a fairly consistent signal towards subhumid sclerophyllous forests (ShSF) as the most likely major zonal vegetation unit for the Langhian/Serravallian. Today, such forests develop under seasonal climate with pronounced seasonal changes in precipitation. The fl oristic characteristics are outlined and the record is compared to that of the preceding and the following Miocene periods.

1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 785 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. M. Richardson ◽  
R. Swain ◽  
V. Wong

The crustacean and molluscan fauna of 65 saltmarshes around the Tasmanian coast were sampled at three tidal levels and in three broad vegetation types, and the salinity and organic and moisture content of the substratum were measured concurrently. Of the 55 species of crustaceans and molluscs collected, eight (four snails, three amphipods and a crab) were confined to saltmarshes. Ordination of the animal data grouped the sites by the degree of submersion, whereas ordination of the vegetation data grouped them by the salinity of the substratum. The faunal composition could not be predicted by the plant communities on a marsh, nor were there any strong relationships between individual animal and plant species. Most crustaceans and molluscs tolerated a wide range of soil conditions, but terrestrial species such as landhoppers and woodlice were not associated with highly saline substrata. Emergent marshes (as identified by the faunal analysis) tend to be most common in the north-east and on Flinders Island, whereas submergent marshes are found all round the coast. Reedy brackish marshes (as identified by the vegetation analysis) are almost entirely confined to the west coast.


2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 471-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matúš Hyžný

AbstractDecapod associations have been significant components of marine habitats throughout the Cenozoic when the major diversification of the group occurred. In this respect, the circum-Mediterranean area is of particular interest due to its complex palaeogeographic history. During the Oligo-Miocene, it was divided in two major areas, Mediterranean and Paratethys. Decapod crustaceans from the Paratethys Sea have been reported in the literature since the 19thcentury, but only recent research advances allow evaluation of the diversity and distribution patterns of the group. Altogether 176 species-level taxa have been identified from the Oligocene and Miocene of the Western and Central Paratethys. Using the three-dimensional NMDS analysis, the composition of decapod crustacean faunas of the Paratethys shows significant differences through time. The Ottnangian and Karpatian decapod associations were similar to each other both taxonomically and in the mode of preservation, and they differed taxonomically from the Badenian ones. The Early Badenian assemblages also differed taxonomically from the Late Badenian ones. The time factor, including speciation, immigration from other provinces and/or (local or global) extinction, can explain temporal differences among assemblages within the same environment. High decapod diversity during the Badenian was correlated with the presence of reefal settings. The Badenian was the time with the highest decapod diversity, which can, however, be a consequence of undersampling of other time slices. Whereas the Ottnangian and Karpatian decapod assemblages are preserved virtually exclusively in the siliciclastic “Schlier”-type facies that originated in non-reefal offshore environments, carbonate sedimentation and the presence of reefal environments during the Badenian in the Central Paratethys promoted thriving of more diverse reef-associated assemblages. In general, Paratethyan decapods exhibited homogeneous distribution during the Oligo-Miocene among the basins in the Paratethys. Based on the co-occurrence of certain decapod species, migration between the Paratethys and the North Sea during the Early Miocene probably occurred via the Rhine Graben. At larger spatial scales, our results suggest that the circum-Mediterranean marine decapod taxa migrated in an easterly direction during the Oligocene and/or Miocene, establishing present-day decapod communities in the Indo-West Pacific.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1687-1720 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Fohlmeister ◽  
A. Schröder-Ritzrau ◽  
D. Scholz ◽  
C. Spötl ◽  
D. F. C. Riechelmann ◽  
...  

Abstract. Holocene climate was characterised by variability on multi-centennial to multi-decadal time scales. In central Europe, these fluctuations were most pronounced during winter. Here we present a new record of past winter climate variability for the last 10.8 ka based on four speleothems from Bunker Cave, Western Germany. Due to its central European location, the cave site is particularly well suited to record changes in precipitation and temperature in response to changes in the North Atlantic realm. We present high resolution records of δ18O, δ13C values and Mg/Ca ratios. We attribute changes in the Mg/Ca ratio to variations in the meteoric precipitation. The stable C isotope composition of the speleothems most likely reflects changes in vegetation and precipitation and variations in the δ18O signal are interpreted as variations in meteoric precipitation and temperature. We found cold and dry periods between 9 and 7 ka, 6.5 and 5.5 ka, 4 and 3 ka as well as between 0.7 to 0.2 ka. The proxy signals in our stalagmites compare well with other isotope records and, thus, seem representative for central European Holocene climate variability. The prominent 8.2 ka event and the Little Ice Age cold events are both recorded in the Bunker cave record. However, these events show a contrasting relationship between climate and δ18O, which is explained by different causes underlying the two climate anomalies. Whereas the Little Ice Age is attributed to a pronounced negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation, the 8.2 ka event was triggered by cooler conditions in the North Atlantic due to a slowdown of the Thermohaline Circulation.


Author(s):  
O. V. Pryhara

The Transcarpathian plain is the northeastern part of the large Middle Danube lowland in the Transcarpathian region. The length of the plain is 80–90 km, the width is 22–23 km, the height is 102–120 m asl. Within the Transcarpathian plain stands out the Berehiv hills, represented by single volcanic mountains of 300-500 m altitude (Black Mountain – 568 m asl, Shalanka – 372 m asl. and other). The Transcarpathian plain is located mainly on the right bank of the Tisza River. Soil-forming rocks are mostly acidic. The climate of the Transcarpathian plain is humid, temperate and continental. The spontaneous flora of the Transcarpathian plain consists of 1209 species of higher vascular plants. Depending on the ecological and coenotic affiliation of flora species to the main zonal vegetation types, seven florencoenotypes were identified in the territory of the studied region: 1) Immoral (Nemoralophyton) – 375 coenoelements (33.33% of the total number of species). In the composition of the Nemoralophyton the florencoenosvites are distinguished: a) oak-hornbeam (Querceto-carpinetophytum) – 130 coenoelements (10.75%); b) helio-quercetal (Quercetophytum) – 171 coenoelements (14.14%); c) fagetal (Fagetophytum) – 74 coenoelements (6.12%); 2) Meadow (Pratophyton) – 220 coenoelements (18.2%). As a part of the Pratophyton the florencoenosvites are: а) flood-meadow (Humidopratophytum) – 92 coenoelements (8.02%); b) land-meadow (Mesopratophytum) – 132 coenoelements (10.92%); 3) Meadow-steppe (Prato-Steppophyton) – 164 coenoelements (13.56%); 4) Xerothermic shrub (Xerothamnophyton) – 32 coenoelements (2.65% ); 5) Marsh (Paludophyton) – 31 coenoelements (2.56%); 6) Hygro-hydrophilic (Hyhro-Hydrophyton) – 129 coenoelements (10.67%). As a part of the Hygro-Hydrophyton the florencoenosvites are: a) coastal-water (Hygrophytum) – 79 coenoelements (6.53%); b) aqueous (Hygrophytum) – 50 coenoelements (4.13%); 7) Synanthropic (Synantropophyton) – 285 coenoelements (23.57%). In the composition of the Syntantropophyton the florencenosvites are as follows: a) vegetative vegetation (Segetalophytum) – 132 coenoelements (10.92%) and b) ruderal vegetation (Ruderalophytum) – 153 coenoelements (12.65%). The results of the analysis of the ecological-coenotic structure of the flora of the Transcarpathian plain showed that the leading position is occupied by species of the immoral florenceonotype (Nemoralophyton) (with the predominance of the helio-quercetal florencoenosvita (Quercetophytum); meadow (Pratophyton) (with the predominance of land-meadow florencoenosvita (Mesopratophytum) and meadow-steppe (Prato-Steppophyton) florencoenotypes. The distribution of species by major ecological-coenotic groups reflect the features of the main genetic types of vegetation, climatic, edaphic conditions and terrain of the territory under study


PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonard Dewaele ◽  
Olivier Lambert ◽  
Stephen Louwye

BackgroundProphocaandLeptophocarepresent the oldest known genera of phocine seals, dating from the latest early to middle Miocene. Originally,Prophoca rousseauiandProphoca proximawere described based on fragmentary remains from the Miocene of Belgium. However, several researchers contested the union ofProphoca rousseauiandProphoca proximainto one genus, without providing evidence. The stratigraphic context ofProphocaremained poorly constrained due to the lack of precise data associated with the original specimens collected in the area of Antwerp (north of Belgium).MethodsProphocaandLeptophocaare redescribed and their phylogenetic position among Phocidae is reassessed using PAUP. Dinoflagellate biostratigraphy has been carried out on sediment samples associated with specimens fromProphocaandLeptophocato elucidate their approximate ages.ResultsWhereas the speciesProphoca rousseauiis redescribed,Prophoca proximais considered synonymous toLeptophoca lenis, with the proposal of a new combinationLeptophoca proxima(Van Beneden, 1877). Sediment samples from specimens of both taxa have been dated to the late Langhian–early Serravallian (middle Miocene). Following a reinvestigation ofLeptophoca amphiatlantica, characters from the original diagnosis are questioned and the specimens ofLeptophoca amphiatlanticaare consideredLeptophocacf.L. proxima. In a phylogenetic analysis,Prophoca rousseauiandLeptophoca proximaconstitute early branching stem-phocines.DiscussionLeptophoca proximafrom the North Sea Basin is younger than the oldest known find ofLeptophoca proximafrom North America, which does not contradict the hypothesis that Phocinae originated along the east coast of North America during the late early Miocene, followed by dispersal to Europe shortly after. Morphological features of the appendicular skeleton indicate thatProphoca rousseauiandLeptophoca proximahave archaic locomotory modes, retaining a more prominent use of the fore flipper for aquatic propulsion than extant Phocidae.


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lili Zách

ABSTRACTIn the aftermath of the Great War, the birth of new independent small states in East-Central Europe was closely followed in Irish nationalist circles due to the possibility of Partition in Ireland. Newspaper editorials, journal articles and diplomatic accounts illustrate that post-war Ireland had an open attitude toward the settlement of borders on the Continent as the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was similarly controversial. This paper aims to investigate how contemporary Irish commentators perceived the question of boundary settlements in Central Europe in order to provide an insight into the transformation of political space in both Ireland and Central Europe. After providing a brief background to the Irish boundary question, this paper touches upon the most important points in historiography with regard to border settlements in the post-World War I era.. It also discusses Irish Partition history in detail, concentrating on the North-Eastern Boundary Bureau (NEBB) and the Boundary Commission, and the importance of Central European precedents in their work. Moreover, this paper also proposes to provide an insight into the Irish interest in the minority problem in European borderland regions after 1925 in order to illustrate the outward-looking attitude to Irish nationalists, even in relation to borders and minorities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Eduardo Hilario Bado Towary ◽  
Roedy Sulistyono ◽  
Sama’ Iradat Tito ◽  
Muh. Agus Ferdian

<pre>Comfort is something that humans need without exception when in a Green Open Space (RTH). Thermal comfort is a thermal condition felt by humans that is influenced by the environment. The existence of green space such as the City Forest of Malabar needs to be measured about it which can define its feasibility. (1) To examine the effect of thermal comfort in the Malabar forest on the community. (2) Analyzing vegetation in the Malabar city forest related to comfort. The results obtained in this study are the Temperature humidity index (THI) of respondents in the Malabar city forest known to average values of 22.42. It can be categorized that the Malabar city forest has a comfortable condition because in the index range 21 to 24. The analysis of the vegetation analysis in the Malabar city forest is concluded for the predominant vegetation sapling level, ie the pole glodokan plant with an important value index of 6.69. Whereas the pole level that dominates is mahogany with an important value index of 6.66. As for the tree level, the dominant vegetation types are plants with an important value index of 127.91</pre>


2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (11) ◽  
pp. 1142-1157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre Brun ◽  
Claudio Faccenna ◽  
Frédéric Gueydan ◽  
Dimitrios Sokoutis ◽  
Mélody Philippon ◽  
...  

Back-arc extension in the Aegean, which was driven by slab rollback since 45 Ma, is described here for the first time in two stages. From Middle Eocene to Middle Miocene, deformation was localized leading to (i) the exhumation of high-pressure metamorphic rocks to crustal depths, (ii) the exhumation of high-temperature metamorphic rocks in core complexes, and (iii) the deposition of sedimentary basins. Since Middle Miocene, extension distributed over the whole Aegean domain controlled the deposition of onshore and offshore Neogene sedimentary basins. We reconstructed this two-stage evolution in 3D and four steps at Aegean scale by using available ages of metamorphic and sedimentary processes, geometry, and kinematics of ductile deformation, paleomagnetic data, and available tomographic models. The restoration model shows that the rate of trench retreat was around 0.6 cm/year during the first 30 My and then accelerated up to 3.2 cm/year during the last 15 My. The sharp transition observed in the mode of extension, localized versus distributed, in Middle Miocene correlates with the acceleration of trench retreat and is likely a consequence of the Hellenic slab tearing documented by mantle tomography. The development of large dextral northeast–southwest strike-slip faults, since Middle Miocene, is illustrated by the 450 km long fault zone, offshore from Myrthes to Ikaria and onshore from Izmir to Balikeshir, in Western Anatolia. Therefore, the interaction between the Hellenic trench retreat and the westward displacement of Anatolia started in Middle Miocene, almost 10 Ma before the propagation of the North Anatolian Fault in the North Aegean.


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