Paleovegetation and paleoclimate inferences of the early late Sarmatian palynoflora from the Gleisdorf Fm. at Gratkorn, Styria, Austria

Author(s)
Christian Geier, Johannes M. Bouchal, Silvia Ulrich, Martin Gross, Reinhard Zetter, Thomas Denk, Fridgeir Grimsson
Abstract

The Gleisdorf Formation (Fm.) deposits in the clay pit at Gratkorn, Styria, Austria, are dated to 12.2–12 Ma, and are of late Middle Miocene age (late Serravallian or Sarmatian). To reconstruct the paleovegetation and estimate the paleoclimate at this important vertebrate site, the palynoflora close to the boundary between the vertebrate-bearing layers of the Gratkorn Fm. and the overlying limnic clay deposits of the Gleisdorf Fm. was investigated. Using the single-grain method, 140 palynomorphs were identified. The palynoflora suggests that the paleovegetation was characterised by well-drained lowland and upland forests, riparian forest, and swamp forests. Depending on the dominating tree species, lowland and upland forests might have had closed or more open canopies. Open habitats included wet meadows and shrublands. In addition, conifers were present in the swampy lowlands and the forested uplands. The most prominent paleoclimatic signatures of the palynoflora indicate a fully humid warm temperate climate, with hot to warm summers and cool winters (Cfa-, Cfb-climate), and a seasonal climate with cool and drier winters and hot to warm and wetter summers (Cwa-, Cwb-climate). Our results align with existing studies bordering the Styrian Basin and support the presence of subtropical to warm-temperate vegetation around Gratkorn during the Sarmatian.

Organisation(s)
Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, Department of Palaeontology
External organisation(s)
Universalmuseum Joanneum, Swedish Museum of Natural History
Journal
Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
Volume
307
ISSN
0034-6667
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2022.104767
Publication date
12-2022
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
105117 Palaeobotany, 106008 Botany
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Palaeontology
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/paleovegetation-and-paleoclimate-inferences-of-the-early-late-sarmatian-palynoflora-from-the-gleisdorf-fm-at-gratkorn-styria-austria(a3eee062-1db9-4ef6-b82a-7a41a29fbfa7).html