Neogene

The Neogene mollusc type material from the collection of Lodovico Foresti preserved in the “ Giovanni Capellini ” Museum of Geology of Bologna University , Italy

by Alessandro Ceregato

Ceregato A, Scarponi D, Della Bella G 2010. GeoActa 9, 53-65

Part of the Lodovico Foresti's (1829-1913) palaeo-malacological legacy is preserved in the G. Capellini Museum of... more Part of the Lodovico Foresti's (1829-1913) palaeo-malacological legacy is preserved in the G. Capellini Museum of Geology (MGGC) of Bologna University. The Foresti collection at MGGC consists of nearly 1500 Neogene and early Pleistocene molluscs representing 111 taxa, mainly from Emilia-Romagna foothills (Northern Italy). During our exa- mination we were able to trace various type series materials on which any information was assumed to be lost. Herein we document type series material of 11 species-group taxa and designate 9 lectotypes in order to ensure the name’s proper and consistent application. Furthermore, for each examined taxon, we report the original description along with comments on present day systematic position and general remarks.

Denk, T., Grímsson, F., Zetter, R. Símonarson, L. A. 2011. Late Cainozoic Floras of Iceland. 15 Million Years of Vegetation and Climate History in the Northern North Atlantic. Topics in Geobiology 35, 870 pp. Springer, Dordrecht. ISBN 978-94-007-0371-1

by Thomas Denk

Grímsson, F., Denk, T., Zetter, R. 2008. Pollen, fruits, and leaves of Tetracentron (Trochodendraceae) from the Cainozoic of Iceland and western North America and their implications for palaeobiogeography. Grana 47: 1–14.

by Thomas Denk

Grímsson, F., Denk, T., Símonarson, L. A. 2007. Middle Miocene floras of Iceland – the early colonization of an island? Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 144: 181–207.

by Thomas Denk

Grímsson, F., Denk, T. 2007. Floristic turnover on Iceland 15 to 6 Ma – extracting biogeographic signals from fossil floral assemblages. Journal of Biogeography 34: 1490–1504.

by Thomas Denk

Denk, T., Grímsson, F., Kvaček, Z. 2005. The Miocene flora of Iceland and its significance for late Cainozoic North Atlantic biogeography. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 149: 369–417.

by Thomas Denk

Aragonitschalige Gastropoden (Helicidae) mit Quarzdrusen aus dem Schwäbischen Miozän (Südwest-Deutschland)

by Markus Bertling

The land snail Cepaea subsulcosa (Thomae) is described from the Miocene of Baden-Wuerttemberg. Shells are preserved as... more The land snail Cepaea subsulcosa (Thomae) is described from the Miocene of Baden-Wuerttemberg. Shells are preserved as aragonite and are filled with quartz crystals. The stratigraphic setting and taphonomy are discussed. Eodiagenetic quartz formation partly broke the shells. However, it did neither solve nor
silicify them. Important prerequisites for these phenomena were: cementation at the groundwater table, seasonal rainfall in a subtropical climate, carbonatic and silica-poor pore fluids, as well as embedding with relics of soft parts in a sandy sediment.

Vietnamese sedimentary basins: geological evolution and petroleum potential

by Sofie Lindström

Reference:
Fyhn, M.B.W., Petersen, H.I., Mathiesen, A., Nielsen, L.H., Pedersen, S.A.S:, Lindström, S., Bojesen-Koefoed, J.A., Abatzis, I., Boldreel, L.O., 2010. Vietnamese sedimentary basins: geological evolution and petroleum potential. In: Review of Survey activities 2009. Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin 20, 91-94.

Mixed-feeding and the diversication of ruminants through the Tertiary

by Juan L. Cantalapiedra

Co-authored with FitzJohn RG, Hernández Fernández M, DeMiguel D, Azanza B, Morales J, Mooers AØ

BMC Evol Biol. (submitted)

Background. Global abiotic change and ecological flexibility are two major factors influencing rates of speciation and... more Background. Global abiotic change and ecological flexibility are two major factors influencing rates of speciation and extinction across clades. The evolution of feeding styles is though to be key in the explosive radiation of ruminants. Classic scenarios depict browsing as the ancestral state with gradual evolution towards mixed-feeding and grazer concomitant with increasing aridity and subsequent expansion of open habitats during the Neogene.  However new insights have challenged this view, suggesting mixed-feeding ancestors for several of ruminant families. Here, we explored which the most likely scenarios explaining the evolutionary transitions among diets and ask whether ruminant lineages with different feeding styles (browsing, grazing and mixed feeding) underwent differential rates of diversification and how this might have been affected by global temperature regimes. We use new multi-state speciation and extinction (MuSSE) models on the supertree of the group, an accurate synthesis of dietary categories of all 197 extant species of ruminants, and a precise record of global Tertiary climate.
Results. The best model of trait change was one positing transitions from browsers to grazers via mixed feeding, with appreciable rates of transition to and from grazing and mixed feeding. MuSSE inferred higher speciation rates in mixed-feeding and grazing lineages than in browsers. The inclusion of Tertiary global temperature data did not significantly improve the model fits. A browser ancestor was reconstructed for Giraffidae, Moschidae and Tragulidae, while a mixed feeding ancestor is inferred for Bovidae. For all ruminants and for Cervidae, both browsing and mixed feeding are possible ancestral states, though browsing is preferred for ruminants, and mixed feeding for the Cervidae.
Conclusions. Our results are consistent with dietary flexibility rather than diet itself being related to the diversification of ruminants in the Neogene, and with climate having differential repercussions on physical habitat change and diet at regional rather than at global scale.

European large mammals palaeobiogeography and biodiversity from the Early Miocene to the Mid-Pliocene. Palaeogeographic and climatic impacts

by Serge Legendre

COSTEUR, L., LEGENDRE, S. and ESCARGUEL, G. 2004. European large mammals palaeobiogeography and biodiversity from the Early Miocene to the Mid-Pliocene. Palaeogeographic and climatic impacts. Revue de Paléobiologie, vol. spéc. 9, 255-272.

The biogeographic and biodiversity evolution of the European Neogene ungulate faunas is herein addressed by means of... more The biogeographic and biodiversity evolution of the European Neogene ungulate faunas is herein addressed by means of faunal similarity and diversity estimators. From the early to the early late Miocene, faunal ressemblance, familial diversity and faunal homogeneity between the various regions increased. They were followed by a progressive decline of diversity towards Pliocene times. We discuss the biodiversity and faunal composition evolution within four bioprovinces and show that in a global context of climate relative stability in the early and middle Miocene, particular palaeogeographic configurations allowed the immigration of a large number of African and Asian families, increasing biodiversity. The late middle to early late Miocene period is characterised by a global climate change (cooling and aridification) that profoundly affects the European ungulate faunas. Indeed, “modern” ruminants (bovids, cervids, giraffids) become the dominant groups of ungulates by the early Pliocene. This dominance is associated with a decrease in familial diversity and with a modern pattern of latitudinal differentiation, with mainly bovids colonising southern regions and, in a lesser extent, cervids developping in northern areas.

Rodents and climate: A new model for estimating past temperatures

by Serge Legendre

LEGENDRE, S., MONTUIRE, S., MARIDET, O. and ESCARGUEL, G. 2005. Rodents and climate: A new model for estimating past temperatures. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 235, 408-420.

Based on the high correlation between species richness in sigmodontine rodents and temperatures, we propose a new... more Based on the high correlation between species richness in sigmodontine rodents and temperatures, we propose a new model in order to quantify past climates. Because of the close phylogenetic relationship and the tooth morphological similarity between extant New World cricetids (Sigmodontinae) and fossil European cricetids (Cricetinae s.l.), extant New World sigmodontines are taken as analogues for Old World fossil cricetines. Sigmodontine species richness has been compiled for 282 extant local faunas from North, Central and South America, with corresponding climatic data (temperatures and precipitations). There is almost no correlation between areas covered by local faunas (ranging from 1 km2 up to 46,000 km2) and numbers of sigmodontine species in localities (R2=0.027). Number of sigmodontine species in local faunas and mean annual daily temperatures are highly correlated (R2=0.88). The relationships of species richness and precipitation is low (R2=0.19 for mean annual precipitation).
The method is exemplified for Old World cricetines using well documented Miocene rodent faunas located in the Lyon area (France MN4-5 to MN10).

Spatial and temporal variation in European Neogene large mammals diversity

by Serge Legendre

COSTEUR, L. and LEGENDRE, S. 2008. Spatial and temporal variation in European Neogene large mammals diversity. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 261, 127-144.

Large mammals diversity (i.e., ungulates or hoofed mammals) is investigated over the whole European geographic area... more Large mammals diversity (i.e., ungulates or hoofed mammals) is investigated over the whole European geographic area and through a period extending from the Late Oligocene, around 27 Ma ago, to the Early Pliocene, around 3 Ma ago. Qualitative and quantitative spatial and temporal patterns are discussed thanks to the analysis of a large dataset of localities (695) that yielded large mammals and distributed over this period and area. We show that the Miocene is a key period in the installation of modern faunas in Europe; modern ruminants (mainly cervids and bovids) largely develop during the period considered and replace the Oligocene-inherited dominant faunas. These replacements are triggered by different factors, often extrinsic and constitute the roots of the present situation. Indeed, a complex interplay between geographic (palaeogeographic reorganisations) and climatic factors (warming and cooling events) can be invoked to understand how faunas change. Geography seems to play a crucial role in the Early Miocene when it allows migration routes to open between Europe, Asia and Africa and in turn leads to a drastic increase of ungulate diversity that seems to be maintained in the Middle Miocene under the warm equable climates of the Miocene Climatic Optimum. The Late Miocene sees a global climatic deterioration leading to a decline in large mammals diversity and represents the root of the extant depleted situation. Regional comparisons indicate that endemism was already strong in the Miocene, especially in south-eastern Europe, and that strong climatic belts already seem to have an impact on mammal communities since the Late Miocene. The roots of the extant situation (endemism and low diversity) are therefore more complex and probably older than previously thought; they are to be looked for before the Quaternary Climatic Cycles and are the by-product of deep-time geographic and climatic events.

Biogeographic provincialism in rodent faunas from the Iberoccitanian Region (southwestern Europe) generates severe diachrony within the Mammalian Neogene (MN) biochronologic scale during the Late Miocene

by Ana Rosa Gómez Cano

Gómez Cano, A.R., Hernández Fernández, M. & Álvarez-Sierra, M.A. 2011. Biogeographic provincialism in rodent faunas from the Iberoccitanian Region (southwestern Europe) generates severe diachrony within the Mammalian Neogene (MN) biochronologic scale during the Late Miocene. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 307: 193–204

In order to develop paleoecological studies involving many fossil sites, there is a need to establish a consistent... more In order to develop paleoecological studies involving many fossil sites, there is a need to establish a consistent time framework, which enables us to arrange the fossil associations according to a sequence of biotic events and subsequently to test a relationship with paleoenvironmental changes. The nature of the continental fossil record has given rise to much controversy with regard to the establishment of general biostratigraphical scales. Additionally, biochronological scales are sometimes all that can be proposed. The primary goal of the present paper is to present a time arrangement for the Iberoccitanian micromammalian fossil sites from the latest Middle Miocene to the Mio–Pliocene boundary, spanning around 7 million years (approximately 12.61–4.95 Ma). Herein we study over one hundred faunal lists of rodents from the Iberoccitanian Region, compiled from the literature. Previous research has described two biogeographical provinces in our study area: a northern one (Vallès–Penedès and southeast France) and a southern one (all the Iberian basins, except the Vallès–Penedès). We therefore conducted Alroy's Maximum Likelihood Appearance Event Ordination (MLAEO) methodology, applying it to the database compiled for each province. Finally, using available numerical dates for a quarter of the sites, we obtained a calibrated ordination for all localities. In each analysis, the results obtained are roughly coherent with the Mammalian Neogene units (MN) and allow estimation of the numerical ages for the entire set of fossil sites included in the study. Nevertheless, our results show severe diachrony between the two biogeographic provinces of the Iberoccitanian Region in relation to the MN boundaries, which might be linked to the existence of a refuge area associated with more humid environments in the northern province.

Small mammal (rodents and lagomorphs) European biogeography from the Late Oligocene to the mid Pliocene

by Serge Legendre

MARIDET, O., ESCARGUEL, G., COSTEUR, L., MEIN, P., HUGUENEY, M. and LEGENDRE, S. 2007. Small mammal (rodents and lagomorphs) European biogeography from the Late Oligocene to the mid Pliocene. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 16, 529-544.

Aim: To analyse the fossil species assemblages of rodents and lagomorphs from the European Neogene in order to assess... more Aim: To analyse the fossil species assemblages of rodents and lagomorphs from the European Neogene in order to assess what factors control small mammal biogeography at a deep-time evolutionary time-scale.
Location: Western Europe: 626 fossil-bearing localities located within 31 regions and distributed among 18 successive biochronological units ranging from c. 27 Ma (million years ago; Late Oligocene) to c. 3 Ma (mid Pliocene).
Methods: Taxonomically homogenized pooled regional assemblages are compared using the Raup and Crick index of faunal similarity; then, the inferred similarity matrices are visualized as neighbour-joining trees and by projecting the statistically significant interregional similarities and dissimilarities onto palaeogeographical maps. The inferred biogeographical patterns are analysed and discussed in the light of known palaeogeographical and palaeoclimatic events.
Results: Successive time intervals with distinct biogeographical contexts are identified. Prior to c. 18 Ma (Late Oligocene and Early Miocene), a relative faunal homogeneity (high interregional connectivity) is observed all over Europe, a time when major geographical barriers and a weak climatic gradient are known. Then, from the beginning of the Middle Miocene onwards, the biogeography is marked by a significant decrease in interregional faunal affinities which matches a drastic global climatic degradation and leads, in the Late Miocene (c. 11 Ma), to a marked latitudinal pattern of small mammal distribution. In spite of a short rehomogenization around the Miocene/Pliocene boundary (6–4 Ma), the biogeography of small mammals in the mid Pliocene (c. 3 Ma) finally closely reflects the extant situation.
Main conclusions: The resulting biogeographical evolutionary scheme indicates that the extant endemic situation has deep historical roots corresponding to global tectonic and climatic events acting as primary drivers of long-term changes. The correlation of biogeographical events with climatic changes emphasizes the prevalent role of the climate over geography in generating heterogeneous biogeographical patterns at the continental scale.

The succession of Western Australian Phanerozoic terrestrial floras

by Stephen McLoughlin

Reference:
McLoughlin, S. & Hill, R.S. 1996. The succession of Western Australian Phanerozoic floras. In, Hopper, S.D. et al. (eds) Gondwanan Heritage: Past, Present and Future of the Western Australian Biota (Proceedings of the Conference on Systematics, Evolution and Conservation of the Western Australian Biota, Perth, 1993), Surrey Beatty, Sydney, pp. 61–80.

Though the oldest terrestrial plant remains in Western Australia are of Devonian age, the first abundant fossil floras... more Though the oldest terrestrial plant remains in Western Australia are of Devonian age, the first abundant fossil floras were preserved during the Permian. Thick accumulations of these plant remains constitute the economically important resources of the Collie and Irwin River Coal Measures in the state's southwest. The Permian floras were dominated by glossopterid gymnosperms showing morphological adaptations to growth in high latitude mire communities. Sphenophytes, lycophytes and ferns represented the dominant herbaceous components of the Permian vegetation.
Triassic and Jurassic fossil plants are poorly represented in Western Australian sedimentary sequences, but Early Cretaceous floras dominated by araucarian and podocarp conifers, bennettitaleans, pteridosperms, ferns and isoetalean lycophytes are known from a number of locations. Though no angiosperm macrofossils of this age have yet been found in Western Australia, the Lower Cretaceous deposits record the first appearances of several conifer and pteridophyte families characteristic of the extant Australian flora. Prominent growth banding in Cretaceous conifer woods implies marked seasonality of the climate.
Western Australian Tertiary floras are best represented in Eocene-Oligocene sedimentary rocks of the Bremer Basin and palaeodrainage channels on the Yilgarn Craton in the State's South-West. Silicification and lateritization of the sediments has removed most of the carbonaceous material from these fossils although in some cases replacement of the organic matter by iron oxides has produced remarkable replication of leaf cuticles enabling reliable generic identification. The Early Tertiary floras contain a number of taxa (e.g., Nothofagus, Gymnostoma, Agathis, Dacrycarpus, ?Phyllocladus) now absent from this State which are characteristic of humid closed forest communities elsewhere in Australia and other Gondwanan land masses. An abundance of Banksieaephyllum and other proteacean leaves also reflects strong contributions from plants now characteristic of local heath vegetation. On a broad scale, clear similarities exist with Eocene-Oligocene macrofloras in eastern Australia but specific differences are evident, notably in the diversity and abundance of myrtacean and to a less extent proteacean remains. Poorly differentiated growth bands in both angiosperm and conifer woods of this age suggest a climatic regime with subdued seasonal variation. Nevertheless, some plant groups (e.g., Nothofagus) Show evidence of a deciduous habit. The Western Australian Early Tertiary macrofloras offer support for the argument that the Australian sclerophyll flora evolved initially in response to low soil nutrient levels and was pre-adapted to developing xeric conditions.

Identification problems of arid environments in the Neogene-Quaternary mammal record of Spain

by Manuel Hernández Fernández

Plio-Pleistocene climatic change in the Turkana Basin (East Africa): evidence from large mammal faunas

by Manuel Hernández Fernández

Iberian Plio-Pleistocene biochronology: micromammalian evidence for MNs and ELMAs calibration in southwestern Europe

by Manuel Hernández Fernández

Bioclimatic analysis of rodent palaeofaunas reveals severe climatic changes in Southwestern Europe during the Plio-Pleistocene

by Manuel Hernández Fernández

Biogeographic provincialism in rodent faunas from the Iberoccitanian Region (southwestern Europe) generates severe diachrony within the Mammalian Neogene (MN) biochronologic scale during the Late Miocene

by Manuel Hernández Fernández