Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
SpringerLink
Log in

Invasion of Arcto-Tertiary Elements in the Palaeogene of Central Europe

  • Conference paper
Cenozoic Plants and Climates of the Arctic

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASII,volume 27))

Abstract

The Palaeogene vegetation of Central Europe is characterized by continuous changes in composition and physiognomy corresponding with stepwise climatic deterioration. The vegetation evolved from paratropical (Middle Eocene) to subtropical (Late Eocene) and warm-temperate (Early/Middle Oligocene) associations. Significant waves of ‘arcto-tertiary’ elements (in the sense of Engler) penetrate the primary evergreen laurophyllic vegetation of Europe on the Eocene — Oligocene boundary, most pronounced during the middle and upper Oligocene. Taxa such as Acer, Fagus, Carpinus can be recognized up to the rank of species. Others are systematically situated between known genera (e.g. Eotrigobalanus). As well as the alternations in palaeogeographic and palaeoclimatic conditions, distinctive ecological adaptations must have played an important role (r-strategists) which was demonstrated by different species in the numerous megafloras from Central Europe (according to results of recent studies of Populus, Liquidambar, Platanus and other taxa). Some of these ‘pioneer forms’ (Acer, Ulmus, Fagus, Cyclocarya, Cercidiphyllum) demonstrate a transition from azonal to zonal distributions in the subsequent periods.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Axelrod D.I. (1959) Late Cenozoic evolution of the Sierran Bigtree forest. Evol. 13: 9–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barthel M. (1976) Farne und Cycadeen. Eozäne Floren des Geiseltales. Abh. Zentr. Geol Inst. 26: 439–498.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulter M.C. and Kvaiek Z. (1989) The Palaeocene flora of the Isle of Mull. Spec. Pap. Palaeontol. 42: 11–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaney R.W. (1936) The succession and distribution of Cenozoic floras around the northern Pacific basin. In: T.H. Goodspeed (ed.) Essays in Geobotany in honour of William Albert Setchell: 55–85. Univiversity California Press, Berkeley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaney R.W. (1959) Miocene floras of the Columbia Plateau, F. Composition and interpretation. Carnegie Institute Washington Publications 617: 11–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delcourt P.A. and Delcourt H.R. (1987) Long-Term Forest Dynamics of the Temperate Zone. Springer-Verlag, Berlin XIII, 439 pp.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Engler A. (1879, 1882) Versuch einer Entwicklungsgeschichte der Pflanzenwelt seit der Tertiarperiode 2 Vols. W. Engelmann, Leipzig. 203: 333 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heer O. (1878) Flora fossilis arctica 5.L Die fossile Flora der Polar lander. Die Miocane Flora des GrinnelLandes. Wurster, Zurich: 38 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jähnichen H. (1976) Schisandraceae und Illicaceae als holarktische und subtropische Florenelemente im mitteleuropaischen Alttertiar. Eozäne Floren des Geiseltales. Abh. Zentr. Geol. Inst. 26: 115–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jähnichen H. and Rüffle L. (1988) Die alttertiare Blatterflora aus dem Dysodil von Sieblos an der Wasserkuppe/Rhon. Beitr. Naturk. Osthessen 24: 67–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knobloch E., KvaÖek Z., Buzek C., Mai D.H. and Batten D.J. (1993) Evolutionary significance of floristic changes in the Northern Hemisphere during the Late Cretaceous and Palaeogene, with particular reference to Central Europe. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. 78: 41–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knobloch E., Konzalova M. and Kvatfek, Z. (in press) Die Obereozäne Flora der Stare SedloSchichtenfolge in Westbohmen. Rozpr. Cesk. Geol. Ustavu 49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knobloch E. and Mai D.H. (1986) Monographie der Früchte und Samen in der Kreide von Mitteleuropa. Rozpr. Ustred. Ust. Geol. 47: 219 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knobloch E. and Mai D.H. (1991) Evolution of Middle and Upper Cretaceous floras in Central and Western Europe. Jahrb. Geol. Bundesamt. Wien 134: 257–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koch E.B. (1963) Fossil plants from the Lower Paleocene of the Agatdalen (Angmartussut) area, Central Nugssuaq Peninsula, northwest Greenland. Gronl. Geol. Unders. Kobenhavn 99: 1–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koitzsch W. (1992) Palaeobotanische Klimagliederung des Alttertiars (Mitteleozan bis Oberoligozan) in Mitteldeutschland und das Problem der Verknüpfung mariner und kontinentaler Gliederungen (klassische Biostratigraphien palaobotanischokologische Klimastratigraphie - Evolutions-Stratigraphie der Vertebraten). Neues Jahrb. Geologisch Palaontol. Abteilung 186: 137–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kva£ek Z. and Walther H. (1989b) Revision der mitteleuropaischen tertiären Fagaceen nach blattepidermalen Charakteristiken III. Teil Dryophyllum Debey ex Saporta und Eotrigonobalanus Walther u. KvaZek gen. nov. Feddes Repert 100: 576–599.

    Google Scholar 

  • KvaÖek Z. and Walther H. (1991) Revision der mitteleuropaischen tertiären Fagaceen nach blattepidermalen Charakteristiken VI. Teil Fagus LINNE. Feddes Repert. 102: 471–534.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laurent L. (1912) Flore fossile des schistes de Menat (PuydeDome). Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Marseille 14: 1–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. (1976) Fossile Früchte und Samen aus dem Mitteleozan des Geiseltales. Eozäne Floren des Geiseltales. Abh. Zentr. Geol. Inst. 26: 93–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. (1981) Entwicklung und klimatische Differenzierung der Laubwaldflora Mitteleuropas im Tertiär. Flora 171: 525–582.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. (1989) Development and regional differentiation of the European vegetation during the Tertiary. PI. Syst. Evol. 162: 79–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. (1991) Palaeofloristic changes in Europe and the confirmation of the Arcto-tertiary Palaeotropical geofloral concept. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. 68: 29–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. and Walther H. (1978) Die Floren der Haselbacher Serie im Weisselster-Becken (Bezirk Leipzig, DDR). Abh. Staatl. Mus. Mineral Geol Dresden 28: 1–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. and Walther H. (1983) Die fossilen Floren des Weisselster Beckens und seiner Randgebiete. Hallesches Jahrb. Geowiss. 8: 59–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. and Walther H. (1985) Die obereozänen Floren des Weisselster-Beckens und seiner Randgebiete. Abh. Staatl Mus. Mineral Geol Dresden 33: 1–220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. and Walther H. (1991) Die oligozanen und untermiozanen Floren NW-Sachsens und des Bitterfelder Raumes. Abh. StaatL Mus. Mineral. Geol. Dresden 38: 1–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rögl F. and Steininger F.F. (1984) Neogene Paratethys, Mediterranean and Indopacific Seaways. Implications for the paleobiogeography of marine and terrestrial biotas. In: P.J. Brenchley (ed.) Fossils and Climate: 171–199. John Wiley and Sons Chichester, New York, Brishane, Toronto, Singapore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rüffle L. (1976) Myricaceae, Leguminosae, Icacinaceae, Sterculiaceae, Nymphaceae, Monocotyledones, Coniferae. Eozäne Floren des Geiseltales. Abh. Zentr. Geol. Inst. 26: 337–438.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rüffle L. and Jähnichen H. (1976) Die Myrtaceen im Geiseltal und einigen anderen Fundstellen des Eozäns. Eozäne Floren des Geiseltales. Abh. Zentr. Geol. Inst. 26: 308–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rüffle L., Muller-Stoll W.R. and Litke R. (1976) Weitere Ranales, Fagaceae, Loranthaceae, Apocynaceae. Eozäne Floren des Geiseltales. Abh. Zentr. Geol. Inst. 26: 308–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Walther H. (1972) Studien über tertiäre Acer Mitteleuropas. Abh. Staatl. Mus. Mineral. Geol. Dresden 16: 211–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walther H. (1985) Das Vorkommen der Gattung Platanus L. im Tertiär des Weisselster-Beckens (Bezirk Leipzig, DDR). Hallesches Jahrb. Geowiss. 10: 9–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walther H. (1989) Cunninghamia miocenica Ettingshausen, eine wichtige Taxodiaceae im Tertiär Mitteleuropas. Flora 182: 287–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walther H. (1990) The Weisselster basin (GDR) An example of the development and history of Paleogene forest vegetation in Central Europe. In: E. Knobloch and Z. Kvatfek (eds.) Proc. Symp. Palaeofloristic and Paleoclimatic Changes in the Creteceous and Tertiary, Prague 1989: 149–158. Geological Survey Publishers Prague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walther H., Riegel W., Puettmann W,, Linnemann U.H., Gastaldo R.A. and Schaarschmidt F. (1992) A multidisciplinary approach to reconstruct the Late Oligocene vegetation in Central Europe. Org. Internat. Paleobot. IV Conference, Paris 1992 173: 173 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilde V. (1989) Untersuchungen zur Systematik der Blattreste aus dem Mitteleozan der Grube Messel bei Darmstadt (Hessen, Bundesrepublik Deutschland). Cour. Forsch. Inst. Senckenberg 115: 7–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe J.A. (1972) An interpretation of Alaskan Tertiary Floras. In: A. Graham (ed.) Floristics and Paleofloristics of Asia and Eastern North America: 201–233. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe J.A. (1975) Some aspects of plant geography of the Northern Hemisphere during the Late Cretaceous and Tertiary. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 62: 264–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe J.A. (1980) Tertiary climates and floristic relationships at high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Palaeogeog. Palaeoclim. Palaeoecol. 30: 313–323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe J.A. (1985) Distribution of major vegetational types during the Tertiary. Geophys. Monogr. 32: 357–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhilin S.G. (1989) History of the development of the temperate forest flora of Kazakhstan, U.S.S R. from the Oligocene to the Early Miocene. Bot. Rev. 55: 205–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Staatliches Museum fue Mineralogie und Geologie, Landesmuseum des Freistaates Sachsen, Augustusstraße 2, D-01067, Dresden, Germany

    H. Walther

Authors
  1. H. Walther
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Palaeobiology Research Unit, University of East London, Romford Road, London, E15 4LZ, UK

    Michael C. Boulter  & Helen C. Fisher  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1994 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Walther, H. (1994). Invasion of Arcto-Tertiary Elements in the Palaeogene of Central Europe. In: Boulter, M.C., Fisher, H.C. (eds) Cenozoic Plants and Climates of the Arctic. NATO ASI Series, vol 27. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79378-3_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79378-3_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-79380-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-79378-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation