MioceneCupressinoxylonfrom Gökçeada (Imbros), Turkey withProtophytobiacambium mining and the study of ecological signals of wood anatomy

Abstract

Premise The recognition of the Miocene Climate Optimum (MCO) in terrestrial palaeoenvironments of the Eastern Mediterranean is restricted to Lesbos and Lemnos Islands, Greece. This area is significant for its wood microfossils. A recently-discovered fossil wood assemblage from Gökçeada (Imbros) Island, Turkey, including tree species similar to the Greek findings, is thought to have an early Miocene age. Here, we revise the age of the latter plant fossiliferous locality, re-evaluate the area for the study of MCO for the terrestrial palaeoecosystems of the Eastern Mediterranean and the nomenclature errors referring to the occurrence of fossil wood. We present the plant–insect–environment interactions using detailed anatomical descriptions, of an extinct conifer and its extinct cambium miner feeding traces observed in its secondary xylem. Methods Three thin sections were prepared with standard palaeoxylotomical techniques from a small section of the silicified wood; the sections were observed under a light microscope. The anatomy of the conifer and its damage patterns were compared with those of extant and fossil Cupressaceae and Agromyzidae, respectively. Pivotal results The common anatomical features of the studied wood specimen and Hesperocyparis macrocarpa (Hartw.) Bartel and a shared characteristic (the number of the cross-field pits – a feature we consider of diagnostic value) with Xanthocyparis vietnamensis Farjon & T.H. Nguyên led to its assignment to the Hesperocyparis–Xanthocyparis–Callitropsis clade. The detailed study of the wound scars and anatomical abnormalities, the anatomical–environmental associations, and structural–functional reactions follow the identification of the wood’s anatomy sensu Carlquist providing decisive results. Conclusions Based on the distinctive characteristics presented, we identify our macrofossil as Cupressinoxylon matromnense Grambast, a stem or an extinct lineage of the Hesperocyparis–Xanthocyparis vietnamensis–Callitropsis nootkatensis clade with feeding traces of the fossil cambium miner of the genus Protophytobia Süss (Diptera: Agromyzidae), and anatomical damage and reaction tissue on adventitious shoots. The use of Protopinaceae and Pinoxylon F. H. Knowlton from the eastern Mediterranean are re–evaluated and corrections are provided. The age of the studied plant fossiliferous locality in Gökçeada is revised as middle Miocene, allowing the proposal of an eastern Mediterranean MCO hotspot, including Lesbos, Lemnos, and Gökçeada (Imbros) Islands.

A new contribution to the middle Miocene woody flora of Gökçeada (Turkey)

“…The new findings and the former studies (Güngör et al, 2019;Akkemik, 2021;Mantzouka et al, 2022) in the fossil site of Gökçeada showed a very rich woody plant diversity from the middle Miocene (Table 1). In this study, one new species was identified as Ginkgoxylon lesboense Süss for the first time from Gökçeada.…”

“…Detailed information and geology of the fossil site in Gökçeada were given by Güngör et al ( 2019), Akkemik (2021), andMantzouka et al (2022). Four new fossil wood pieces were collected from the fossil site located in the east of Eşelek Village of Gökçeada Island, adjacent to the coastline of the island and in the north of Lesbos island (Figure 1).…”

“…Gökçeada (Imbros) is an island located in the westernmost Turkey, and has a valuable fossil site. The palaeobotanical studies on the fossil woods from this island (Güngör et al, 2019;Akkemik, 2021;Iamandei et al, 2018;Mantzouka et al, 2022) revealed many different fossil genera and species such as Alnoxylon Felix, Fagoxylon Stopes & Fujli, Platanoxylon E.Hofmann, Pinuxylon Knowlton, Taxodioxylon gypsaceum (Göppert) Krausel, Laurinoxylon litseoides Süss, Cryptocaryoxylon grandoleaceum Akkemik, Eucarpinoxylon kayacikii Akkemik, Ostroxylon gokceadaense Akkemik, Quercoxylon Hofmann Sect. Ilex, Cupressinoxylon pliocenica Akkemik, Palmoxylon coryphoides Ambwani & Mehrotra, Recently, Mantzouka et al (2022) identified a new cypress wood as Cupressinoxylon matromnense Grambast together with insect injuries.…”