The Middle Eocene plant taphocoenosis from Eckfeld (Eifel, Germany)

Wilde, Volker; Frankenhäuser, Herbert

doi:10.1016/s0034-6667(97)00067-5

Cited by 87 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Thus, the elevated diversity observed at LH does not depend on a single locality or on the aggregation of numerous localities. Total richness also significantly exceeds that known from Eocene leaf floras of Germany (43), Australia (44), and Tanzania (45).…”

Section: Reportsmentioning

confidence: 70%

High Plant Diversity in Eocene South America: Evidence from Patagonia

Wilf

Cúneo

Johnson

et al. 2003

Science

276

261

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Tropical South America has the highest plant diversity of any region today, but this richness is usually characterized as a geologically recent development (Neogene or Pleistocene). From caldera-lake beds exposed at Laguna del Hunco in Patagonia, Argentina, paleolatitude ∼47°S, we report 102 leaf species. Radioisotopic and paleomagnetic analyses indicate that the flora was deposited 52 million years ago, the time of the early Eocene climatic optimum, when tropical plant taxa and warm, equable climates reached middle latitudes of both hemispheres. Adjusted for sample size, observed richness exceeds that of any other Eocene leaf flora, supporting an ancient history of high plant diversity in warm areas of South America.

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Section: Reportsmentioning

confidence: 70%

High Plant Diversity in Eocene South America: Evidence from Patagonia

Wilf

Cúneo

Johnson

et al. 2003

Science

276

261

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“…Taxonomic studies of the Messel assemblage have recently progressed considerably and include studies of Rutaceae (Collinson & Gregor 1988), Juglandaceae (Manchester et al 1994), Cedrelospermum (Ulmaceae, Wilde & Manchester 2003), Araceae (Wilde et al 2005), Anacardiaceae (Manchester 1994) including Anacardium (Manchester et al 2007a), Cyclanthus (Cyclanthaceae, Smith et al 2008), and additional groups (Collinson et al 2010). A similar but less diversified flora is preserved in the same sedimentary setting of a maar lake deposit at Eckfeld (Wilde & Frankenhäuser 1998). It shares the ferns Osmunda, Lygodium, Acrostichum, and "Rumohra", as well as Juglandaceae (e.g., Hooleya, Frankenhäuser & Wilde 1994) with Messel but differs by the abundance of Comptonia (Wilde & Frankenhäuser 1999), the enigmatic spiny leaves of Pungiphyllum (Frankenhäuser & Wilde 1995), and Canarium, the rare occurrence of conifers (Tetraclinis) and Lauraceae, and the lack of Doliostrobaceae, Fagaceae, Rhodomyrtophyllum and others.…”

Section: Atlantic Boreal Provincementioning

confidence: 99%

Forest flora and vegetation of the European early Palaeogene – a review

Kvaček¹

2010

Bull. Geosci.

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An attempt is made to follow the extent of forest types during the Palaeocene and Eocene in time and space over Europe. Problems that hinder producing more detailed maps of potential Eocene vegetation are the different palaeogeographic configuration of land and sea and changing relief due to orogeny, the variation in global climate, atmospheric circulation and the world ocean. The early Palaeogene palaeofloristic sites in Europe are widely spaced and the data so far obtained are of varying quality from one site to another. The differences between zonal, intrazonal (azonal) and extrazonal formations and impact of precipitation must be considered. Objective definitions of units based on diversity percentages of components are still to be elaborated. The macropalaeobotanical data thus far available allow us to distinguish intuitively three zonal vegetation types: 1) Broad-leaved evergreen/semi-evergreen quasi-paratropical forest with a high diversity of woody angiosperms related to tropical families, ferns and a low diversity of conifers (mostly Doliostrobus), 2) Broad-leaved nothophyllous evergreen forest with evergreen Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Altingiaceae, Myrtaceae and some conifers (Pinus, Doliostrobus, Cephalotaxus) and 3) Polar deciduous to mixed mesophytic forest with well diversified angiosperms predominantly deciduous and moderate representation of Ginkgo, conifers and ferns. Intrazonal (azonal) formations include riparian gallery forests, coal-forming swamp forests, and poorly developed mangroves with marginal freshwater wetland/aquatic vegetation. The Eocene extrazonal vegetation is less distinct in Europe, consisting probably of pine forests in high mountains and lowland sclerophyllous scrub on specific substrates. •

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“…This may explain some differences in the flora of the otherwise closely resembling Messel lake deposit. There sclerophyllous taxa like Pungiphyllum, and the above described brownish leaf types have not been found yet, indicating more stable and gentle crater slopes with deeper soils as supposed by Wilde and Frankenhäuser (1998).…”

Section: The Surrounding Vegetationmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…The fossil record comprises prokaryotes (Micklich and Wuttke 1988a;Wuttke andRadtke 1993, 1994;Zink and Püttmann 1994), algae (Wilde et al 1993), rhizopods (Schiller 1999), sponges (Gruber 1994), terrestrial plants (Wilde and Frankenhäuser 1998), molluscs (Groh and Jungbluth 1994;Neubert 1995), insects (Wappler 2003), crustaceans (Gruber and Schäfer 2000) and vertebrates (Micklich andWuttke 1988a, 1988b;Tobien 1990;Franzen 1993Franzen , 1994Franzen , 1998Micklich 1994;Windolf 1994;Gröning and Brauckmann 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A remarkable fossiliferous mass flow deposit in the Eocene Eckfeld Maar (Germany)—sedimentological, taphonomical, and palaeoecological considerations

Sachse

2005

Facies

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The distal part of a mass flow deposit has been excavated across an area of 400 m 2 in the basinal facies of the Eckfeld Maar. The high concentration and diversity of fossils in mainly excellent preservation (i.e. leaves, fruits/seeds, wood, molluscs, vertebrate teeth, and bones such as undeformed sculls) is unique and underline its outstanding importance concerning sedimentological, taxonomical, and palaeoecological aspects. Together with a subaerial landslide from the inner crater slope, shoreline deposits-previously acting as a highly effective taphonomic filter-were transported towards the central lake basin. Complex processes like erosion, flow turbulence, and subsequent turbidity currents produced a characteristic sedimentary sequence. The interpretation of sedimentological, taphonomical, and physiological leaf characters allows an insight into the thus preserved shore line environment and provides information on the surrounding vegetation. Embedded leaves from open stands and understorey indicate dynamic successions on rather steep and unstable inner slopes of the crater.

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The Middle Eocene plant taphocoenosis from Eckfeld (Eifel, Germany)

Cited by 87 publications

References 14 publications

High Plant Diversity in Eocene South America: Evidence from Patagonia

High Plant Diversity in Eocene South America: Evidence from Patagonia

Forest flora and vegetation of the European early Palaeogene – a review

A remarkable fossiliferous mass flow deposit in the Eocene Eckfeld Maar (Germany)—sedimentological, taphonomical, and palaeoecological considerations

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