Vegetational and climatic investigations in the Early Miocene lacustrine deposits of the Guvem Basin (Galatean Volcanic Province), NW Central Anatolia, Turkey


Yavuz-Isik N.

REVIEW OF PALAEOBOTANY AND PALYNOLOGY, vol.150, no.1-4, pp.130-139, 2008 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 150 Issue: 1-4
  • Publication Date: 2008
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2008.02.001
  • Journal Name: REVIEW OF PALAEOBOTANY AND PALYNOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.130-139
  • Keywords: palynology, palaeovegetation, Burdigalian, Guvem Basin, Turkey, TERTIARY VOLCANISM, PALEOCLIMATE, EVOLUTION, ENVIRONMENTS, PLIOCENE, NEOGENE, WESTERN, EUROPE, FLORA
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The palynological analysis of the Burdigalian (Early Miocene) successions of the Guvem Basin (NW Central Anatoia, Turkey) has been carried out with the aim of reconstructing the palaeovegetation. The pollen spectra indicate a flora dominated by trees such as Quercus deciduous type, Carya, Carpinus, Ulmus/Zelkova, Engelhardia, Quercus ilex type and Pinaceae. Pterocarya, Juglans, Alnus, Salix, Liquidambar and Oleaceae are represented by lower percentages. Herbs and shrubs are represented by minor amounts of Poaceae, Amaranthaceae/Chenopodiaceae, Asteraceae/Asteroideae, Brassicaceae, and the aquatics Potamogeton, Sparganium and Typha. The Burdigalian flora reflects a mixed mesophytic forest with Quercus deciduous type, Quercus ilex type, pine species, Ulmus/Zelkova, Engelhardia, Carya, Carpinus, Pterocarya, etc., sparcely interspersed with open herbaceous areas. This flora reflects a warm-temperate climate. The fluctuations in abundances of broadleaved trees and xerophytes may represent fluctuations of relatively wet and dry periods. The overall composition of the flora of the Guvem Basin reflects cooler conditions compared with other Early Miocene floras in Europe, which is possibly due to intense volcanic activity of the area. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.