| Abstract Detail
Paleobotanical Section Liu, Yusheng [1], Zetter, Reinhard [2], Ferguson, David K. [3], Mohr, Barbara, A.R. [4]. Evergreen and deciduous Quercus from the Miocene of Zhejiang, eastern China: the pollen record. IN palaeopalynology, oaks are rarely identified beyond the generic level. In order to recognize fossil evergreen and deciduous oak pollen, we compiled distinguishing criteria from the literature and our own observations, most under the SEM, on the living oaks. One of the most significant criteria is the nature of the sculpturing under the SEM. Evergreen oak pollen exhibit at least three kinds of sculpturing, viz. rod-like elements, uniformly fine granules, and scabrate-verrucate/rugulate micromorphology. The first two types of sculpturing are most exclusive to the evergreen oaks and can be used to identify fossil evergreen oak pollen, while the last type can also be seen in many deciduous oaks. On the other hand, deciduous oak pollen grains have relatively uniform sculpturing, with only two types encountered, such as scabrate-verrucate and rugulate sculpturing. This sculpturing is mainly present in deciduous oaks, despite its occurrence in some evergreen oaks. An absolute discrimination between evergreen and deciduous oak pollen is thus impossible and would require additional evidence in the form of macrofossils. The diagnostic criteria are applied to a Miocene pollen assemblage from Zhejiang Province, eastern China, and demonstrate the high diversity of fossil oaks in the vegetation. The fossil pollen include three species, all belonging to one type, of deciduous, two species with two types of evergreen, and three oaks whose habit is uncertain. -DU
Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Department of Biology, 800 Reserve Street, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, 54481, USA
2 - University of Vienna, Institute of Palaeontology, Vienna, , Austria
3 - Universität Wien Geocenter, Paleontological Institute, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna, A-1090, Austria
4 - Museum of Natural History, Humboldt University of Berlin, Institute of Palaeontology, Berlin, , Germany
Keywords:
Quercus
pollen
deciduous
evergreen
Miocene
China.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: 48-100
Location: Auditorium/Bell Memorial Union
Date: Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
Time: 12:30 PM
Abstract ID:8 |
