A new Hauterivian palynoflora from the Vale Cortiço site (central Portugal), and its palaeoecological implications for western Iberia.
1
MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal
2
UMR CNRS 6118 Géosciences, Université Rennes 1, avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes cedex, France
3
School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, UK and Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
Online publication date: 2019-12-16
Publication date: 2019-12-16
Acta Palaeobotanica 2019; 59(2): 215-228
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Palynofloral assemblages are an invaluable source of information about the interactions between fossil plants and their environments. Here we describe a new Early Cretaceous palynoflora from the Lusitanian Basin in the Estremadura region of central western Portugal. A palynological assemblage of 28 genera and 40 species was extracted from 14 samples collected in the Vale Cortiço clay pit complex near the small village of
Ameal (Torres Vedras Municipality). The source is a dark grey mudstone layer belonging to the lower part of the Santa Susana Formation, which is considered to be of early Hauterivian age. The palynoflora is dominated by fern spores and gymnosperm pollen. Bryophyte and lycophyte palynomorphs are also present but subordinate. Angiosperm pollen and algal or dinoflagellate cysts were not recognised in the studied samples. The palynological assemblage represents mixed conifer forest with the ground cover and understorey vegetation dominated by
ferns, with patchy occurrences of bryophytes and lycophytes. A riverine environment with surrounding vegetation of open woodland and ground cover primarily of ferns is strongly indicated for the region.
REFERENCES (73)
1.
Abbink O.A. 1998. Palynological investigations in the Jurassic of the North Sea region. LPP Contribution, Series 8. PhD Thesis, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
2.
Allen R.P. 1977. Palynology of the Lower Cretaceous Naskapi Shale, Scotian Shelf. Geological Survey of Canada, Internal Report, 1–78.
3.
Allen P. & Wimbledon W.A. 1991. Correlation of NW European Purbeck–Wealden (nonmarine Lower Cretaceous) as seen from the English type-areas. Cretac. Res., 12: 511–526.
4.
Alvin K.L. 1982. Cheirolepidiaceae: Biology, structure and paleoecology. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 37: 71–98.
5.
Batten D.J. & Uwins P.J.R. 1985. Early Cretaceous–Late Cretaceous (Aptian–Cenomanian) palynomorphs. In: Thusu B. & Owens B. (eds), Palynology of northeast Libya. J. Micropaleontol., 4: 131–150.
6.
Berthou P.Y. & Leereveld H. 1990. Stratigraphic implications of palynological studies on Berriasian to Albian deposits from western and southern Portugal. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 66: 314–344.
7.
Berthou P.Y., Hasenboehler B. & Moron J.M. 1981. Apports de la palynologie à la stratigraphie du Crétacé Moyen et Supérieur du Bassin Occidental Portugais. Memórias e notícias – Pulicações do Museu e Laboratório Mineralógico e Geológico da Universidade de Coimbra, 91: 183–221.
8.
Burden E.T. & Hills L.V. 1989. Illustrated key to genera of Lower Cretaceous terrestrial palynomorphs (excluding megaspores) of western Canada. AASP Contributions Series, 21: 1–146.
9.
Couper R.A. 1958. British Mesozoic Microspores and Pollen grains: a Systematic and Stratigraphic Study. Palaeontographica, B, 103: 75–179.
10.
Cunha P.P. 1992. Estratigrafia e sedimentologia dos depósitos do Cretácico Superior e Terciário de Portugal Central, a leste de Coimbra. PhD Thesis, Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.
11.
Cunha P.P. & Pena dos Reis R. 1995. Cretaceous sedimentary and tectonic evolution of the northern sector of the Lusitanian Basin. Cretac. Res., 16: 155–170.
12.
Dejax J., Pons D. & Yans J. 2007a. Palynology of the dinosaur-bearing Wealden facies in the natural pit of Bernissart (Belgium). Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 144: 25–38.
13.
Dejax J., Dumax É., Damblon F. & Yans J. 2007b. Palynology of Baudour Clays Formation (Mons Basin, Belgium): correlation within the “stratotypic” Wealden. In: Steemans P. & Javaux E. (eds), Recent Advances in Palynology. Carnets de Géologie, 16–28.
14.
Delcourt A. & Sprumont G. 1955. Les spores et grains de pollen du Wealdien du Hainaut. Mémoires de la Société Belge de Géologie, de Paléontologie et d’Hydrologie, nouvelle série, 4(5): 1–73.
15.
Delcourt A. & Sprumont G. 1959. Spores, grains de pollen, Hystrichosphères et Péridiniens dans le Wealdien de Féron-Glageon. Annales de la société géologique du Nord, 79: 29–64.
16.
Delcourt A., Dettmann M.E. & Hughes N.F. 1963. Revision of some Lower Cretaceous microspores from Belgium. Palaeontology, 6: 282–292.
17.
Dinis J., Rey J., Cunha P.P., Callapez P. & Pena dos Reis R. 2008. Stratigraphy and allogenic controls of the western Portugal Cretaceous: an updated synthesis. Cretac. Res., 29: 772–780.
18.
Dörhöfer G. & Norris G. 1977. Discrimination and Correlation of Highest Jurassic and Lowest Cretaceous Terrestrial Palynofloras in North-West Europe. Palynology, 1: 79–93.
19.
Ferreira G.C. 1958. Subsídios para o conhecimento do Cretácico inferior da região a Norte de Torres Vedras. Comunicações dos Serviços Geológicos de Portugal, 42: 151–161.
20.
Friis E.M. & Pedersen K.R. 1990. Structure of the Lower Cretaceous fern Onychiopsis psilotoides from Bornholm, Denmark. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 66: 47–63.
21.
Friis E.M., Crane P.R. & Pedersen K.R. 2011. Early flowers and angiosperm evolution. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
22.
Friis E.M., Crane P.R. & Pedersen K.R. 2019. Extinct diversity among Early Cretaceous angiosperms: mesofossil evidence of early Magnoliales from Portugal. Int. J. Plant Sci., 180: 93–127.
23.
Friis E.M., Mendes M.M. & Pedersen K.R. 2018. Paisia, an Early Cretaceous eudicot angiosperm flower with pantoporate pollen from Portugal. Grana, 57: 1–15.
24.
Friis E.M., Pedersen K.R. & Crane P.R. 1999. Early angiosperm diversification: the diversity of pollen associated with angiosperm reproductive structures in Early Cretaceous floras from Portugal. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 86: 259–296.
25.
Friis E.M., Pedersen K.R. & Crane P.R. 2006. Cretaceous angiosperm flowers: Innovation and evolution in plant reproduction. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol., 232: 251–293.
26.
Friis E.M., Pedersen K.R. & Crane P.R. 2010. Cretaceous diversification of angiosperms in the western part of the Iberian Peninsula. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 162: 341–361.
27.
Friis E.M., Grimm G.W., Mendes M.M. & Pedersen K.R. 2015. Canrightiopsis, a new Early Cretaceous fossil with Clavatipollenites-type pollen bridge the gap between extinct Canrightia and extant Chloranthaceae. Grana, 54: 184–212.
28.
Groot J.G. & Groot C.R. 1962. Plant microfossils from Aptian, Albian and Cenomanian deposits of Portugal. Comunicações dos Serviços Geológicos de Portugal, Tomo XLVI: 133–176.
29.
Habib D. 1979. Sedimentology of palynomorphs and palynodebris in Cretaceous Carbonaceous Faces South of Vigo Seamount. Deep Sea Drilling Project, Washington, Initial Reports, 47: 451–467.
30.
Hasenboehler B. 1981. Étude Paléobotanique et palynologique de l’Albien et du Cénomanien du “Bassin Occidental Portugais” au sud de l’accident de Nazaré (Province d’Estremadure, Portugal). These du Diplome du Docteur, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris), France.
31.
Heimhofer U., Hochuli P.A., Burla S. & Weissert H. 2007. New records of Early Creteaceous angiosperm pollen from Portuguese coastal deposits: Implications for the timing of the early angiosperm radiation. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 144: 39–76.
32.
Heimhofer U., Hochuli P.A., Burla S., Dinis J. & Weissert H. 2005. Timing of Early Cretaceous angiosperm diversification and possible links to major paleoenvironmental change. Geology, 33: 141–144.
33.
Herngreen G.F.W. 1971. Palynology of a Wealden section (Lower Cretaceous) in the “Carrière de Longueville”, the Boulonnais (France). Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 12: 271–302.
34.
Horikx M., Hochuli P.A., Feist-Burkhardt S. & Heimhofer U. 2016. Albian angiosperm pollen from shallow marine strata in the Lusitanian Basin, Portugal. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 228: 67–92.
35.
Horikx M., Huck S., Adatte T. & Heimhofer U. 2017. Vegetation dynamics, angiosperm radiation and climatic changes in the Lusitanian Basin (Portugal) during Albian times. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecology, 465: 30–41.
36.
Hughes N.F., McDougall A.B. & Chapman J.L. 1991. Exceptional new record of Cretaceous Hauterivian Angiospermid Pollen from Southern England. J. Micropalaeontol., 10: 75–82.
37.
Jardiné S., Combaz A., Magloire L., Peniguel G. & Vachey G. 1974. Distribution stratigraphique des acritarches dans le paleozoique du sahara algérien. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 18: 99–129.
38.
Juhász M. 1983. Palynostratigraphic zonation of the Transdanubian middle Cretaceous. Acta Geologica Hungarica, 26: 41–68.
39.
Médus J. 1970. Première contribution à l’étude palynologique de quelques gisements classiques du Crétacé inférieur de Haute Provence. Annales de la Faculté des Sciences de Marseille, 44: 137–142.
40.
Mendes M.M. & Friis E.M. 2018. The Nossa Senhora da Luz flora from the Early Cretaceous (early Aptian–late Albian) of Juncal in the western Portuguese Basin. Acta Palaeobot., 58: 159–174.
41.
Mendes M.M., Barrón E., Batten D.J. & Pais J. 2017. A new species of the spore genus Costatoperforosporites from Early Cretaceous deposits in Portugal and its taxonomic and palaeoenvironmental significance. Grana, 56: 401–409.
42.
Mendes M.M., Dinis J.L., Gomez B. & Pais J. 2010. Reassessment of the cheirolepidiaceous conifer Frenelopsis teixeirae Alvin et Pais from the Early Cretaceous (Hauterivian) of Portugal and palaeoenvironmental considerations. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 161: 30–42.
43.
Mendes M.M., Dinis J., Pais J. & Friis E.M. 2011. Early Cretaceous flora from Vale Painho (Lusitanian Basin, western Portugal): an integrated palynological and mesofossil study. Rev.Palaeobot. Palynol., 166: 152–162.
44.
Mendes M.M., Dinis J., Pais J. & Friis E.M. 2014. Vegetational composition of the Early Cretaceous Chicalhão flora (Lusitanian Basin, western Portugal) based on palynological and mesofossil assemblages. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 200: 65–81.
45.
Mendes M.M., Barrón E., Dinis P., Rey J. & Batten J.D. 2018. A new palynoflora from upper Barremian-lower Aptian rocks at Casal do Borracho, Torres Vedras, western Portugal, and its palaeoecological significance. Cretac. Res., 90: 363–374.
46.
Néraudeau D., Allain R., Ballèvre M., Batten D.J., Buffetaut E., Colin J.P., Dabard M.P., Daviero-Gomez V., El Albani A., Gomez B., Grosheny D., Le Lœuff J., Leprince A., Martín-Closas C., Masure E., Mazin J.-M., Philippe M., Pouech J., Tong H., Tournepiche J.F. & Vullo R. 2012. The Hauterivian–Barremian lignitic bone bed of Angeac (Charente, south-west France): stratigraphical, palaeobiological and palaeogeographical implications. Cretac. Res., 37: 1–14.
47.
Olivera D.E, Zavattieri A.M. & Quattrocchio M.E. 2015. The palynology of the Cañadón Asfalto Formation (Jurassic), Cerro Cóndor depocentre, Cañadón Asfalto Basin, Patagonia, Argentina: palaeoecology and palaeoclimate based on ecogroup analysis. Palynology, 39: 362–386.
48.
Pais J. & Reyre Y. 1981. Problèmes posés par la population sporopollinique d’un niveau à plantes de la série de Buarcos (Portugal). Boletim da Sociedade Geológica de Portugal, 22: 35–40.
49.
Pocock S.A.J. 1964. Pollen and Spores of the Chlamydospermidae and Schizaeaceae from Upper Mannville Strata of the Saskatoon Area of Saskatchewan. Grana Palynologica, 5: 129–209.
50.
Polette F., Batten D.J. & Néraudeau D. 2018. Re-examination of the palynological content of the Lower Cretaceous deposits of Angeac, Charente, south-west France: Age, palaeoenvironment and taxonomic determinations. Cretac. Res., 90: 204–221.
51.
Rey J. 1972. Recherches géologiques sur le Crétacé inférieur de l’Estremadura (Portugal). Memórias dos Serviços Geológicos de Portugal, 21 (N.S): 1–477.
52.
Rey J. 1993. Les unités lithostratigraphiques du Grupe de Torres Vedras (Estremadura, Portugal). Comunicações do Instituto Geológico e Mineiro, 79: 75–85.
53.
Rey J. 2006. Stratigraphie séquentielle et séquences de dépôt dans le Crétacé inferieur du Bassin Lusitanien. Ciências da Terra, Volume Especial, 6: 1–120.
54.
Saporta G. 1894. Flore fossile du Portugal. Nouvelles contributions à la flore Mésozoique, accompagnées d’une notice stratigraphique. Direction des Travaux Géologiques du Portugal, Lisboa, Portugal.
55.
Schrank E. 2010. Pollen ans spores from the Tendaguru Beds, Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous of southeast Tanzania: palynostratigraphical and paleoecological implications. Palynology, 34: 3–42.
56.
Schrank E. & Mahmoud M.S. 1998. Palynology (pollen, spores and dinoflagellates) and Cretaceous stratigraphy of the Dakhla Oasis, Central Egypt. J. African Earth Sci., 26: 167–193.
57.
Singh C. 1971. Lower Cretaceous Microfloras of the Peace River area, Northwestern Alberta. Bulletin of the Research Council of Alberta, 28: 1–542.
58.
Solé de Porta N. & Salas R. 1994. Conjuntos microflorísticos del Cretácico Inferior de la Cuenca del Maestrazgo. Cordillera Ibérica Oriental (NE de España). Cuadernos de Geología Ibérica, 18: 355–368.
60.
Tanrikulu S., Doyle J.A. & Delusina I. 2018. Early Cretaceous (Albian) spores and pollen from the Glen Rose Formation of Texas and their significance for correlation of the Potomac Group. Palynology, 42: 438–456.
61.
Teixeira C. 1946. Flora cretácica de Esgueira (Aveiro). Portugaliae Acta Biologica, 1: 235–242.
62.
Teixeira C. 1947. Nouvelles recherches et révision de la flore de Cercal. Broteria – Série de Ciências Naturais, 16(43): 5–14.
63.
Teixeira C. 1948. Flora Mesozóica Portuguesa, Parte I. Memórias dos Serviços Geológicos de Portugal, Lisboa, Portugal.
64.
Teixeira C. 1950. Flora Mesozóica Portuguesa, Parte II. Memórias dos Serviços Geológicos de Portugal, Lisboa, Portugal.
66.
Trincão P. 1990. Esporos e pólenes do Cretácico Inferior (Berriasiano–Aptiano) de Portugal: Paleontologia e Biostratigrafia. Ph.D. Thesis, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal.
67.
Van Amerom H.W.J. 1965. Upper Cretaceous pollen and spores assemblages from the so-called “Wealden” of the province of Leon (Northern Spain). Pollen et Spores, 7: 93–133.
68.
Van Konijnenburg-van Cittert J.H.A. 2002. Ecology of some Jurassic ferns in Eurasia. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 199: 113–124.
69.
Vakhrameev V.A. 1981. Pollen Classopollis: indicator of Jurassic and Cretaceous climates. The Palaeobotanist, 28–29: 301–307.
70.
Watson J. & Alvin K.L. 1996. An English Wealden floral list, with comments on the possible environmental indicators. Cretac. Res., 17: 5–26.
71.
Wilson R.C.L., Hiscott R.N., Willis M.G. & Gradstein F.M. 1989. The Lusitanian Basin of West-Central Portugal: Mesozoic and Tertiary tectonic, stratigraphic and subsidence history. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Mem., 46: 341–362.
72.
Wingate F. 1974. Palynology of the Denton Shale (Lower Cretaceous) of south-eastern Oklahoma. PhD Thesis, University of Oklahoma, United States of America.
73.
Zbyszewski G., Ferreira O.V., Manuppella G. & Torre de Assunção C. 1966. Carta Geológica de Portugal na escala 1:50 000. Notícia explicativa da folha 30-B (Bombarral). Serviços Geológicos de Portugal, Lisboa, Portugal.
CITATIONS (6):
1.
A Lower Cretaceous palynoflora from Carregueira (Lusitanian Basin, westernmost Iberia): taxonomic, stratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental implications
Mário Mendes, Vivi Vajda, Pedro Cunha, Pedro Dinis, Marcela Svobodová, James Doyle
Cretaceous Research
Mário Mendes, Vivi Vajda, Pedro Cunha, Pedro Dinis, Marcela Svobodová, James Doyle
Cretaceous Research
2.
The Jurassic – Cretaceous transition in the West C22ameros Basin (Tera Group, Burgos, Spain): Sedimentological and palynostratigraphical insights
Iván Rodríguez-Barreiro, Artai Santos, Mª. Arribas, Ramón Mas, José Arribas, Uxue Villanueva-Amadoz, Fernández-Baldor Torcida, José Diez
Cretaceous Research
Iván Rodríguez-Barreiro, Artai Santos, Mª. Arribas, Ramón Mas, José Arribas, Uxue Villanueva-Amadoz, Fernández-Baldor Torcida, José Diez
Cretaceous Research
3.
The ultrastructure of in situ araucarian pollen from the male cone Callialastrobus sousai, Lower Cretaceous of Catefica, Lusitanian Basin, western Portugal
Maria Tekleva, Mário Mendes, Jiří Kvaček
Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
Maria Tekleva, Mário Mendes, Jiří Kvaček
Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
4.
Jurassic Palynology from “The Dinosaur Coast” of Asturias (Lastres Fm., Northwestern Spain): Palynostratigraphical and Palaeoecological Insights
Artai Santos, Laura Piñuela, Iván Rodríguez-Barreiro, José García-Ramos, José Diez
Biology
Artai Santos, Laura Piñuela, Iván Rodríguez-Barreiro, José García-Ramos, José Diez
Biology
5.
Pseudofrenelopsis dinisii, a new species of the extinct conifer family Cheirolepidiaceae from the probable lower Hauterivian (Cretaceous) of western Portugal
Mário Mendes, Jiří Kvaček, James Doyle
Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
Mário Mendes, Jiří Kvaček, James Doyle
Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
6.
Cuticle chemistry of the Cheirolepidiaceae Frenelopsis teixeirae from the Lower Cretaceous of Portugal. A case of study using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy
Diaz Lafuente, Fueyo Del, Mário Mendes
Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
Diaz Lafuente, Fueyo Del, Mário Mendes
Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 2082-0259 |
| ISSN: | 0001-6594 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
