Vegetation and climate in the Miocene deposits of southern side of the Büyük Menderes Graben, Șahinali-2 core, SW Turkey

Abstract

Lower-Middle Miocene succession from the Șahinali coalfield (SW Turkey) was analyzed to reconstruct climate and vegetation. The sediments mainly represent a lacustrine facies and consist of a mudstone-marl dominated succession, including limited coarse-grained clastics. Results of microfloral and published macrofloral records have been considered. The main vegetation types were mixed mesophytic forest dominated by evergreen Quercus and coniferous forest consisting mainly of indeterminate Pinaceae, Pinus and Cupressaceae. In this belt riparian vegetation incorporates high proportions of Alnus, and less amounts of deciduous Salix, Ulmus, Pterocarya, Carya, Platanus, Zelkova and Liquidambar. Herbaceous components in the pollen spectra are in low frequencies, and consist of Poaceae, Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Ephedra, Asteraceae and Caryophyllaceae. Also three local pollen zones can be recognized based on the changes in relative abundances of palynomorphs. The micro-and published macrofloral records have been subjected to the Coexistence Approach method to obtain the palaeoclimate. Mean annual temperature is estimated to be over 14°C and mean annual precipitation exceeds 1000 mm. In combination with other climate parameters (temperatures of warmest and coldest months, precipitation of the wettest, driest and warmest months), the data indicate very stable warm-temperate with high annual precipitation. Results of the Coexistence Approach using both sporomorph and leaf datasets are good in agreement, implying internal consistency in the method. Compared with modern meteorological records, surroundings of the Büyük Menderes Graben had similar temperature and higher precipitation during the Early-Middle Miocene. This study contributes to an understanding of the Miocene vegetation and climate evolution in southeastern Mediterranean area.

The middle Miocene palynoflora and palaeoenvironments of Eskihisar (Yatağan basin, south-western Anatolia): a combined LM and SEM investigation

“…Spores of Osmundaceae are a common element in the lower part of the Eskihisar mine section, but are rare to absent in the upper part. They are common in European (Stuchlik et al ., ; Grímsson et al ., ) and East Mediterranean Miocene localities (Benda, ; Ediger, ; Gemici et al ., ; Akgün & Akyol, ; Akgün et al ., ; Kayseri & Akgün, ; Akkiraz, ; Akkiraz et al ., ; Bozcu et al ., ), but are absent from Soma (Takahashi & Jux, ). They are rare in early Miocene deposits and abundant (or at least more common) in middle Miocene deposits (cf.…”

“…Several Inaperturopollenites [= Taxodiaceaepollenites (R.Pot.) Kremp] species, Cupressaceae or Taxodioideae are common elements in the Turkish Miocene (Benda, ; Ediger, ; Takahashi & Jux, ; Gemici et al ., ; Akgün & Akyol, ; Akgün et al ., ; Yavuz‐Işık, ; Kayseri & Akgün, ; Akkiraz, ; Akkiraz et al ., ; Kayseri‐Özer et al ., ; Bozcu et al ., ). In general, cupressaceous macro‐remains are rare in the Yatağan basin (Güner & Denk, ; pers.…”

Erken-Orta Miyosen Yaşlı Kömürlü Tortulların Paleoekolojisi: Erken-Orta Miyosen Yaşlı Kömürlü Tortulların Paleoekolojisi:

“…, 2014 Şekil 7. Ekolojik özelliklerine göre gruplandırılmış sporomorfların yüzdesi (Suc, 1984;Jimenez-Moreno vd., 2005;Ivanov vd., 2012 (Suc, 1984;Jimenez-Moreno vd., 2005;Ivanov vd., 2012 1999;Akgün vd., 2000Akgün vd., , 2007Akkiraz, 2011Akkiraz vd., 2011Yavuz-Işık vd., 2011;Şengüler & Akkiraz, 2014). Deniş polen topluluğu bu otsul pollenlerin ve Nymphaceae gibi sucul bitkilerin yüzdesinin fazla olması ile Soma polen topluluğundan ayrılmaktadır.…”

Petrography and palynology of Late Oligocene and Middle Miocene coals in the Gelibolu peninsula, NW Turkey

“…occur in minor quantities. Though the pollen and spores defined from the Osmancık formation indicate a broad range over the Cenozoic, the pollen of Calamus makes an acme zone in the Late Oligocene of the Thrace Basin (Nakoman, 1966;Akyol, 1971;Ediger et al, 1990;Akgün et al, 2013 Çardak-Tokça, İncesu) (Akgün and Sözbilir, 2001;Akkiraz and Akgün, 2005;Akkiraz et al, 2011). Because of this, a Late Oligocene age may be assigned to the Osmancık formation.…”

“…In addition, pollen of Quercus, Salix, Chenopodiaceae, and Sapotaceae are represented by low percentages (Table 2). The palynological assemblage defined here includes the palynomorphs that have mostly been observed in the Miocene deposits of Turkey Akyol, 1987, 1999;Karayiğit et al, 1999;Akgün et al, 2000Akgün et al, , 2007Kayseri and Akgün, 2008;Akkiraz, 2011;Akkiraz et al, 2011Akkiraz et al, , 2012. As a detail, the percentages of herbaceous pollen such as Poaceae and Chenopodiaceae rose during the Late Miocene (Akgün et al, 2000(Akgün et al, , 2007Akkiraz et al, 2011).…”