Palynological composition of a Lower Cretaceous South American tropical sequence: Climatic implications and diversity comparisons with other latitudes.
American Journal of Botany
By: Paula J. Mejia-Velasquez, David L. Dilcher, Carlos A. Jaramillo, Lucas B. Fortini, and Steven R. Manchester
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Premise of the study: Reconstruction of floristic patterns during the early diversification of angiosperms is impeded by the scarce fossil record, especially in tropical latitudes. Here we collected quantitative palynological data from a stratigraphic sequence in tropical South America to provide floristic and climatic insights into such tropical environments during the Early Cretaceous.
Methods: We reconstructed the floristic composition of an Aptian-Albian tropical sequence from central Colombia using quantitative palynology (rarefied species richness and abundance) and used it to infer its predominant climatic conditions. Additionally, we compared our results with available quantitative data from three other sequences encompassing 70 floristic assemblages to determine latitudinal diversity patterns.
Key results: Abundance of humidity indicators was higher than that of aridity indicators (61% vs. 10%). Additionally, we found an angiosperm latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) for the Aptian, but not for the Albian, and an inverted LDG of the overall diversity for the Albian. Angiosperm species turnover during the Albian, however, was higher in humid tropics.
Conclusions: There were humid climates in northwestern South America during the Aptian-Albian interval contrary to the widespread aridity expected for the tropical belt. The Albian inverted overall LDG is produced by a faster increase in per-sample angiosperm and pteridophyte diversity in temperate latitudes. However, humid tropical sequences had higher rates of floristic turnover suggesting a higher degree of morphological variation than in temperate regions.
Suggested Citation
Mejia-Velasquez, P., Dilcher, D.L., Jaramillo, C., Fortini, L., and Manchester, S., 2012, Palynological composition of a Lower Cretaceous South American tropical sequence: Climatic implications and diversity comparisons with other latitudes.: American Journal of Botany, v. 99, no. 11, p. 1819-1827, https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.1200135.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Palynological composition of a Lower Cretaceous South American tropical sequence: Climatic implications and diversity comparisons with other latitudes. |
| Series title | American Journal of Botany |
| DOI | 10.3732/ajb.1200135 |
| Volume | 99 |
| Issue | 11 |
| Year Published | 2012 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Botanical Society of America |
| Publisher location | St. Louis, MO |
| Contributing office(s) | Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center |
| Description | 9 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | American Journal of Botany |
| First page | 1819 |
| Last page | 1827 |
| Other Geospatial | South America |