Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Late Cainozoic Floras of Iceland pp 451–490Cite as

A Late Messinian Palynoflora with a Distinct Taphonomy

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 1186 Accesses

Part of the book series: Topics in Geobiology ((TGBI,volume 35))

Abstract

A thin, white coloured ash/pumice layer on top of the poor macrofossil units at the Selárgil locality yields a rich late Messinian palynoflora that was deposited under a markedly different taphonomic setting than most other late Cainozoic floras discussed in this book. Pollen contained in this volcanic sediment apparently was deposited in a very short time during the actual ash fall, whereas in most other Cainozoic formations in Iceland pollen was deposited in clastic sediments over a longer time interval. The unusual taphonomy of the Selárgil pollen and spores assemblage possibly acted as filter against insect pollinated woody species such as Rhododendron subsect. Pontica and other tree taxa that would otherwise be expected (Juglandaceae, Ulmaceae). Overall, the arboreal flora at Selárgil contains a number of partly warmth-loving relict taxa from older formations (Cathaya, Scyadopitys, Tetracentron) and some newcomers (Quercus, two types of Ericaceae). The occurrence of a new type of Quercus with clear biogeographic affinities to North America points to a functioning land bridge between Iceland and Greenland during the Late Miocene and to climatic conditions in northern North America and Greenland that would have allowed for migration of oaks to Iceland.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Akhmetiev, M. A., Bratzeva, G. M., Giterman, R. E., Golubeva, L. V., & Moiseyeva, A. I. (1978). Late Cenozoic stratigraphy and flora of Iceland. Transactions of the Academy of Sciences USSR, 316, 1–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennike, O. (1990). The Kap København Formation: stratigraphy and palaeobotany of a Plio-Pleistocene sequence in Peary Land, North Greenland. Meddelelser om Gronland. Geoscience, 23, 1–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camus, A. (1936–1938). Les Chênes. Monographie du genre Quercus. Tome I. Genre Quercus, sous-genre Cyclobalanopsis, sous-genre Euquercus (sections Cerris et Mesobalanus). Texte. Paris: Paul Lechevalie. 686 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camus, A. (1938–1939). Les Chênes. Monographie du genre Quercus. Tome II. Genre Quercus, sous-genre Euquercus (sections Lepidobalanus et Macrobalanus). Texte. Paris: Paul Lechevalier. 830 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camus, A. (1952–1954). Les Chênes. Monographie du genre Quercus. Tome III. Genre Quercus: sous-genre Euquercus (sections Protobalanus et Erythrobalanus) et genre Lithocarpus. Texte. Paris: Paul Lechevalier. 1314 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Denk, T., Grímsson, F., & Zetter, R. (2010). Episodic migration of oaks to Iceland: Evidence for a North Atlantic “land bridge” in the latest Miocene. American Journal of Botany, 97, 276–287.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flora of China Editorial Committee. (1999). Flora of China, Cycadaceae through Fagacaeae (Vol. 4). St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press. 453 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fronval, T., & Jansen, E. (1996). Late Neogene paleoclimates and paleoceanography in the Iceland-Norwegian Sea: Evidence from the Iceland and Vøring Plateaus. Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program. Scientific Results 151, 455–468.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu, D., & Bartholomew, B. (2001). Tetracentraceae. In Editorial Committee of the Flora of China (Ed.), Flora of China, Caryophyllaceae through Lardizabalaceae (Vol. 6, p. 125). St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geirsdóttir, Á., & Eiríksson, J. (1994). Growth of an intermittent ice sheet in Iceland during the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene. Quaternary Research, 42, 115–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbard, P. L., & Cohen, K. M. (2009). Global chronostratigraphical correlation table for the last 2.7 million years. v. 2009. http://www.quaternary.stratigraphy.org.uk/charts/.

  • Haug, G. H., Tiedemann, R., & Keigwin, L. D. (2004). How the Isthmus of Panama put ice in the Arctic. Oceanus, 42(2), 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins, D. M., Matthews, J. V., Wolfe, J. A., & Silberman, M. L. (1971). A Pliocene flora and insect fauna from the Bering Strait region. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 9, 211–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jancin, M., Young, K., Voight, B., Aronson, J., & Saemundsson, K. (1985). Stratigraphy and K/Ar ages across the west flank of the Northeast Iceland axial rift zone, in relation to the 7 Ma volcano-tectonic reorganization of Iceland. Journal of Geophysical Research, 90(B12), 9961–9985.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, R. J. (1997). Quercus Linnaeus sect. Lobatae Loudon, Hort. Brit., 385. 1830. Red or black oaks. In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (Ed.), Flora of North America North of Mexico, Magnoliophyta: Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae (Vol. 3, pp. 447–468). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jóhannesson, H., & Sæmundsson, K. (1989). Geological map of Iceland. 1:500, 000. Bedrock Geology (1st ed.). Reykjavík: Icelandic Museum of Natural History/Icelandic Geodetic Survey.

    Google Scholar 

  • St John, K. E. K., & Krissek, L. A. (2002). The late Miocene to Pleistocene ice-rafting history of southeast Greenland. Boreas, 31, 28–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Köppen, W., & Geiger, R. (1928). Klimakarte der Erde, Wall-map 150 cm  ×  200 cm. Gotha: Verlag Justus Perthes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kottek, M., Grieser, J., Beck, C., Rudolf, B., & Rubel, F. (2006). World map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated. Meteorologische Zeitschrift, 15, 259–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Landmælingar Íslands. (1990). Uppdráttur Íslands. Blað 73, Lundabrekka. Scale 1:100000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y.-S., & Basinger, J. F. (2000). Fossil Cathaya from the Canadian High Arctic. International Journal of Plant Sciences, 161, 829–847.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marincovich, L., Jr., & Gladenkov, A. Y. (1999). Evidence for an early opening of the Bering Strait. Nature, 397, 149–151.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, J. F., Jr., & Ovenden, L. E. (1990). Late tertiary plant macrofossils from localities in Arctic/Subarctic North America: A review of the data. Arctic, 43, 364–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nixon, K. C., & Muller, C. H. (1997). Quercus Linnaeus sect. Quercus. White oaks. In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (Ed.), Flora of North America North of Mexico, Magnoliophyta: Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae,(Vol. 3). New York: Oxford University Press. 471–506 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pflug, H. D. (1959). Sporenbilder aus Island und ihre stratigraphische Deutung. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie Abhandlungen, 107, 141–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pjetursson, H. (1905). Om Islands Geologi. Meddelelser fra Dansk Geologisk Førening, 2(11), 1–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, M. M. (2009). New quantitative evidence of extreme warmth in the Pliocene Arctic. Stratigraphy, 6, 265–275.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roiron, P. (1991). La macroflore d’age Miocene superieur des diatomites de Murat (Cantal, France) Implications paleoclimatiques. Palaeontographica B, 223, 169–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sigurðsson, O. (1975). Steingervingar í Selárgili í Fnjóskadal. Týli, 5, 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, A. M. (1983a). Pollen morphology and plant taxonomy of white oaks in eastern North America. American Journal of Botany, 70, 481–494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, A. M. (1983b). Pollen morphology and plant taxonomy of red oaks in eastern North America. American Journal of Botany, 70, 495–507.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thiede, J., Winkler, A., Wolfwelling, T., Eldholm, O., Myhre, A. M., Baumann, K. H., Henrich, R., & Stein, R. (1998). Late Cenozoic history of the polar North Atlantic – results from ocean drilling. Quaternary Science Reviews, 17, 185–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R. S., Anderson, K. H., & Bartlein, P. J. (1999). Atlas of relations between climatic parameters and distribution of important trees and shrubs in North America-Hardwoods. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 1650-B, 1–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Utescher, T., & Mosbrugger, V. (2009). Palaeoflora Database. http://www.geologie.unibonn.de/Palaeoflora

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Palaeobotany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden

    Thomas Denk

  2. Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Friðgeir Grímsson & Reinhard Zetter

  3. Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Leifur A. Símonarson

Authors
  1. Thomas Denk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Friðgeir Grímsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Reinhard Zetter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Leifur A. Símonarson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Denk .

Appendix 9.1

Appendix 9.1

Floristic composition of the 5.5 Ma sedimentary formation of Iceland compared to contemporaneous northern hemispheric fossil assemblages at mid and high-latitudes.

Fnjóskadalur flora, Iceland [ca 65°36¢ N, 17°49¢W]

5.5 Ma

This study

2

Equisetum sp.

1

Lycopodium

1

Polypodiaceae gen. et spec. indet. 1

1

Polypodiaceae gen et spec. indet. 7

1

Polypodiaceae gen. et spec. indet. 8

1

Sphagnum sp.

1

Trilete spore, fam., gen. et spec. indet. 2

1, 2

Abies steenstrupiana

1

Cathaya sp.

1, 3

Picea sect. Picea

1

Pinus sp. 1 (Diploxylon type)

1

Pseudotsuga/Larix sp.

1

Scyadopitys sp.

1, 3

Alnus cecropiifolia

1

Apiaceae gen. et spec. indet. 6

1

Apiaceae gen. et spec. indet. 7

1

Artemisia sp. 2

1

Asteraceae gen. et spec. indet. 1

1

Asteraceae gen. et spec. indet. 2

1

Asteraceae gen. et spec. indet 4

1, 3

Betula cristata

3

Betula sp. A (section Betulaster)

1

aff. Calycanthaceae

1

Caryophyllaceae gen. et spec. indet. 4

1

Ericaceae gen. et spec. indet. 2

1

Ericaceae gen. et spec. indet. 3

1

Liliaceae gen. et spec. indet. 4

1

Menyanthes sp.

1

Myriophyllum sp. 1

1

Nuphar sp.

2

Phragmites sp.

1

aff. Plantago lanceolata

1

Poaceae gen. et spec. indet. 2

3

Poales fam., gen. et spec. indet.

1

Pollen type 21

1

Pollen type 22

1

Pollen type 23

1

Polygonum viviparum

1

Quercus infrageneric group Quercus sp. 2

1

Ranunculaceae gen. et spec. indet. 2

1

Ranunculaceae gen. et spec. indet. 3

1

Ranunculus sp. 1

1

Ranunculus sp. 2

1

Rosaceae gen. et spec. indet. 10

1

Rosaceae gen. et spec. indet. 11

1

Rosaceae gen. et spec. indet. 12

1, 3

Salix gruberi

3

Salix sp. A

1

Sanguisorba sp.

1

Sparganium sp.

1

Tetracentron atlanticum

1

Thalictrum sp. 1

1

aff. Valeriana sp.

Murat flora, France [45°07¢ N, 2°25¢ E] 5.34±0.3 Ma Roiron 1991

2

Abies ramesi

3

Glyptostrobus europaeus

2, 3

Picea sp.

2

Pinus sp.

3

Sequoia langsdorfii

3

Acer campestre

3

Acer integerrimum

2

Acer opulifolium

2

Acer platanoides

3

Acer sanctae-crucis

3

Acer tricuspidatum

3

Alnus glutinosa

3

Alnus hoernesi

3

Alnus sp. cf. A. kefersteinii

3

Alnus viridis

3

Bambusa sp.

3

Berberis sp. cf. B. regeliana

3

Betula sp.

2, 3

Carpinus betulus

2, 3

Carpinus suborientalis

3

Carya minor

3

Cedrela sp.

3

Celtis australis

3

Ceratophyllum demersum

3

cf. Photinia

3

Crataegus sp. cf. C. douglasii

3

Dicotylophyllum sp. 1–5

3

Dombeyopsis lobata

3

Hedera helix

3

Ilex sp. aff. I. cornuta

3

Juglans regia

3

Phellodendron sp. cf. P. amurense

3

Populus tremula

3

Prunus acuminata

3

Quercus hispanica

3

Quercus kubinyi

3

Quercus sp. cf. Q. macranthera

3

Rosa sp. cf. R. californica

3

Tilia tomentosa

3, 2

Ulmus campestris

3, 2

Ulmus sp. cf. U. fulva

3

Zelkova ungeri aff. Z. acuminata

3

Zelkova ungeri aff. Z. crenata

Lava Camp flora, Seward Peninsula [65°49¢ N, 163°18¢ W] 5.7 ± 0.2 Ma Hopkins et al. 1971 Matthews and Ovenden 1990

1

Abies

1

Cupressaceae/Taxodiaceae (?Chamaecyparis)

1, 2

Larix sp. (Larix/Pseudotsuga)

1, 2

Picea glauca

1, 2

Picea mariana

 

Picea sitchensis

1, 2

Pinus monticola

1, 2

Pinus subsect. Cembrae

1, 2

Pinus two-needle type undifferentiated

 

Thuja sp.

 

Tsuga heterophylla

1

Tsuga mertensiana-type

1

Alnus spp.

1

Betula sp.

 

Cornus stolonifera

1

Corylus sp.

1, 2

Carex spp.

1, 2

Cyperus spp.

 

Hippuris sp.

 

Menyanthes trifoliata

1

Onagraceae

 

Paliurus sp.

1

Poaceae

1

Salix sp.

1, 2

Symphoricarpos sp.

1, 2

Vaccinium sp.

  1. Boldface indicates that the genus is present in the 5.5 formation. Grey shading indicates that the genus is present in the younger Tjörnes beds and/or the older Hreðavatn-Stafholt Formation. 1  based on pollen, spores; 2  based on leaves and/or fruit/seed fossils; 3  based on leaf fossils.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Denk, T., Grímsson, F., Zetter, R., Símonarson, L.A. (2011). A Late Messinian Palynoflora with a Distinct Taphonomy. In: Late Cainozoic Floras of Iceland. Topics in Geobiology, vol 35. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0372-8_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation