Floristic and climatic changes during the Palaeogene

Informations

Funding country

Hungary

Acronym

-

URL

-

Start date

2/1/2002

End date

12/31/2005

Budget

13,359 EUR

Fundings

Abstract

Based on the palaeobotanical research of Tertiary sites in Hungary a more or less detailed picture of flora and vegetation history and climatic changes has developed for the time period after the Late Oligocene, however information is almost totally lacking as regards the older Palaeogene floras of Hungary. Present study is going to give a palaeoecological and palaeoclimatological reconstruction of the Hungarian Early Palaeogene based on fossil plant localities. It is to be answered as well, whether based on the floras the deterioration of the Palaeogene climate occurred already during the Eocene or later in the Oligocene. Arnong preliminary research the study of the Tard Clay Flora (Early Oligocene) is noteworthy about which numerous papers have be en published (Hably). The sites include first of all leaf and fruit remains the macro and micromorphological analysis of which is carried out among others by the help of fluorescence microscopy. Parallel with the documentation of plant remains cur cuticle data base started last year is to be completed with the material of the sites. Climate reconstructions are based on the flora and vegetation and carried out first of all by the help of 'coexistence approach'. Cur research program is bound to international projects, as well, i.e. Neclime (Neogene Climate Evolution in Eurasia).