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Early Miocene palaeoflora and palaeoecology of the Soma Basin, Western Turkey

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Abstract

In this study comprehensive palaeofloristic data of lower Miocene deposits from the Soma Basin, western Anatolia is presented considering the stratigraphical concept. The sediments of the basin, derived from outcrop sections, were deposited in the terrestrial environment. The basin includes three different successions: lower and middle lignite successions of the Soma Formation and upper lignite succession of the Deniş Formation. In this paper, we address the early Miocene palaeoecology via pollen and leaf assemblages from the Soma Basin, dated precisely using radiometric data. High percentages of Cupressaceae in the lower lignite succession of the Soma Formation, and minor quantities of elements such as Carya, Nyssa, Myrica, Ulmus and Salix reflect a local riparian and swamp vegetation. Marls overlying the lower lignite succession represent an environment close to the source area, with a variety of flora. During the deposition of middle lignite succession wet conditions played an essential role in the swamp forest fostering some distance transport of pollen which reflect the mesophytic forest vegetation as well as higher altitudes in the hinterland. The high percentages of lacustrine plankton Botryococcus and presence of Spirogyra in the upper lignite succession of the Deniş Formation imply a shallow water environment with less rainfall surrounded by evergreen and deciduous mixed forest.

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Acknowledgements

The assistance provided by Dr. Rıza Görkem Ozkay, who took part in fieldwork, is acknowledged. The authors would like thank to Dr. Dimiter Ivanov and an anonymous referee for helpful comments and suggestions. This study is a contribution to the NECLIME (Neogene Climate Evolution of Eurasia) network.

Funding

This study was supported by a research grant from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK Grant Code 106Y104) and the International Bureau of the Ministry of Science and Education (BMBF).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Engineering, Kütahya Dumlupınar University, 43100, Kütahya, Turkey

    Mehmet Serkan Akkiraz & Sariye Duygu Durak

  2. Institut für Geologie, Nussalle 8, 53115, Bonn, Germany

    Torsten Utescher

  3. Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural Museum, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Angela A. Bruch, Volker Wilde & Volker Mosbrugger

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  1. Mehmet Serkan Akkiraz
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Correspondence to Mehmet Serkan Akkiraz.

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Akkiraz, M.S., Utescher, T., Bruch, A.A. et al. Early Miocene palaeoflora and palaeoecology of the Soma Basin, Western Turkey. Palaeobio Palaeoenv 100, 921–938 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12549-020-00434-3

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