New palynological data from the Late Pleistocene glacial refugium of South-West Iberia: The case of Doñana

S. Fernández, J.S. Carrión, J. Ochando, P. González-Sampériz, M. Munuera, G. Amorós, J.M. Postigo-Mijarra, C. Morales-Molino, P. García-Murillo, G. Jiménez-Moreno, J.A. López-Sáez, F. Jiménez-Espejo, L.M. Cáceres, J. Rodríguez-Vidal, G. Finlayson, S. Finlayson, C. Finlayson Erratum to “New palynological data from the Late Pleistocene glacial refugium of South-West Iberia: The case of Doñana” [Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology (2021) PALBO 104431] Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Volume 296, January 2022, Pages 104566The Doñana area in southern Iberia is one of the most renowned protected areas of Europe, mostly due to the diversity and value of its wetland ecosystems. The large biogeographical significance of this territory and the outstanding availability of sedimentary archives have made this region a hotspot of paleobotanical research in the Iberian Peninsula. Specifically, the organic deposits on El Asperillo Cliff have been studied during the past few decades from the geomorphological and paleobotanical (pollen, macrofossils) points of view. However, large uncertainties remain concerning the chronology of certain sections of the exposed profile and the paleobotanical potential of this site has not been fully exploited yet. In this study, we revisited El Asperillo with the aims of completing the paleobotanical record and refining the chronology of this site. The age of the studied deposits ranges from ca. 22,000 to 30,900 cal. yr BP according to the radiocarbon dates obtained, thus embracing the particularly cold and dry Heinrich Event 2 and the Last Glacial Maximum. Our palynological results allow inferring the presence of a coastal marshland system. Additionally, the new pollen records highlight the relevance and diversity of pines (Pinus nigra-sylvestris type, P. pinaster, P. halepensis-pinea type) in the Late Pleistocene landscape of Doñana, reinforcing the native status of pines. Last but not least, the results stress the persistence of a highly diverse woody flora in Doñana during the harshest periods of the last glacial cycle, highlighting the importance of this enclave in postglacial vegetation recolonization of the Iberian Peninsula.The development of this work was supported by Projects FEDER/Ministry of Science and Innovation, Agencia Estatal de Investigación CGL-BOS2015-68604-P and PID2019-1049449GB-I00), 261-2011 Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales and Fundación Séneca grant 20788/PI/18Peer reviewe

Génesis y evolución de los paisajes ibéricos cuaternarios. Fenómenos de persistencia, cambio y extinción florística

Los paisajes vegetales ibéricos del Gelasiense, Calabriense y Pleistoceno Medio estuvieron formados principalmente por bosques de coníferas y bosques mixtos con taxones mediterráneos en los que puede destacarse su notable y llamativa diversidad. La desaparición de estos bosques durante las fases más frías del Pleistoceno generó la apertura de la vegetación y la formación, en amplias regiones de Iberia, de áreas esteparias. Las principales extinciones se detectan aproximadamente en la transición al Pleistoceno Medio (e.j. Liquidambar o Parrotia). Sin embargo, es también destacable el hecho de que un importante conjunto de plantas termófilas/termohigrófilas sobrevivieron durante todo el Cuaternario (e.j. Juglans o Castanea). Probablemente, las denominadas áreas refugio desempeñaron un papel muy importante en la persistencia de sus poblaciones. Respecto al Tardiglacial y el Holoceno, podemos destacar que existen diferencias regionales muy importantes respecto al modelo de recuperación de la vegetación. Aunque el clima fue determinante, otros factores como la resiliencia de las poblaciones vegetales, la acción antrópica y otros aspectos de índole ecológica desempeñaron un significativo papel en la respuesta de la vegetación ante los cambios.Departamento de Sistemas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, EspañaMuseo Geominero, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Españ

The well-known Early Miocene biota from Ribesalbes/Alcora basin (Eastern Spain): taxonomic and paleoecological aspects

Paleontological Virtual Congress (1st. 2018), - AbstractMuseo Geominero, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaIES Clara Campoamor (Móstoles), Españ

Occurrence of continuous Holocene pinewoods (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the Eastern Central System (Spain) inferred from macroremains. New data from the Sandria site

The present study of plant macroremains, wood fragments and pine cones from the eastern Central System (Ayllón Massif) for the upper Holocene establishes the presence in the area of Pinus sylvestris, Juniperus sp. and Betula sp. The occurrence of the Scots pine between ca. 4000 and 2000 yr BP allows us to confirm the natural origin of the species in the area at an altitude of 1350 m asl, a fact that clashes with numerous former phytosociological interpretations and which highlights the relevance of the current pine forests, as well as the need to include them within some status of legal protection. Furthermore, for the first time on the Iberian Peninsula, and considering the nearby Valdojos site, we employ only macroremains to demonstrate the presence of a pine forest practically throughout the Holocene, thus evidencing maximum conditions of stability and resilience for this type of plant community. As occurs with other vegetal formations identified by means of pollen analysis, this forest could have undergone radical alterations only in recent historical times as a result of anthropic action, as appears to be indicated by the evolution of the sedimentary basin of the Sandria valley.Departamento de Sistemas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, EspañaInstituto Geológico y Minero de España, Españ

Condicionantes geomorfológicos y sedimentológicos para la conservación excepcional del bosque subfósil holoceno del valle de Sandria (Campisábalos, Guadalajara)

En este trabajo se muestran los resultados del estudio geomorfológico, sedimentológico y geofísico del relleno sedimentario holoceno del valle del arroyo de Sandria (Campisábalos, Guadalajara), como parte integrante del estudio de los yacimientos paleontológicos existentes en la zona. A partir del extraordinario material subfósil leñoso encontrado en los yacimientos se han obtenido nuevos datos paleoecológicos que van a permitir obtener las pautas de cambio de la vegetación. El relleno sedimentario del yacimiento del arroyo de Sandria muestra una potencia que oscila entre los 2 y 6 m. Está formado por arenas finas, limos, margas orgánicas y turbas que se han interpretado como un ambiente de sedimentación de tipo lacustre y palustre. El cierre del valle fluvial de Sandria podría deberse a varias circunstancias, unidas o aisladas: la oclusión del valle a su salida por la progradación de un cono de deyección, la posible existencia de un pequeño alto estructural y/o la disolución diferencial del sustrato carbonatado que ha originado localmente pequeñas cubetas que coinciden con los depocentrosInstituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaEscuela de Ingeniería de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, EspañaDepartamento de Ingeniería del Terreno, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ávila, Universidad de Salamanca, EspañaGeoland Services SL., Españ

The Fossil History of Quercus

The evolution of plant ecosystems during the Cenophytic was complex and influenced by both abiotic and biotic factors. Among abiotic forces were tectonics, the distribution of continents and seas, climate, and fires; of biotic factors were herbivores, pests, and intra- and interspecific competition. The genus Quercus L. (Quercoideae, Fagaceae) evolved in this context to become an established member of the plant communities of the Northern Hemisphere, commencing in the Paleogene and spreading to a diverse range of environments in the later Cenozoic. Its palaeontological record, dominated by leaves and pollen, but also including wood, fruits and flowers, is widespread in Eurasia and North America. Consequently, a great number of species have been described, from the 19th century to the present day. Although Quercus is currently an ecologically and economically important component of the forests in many places of the Northern Hemisphere and Southeastern Asia, no comprehensive summary of its fossil record exists. The present work, written by an international team of palaeobotanists, provides the first synthesis of the fossil history of the oaks from their appearance in the early Paleogene to the Quaternary.Museo Geominero, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaLaboratory of Palaeobotany, Komarov Botanical Institute, RusiaFaculty of Science, Charles University, República ChecaGraduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, JapónSchool of Life Sciences and Biodiversity Knowledge Integration Center (BioKIC), Arizona State University, Estados UnidosDepartamento de Sistemas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, EspañaDepartment of Earth Science and College of Creative Studies, University of California, Estados UnidosSenckenberg Research Institute, Frankfurt am Main, AlemaniaSteinmann Institute, University of Bonn, AlemaniaXishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chin

New palynological data from the Late Pleistocene glacial refugium of South-West Iberia: The case of Doñana

The Doñana area in southern Iberia is one of the most renowned protected areas of Europe, mostly due to the diversity and value of its wetland ecosystems. The large biogeographical significance of this territory and the outstanding availability of sedimentary archives have made this region a hotspot of paleobotanical research in the Iberian Peninsula. Specifically, the organic deposits on El Asperillo Cliff have been studied during the past few decades from the geomorphological and paleobotanical (pollen, macrofossils) points of view. However, large uncertainties remain concerning the chronology of certain sections of the exposed profile and the paleobotanical potential of this site has not been fully exploited yet. In this study, we revisited El Asperillo with the aims of completing the paleobotanical record and refining the chronology of this site. The age of the studied deposits ranges from ca. 22,000 to 30,900 cal. yr BP according to the radiocarbon dates obtained, thus embracing the particularly cold and dry Heinrich Event 2 and the Last Glacial Maximum. Our palynological results allow inferring the presence of a coastal marshland system. Additionally, the new pollen records highlight the relevance and diversity of pines (Pinus nigra-sylvestris type, P. pinaster, P. halepensis-pinea type) in the Late Pleistocene landscape of Doñana, reinforcing the native status of pines. Last but not least, the results stress the persistence of a highly diverse woody flora in Doñana during the harshest periods of the last glacial cycle, highlighting the importance of this enclave in postglacial vegetation recolonization of the Iberian Peninsula