Contribution of the study of the Paris Basin to the understanding of the evolution of floras during the Cenozoic - Archive ouverte HAL Accéder directement au contenu
Communication Dans Un Congrès Année : 2023

Contribution of the study of the Paris Basin to the understanding of the evolution of floras during the Cenozoic

Résumé

The Paris Basin is one of the most important sedimentary basins in France. This sedimentary basin is considered the birthplace of stratigraphy and comparative anatomy, but it also witnessed the emergence of paleobotany in France. The first study of fossil flora comes from the work of Adolphe Brongniart (1801-1876). In 1828, he outlined three research fields for paleobotany: 1) Systematic; 2) Stratigraphic; 3) Paleoclimatic and (bio)geographic. What have we learned about the evolution of flora from the study of the Paris Basin? To answer this question, I reviewed the Paleobotanical literature of the Paris Basin. It spans two centuries and includes around 200 documents. The study by Adolphe Watelet (1839-1899) and especially the works of Gaston de Saporta (1823-1895) will develop the systematic study of macroremains. Saporta shows that the climate is subtropical during the Paleocene and Eocene. As an evolutionist, he notes that the flora bears no resemblance to current floras; it is a fossil ecological mosaic made up of species that are now tropical, subtropical, and temperate. He observes that the groups currently dominating French forests were secondary during the Paleogene, suggesting a dynamic of floras over time. Paul Honoré Fritel (1867-1927) provides quantitative data representing various affinities by continent, paving the way for paleobiogeographical studies. The advent of palynological studies in the 1960s multiplied the number of fossil sites and plant species. In addition to their contribution to ecological reconstructions of the Paris Basin, these studies characterize the floras throughout the Paleogene and highlight a sudden cooling at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary. This cooling shapes so-called modern floras. Southeast Asia is considered one of the main refuge zones for megathermic flora. The study of macroremains, especially wood, fruits, and seeds, has allowed researchers in recent years to refine the evolution over time and space of particular taxa.
Fichier non déposé

Dates et versions

hal-04321922 , version 1 (04-12-2023)

Licence

Paternité - Pas d'utilisation commerciale

Identifiants

  • HAL Id : hal-04321922 , version 1

Citer

Cédric Del Rio. Contribution of the study of the Paris Basin to the understanding of the evolution of floras during the Cenozoic. NECLIME workshop : Evidence and drivers for origin and appearance of modern plants and vegetation types, NECLIME, Dec 2023, Online, France. ⟨hal-04321922⟩
34 Consultations
0 Téléchargements

Partager

Gmail Facebook X LinkedIn More