Correlation of pollen sequences in the Neogene palynofloristic regions of China

Abstract

As a result of substantial geographic variations and changing environments, as well as the evolutionary development of the plant kingdom itself, palynofloras in the Neogene of China vary over time and space. This paper gives a correlation of pollen sequences in the formerly established Neogene palynofloristic regions. It is followed by a detailed description of the pollen zones (assemblages) in the different regions. The following pollen zones are identified: Betulaepollenites- Betulaceoipollenites- Piceaepollenites (Early Miocene), Caryapollenites-Pinaceae- Sporotrapoidites (late Early Miocene–early Middle Miocene), Caryapollenites-Pinaceae- Ephedripites (late Middle Miocene), Ulmipollenites-herbaceous pollen- Sporotrapoidites (Late Miocene–earliest Pliocene), and Persicariopollis- Chenopodipollis- Magnastriatites (Pliocene) zones in the East China region; Tricolporopollenites- Zonocostatites- Chenopodipollis- Graminidites (early Early Miocene), Polypodiisporites- Florschuetzia- Fonertrites spinosus (syn. Echitricolporites)- Casuarinidites (late Early Miocene–early Middle Miocene), Cupuliferoipollenites- Ilexpollenites- Dicolpopollis- Liquidambarpollenites (late Middle Miocene–Late Miocene), and Cupuliferoipollenites- Polypodiaceaesporites- Chenopodipollis (Pliocene) zones in the Coastal Southeast China region; Piceaepollenites- Ulmipollenites- Chenopodipollis (Early Miocene), Potamogetonacidites- Chenopodipollis-Pinaceae (Middle Miocene), Chenopodipollis- Quercoidites- Ulmipollenites (Late Miocene), and Chenopodipollis- Artemisiaepollenites (Pliocene) zones in the Inland China region; Quercoidites-Betulaceae- Pinuspollenites (late Early Miocene–early Middle Miocene), Quercoidites- Pinus- Rhododendron (late Middle Miocene), and Quercus- Salix (Late Miocene–earliest Pliocene) in the Southwest China region; Abies- Picea- Pteris (Early Pliocene) and Pinaceae-herbaceous pollen (Late Pliocene) zones in the Qinghai-Xizang region; monolete spores- Quercoidites-herbaceous pollen zone (Early Pliocene) and Pinaceae- Quercus pollen (Late Pliocene) zones in the Hengduan Mts region.