Abstract
High-resolution palynological analysis of 52 core samples from a distinct part of the lacustrine filling of the Eocene pull-apart basin “Grube Prinz von Hessen” in Southwest Germany has been applied to recognize driving factors responsible for changes in vegetation and environment. The 15 m studied interval is characterized by a specific alternation of lignite beds and mudstones which were deposited when the lake had reached its smallest extent. The diverse and well-preserved palynoflora shows that the shoreline and the marginal swamp around the lake were dominated by herbaceous and woody swamp communities, whereas the forest association in the hinterland was mainly dominated by Juglandaceae and Fagaceae. Non-metric multidimensional scaling and Q- and R-mode cluster analyses of the microflora reveal strong differences between the palynomorph assemblages of lignite and mudstone beds. The situation in the vicinity of the lake was influenced by tectonic activity, such as earthquake tremor, resulting in the redeposition of lignite and mudstone. Nevertheless, the same subordinate trend in the vegetation is obvious in the microflora of both lithologies. Slight qualitative changes may be explained by slightly decreasing temperature and precipitation during the deposition of the studied section. Therefore, changes in the paleoenvironment and the ecosystems were mainly controlled by tectonic activity, but some influence of climate change may also be noted.
Published Version
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