Abstract
As the third part of an ongoing investigation of middle Miocene palynofloras in the Yatağan Basin (YB), southwestern Anatolia, the palynofloras of the Salihpaşalar lignite mine in the main YB were studied. Seven types of algal spores, aplanospores/zygospores or cysts, six types of lycophyte and fern spores, 12 types of gymnosperm pollen and 90 types of angiosperm pollen were identified. Of a total of ca. 140 plant taxa described from the YB, over 10% are confined to the Salihpaşalar assemblage. Differences between coeval palynofloras of the Sekköy Member might reflect changing or prograding depositional environments. A number of rare accessorial taxa reflect these local differences: Pilularia, Valeriana, Drosera and Persicaria aff. amphibia only occur at Salihpaşalar and are typical of shallow water or temporary ponds associated with a lake shore. Apart from this, all the palynofloras, originating from the lignite seams and overlying limnic limestones (uppermost Turgut and Sekköy Member), of the YB are strongly indicative of extensive woody vegetation with a dominance of diverse Fagaceae and Pinaceae. In addition, a list comparing the well-documented YB palynomorphs to morphologically similar palynomorphs of published late early to middle Miocene plant assemblages of western Anatolian was compiled. Such a comparison reveals that in many instances different taxon names have been used to denote the same taxa. Hence, resolving these synonymies is a prerequisite of any meaningful comparison of palynofloras in the region.
Highlights
High tectonic activity in western Anatolia during the late Cenozoic associated with the collision of the Arabian and Anatolian plates resulted in orogeny, volcanic activity and basin formation
Examples from western Anatolia for conflicting ages inferred from palynological data and radiometric dating include the Soma Basin, for which Akgün et al (2007) suggested a middle Miocene age whereas radiometric dates from Ersoy et al (2014) suggest an early Burdigalian age, the Gördes Basin, for which Akgün et al (2007) suggested an early to middle Serravallian age, while Purvis et al (2005) based on radiometric dates inferred a late Aquitanian to early Burdigalian age based on radiometric dates, and the Bigadiç Basin, for which Akyol and Akgün (1990) inferred a middle to earliest late Miocene age, while Erkül et al (2005) suggested an early Burdigalian age, based, again, on radiometric dating
The most frequently observed palynomorphs of the Salihpaşalar section belong to Fagaceae (14.5–47.5%) and bisaccate gymnosperm pollen (8.75–34.5%); through the entire section arboreal pollen (AP) (73–94%) is distinctly more frequent than non-arboreal pollen (NAP)
Summary
High tectonic activity in western Anatolia during the late Cenozoic associated with the collision of the Arabian and Anatolian plates resulted in orogeny, volcanic activity and basin formation Examples from western Anatolia for conflicting ages inferred from palynological data and radiometric dating include the Soma Basin, for which Akgün et al (2007) suggested a middle Miocene age whereas radiometric dates from Ersoy et al (2014) suggest an early Burdigalian age, the Gördes Basin, for which Akgün et al (2007) suggested an early to middle Serravallian age, while Purvis et al (2005) based on radiometric dates inferred a late Aquitanian to early Burdigalian age based on radiometric dates, and the Bigadiç Basin, for which Akyol and Akgün (1990) inferred a middle to earliest late Miocene age, while Erkül et al (2005) suggested an early Burdigalian age, based, again, on radiometric dating Complementary data, such as Palaeobio Palaeoenv (2019) 99:591–636 vertebrate fossils or radiometrically dated layers, are of utmost importance for reliably inferring the age of a fossil locality. A list comparing the well-documented YB palynomorphs to morphologically similar pollen of other late early to middle Miocene palynoassemblages of western Anatolian strata was compiled [Supplementary Material (S) 2] This is an attempt to accommodate previous concepts of palynological nomenclature (strictly morphology based) and modern concepts of applying botanical names to palynomorphs for this region
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
