Palaeogeographic and Palaeoclimatic Changes Recorded by Microfossils

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The essence of this Topic is to report on microfossils that respond to the changing conditions in both marine and terrestrial environments as a result of the interaction between global paleogeographic and climatic changes throughout the Earth’s geological past. Microfossils do not constitute a separate taxonomic group that can be distinguished in the classification of organisms, but contain fossil biota that belong to various systematic groups such as bacteria, protists, fungi, animals and plants. All of these groups of organisms are linked by the fact that they are studied via microscope. The presence of microfossils in rocks is closely related to the trophic conditions in which they lived. For this reason, microfossils are an important indicator for the interpretation of changes in the environment.

In particular, this Topic is devoted to the interactions between microfossils and the conditions of the abiotic environment that take place from the moment the first signs of life appeared on Earth. The changes in fossil biotic communities related to the climate record over time and accompanied by changes in global palaeogeography will be especially considered. Articles documenting microfossil assemblies that respond to these changes are welcome. We invite you to prepare both review articles and original articles on specialized topics as well as highly specialized articles that open new perspectives.

Dr. Marta Bąk
Dr. Dangpeng Xi
Dr. Erik Wolfgring
Topic Editor

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Geosciences geosciences	2.4	5.3	2011	23.5 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Life life	3.2	4.3	2011	17.8 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Minerals minerals	2.2	4.1	2011	18 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Quaternary quaternary	2.3	3.3	2018	43.4 Days	CHF 1600	Submit

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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17 pages, 9172 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Climatic Changes and Vegetation Responses During Holocene Characteristic Period in the Northeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

by Huayong Zhang, Hao Chen, Yihe Zhang, Zhongyu Wang and Zhao Liu

Life 2025, 15(4), 572; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15040572 - 1 Apr 2025

Viewed by 284

Abstract

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau represents a highly sensitive region to global climate change. Understanding Holocene climate variations and vegetation responses in this area holds significant value for predicting future climate patterns, vegetation distribution changes, and biodiversity loss. Here, we aim to reconstruct Holocene climate [...] Read more.

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau represents a highly sensitive region to global climate change. Understanding Holocene climate variations and vegetation responses in this area holds significant value for predicting future climate patterns, vegetation distribution changes, and biodiversity loss. Here, we aim to reconstruct Holocene climate conditions in the northeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau using modern and Holocene pollen records through weighted averaging–partial least squares (WA-PLS) analysis, and to examine the spatial–temporal relationship between vegetation dynamics and climate change during different characteristic periods. The results indicate that: (1) During the Holocene, the climate generally tended toward warmth and humidity with increased extremity. Based on temperature variations, it can be divided into ten characteristic periods. (2) The Holocene saw an increase in maximum temperature, average temperature, and precipitation, while minimum temperature decreased. (3) Forest decreased, undergoing three stages: expansion, contraction, and continuous contraction leading to stabilization. Grassland increased, following the stages of full expansion, localized expansion, and contraction with stabilization. (4) Under climatic influence, forest areas slightly expanded, while grassland areas slightly contracted. Meanwhile, land salinization intensified. We aim to enhance the understanding of climate change and vegetation evolution, providing a theoretical basis for addressing future climate change and biodiversity loss. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Palaeogeographic and Palaeoclimatic Changes Recorded by Microfossils)

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28 pages, 15379 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Vegetation, Climate and Habitability in the Marseille Basin (SE France) circa 1 Ma

by Valérie Andrieu, Pierre Rochette, François Fournier, François Demory, Mary Robles, Odile Peyron, Séverine Fauquette, Eliane Charrat, Pierre Magniez, Belinda Gambin and Samuel Benoît De Coignac

Geosciences 2024, 14(8), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14080211 - 7 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1551

Abstract

The environment of the Marseille basin in the Early Pleistocene was reconstructed through a multiproxy study of fluvial tufa deposits. Palaeomagnetic measurements revealed the Jaramillo subchron and dated the tufa to within the 0.8–1.5 Ma interval, probably between 0.9 and1.2 Ma. Sedimentological studies [...] Read more.

The environment of the Marseille basin in the Early Pleistocene was reconstructed through a multiproxy study of fluvial tufa deposits. Palaeomagnetic measurements revealed the Jaramillo subchron and dated the tufa to within the 0.8–1.5 Ma interval, probably between 0.9 and1.2 Ma. Sedimentological studies show varied depositional environments comprising natural dams formed by accumulations of plants promoting the development of upstream water bodies. The very negative δ¹³C values indicate that the Marseille tufa is not travertine sensu stricto but tufa deposited by local cold-water rivers. Palynological analyses indicate a semi-forested, diverse, mosaic vegetation landscape dominated by a Mediterranean pine and oak forest. Along the streams, the riparian forest was diverse and included Juglans, Castanea, Platanus and Vitis. The potential diet reconstructed from pollen was varied. The most surprising discovery was the presence of proto-cereals, which could potentially enrich the diet with carbohydrates. The identification of spores of coprophilous fungi seems to indicate the presence in situ of large herbivore herds. It is possible that, as in Anatolia, the disturbance of ecosystems by large herbivores was responsible for the genetic mutation of Poaceae and the appearance of proto-cereals. Climatic reconstructions indicate a slightly cooler and wetter climate than the present. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Palaeogeographic and Palaeoclimatic Changes Recorded by Microfossils)

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12 pages, 12874 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

New Evidence for an Episode of Accelerated Environmental Change in the Late Barremian: Geochemical and Paleontological Records from the Subbetic Basin (Western Tethys)

by Ginés A. de Gea, José Manuel Castro, Miguel Company, Luis O’Dogherty, José Sandoval, María Luisa Quijano, Cristina Sequero, Sandro Froehner and Roque Aguado

Geosciences 2024, 14(7), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14070187 - 11 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1184

Abstract

We investigate a new event of accelerated environmental change that was recorded during the late Barremian in the pelagic Subbetic Basin (Western Tethys). Two pelagic sections have been studied using a multi-proxy approach based on C-isotope stratigraphy and a high-resolution quantitative study of [...] Read more.

We investigate a new event of accelerated environmental change that was recorded during the late Barremian in the pelagic Subbetic Basin (Western Tethys). Two pelagic sections have been studied using a multi-proxy approach based on C-isotope stratigraphy and a high-resolution quantitative study of nannofossil assemblages, along with major and trace elements and biomarkers. Our results provide a detailed biostratigraphy and C-isotope stratigraphy, and outline the paleoenvironmental conditions recorded during the early stages of the Taxy Episode. A disturbance has been identified in the C-isotope record, called the IFeNE (Intra-Feradianus negative C-excursion), which is coeval with environmental and biotic changes that predate the well-known ISNE (Intra-Sarasini negative C-excursion). The combined analysis of nannofossil associations, C-isotopes, major and trace elements, and biomarker distributions indicates a separate episode of warming heralding the ISNE, resulting in the acceleration of the hydrological cycle and a consequent increase in continental inputs and the fertilization of surface waters. The origin of the Taxy Episode (the IFeNE and ISNE) has been related to orbital factors (high-eccentricity cycles), and to a global increase in volcanism, probably related to the early phases of the Ontong Java Plateau. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Palaeogeographic and Palaeoclimatic Changes Recorded by Microfossils)

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19 pages, 16180 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Late Cretaceous (Santonian to Campanian) Palynological Records and Paleoclimatic Significance from Borehole ZKY2-1, Songliao Basin

by Zihan Zhou, Dangpeng Xi, Lixin Sun, Jing Zhao, Wanshu Yang, Yunqi Ye, Xinyu Meng and Xiaoqiao Wan

Minerals 2023, 13(3), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030338 - 27 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3014

Abstract

The global temperature gradually decreased from the Cretaceous Santonian to Campanian, while angiosperms evolved rapidly and gradually became dominant. The Songliao Basin, NE China, contains abundant fossil palynomorphs from the Santonian to Campanian age. A thorough investigation of fossil palynomorphs in borehole ZKY2-1 [...] Read more.

The global temperature gradually decreased from the Cretaceous Santonian to Campanian, while angiosperms evolved rapidly and gradually became dominant. The Songliao Basin, NE China, contains abundant fossil palynomorphs from the Santonian to Campanian age. A thorough investigation of fossil palynomorphs in borehole ZKY2-1 of the SW Songliao Basin was performed, reconstructing the vegetation and paleoclimate transition from the Santonian–earliest Campanian (lower Nenjiang Formation) to the late Campanian (Sifangtai Formation). Eighty form-genera from borehole ZKY2-1 have been identified. Three palynomorph assemblages were identified: the Schizaeoisporites–Cyathidites–Inaperturopollenites assemblage, Schizaeoisporites–Classopollis–Retitricolporites assemblage, and Schizaeoisporites–Aquilapollenites–Tricolporopollenits assemblage, from bottom to top. Based on palynological analysis from ZKY2-1 and other boreholes in the Songliao Basin, angiosperm pollen proportion in the Sifangtai Formation is significantly higher than in the lower Nenjiang Formation, indicating rapid angiosperm spread from late Santonian to Campanian. Palynological records indicate relatively humid climate during this period; the content of cool palynological types increased from the lower Nenjiang Formation to the Sifangtai Formation, suggesting a transition from warm to cool climate during the late Santonian–earliest Campanian to the late Campanian. The new palynological evidence from the Songliao Basin reveals a global cooling on land and sea during the late Santonian–Campanian period. This climate change may further promote angiosperm spread during the Late Cretaceous period. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Palaeogeographic and Palaeoclimatic Changes Recorded by Microfossils)
(This article belongs to the Section Biomineralization and Biominerals)

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