Vegetation and climate in the eastern Iberian Peninsula during the pre-evaporitic Messinian (late Miocene). Palynological data from the Upper Turolian of Venta del Moro (Spain)

Abstract

The present paper reports a complete palynological study of the Upper Turolian sediments outcropping at the Venta del Moro site (eastern Iberian Peninsula). The pollen assemblages observed mainly reflect the local and regional vegetation, which must have formed part of a wetland ecosystem within a general setting of open steppe, as indicated by the great abundance and diversity of herbaceous pollen. This reflects the persistence of open vegetation in the Iberian Peninsula after the Middle Miocene when it became extensive. We here report the most recent record of Disanthus for the Iberian Peninsula. This shrub played an important role in an unusual, edaphically-mediated vegetation linked to lacustrine–palustrine or riparian shore conditions. A shift in the water level led to a flooding episode, extending wetland and causing a drastic reduction in Disanthus and Amaranthaceae. The results of quantitative (multivariate and coexistence) and semi-quantitative (integrated plant record) analyses of the pollen dataset support these interpretations of the palaeovegetation and provide insight into the regional palaeoclimate. Stable climatic conditions would appear to have reigned before the onset of the Messinian salinity crisis. The palynoflora of Venta del Moro is compared with counterparts in other areas of the Mediterranean Basin.