Format: ORAL

Jir Kvacek1, Jana Cepickov1,2, Veronika Vesel2, Petra Zahjsk2,3 Mrio M. Mendes4, Marcela Svobodov5

1National Museum Prague, Czechia; 2Charles University in Prague, Czechia; 3University of Bern, Switzerland; 4University of Coimbra, Portugal; 5Institute of Geology, Prague, Czechia

Early angiosperms and their environment are frequently discussed topics in palaeobotany. However, detailed reconstructions of their environment are not always available. In the present study we reconstruct five major terrestrial palaeoenvironments, some dominated by angiosperms, from the Cenomanian Peruc-Korycany Formation of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin in Central Europe. The present taphonomic studies are based on long term observations of plant macro-, meso- and microfossils providing detailed information about plant communities during that time period. The environmental conditions and plant communities, ordered from sea inwards, are reconstructed as follows: 1) Salt marsh environments dominated by cheirolepidiaceous conifer Frenelopsis alata, 2) Coastal wetlands dominated by cupressoid conifers (typically Cunninghamites lignitum), 3) Meandering rivers characterised by lauroids (Myrtophyllum geinitzii), 4) Braided rivers dominated by lauroid angiosperm Mauldinia bohemica (with Eucalyptolaurus sp. foliage), 5) Upland vegetation characterised by fern prairies. This study shows a diversity of angiosperms in alluvial plains, with prevailing lauroids and platanoids. The reconstruction of the upland vegetation, interpreted as fern prairie shows also a diversity of ancient angiosperm groups with particularly affinities to ANA group and Chloranthaceae. Comparisons of the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) palaeonvironments with the Early Cretaceous (Barremian-Albian) palaeoenvironmental conditions from the Lusitanian Basin in western Portugal shows remarkable and interesting differences. In the Early Cretaceous environments, angiosperms are interpreted as herbaceous and shrubby plants growing in disturbed habitats. While in the Late Cretaceous angiosperms were already part of canopy forming arborescent and shrubby vegetation in alluvial plains of both meandering and braided rivers.