Format: ORAL

Ana L. Hernndez-Damin1, Sergio R. S. Cevallos-Ferriz2

1,2 Department of Paleontology, Instituto de Geología-UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico

The Neotropics stands out as a region that harbors remarkable biological diversity, especially within the group of angiosperms or flowering plants. A comprehensive understanding of the origin of this biodiversity involves the integration of the fossil record, which, unfortunately, is scarce in this area. Bioinclusions of angiosperms preserved in Mexican amber emerge as a unique source of information. Their relatively recent antiquity, corresponding to the Miocene (approximately 23-15 million years ago), provides valuable insights into the recent history of vegetation in the region. The Miocene period appears to have played a crucial role in the modernization of vegetation, as the angiosperms identified in Mexican amber are strikingly like contemporary plants. This phenomenon suggests a process of evolution and adaptation over time. This study focuses on reports of angiosperms in Mexican amber, identified as extinct members of the Staphyleaceae, Celastraceae, and Leguminosae families. These findings reveal a closer biogeographical connection with floristic elements of the Paleotropics, supporting the notion of a link between tropical regions through intercontinental dispersal routes during the Cenozoic, known as the Boreotropical Flora. To validate this hypothesis, it is essential to continue documenting the diversity of flowering plants in Mexican amber deposits. Analyzing current lineages with disjunct distribution patterns will allow the development of a more robust biogeographical hypothesis. This comprehensive approach will significantly contribute to our understanding of the evolution of biodiversity in the Neotropics and interconnections over geological time.