Early Eocene; fossil wood; gymnosperm; Glyptostroboxylon; taphonomy; Belgium
Abstract :
[en] Hundreds of silicified standing stumps have been discovered within a lignitic horizon in the middle of the Tienen Formation near Hoegaarden in northeast Belgium. The anatomical features of the fossil stumps, as those of the numerous silicified secondary xylem remains collected since the last century from this area, demonstrate that they all belong to a single taxodiaceous taxon. The stumps bear characteristics shared by Taxodioxylon gypsaceum and Glyptostroboxylon tenerum, but affinities with the latter appear closer. They are attributed to Glyptostroboxylon sp. Calibration of the sedimentological, stratigraphical and organic carbon isotope data reveals that these taxodiaceous fossil trees developed in a swampy lowland environment most probably during the Initial Eocene Thermal Maximum at ca. 55 Ma. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Bailey, I.W., Faull, A.F., 1934. Structural variability in the Redwood, Sequoia sempervirens, and its significance in the identification of fossil woods. J. Arnold Arbor. 15, 233-254.
Bains, S., Corfield, R.M., Norris, R.D., 1999. Mechanisms of climate warming at the end of the Paleocene. Science 285, 724-727.
Basinger, J.F., 1981. The vegetative body of Metasequoia milleri from the Middle Eocene of southern British Columbia. Can. J. Bot. 59, 2379-2410.
Berggren, W.A., Kent, D.V., Swisher, C.C. III, Aubry, M-P., 1995. A revised Cenozoic geochronology and chronostratigraphy. In: Berggren, W.A., et al. (Eds.), Geochronology, Time Scales and Global Stratigraphic Correlation. SEPM Special Publications 54, pp. 129-212.
Besse, J., Courtillot, V., 1991. Revised and synthetic apparent polar wander paths of the African, Eurasian, North American and Indian plates, and true polar wander since 200 Ma. J. Geophys. Res. 96, 4029-4050.
Bone, D.A., 1986. The stratigraphy of the Reading Beds (Palaeocene), at Felpham, West Sussex. Tert. Res. 8, 17-32.
Bowen, G.J., Koch, P.L., Gingerich, P.D., Norris, R.D., Bains, S., Corfield, R.M., 2001. Refined isotope stratigraphy across the continental Paleocene-Eocene boundary on Polecat Bench in the Northern Bighorn Basin. In: Gingerich, P.D. (Ed.), Paleocene-Eocene Stratigraphy and Biotic Change in the Bighorn and Clarks Fork Basins, Wyoming. Papers on Paleontology 33, pp. 73-88.
Chapman, J.L., 1994. Distinguishing internal developmental characteristics from external palaeoenvironmental effects in fossil wood. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. 81, 19-32.
Doutrelepont, H., Smith, T., Damblon, F., Smith, R., Beeckman, H., 1997. Un bois silicifié de peuplier de la transition Paléocène- Eocène de Dormaal, Belgique. Bull. Inst. r. Sci. nat. Belg. Sci. Terre 67, 183-188.
Dupuis, C., Steurbaut, E., De Coninck, J., Riveline, J., 1998. The Western Argiles à lignite facies. Cap-d'Ailly sections. In: Thiry, M., Dupuis, C. (Eds.), The Palaeocene/Eocene boundary in Paris Basin: The Sparnacian deposits. Field Trip Guide, Ecole des Mines de Paris, Mém. Sci. Terre 34 (9), pp. 60-71.
Ellison, R.A., Knox, R.W.O'B., Jolley, D.W., King, C., 1994. A revision of the lithostratigraphical classification of the early Palaeogene strata of the London Basin and East Anglia. Proc. Geol. Assoc. 105, 187-197.
Fairon-Demaret, M., Smith, T., 2002. Fruits and seeds from the Tienen Formation at Dormaal, Paleocene-Eocene transition in eastern Belgium. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. 122, 47-62.
Farjon, A., 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Conifers. The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.
Figueiral, I., Mosbrugger, V., 2000. A review of charcoal analysis as a tool for assessing Quaternary and Tertiary environments: Achievements and limits. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 164, 397-407.
Figueiral, I., Mosbrugger, V., Rowe, N.P., Ashraf, A.R., Utesher, T., Jones, T.P., 1999. The Miocene peat-forming vegetation of northwestern Germany: An analysis of wood remains and comparision with previous palynological interpretations. Rev. Paleobot. Palynol. 104, 239-266.
Fowler, K., Edwards, N., Brett, D.W., 1973. In situ coniferous (Taxodiaceous) tree remains in the Upper Eocene of southern England. Palaeontology 16, 205-217.
Gadek, P.A., Alpers, D.L., Heslewood, M.A., Quinn, C.J., 2000. Relationships within Cupressaceae sensu lato: A combined morphological and molecular approach. Am. J. Bot. 87, 1044-1057.
Gilkinet, A., 1925. Flore fossile du Landénien de Huppaye. Mém. Soc. géol. Belg., vol. 4, pp. 5-28.
Godinot, M., 2000. Primate diversity during the Eocene in Europe and North America and its climatic implications. In: Schmitz, B., et al. (Eds.), Early Paleogene Warm Climates and Biosphere Dynamics. GFF 122, pp. 60-61.
Gothan, W., 1905. Zur Anatomie lebender und fossiler Gymnospermen- Hölzer. Abh. preuss. geol. Landesanst. 44, 1-108.
Gottwald, H., 1992. Hölzer aus marinen Sanden des oberen Eozän von Helmstedt (Niedersachsen). Palaeontographica B 225, 27-103.
Greguss, P., 1955. Identification of living Gymnosperms on the basis of xylotomy. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest.
Gulinck, M., 1948. Sur des phénomènes de glissement sousaquatique et quelques structures particulières dans les sables landéniens. Bull. Soc. belg. Géol. Paléontol. Hydrol. 57 (1), 12-30.
Hatcher, P.O., Clifford, D.G., 1997. The organic geochemistry of coal: From plant material to coal. Organ. Geochem. 5/6, 251-274.
Hauregard, F., 1999. La Transition Paléocène-Eocène dans la région de Tirlemont (Tienen): Contribution à la reconstitution des paléonenvironnements continentaux. M.Sc. Thesis, Université de Liège, 59 pp.
Henry, A., McIntyre, M., 1926. The swamp cypresses, Glyptostrobus of China and Taxodium of America, with notes on allied genera. Proc. R. Irish Acad. 37, B, 90-124.
Huard, J., 1966. Etude anatomique des bois de conifères des couches à lignite néogènes des Landes. Mém. Soc. géol. Fr. (nouv. sér.) 105, 85 pp.
Karowe, A.L., Jefferson, T.H., 1987. Burial of trees by eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington: Implications for the interpretation of fossil forests. Geol. Mag. 124, 191-204.
Kester, P.R., 2000. Tracking the radiation and regional extinctions of the genus Cunninghamia (Taxodiaceae) (abstract). Am. J. Bot. 87, 81.
Kim, Y.S., Singh, A.P., 2000. Micromorphological characteristics of wood biodegradation in wet environments: A review. IAWA J. 21, 135-155.
Knobloch, E., Mai, D.H., 1986. Monographie der Fruchte und Samen in der Kreide von Mitteleuropa. Rozpr. Ustred. Ust. Geol. Praha 47, 1-219.
Koch, P.L., Zachos, J.C., Gingerich, P.D., 1992. Correlation between isotope records in marine and continental carbon reservoirs near the Palaeocene/Eocene boubdary. Nature 358, 319-322.
Kräusel, R., 1949. Die fossile Koniferenhölzer, II Teil. Kritische Untersuchungen zur diagnostik lebender und fossiler Koniferenhölzer. Palaeontographica B 89, 83-203.
Kuczumov, A., Vekemans, B., Schalm, O., Dorriné, W., Chevallier, P., Dillmann, P., Ro, C.-U., Janssens, K., Van Grieken, R., 1999. Analyses of petrified wood by electron, X-ray and optical microprobes. J. Anal. At. Spectrom. 14, 435-446.
Kusumi, J., Tsumura, Y., Yoshimaru, H., Tachida, H., 2000. Phylogenetic relationships in Taxodiaceae and Cupressaceae sensu stricto based on matK gene, chlL gene, tmL-tmF IGS region, and tmL intron sequences. Am. J. Bot. 87, 1480-1488.
Ledoux, A., 1910. Sur une forêt fossile du Landénien supérieur à Overlaer lez-Tirlemont. Ann. Soc. géol. Belg. 37, M39-M45.
Li, H.-L., 1953. Present distribution and habitats of the Conifers and Taxads. Evolution, pp. 245-261.
Lücke, A., Helle, G., Schleser, G.H., Figueiral, I., Mosbrugger, V., Jones, T.P., Rowe, N.P., 1999. Environmental history of the German Lower Rhine Embayment during the Middle Miocene as reflected by carbon isotopes in brown coal. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 154, 339-352.
Luterbacher, H.P., Hardenbol, J., Schmitz, B., 2000. Decision of the voting members of the International Subcommission on Paleogene Stratigraphy on the criterion for the recognition of the Paleocene/Eocene boundary. Newslett. Int. Subcomm. Paleogene Stratigr. 9, p. 13.
Lyell, C., 1852. On the Tertiary strata of Belgium and French Flanders, Part II. The Lower Tertiary of Belgium. Quart. J. Geol. Soc. Lond. 8, 277-370.
Magioncalda, R., Dupuis, C., Blamart, D., Fairon-Demaret, M., Perreau, M., Renard, M., Riveline, J., Roche, M., Keppens, E., 2001a. L'excursion isotopique du carbone organique (δ13Corg) dans les paléoenvironnements continentaux de l'intervalle Paléocène/ Eocène de Varengeville (Haute Normandie). Bull. Soc. géol. Fr. 172, 349-358.
Magioncalda, R., Dupuis, C., Steurbaut, E., Van Simaeys, S., De Coninck, J. 2001b. The Palaeocene/Eocene C.I.E. in continental organic carbon in the Paris Basin (Haute-Normandie). Climate and Biota of the Early Paleogene. Abstracts International Meeting, July 3-8, 2001, Northwest College, Powell, WY, p. 61.
Mai, D., 1995. Tertiäre Vegetationsgeschichte Europas. Gustav Fisher, Jena.
Martin, R.E., 1999. Taphonomy - A Process Approach. Cambridge Paleobiology Series 4, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Marty, P., 1907. Etudes sur les végétaux fossiles du Trieu de Levai (Hainaut). Mém. Mus. r. Hist. nat. Belg. 5, 1-52.
Meijer, J.J.F., 2000. Fossil woods from the Late Cretaceous Aachen Formation. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. 112, 297-336.
Miller, C.N., 1974. Petrified cones and needle-bearing twigs of a new taxodiaceous conifer from the Early Cretaceous of California. Am. J. Bot. 62, 706-713.
Moorkens, T., Steurbaut, E., Jutson, D., Dupuis, C., 2000. The Knokke borehole of northwestern Belgium re-analysed: New data on the Paleocene/Eocene transitional strata in the southern North Sea Basin. In: Schmitz, B., et al. (Eds.), Early Paleogene Warm Climates and Biosphere Dynamics. GFF 122, pp. 111-114.
Morley, R.J., 2000. Origin and Evolution of Tropical Rain Forests. Wiley, Chichester, 362 pp.
Norris, R.D., Röhl, U., 1999. Carbon cycling and chronology of climale warming during the Palaeocene/Eocene transition. Nature 401, 775-778.
Norris, R.D., Röhl, U., 2000. Astronomically-tuned chronology for the Palaeocene/Eocene transition. In: Schmitz, B., et al. (Eds.), Early Paleogene Warm Climates and Biosphere Dynamics. GFF 122, pp. 117-118.
Ostojski, D., 2001. Etude palynologique de la transition Paléocène-Eocène dans les dépôts continentaux de Morialmé et de Lincent: Contribution à la reconstitution des milieux continentaux et comparaison avec les dépôts lagunaires et laguno-marins du sondage de Kallo. M.Sc. Thesis, Université de Liège, 43 pp.
Peirce, A.S., 1936. Anatomical interrelationships of the Taxodiaceae. Trop. Woods 46, 1-15.
Petricevic, D., 2000. Etude des micro-et macrofossiles végétaux de la Transition Paléocène-Eocène (Tertiaire) de Leval (Bassin de Mons, Belgique). M.Sc. Thesis, Université de Liège, 53 pp.
Rutot, A., 1887. Course géologique du 28 août 1887 d'Esemael à Tirlemont par Grossoncourt, Autgaerden et Hoegaerden. Bull. Soc. belg. Géol. 1 (Procès-Verbal), pp. 171-177.
Schönfeld, G., 1955. Die Kieselhölzer aus der Braunkohle von Böhlen bei Leipzig. Palaeontographica B 99, 1-83.
Schwarz, O., Weide, E., 1962. Systematische Revision der Gattung Sequoia Endl. Feddes Repert. 66, 159-192.
Sintubin, M., Laga, P., Vandenberghe, N., Kenis, I., Dusar, M., 2000. Deformation features in Paleogene sands in the Hoegaarden area (Belgium). Geol. Belg. 3, 257-269.
Smith, T., 2000. Mammals from the Paleocene-Eocene transition in Belgium (Tienen Formation, MP7): Palaeobiogeographical and biostratigraphical implications. GFF 122, 148-149.
Smith, T., Smith, R., 1996. Synthèse des données actuelles sur les vertébrés de la transition Paléocène- Eocène de Dormaal (Belgique). Bull. Soc. belg. Géol. 104, 119-131.
Smith, R., Smith, T., Steurbaut, E., 1999. Les élasmobranches de la transition Paléocène-Eocène de Dormaal (Belgique): Implications biostratigraphiques et paléogéographiques. Bull. Soc. géol. Fr. 170, 327-334.
Source book of Existing and Proposed Protected Areas in Vietnam, 2001. http://www.wing-wbsj.or.jp/~vietnam/source_book/index.htm.
Stainier, X., 1909. Un gisement de troncs d'arbres debouts dans le Landénien supérieur. Bull. Soc. belg. Géol. 23, 270-280.
Steurbaut, E., 1998. High resolution holostratigraphy of Middle Paleocene to Early Eocene strata in Belgium and adjacent area. Palaeontographica A 247, 91-156.
Steurbaut, E., De Coninck, J., Dupuis, C., King, C., 2000. Dinoflagellate cyst events and depositional history of the Paleocene/Eocene boundary interval in the southern North Sea Basin. GFF 122, 154-157.
Steurbaut, E., De Coninck, J., Roche, E., Smith, T., 1999. The Dormaal Sands and the Palaeocene/Eocene boundary in Belgium. Bull. Soc. géol. Fr. 170, 217-227.
Steurbaut, E., Magioncalda, R., Dupuis, C., Van Simaeys, S., Roche, E., Roche, M., in press. Palynology, paleoenvironments and organic carbon isotope evolution in lagoonal Paleocene/Eocene boundary settings in North Belgium. In: Wing, S.L., et al. (Eds.), Causes and Consequences of Globally Warm Climates in the Early Paleogene. Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap. 369.
Stewart, W.N., Rothwell, G.W., 1993. Paleobotany and the Evolution of Plants, 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Stockey, R.A., Rothwell, G.W., Falder, A.B., 2001. Diversity among taxodioid conifers: Metasequoia foxii sp. nov. from the Paleocene of Central Alberta, Canada. Int. J. Plant Sci. 162, 221-234.
Stockmans, F., Willière, Y., 1934. Notes sur des bois fossiles récoltés en Belgique. II. Pinuxylon pinastroides Kraus sp. III. Palmaxylon bacillare Brongn. sp. IV. Glyptostroboxylon tenerum Kraus sp. Bull. Mus. r. Hist. nat. Belg. 10, 1-11.
Streel, M., 1965. Techniques de préparation des roches détritiques en vue de l'analyse palynologique quantitative. Ann. Soc. géol. Belg. 88, B107-B117.
Süss, H., Schultka, S., 2001. First record of Glyptostroboxylon from the Upper Jurassic of Tendaguru, Tanzania. Bot. J. Linnean Soc. 135, 421-429.
Süss, H., Velitzelos, E., 1997. Fossile Hölzer der Familie Taxodiaceae aus tertiären Schichten des Versteinerten Waldes von Lesbos, Griechenland. Feddes Repert. 108, 1-30.
Swofford, D.L., 1991. PAUP: Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony. 3.1.1. Natural History Survey, Champaign, IL, pp. 1-263.
Van den Broeck, E., Rutot, A., 1894. Carte Géologique de la Belgique à 1/40.000, Meldert-Tirlemont 104, Institut cartographique militaire.
van der Burgh, J., 1973. Hölzer der niederrheinischen Braunkohlenformation, 2. Hölzer der Braunkohlengruben 'Maria Theresa' zu Herzogenrath, 'Zukunft West' zu Eschweiler und 'Victor' (Zülpich Mitte) zu Zülpich. Nebst einer systematisch-anatomischen Bearbeitung der Gattung Pinus L. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. 15, 73-275.
van der Burgh, J., Meijer, J.J.F., 1996. Taxodioxylon gypsaceum and its botanical affinities. Curr. Sci. 75, 373-378.
Weibel, R., 1996. Petrified wood from an unconsolidated sediment, Voervadsbro, Denmark. Sediment. Geol. 101, 31-41.
Yao, X., Taylor, T.N., Taylor, E.D., 1997. A taxodiaceous seed cone from the Triassic of Antarctica. Am. J. Bot. 84, 343-354.
Yao, X., Zhou, Z., Zhang, B., 1998. Reconstruction of the Jurassic conifer Sewardiodendron laxum (Taxodiaceae). Am. J. Bot. 85, 1289-1300.