Abstract Detail

Paleobotany

Liu, Xiaoyan [1], Spicer, Robert A. [2], Farnsworth, Alexander [3], Witkowski, Caitlyn R. [4], Herman, Alexei [5], Xu, Qiang [6], Valdes, Paul J. [7], Jin, Jianhua [8].

Mechanisms of the climate and vegetation changes from the Eocene to Oligocene in South China.

Earth’s climate system underwent dramatic changes during the Cenozoic. It was exceptionally warm in the late Paleocene to early Eocene, followed by steady cooling in the middle to late Eocene followed by a dramatic cooling at the onset of the Oligocene. Climate change through the middle Eocene to Oligocene in Asia has been well documented based on proxy reconstructions. However, previous studies have generally been based on single proxy-based climate records. Here we use a multi-proxy and model approach, including the new calibration of Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program (CLAMP), model simulations, and biomarkers, to explore relationships between climate and vegetation changes during this time period. Overall, the Eocene tropics were cooler (MAT=18–19°C) than expected as indicated by the new CLAMP calibration. CLAMP results match those obtained through pollen studies. Modelling predictions show that the vegetation patterns during the Eocene/Oligocene transition are consistent with the fossil and our biomarker records in South China.

1 - South China Normal University, School Of Geography, No.55, West Of Zhongshan Avenue, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 44, 510631, China
2 - Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Mengla, 666303, China
3 - University of Bristol, , School of Geographical Sciences and Cabot Institute, Schools of Earth Sciences and Chemistry, and Cabot Institute, Bristol, UK
4 - University of Bristol, School of Geographical Sciences and Cabot Institute, Schools of Earth Sciences and Chemistry, and Cabot Institute, Bristol, UK
5 - Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow , 119017, Russia
6 - Southwest Petroleum University, School of Earth Science and Engineering, Chengdu, 610500, China
7 - University of Bristol, School of Geographical Sciences and Cabot Institute, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK
8 - Sun Yat-sen University, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, , Guangzhou, 510275, China

Keywords:
Climate and vegetation changes
South China
Eocene to Oligocene
CLAMP
Modelling
biomarker.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: PL8, Paleobotany: Patterns & Trends
Location: /
Date: Thursday, July 22nd, 2021
Time: 3:15 PM(EDT)
Number: PL8002
Abstract ID:940
Candidate for Awards:None