OFR 151.pdf - CRC LEME
OFR 151.pdf - CRC LEME
OFR 151.pdf - CRC LEME
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. The dominant angiosperm types in Muloorina-2 are Cunoniaceae (now characteristic<br />
of warm temperate rainforest in New South Wales and southern Queensland), Myrtaceae and<br />
Proteaceae whilst Casuarinaceae and ancestral Nothofagus (Nothofagidites endurus) occur in<br />
low to trace numbers only. Cyatheaceae and Callitrichaceae are common to abundant in the<br />
lower and upper samples, respectively. Cryptogams are frequent to common overall in<br />
Poonarunna-1 but the individual species are uncommon or rare.<br />
c. Some microfloras include a dinoflagellate cyst (Morkallacysta spp.) that is closely<br />
related to the marine species, Deflandrea obliquipes and D. pachyceros. High salinity values<br />
are inconsistent with the presence of rainforest species but may have arisen due to infrequent<br />
or short-term droughts or (preferred) the local discharge of possibly warm saline<br />
groundwater.<br />
Inferred climate<br />
Because of the poor age control, it is uncertain whether the data represent floristic successions<br />
during the Late Paleocene-Early Eocene transition or heterogeneous (mosaic) plant<br />
communities growing at about the same time during the Late Paleocene (cf. Macphail et al.<br />
1994, Alley 1998). The data confirm conditions were wet (humid) and warm (mesotherm<br />
range) but are not inconsistent with a short dry season. Mean values inferred by Sluiter<br />
(1991) are >1400 mm pa and 18-19 0 C (upper mesotherm), respectively.<br />
1.2.4 South-West Australia<br />
1. Carnarvon Basin<br />
Basal Early Paleocene microfloras in Alpha North-1 are dominated by dinoflagellates. The<br />
low spore-pollen yield is dominated (>50%) by extinct species of Proteaceae (M.K. Macphail,<br />
unpubl. results). Rare taxa include Lycopodiaceae, Gleicheniaceae, podocarps (chiefly<br />
Podocarpus-Prumnopitys), Casuarinaceae (Haloragacidites harrisii) and Anacolosa<br />
(Anacolosidites acutullus). Early Late Paleocene assemblages are similar but include<br />
Dacrydium (Lygistepollenites florinii) and at least one Proteaceae (Propylipollis annularis)<br />
that can be linked to a living shrub (Xylomelum occidentale) confined to south-west Western<br />
Australia. Anacolosa indicates very warm (upper mesotherm) and humid conditions, possibly<br />
with a pronounced dry season.<br />
By mid Late Paleocene time, Casuarinaceae (Gymnostoma) had become the dominant pollen<br />
type (50%). Proteaceae comprise 20%, and unidentified angiosperms and cryptogams 7-9%,<br />
of the pollen sum. Rare to frequent taxa include shrubs and herbs characteristic of modern<br />
coastal wetlands, e.g. Restionaceae (Milfordia) and Sparganiaceae (Aglaoreidia). Rainforest<br />
trees and shrubs include Araucariaceae (Dilwynites), Cupressaceae, Podocarpaceae<br />
(Lygistepollenites florinii), Austrobuxus-type (Malvacipollis spp.), Ilex and Nothofagus<br />
(Nothofagidites brachyspinulosus, N. emarcidus). The same assemblage preserves the earliest<br />
confirmed record in Australia of the mangrove palm Nypa (Spinizonocolpites prominatus).<br />
2. Perth Basin<br />
Kemp (1978) has reported Nothofagus pollen from the probable Late Paleocene-Early Eocene<br />
Kings Park Shale, near Perth but few other details are available. Microfloras from the<br />
Langley-1 bore which intersected a 200 m thick section of the Kings Park Shale are<br />
dominated by Gleicheniaceae and Proteaceae but appear to be extensively contaminated by<br />
older and younger palynomorphs (M.K. Macphail pers. observ.). Many of the Proteaceae<br />
appear to be undescribed or are geographical variants of described species.<br />
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