Biodiversity and terrestrial ecology of a mid-Cretaceous, high-latitude floodplain, Alexander Island, Antarctica
The biodiversity and terrestrial ecology of the Late Albian Triton Point Formation (Fossil Bluff Group), Alexander Island, Antarctica is analysed to improve our understanding of polar biomes during the mid-Cretaceous thermal optimum. This formation was deposited on a high-latitude (75°S) floodplain...
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Geological Society of London
2001
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:18594 2023-05-15T13:15:16+02:00 Biodiversity and terrestrial ecology of a mid-Cretaceous, high-latitude floodplain, Alexander Island, Antarctica Falcon-Lang, H.J. Cantrill, D.J. Nichols, G.J. 2001 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18594/ unknown Geological Society of London Falcon-Lang, H.J.; Cantrill, D.J.; Nichols, G.J. 2001 Biodiversity and terrestrial ecology of a mid-Cretaceous, high-latitude floodplain, Alexander Island, Antarctica. Journal of the Geological Society, 158 (4). 709-724. https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs.158.4.709 <https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs.158.4.709> Botany Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2001 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs.158.4.709 2023-02-04T19:31:51Z The biodiversity and terrestrial ecology of the Late Albian Triton Point Formation (Fossil Bluff Group), Alexander Island, Antarctica is analysed to improve our understanding of polar biomes during the mid-Cretaceous thermal optimum. This formation was deposited on a high-latitude (75°S) floodplain and consists of two facies associations, a lower braided alluvial plain unit and an upper coastal meander-belt unit. Analysis of fossil plants in well exposed palaeosols reveals the existence of spatially complex plant communities. Braidplains supported patchy, low-density (91 trees/ha) stands of podocarp and taxodioid conifers on floodbasin substrates, and conifer–cycadophyte–fern–angiosperm thickets in riparian settings. Coastal meander-belts supported medium density (568 trees/ha) podocarp–araucarian conifer forests on mature floodbasin soils, and fern–angiosperm–ginkgo thickets in riparian settings. Growth-ring analysis indicates plants experienced stressful growing conditions on the braidplain characterized by high-frequency flood events, but more favourable growing conditions on the coastal plain. Additional vegetation disturbances were caused by arthropod–fungal attack, frost and wildfire. In terms of structure, composition, ecology and productivity these predominantly evergreen, broad-leafed conifer forests bear similarities to the extant temperate rainforests of New Zealand. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alexander Island Antarc* Antarctica Antarctica Journal Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive New Zealand Alexander Island ENVELOPE(-69.895,-69.895,-71.287,-71.287) Triton ENVELOPE(-55.615,-55.615,49.517,49.517) Fossil Bluff ENVELOPE(-68.274,-68.274,-71.332,-71.332) Triton Point ENVELOPE(-68.213,-68.213,-71.690,-71.690) Journal of the Geological Society 158 4 709 724 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Botany |
spellingShingle |
Botany Falcon-Lang, H.J. Cantrill, D.J. Nichols, G.J. Biodiversity and terrestrial ecology of a mid-Cretaceous, high-latitude floodplain, Alexander Island, Antarctica |
topic_facet |
Botany |
description |
The biodiversity and terrestrial ecology of the Late Albian Triton Point Formation (Fossil Bluff Group), Alexander Island, Antarctica is analysed to improve our understanding of polar biomes during the mid-Cretaceous thermal optimum. This formation was deposited on a high-latitude (75°S) floodplain and consists of two facies associations, a lower braided alluvial plain unit and an upper coastal meander-belt unit. Analysis of fossil plants in well exposed palaeosols reveals the existence of spatially complex plant communities. Braidplains supported patchy, low-density (91 trees/ha) stands of podocarp and taxodioid conifers on floodbasin substrates, and conifer–cycadophyte–fern–angiosperm thickets in riparian settings. Coastal meander-belts supported medium density (568 trees/ha) podocarp–araucarian conifer forests on mature floodbasin soils, and fern–angiosperm–ginkgo thickets in riparian settings. Growth-ring analysis indicates plants experienced stressful growing conditions on the braidplain characterized by high-frequency flood events, but more favourable growing conditions on the coastal plain. Additional vegetation disturbances were caused by arthropod–fungal attack, frost and wildfire. In terms of structure, composition, ecology and productivity these predominantly evergreen, broad-leafed conifer forests bear similarities to the extant temperate rainforests of New Zealand. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Falcon-Lang, H.J. Cantrill, D.J. Nichols, G.J. |
author_facet |
Falcon-Lang, H.J. Cantrill, D.J. Nichols, G.J. |
author_sort |
Falcon-Lang, H.J. |
title |
Biodiversity and terrestrial ecology of a mid-Cretaceous, high-latitude floodplain, Alexander Island, Antarctica |
title_short |
Biodiversity and terrestrial ecology of a mid-Cretaceous, high-latitude floodplain, Alexander Island, Antarctica |
title_full |
Biodiversity and terrestrial ecology of a mid-Cretaceous, high-latitude floodplain, Alexander Island, Antarctica |
title_fullStr |
Biodiversity and terrestrial ecology of a mid-Cretaceous, high-latitude floodplain, Alexander Island, Antarctica |
title_full_unstemmed |
Biodiversity and terrestrial ecology of a mid-Cretaceous, high-latitude floodplain, Alexander Island, Antarctica |
title_sort |
biodiversity and terrestrial ecology of a mid-cretaceous, high-latitude floodplain, alexander island, antarctica |
publisher |
Geological Society of London |
publishDate |
2001 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18594/ |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-69.895,-69.895,-71.287,-71.287) ENVELOPE(-55.615,-55.615,49.517,49.517) ENVELOPE(-68.274,-68.274,-71.332,-71.332) ENVELOPE(-68.213,-68.213,-71.690,-71.690) |
geographic |
New Zealand Alexander Island Triton Fossil Bluff Triton Point |
geographic_facet |
New Zealand Alexander Island Triton Fossil Bluff Triton Point |
genre |
Alexander Island Antarc* Antarctica Antarctica Journal |
genre_facet |
Alexander Island Antarc* Antarctica Antarctica Journal |
op_relation |
Falcon-Lang, H.J.; Cantrill, D.J.; Nichols, G.J. 2001 Biodiversity and terrestrial ecology of a mid-Cretaceous, high-latitude floodplain, Alexander Island, Antarctica. Journal of the Geological Society, 158 (4). 709-724. https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs.158.4.709 <https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs.158.4.709> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs.158.4.709 |
container_title |
Journal of the Geological Society |
container_volume |
158 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
709 |
op_container_end_page |
724 |
_version_ |
1766267815626539008 |