Paleoecology of Diaspore- and Palynomorph assemblages from Late Miocene lake sediments (Mataschen near Fehring, East Styria, Austria)

Abstract: Late Miocene sediments (Pannonian “B”) of the Styrian Basin have been examined by a combination of methods, yielding results in palynology, sedimentology, and carpology. The examined profile is located in a clay pit near Mataschen, SE of Fehring and is characterized by a clear division into two units. At the base, very fine-grained sediments, embedding in situ stumps of Taxodiaceae, are interpreted to represent a swamp drowned by a lake. Towards the top of the profile fine-grained sedimentation was periodically interrupted by coarse-grained beds, including thin bands and lenses of plant detritus. This upper unit is interpreted to be a lacustrine succession with increasing intercalations of coarser grained turbiditic deposits coming from the prograding lacustrine delta. Both pollen and diaspore assemblages comprise, to different degrees, elements of various habitats: aquatic, lake margin, riparian and floodplain, and hinterland. Despite the occurrence of the dinoflagellate Spiniferites, which reflects brackish conditions, no diaspores, pollen and spores of brackish elements have been identified.

Key Words: Sedimentology; Taphonomy; Ecology; Habitat-reconstruction; Styrian Neogene Basin; Feldbach Formation.

Joannea Geol. Paläont. 5: 177-217 (2004)