Paul J. Grote

Investigations of Angiosperms from the Eocene of North America: A New Genus of Theaceae Based on Fruit and Seed Remains

A new genus of Theaceae, Andrewsiocarpon, from the Middle Eocene of southeastern North America, is described based on fruit and seed remains. Andrewsiocarpon is a loculicidally dehiscent five-valved capsule with persistent imbricate sepals, a large central columella, and five two-seeded locules. Detailed morphological and anatomical analyses of the fossil genus and comparison with fruits and seeds of many extant genera provide evidence that allows placement into the subfamily Camellioideae of the Theaceae but not within any modern genus. Andrewsiocarpon shares characters with several modern genera in this subfamily, but appears most similar to Franklinia. A review of the fossil Theaceae record indicates that the subfamilies Camellioideae and Ternstroemioideae were well established by the Eocene.

Tertiary leaf fossils of Mangifera (Anacardiaceae) from Li Basin, Thailand as examples of the utility of leaf marginal venation characters.

The mango (Mangifera) is the most important commercial fruit in Asia and is popular worldwide. Because of uncertainty in its origin and biogeography, the study of Mangifera could be of value in elucidating its current genetic diversity and geographical distribution. We report here two new species of compressed leaves of Mangifera (Anacardiaceae) from upper Oligocene-lower Miocene lacustrine sediments in the Li Basin, northern Thailand. Leaf form and venation characters of fossil and extant leaves are presented with detailed marginal venation patterns that were found to be important in assigning the fossil leaves to Mangifera paleoindica and M. paleocaloneura. These two fossil species of Mangifera and the present occurrence of basal species of Mangifera in Thailand suggest that northern Thailand could be an area with a long history of evolution and diversification of Mangifera, particularly M. indica.

Recent advances in the study of Mesozoic-Cenozoic petrified wood from Thailand

Abstract Mesozoic to Cenozoic petrified woods are very rich and well preserved in the Khorat Plateau, Northeast Thailand, serving as remarkable material for investigations of tropical vegetation history, paleoclimatic evolution, and paleoclimatic evolution, and paleoenvironmental changes. Out recent field survey and investigations have defined about 50 species of fossil wood assigned to 19 genera and 11 families from Mesozoic to Cenozoic deposits in this region. These woods are ascribed to two groups, gymnosperms and angiosperms. Among them, about 20 species assigned to 7 genera and 5 families are the first reports of the taxa in Thailand. The fossil wood floras indicate that during the late Mesozoic period, the tropical conifer vegetation in Northeast Thailand was dominated by the family Araucariaceae. From the Miocene to Pleistocene, a tropical climate prevailed in this region with perhaps both deciduous and evergreen broadleaf forests comprising the vegetation. * Supported by the Major State Basic Rese...

Riverine vegetation and environments of a Late Pleistocene river terrace, Khorat Plateau, Southeast Asia

ABSTRACT The Khorat Plateau, at the centre of mainland Southeast Asia, is considered a bridge connecting the biotas of Indochina and Kalimantan. The vegetation change in this area is an indicator of regional environmental change, but the history is unclear. In this study, a sand pit along an ancient fluvial terrace on this plateau was investigated palynologically. An assemblage of Abies, Pinus, Chenopodiaceae and grass suggest a temperate forest and subtropical savannah 172,739 ± 22,400 and 88,661 ± 10,600 a BP, indicating a cold and dry environment. Deciduous and mixed forests indicate a warm period from 52,296 ± 6800 to 28,150 ± 7860 a BP, accompanied by aquatic components. An increase in mangrove abundance coincided with a rise in sea level. The period 27,332 ± 3000 a BP experienced a dry, cold environment. Conclusively, pollen records from the river terrace suggest tremendous vegetation change in the history of the Khorat Plateau.

PaleoParks - The Protection and Conservation of Fossil Sites World-Wide

The world-famous Vendian (Ediacaran) fossil biota in the White Sea - Arkhangelsk region of Russia contains some of the most exquisite fossils of the earliest macrobiota (560-545 million years old) on Earth. Over 600m of continuously fossiliferous strata consisting of fine sand, silt and mud crop out at many localities along the White Sea. The fossils have been under study for decades in Moscow and that work continues. These fossils represent unusual taxa of early metazoans, algae, microbial mats, and strange sedimentary impressions that represent a very early stage of development of animals on Earth. These unique fossils have been well publicized through exhibitions, newspaper articles, scientific research papers and various web sites. As a result and in spite of their remote location, they are endangered by unauthorized fossil collectors. These paleo-pirates violate local and national laws, destroy fossils and fossil sites, and leave debris and garbage in the area. Some scientific papers are, surprisingly, based on illegally-collected fossils. Other illegal fossils have been offered for sale by commercial fossil dealers, chiefly at meetings or through web purchases. Paleo-piracy of the Vendian biota must be stopped. The collection of fossils has been illegal since February 2000 by the authority of the Administration of the Arkhangelsk Region and the Northern Committee of Natural Resources of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources. Presently, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Federal Security Service are prepared to protect the Vendian localities by arresting pirates. Recommendations to control paleo-piracy in the White Sea region include finalizing the establishment of World Heritage Site status, educating the local people in the values of the fossils and the need for their protection, establishment of a procedure for licensing for the collection of some fossils, and the notification to sellers of Vendian material by Russian authorities that the fossils were obtained illegally and hence are the property of Russia.