Biozonación del Paleógeno continental de la zona oriental de la Cuenca del Ebro mediante carófitas: implicaciones en la biozonación general de carófitas de Europa occidental

Abstract

A charophyte biozonation of the Paleogene (Thanetian-Chattian) sequences of the Eastern Ebro Basin (NE Spain) is proposed. This biozonation has been based on an intensive sampling carried out on well correlated sections which included, in some cases, fossil mammal localities. Bothfacts haveresultedin agood chronostratigraphic control of the biozonation. One of the most noticeable contributions from this local point of view is the characterization of the Ilerdian in the continental Ebro Basin sequences by the Maedleriella lavocati biozone. Although in afirst approach this biozonation is intended to be local the new data in the Eastern Ebro Basin have enlarged the ranges of some widespread charophyte index species. These changes in the charophyte sp&ies ranges has led to suggest some remarkable modifications of the preexistin Riveline' s (1986) charophyte biozonation for western Europe: 1) TheN. (T. ) thaleri biozone siaried in the Ilerdian and not in the Cuisian. 2) The definition of new Late Eocene (S. labellata) and Late Oligocene (H. lagenalis) biozones. 3) The enlargement of the range of severaL species which has resulted in suppressionof the Chara notata biozone and in redefinition of Chara microcera, St. pinguis, St. vectensis and Sr. berdotensis biozones. From a paleogeographic point of view the global percentages of pluricontinental, european and iberian species of the Paleogene Eastern Ebro Basin charophyte record suggest some kind of isolation of the charophyte populations in NE Iberia. This isolation could be enhanced by paleogeographic constraints during Bartonian and Latest Priabonian to Stampian transition.