Reconstructing Fossil Lacustrine Plant Habit
Faculty Mentor(s) Name(s)
Melanie DeVore
Abstract
Evolution into aquatic habitats, including lacustrine (lake) environments, required vascular land plants to adapt by acquiring conservative growth forms and tissue types. These growth forms are found in zones ringing the shoreline of lakes. Plant distribution is strongly correlated with the duration and depth of water. Therefore, paleobotanist can contribute useful data regarding aquatic plant diversity, to aid in reconstructing ancient lake environments. In this contribution, we illustrate how the aquatic plants present, their preservation, and the sedimentology can help discern past wetland environments. Our study employs field data, collections, and published results to document the diversity and growth form of aquatic plants present at two localities: Paleocene localities in North Dakota and later environments from the Eocene Age Okanagan highland floras. Based on our findings, the North Dakota site represents deposits in a meandering stream system with oxbow lakes. In contrast, the Eocene lake systems in the Okanagan floras were deposited in deep lakes, in grabens, in a tectonically active region. The habits of the aquatic fossil plants found in the Okanagan floras, with the exception of water ferns, indicate that material from the river system feeding the lake contained marshes and oxbow lakes. These results indicate that fossil plant form is a good proxy to help sedimentologists assess surrounding environments to the those documented by a stratigraphic section.
Start Date
27-3-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
27-3-2024 9:50 AM
Location
Magnolia Ballroom
Reconstructing Fossil Lacustrine Plant Habit
Magnolia Ballroom
Evolution into aquatic habitats, including lacustrine (lake) environments, required vascular land plants to adapt by acquiring conservative growth forms and tissue types. These growth forms are found in zones ringing the shoreline of lakes. Plant distribution is strongly correlated with the duration and depth of water. Therefore, paleobotanist can contribute useful data regarding aquatic plant diversity, to aid in reconstructing ancient lake environments. In this contribution, we illustrate how the aquatic plants present, their preservation, and the sedimentology can help discern past wetland environments. Our study employs field data, collections, and published results to document the diversity and growth form of aquatic plants present at two localities: Paleocene localities in North Dakota and later environments from the Eocene Age Okanagan highland floras. Based on our findings, the North Dakota site represents deposits in a meandering stream system with oxbow lakes. In contrast, the Eocene lake systems in the Okanagan floras were deposited in deep lakes, in grabens, in a tectonically active region. The habits of the aquatic fossil plants found in the Okanagan floras, with the exception of water ferns, indicate that material from the river system feeding the lake contained marshes and oxbow lakes. These results indicate that fossil plant form is a good proxy to help sedimentologists assess surrounding environments to the those documented by a stratigraphic section.