Sprecher
Beschreibung
The Miocene Epoch (23.03 – 5.33 Ma) represents one of the best natural analogues for future anthropogenic climate change. As a period characterised by significant climatic turnovers, higher global temperatures, and elevated CO$_2$ concentrations, it reflects climatic conditions comparable to projections of the late 21st century. While large-scale climate trends are well-documented via pollen and leaf data, high-resolution data archives into terrestrial habitat variability and local environmental stress remain poorly assessed. Fossil wood represents a crucial, yet underutilised, archive for understanding past seasonal growth dynamics and forest resilience.
We present preliminary results from samples found in the periphery of the Nördlinger Ries impact crater (southern Germany) which was formed 14.8 million years ago. The xylitic wood was preserved in the distal clay-rich Bunte Trümmermassen. These samples provide information on the vegetation composition and growth conditions in the pre-impact landscape. Our results show exceptionally narrow annual rings in gymnosperm and angiosperm woods, indicating short and unfavourable growth phases. The findings contradict traditional reconstructions of generally warm and optimum conditions in the middle Miocene. These data contribute insights to our understanding of terrestrial ecosystem responses under warm climate conditions.