Paleoecology of a Miocene flora from the Shanwang formation, Shandong province, northern East China

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Abstract
The Shanwang Formation, which is late Early to early Middle Miocene based on radiometric dates and vertebrate fossils, was deposited in a small intermontane lake basin (N. Lat. 36.5°) and contains a rich assemblage of plant and animal fossils. The chief plant families represented by pollen taxa are Fagaceae, Juglandaceae, Betulaceae, Ulmaceae, Hamamelidaceae and Pinaceae. The combined pollen and leaf data indicate that the Miocene vegetation of the Shanwang area was mixed deciduous and evergreen broad‐leaved forest with a humid warm‐temperate to subtropical climate. In contrast, the modern vegetation is a deciduous broadleaved forest, that contains very few subtropical elements. The average annual temperature at Shanwang was similar to that of today. The main difference between the modern and Miocene climates is that the annual temperature range has increased (colder winters), and precipitation which was evenly distributed is now highly seasonal (winter dry). A comparison between the fossil pollen and leaf evidence reveals that the chief families of both assemblages are almost identical. Various evidence implies the fossil leaf assemblages are derived chiefly from a local or an autochthonous community; however, the pollen assemblage reflects a more regional character of vegetation and climate. The leaf fossil assemblage, which includes more insect‐pollinated plant taxa, affords a better picture of the local ancient flora.