Pollen records of Miocene thermal maximum

In order to identify the northern latitudinal limit between mangroves
composed of Avicennia only and diversified mangroves
during the Cenozoic thermal maxima, a special attention was paid to the
Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO: 17–14 Ma) in the
Mediterranean s.l. region, including the Mediterranean
Basin s.s. and its former brackish appendix, the Paratethys
(Popescu et al., accepted, Journ. Biogeogr.). 
Pollen data come from forty-five biostratigraphically well-dated marine
samples from 8 locations belonging to the MMCO. Information on the age and
stratigraphy of some of the locations can be found in the following
papers: Jiménez-Moreno et al., 2008, Journ. Biogeogr.,
35, 1638-1649 (Göllenrsdorf); Jiménez-Moreno & Suc,
2005, Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., 253, 224-241
(Alboran A1, Estagel, Bayanne, La Rierussa); Besson et al.,
2005, C.R. Geoscience, 337, 1045-1054 (Châteauredon). The data
have been performed and interpreted using a robust botanical background
for identification of pollen grains and their representativeness in marine
coastal sediments. Pollen grains have been botanically identified by
comparison with large modern pollen collections developed from sampling of
flowers in herbariums, especially on the basis of an accurate
morphological examination of the pollen grains. Pollen counts are at least
of 100 to 150 pollen grains per sample, the most abundant taxon,
usually Pinus in the Mediterranean marine sediments,
being excluded. These data have been already used for reconstruction of
vegetation and climate history in the Mediterranean region, particularly
for past-climate quantification, establishment of the thermal
palaeo-gradient in Europe during the Miocene and estimate of
palaeo-elevation of the nearby mountains (e.g., see: Fauquette et al.,
2007, The Micropalaeontological Soc., Spec. Publ.,The Geological Soc.,
481-502; Fauquette et al., 2015, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 412,
220-234). They can be reused for any synthesis on the Miocene vegetation
and climate reconstruction.