Maastrichtian palaeoenvironments and palaeoclimate reconstruction in southern South America (Patagonia, Argentina) based on fossil fungi and algae using open data resources

The use of non-pollen palynomorphs (NPP), particularly fossil fungi and algae, as palaeobiological proxies for Late Cretaceous palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstructions of warm-to-hot greenhouse conditions, can enhance our understanding of climate change impacts on modern Patagonian environments. This study aimed to reconstruct the Maastrichtian palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimate in the Cañadón Asfalto Basin (CAB, Chubut Province) by testing these NPPs as proxies using the Nearest Living Relative method (NLR). Moreover, using modern ecological requirements from open-source databases, such as GBIF and processing it with an open-source, cross-platform tool like QGIS, linked with Köppen-Geiger shapefiles, provided evidence of climate-driven palaeo-distribution patterns of fungal and algal diversity at CAB. Applying modern ecological requirements and biogeographic distribution data, we reconstructed the palaeoclimate as temperate with evenly distributed precipitation and warm summers, corresponding to the Cfb climate zone in Köppen-Geiger classifications. Additionally, our methodology produced reliable results regarding Cenozoic floras’ physiognomies based on fossil fungi, revealing a transition from sparsely wooded areas with palms and prairies to complex forest ecosystems with palms, deciduous trees, and shrubland. Furthermore, testing Cretaceous algae with the NLR method, for the first time, provided comprehensive insights into past water body characteristics, including trophic state and water quality.

以非花粉孢粉型物（non-pollen palynomorphs, NPP）——尤其是化石真菌与藻类——作为晚白垩世暖至热温室气候状态下古环境与古气候重建的古生物学代用指标，可加深我们对气候变化影响现代巴塔哥尼亚地区环境的理解。本研究以阿根廷丘布特省卡尼亚东阿斯法托盆地（Cañadón Asfalto Basin, CAB）为研究区，通过最近现生亲缘法（Nearest Living Relative method, NLR）验证此类NPP的代用指标效用，旨在重建该盆地的马斯特里赫特阶古环境与古气候。此外，借助GBIF等开源数据库获取现代生态需求数据，并结合QGIS等开源跨平台工具与柯本-盖格（Köppen-Geiger）气候分类矢量图层进行处理，本研究揭示了CAB地区真菌与藻类多样性受气候驱动的古分布模式。基于现代生态需求与生物地理分布数据，本研究将研究区古气候重建为降水均匀分布、夏季温暖的温带气候，对应柯本-盖格分类中的Cfb气候带。此外，本研究方法还基于化石真菌获得了可靠的新生代植物群外貌特征分析结果，揭示了研究区生态系统的演化序列：从分布有棕榈与草原的疏林区域，逐步过渡为包含棕榈、落叶乔木与灌丛的复杂森林生态系统。此外，本研究首次利用最近现生亲缘法对白垩纪藻类开展分析，为恢复古水体的营养状态与水质等特征提供了全面的科学依据。

搜集汇总

背景与挑战

背景概述

该数据集利用真菌和藻类化石作为古生物代理，结合开放数据资源和现代生态需求，重建了阿根廷巴塔哥尼亚地区马斯特里赫特期的古环境和古气候，揭示了温带、降水均匀分布且夏季温暖的Cfb气候区特征，并首次通过NLR方法提供了白垩纪水体特性的全面见解。