More evidence of tropical conditions in the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO) with new fossil woods from North-Central Türkiye

Abstract

Fossil wood descriptions are among the most important indicators in understanding forest structures across geological ages. This study was carried out to obtain new findings about the Middle Eocene Climate Optimum (MECO) period of Anatolia with new samples collected from the Middle Eocene-aged fossil area near Amasya-Göynücek. The fossil area falls into the Göynücek Volcanics in the region. Transverse, radial, and tangential microscopic sections were taken from three new fossil wood samples, and all identifications were performed on these microscopic sections. As a result, the fossil species were identified as Pinuxylon cf. P. tarnocziense, cf. Dichrostachyoxylon zirkelii, and Laurinoxylon perseamimatus based on their wood anatomical features. In all three fossil woods, the growth rings are quite wide and their boundaries are indistinct. This indicates the existence of warm tropical conditions in the MECO period. On the other hand, the extant representatives of the angiosperm genera identified here are found in tropical-subtropical forests. Overall, more information was obtained about the forest structure and climate of tropical conditions in the MECO period of Anatolia.