One-thirds of the Earth's ecosystems are closely linked with grass-dominated vegetation. The evol... more One-thirds of the Earth's ecosystems are closely linked with grass-dominated vegetation. The evolutionary history of this ecosystem can be understood by comparative studies of the biotic component, but a paleontology approach is necessary to the major understanding of these evolutionary processes. The different methodologies applied in paleoagrostological studies are detailed in the present contribution; with special emphasis of phytolith analysis application in paleograsslands reconstruction. Paleobotanical and palynological background related to the South America Cenozoic paleoagrostology are summarized, and the different topics of these studies implementing at the present time in the Tertiary and Quaternary sediments of Argentina are described.
The first phytolith studies in South America were developed by Ehrenberg in the 19th century. Ehr... more The first phytolith studies in South America were developed by Ehrenberg in the 19th century. Ehrenberg created the first morphological phytolith classification based on samples of vegetable and animal origin from different areas of the world, many of which came from Charles Darwin’s collection. Among these early samples were phytoliths from sediments and fossil-associated limestone from Monte Hermoso (Bahía Blanca), dental samples from a Mastodon (Santa Fe), and plant roots from Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Between 1925 and 1955, Joaquín Frenguelli studied, for the first time, the presence of grass silica cells in Argentinian sediments dating from the Tertiary, Quaternary and Holocene epochs. Later, between 1969 and 1983, Hetty Bertoldi de Pomar conducted her initial phytolith studies, which contributed to the morphological classification of silica phytoliths, including the development of systems for the Graminae, Cyperaceae, Equisetaceae, Arecaceae, and Podostemaceae families. Around the same time, Andreis, Spalletti, and Mazzoni also reported on phytoliths from Cenozoic sediments in Patagonia. From 1990 onwards, phytolith research and classification efforts in South America have continued to increase. In Argentina, for example, there have been phytolith studies of Tertiary continental sedimentary sequences from San Luis, Quaternary coastal sequences and paleosols from Tandilia range (Buenos Aires), Miocene and Pleistocene marine and continental Neogene sediments from the Paraná and Uruguay basins (Entre Ríos), and well as Paleogene sediments from Patagonia. In this same period, phytolith studies contributing to palaeoecological (Amazon basin), phytosociological (Colombian Páramo), limnological (Panamá and Uruguay lagoons), ethnobotanical (Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia) and archaelogical (Ecuador, Perú, Argentina and Uruguay) research subjects have also continued to expand in scope and number. Key words: Phytolith studies, History, South America
Revista del Museo de la Plata. Sección Antropología 13 (87): 59-76.
Este trabajo presenta las características de los registros arqueológicos de dos sitios recienteme... more Este trabajo presenta las características de los registros arqueológicos de dos sitios recientemente retomados, denominados Alero El Mirador y Abrigo La Grieta. Se dan a conocer los resultados del análisis de los conjuntos líticos, del registro zooarqueológico y paleoambiental (obtenidos a partir de la evidencias de diatomeas, antracología y fitolitos), y su relación con las unidades estratigráficas. Esta información proxy permite hipotetizar aspectos del manejo antrópico de recursos naturales locales y de eventos paleoclimáticos ocurridos en el sector serrano de Tandilia oriental durante distintos tramos de la secuencia Pleistoceno-Holoceno.
In this paper, a new species of fossil wood, Paraperseoxylon septatum sp. nov. (Lauraceae), from ... more In this paper, a new species of fossil wood, Paraperseoxylon septatum sp. nov. (Lauraceae), from the Cretaceous of Puerto Yerua Formation, is described. The fossil wood herein studied has features of the Lauraceae family, and particularly resembles the extant genus Persea Mill. The possible climatic conditions of the Puerto Yerúa Formation were inferred using the Vulnerability Index, Mesomorphy ratios and the Taxon Independent Approach of the anatomical features present in the fossil wood described, suggesting a warm and humid to seasonally dry context. This material is the first record known from the Cretaceous of Northeastern Argentina and the earliest occurrence in the Southern Hemisphere of a fossil taxon with feature closest to Persea, and clearly establishes the presence of Lauraceae in Northeastern Argentina during the Cretaceous. Nowadays the genus Persea has a tropical and subtropical disjunct distribution in the Americas, Asia, and the Canary Islands. The present study provides information pertinent to understanding its phylogenetic context and biogeographic history.
One-thirds of the Earth's ecosystems are closely linked with grass-dominated vegetation. The evol... more One-thirds of the Earth's ecosystems are closely linked with grass-dominated vegetation. The evolutionary history of this ecosystem can be understood by comparative studies of the biotic component, but a paleontology approach is necessary to the major understanding of these evolutionary processes. The different methodologies applied in paleoagrostological studies are detailed in the present contribution; with special emphasis of phytolith analysis application in paleograsslands reconstruction. Paleobotanical and palynological background related to the South America Cenozoic paleoagrostology are summarized, and the different topics of these studies implementing at the present time in the Tertiary and Quaternary sediments of Argentina are described.
The first phytolith studies in South America were developed by Ehrenberg in the 19th century. Ehr... more The first phytolith studies in South America were developed by Ehrenberg in the 19th century. Ehrenberg created the first morphological phytolith classification based on samples of vegetable and animal origin from different areas of the world, many of which came from Charles Darwin’s collection. Among these early samples were phytoliths from sediments and fossil-associated limestone from Monte Hermoso (Bahía Blanca), dental samples from a Mastodon (Santa Fe), and plant roots from Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Between 1925 and 1955, Joaquín Frenguelli studied, for the first time, the presence of grass silica cells in Argentinian sediments dating from the Tertiary, Quaternary and Holocene epochs. Later, between 1969 and 1983, Hetty Bertoldi de Pomar conducted her initial phytolith studies, which contributed to the morphological classification of silica phytoliths, including the development of systems for the Graminae, Cyperaceae, Equisetaceae, Arecaceae, and Podostemaceae families. Around the same time, Andreis, Spalletti, and Mazzoni also reported on phytoliths from Cenozoic sediments in Patagonia. From 1990 onwards, phytolith research and classification efforts in South America have continued to increase. In Argentina, for example, there have been phytolith studies of Tertiary continental sedimentary sequences from San Luis, Quaternary coastal sequences and paleosols from Tandilia range (Buenos Aires), Miocene and Pleistocene marine and continental Neogene sediments from the Paraná and Uruguay basins (Entre Ríos), and well as Paleogene sediments from Patagonia. In this same period, phytolith studies contributing to palaeoecological (Amazon basin), phytosociological (Colombian Páramo), limnological (Panamá and Uruguay lagoons), ethnobotanical (Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia) and archaelogical (Ecuador, Perú, Argentina and Uruguay) research subjects have also continued to expand in scope and number. Key words: Phytolith studies, History, South America
Revista del Museo de la Plata. Sección Antropología 13 (87): 59-76.
Este trabajo presenta las características de los registros arqueológicos de dos sitios recienteme... more Este trabajo presenta las características de los registros arqueológicos de dos sitios recientemente retomados, denominados Alero El Mirador y Abrigo La Grieta. Se dan a conocer los resultados del análisis de los conjuntos líticos, del registro zooarqueológico y paleoambiental (obtenidos a partir de la evidencias de diatomeas, antracología y fitolitos), y su relación con las unidades estratigráficas. Esta información proxy permite hipotetizar aspectos del manejo antrópico de recursos naturales locales y de eventos paleoclimáticos ocurridos en el sector serrano de Tandilia oriental durante distintos tramos de la secuencia Pleistoceno-Holoceno.
In this paper, a new species of fossil wood, Paraperseoxylon septatum sp. nov. (Lauraceae), from ... more In this paper, a new species of fossil wood, Paraperseoxylon septatum sp. nov. (Lauraceae), from the Cretaceous of Puerto Yerua Formation, is described. The fossil wood herein studied has features of the Lauraceae family, and particularly resembles the extant genus Persea Mill. The possible climatic conditions of the Puerto Yerúa Formation were inferred using the Vulnerability Index, Mesomorphy ratios and the Taxon Independent Approach of the anatomical features present in the fossil wood described, suggesting a warm and humid to seasonally dry context. This material is the first record known from the Cretaceous of Northeastern Argentina and the earliest occurrence in the Southern Hemisphere of a fossil taxon with feature closest to Persea, and clearly establishes the presence of Lauraceae in Northeastern Argentina during the Cretaceous. Nowadays the genus Persea has a tropical and subtropical disjunct distribution in the Americas, Asia, and the Canary Islands. The present study provides information pertinent to understanding its phylogenetic context and biogeographic history.
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Papers by E. Passeggi
Cretaceous of Puerto Yerua Formation, is described. The fossil wood herein studied has features of the
Lauraceae family, and particularly resembles the extant genus Persea Mill. The possible climatic conditions
of the Puerto Yerúa Formation were inferred using the Vulnerability Index, Mesomorphy ratios and
the Taxon Independent Approach of the anatomical features present in the fossil wood described, suggesting
a warm and humid to seasonally dry context. This material is the first record known from the
Cretaceous of Northeastern Argentina and the earliest occurrence in the Southern Hemisphere of a fossil
taxon with feature closest to Persea, and clearly establishes the presence of Lauraceae in Northeastern
Argentina during the Cretaceous. Nowadays the genus Persea has a tropical and subtropical disjunct
distribution in the Americas, Asia, and the Canary Islands. The present study provides information
pertinent to understanding its phylogenetic context and biogeographic history.
Cretaceous of Puerto Yerua Formation, is described. The fossil wood herein studied has features of the
Lauraceae family, and particularly resembles the extant genus Persea Mill. The possible climatic conditions
of the Puerto Yerúa Formation were inferred using the Vulnerability Index, Mesomorphy ratios and
the Taxon Independent Approach of the anatomical features present in the fossil wood described, suggesting
a warm and humid to seasonally dry context. This material is the first record known from the
Cretaceous of Northeastern Argentina and the earliest occurrence in the Southern Hemisphere of a fossil
taxon with feature closest to Persea, and clearly establishes the presence of Lauraceae in Northeastern
Argentina during the Cretaceous. Nowadays the genus Persea has a tropical and subtropical disjunct
distribution in the Americas, Asia, and the Canary Islands. The present study provides information
pertinent to understanding its phylogenetic context and biogeographic history.