Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 7.1.
Elements (E), early versions (EV), and essentially modern versions (EM) of New World ecosystems and representative taxa in
the Late Cretaceous and Tertiary periods
System
Interval
Middle Eocene-
early Miocene
Middle Miocene-
Pliocene
Cretaceous
Paleocene-early Eocene
D
E:
Ephedra,
Welwitschiaceae
E
E
E-EM (Mio-Plio.)
S
E:
Ephedra
, Bennettiales
E: Bennettiales extinct; add
Poaceae, possibly
Pinus,
Quercus
sp.
EV (depending on habitat;
e.g., rain shadow): add
Juniperus, Acacia,
Arctostaphylos, Berberis,
Bursera, Caesalpinia,
Cardiosper mum, Celtis,
Cercocarpus, Mahonia,
Potentilla, Prosopis,
Sapindus, Sophora
EM midcontinent,
woodland, grassy savanna
mid-Miocene (13 Ma),
then more grassy; west of
Rocky Mountains,
Artemisia
(sagebrush),
Sarcobatus
(grease-wood) woodland to
near desert
G
E: Poaceae
EV
EM 13 Ma midcontinent;
3 Ma west of Rocky
Mountains
M
E:
Acrostichum; Nypa
EV: add
Brevitricolpites
(e)
EM:
Brevitr icol porites
disappears; add
Rhizophora,
Hibiscus, Pelliceria
EM
B
E (preservation limited)
EV, Poaceae
EM:
Sabal, Canavalia,
Poaceae
EM
(
continued
)
