The flora of the Rubielos de Mora lacustrine basin: climatic conditions during the Lower Miocene in the Teruel region (Spain)

The stratigraphic and floristic studies of two sections in the lacustrine d eposits of the Miocene basin of Rubielos de Mora increase our knowledge of palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic conditions and specify the biochrono logy of these sites. The lowlands are inhabited by a swampy, or lacustrine, vegetation (Botryococcus, Sparganium, Potamogeton, Taxodiaceae, Myrica, Ny ssa...), whereas the uplands are covered by a Zelkova mesophilous forest wi th other temperate elements (Acer, Betula, Carya...). The scarcity of therm ophilous taxa in this vegetation indicates that the climatic conditions wer e not the warmest in the Miocene. The rodents faunas of this basin suggest a Ramblian-basal Aragonian age (Lower Miocene). ((C) 1999 Academie des scie nces / Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.).