In situ fossil stumps of Glossopteris are preserved in their original growth position in fluvial deposits of the Upper Buckley Formation (Upper Permian) in the Beardmore Glacier, central Transanctarctic Mountains. Roots radiate shallowly from the stumps into immature paleosols that retain their lamination. Of the 87 stumps found, 74 are in two horizons at Lamping Peak separated vertically by approximately one meter. The stumps represent forests that flourished at polar paleolatitudes (>70°S). Mean maximum tree height (~20 m), density (~2000 trees/ha), and basal area (~175 m²/ha) of the fossil forest are comparable to those of modern temperate forests and greater than those of other Permian and some younger high-paleolatitude forests. Regardless of the strongly seasonal polar light regime, conditions were sufficiently warm and wet to promote growth during the growing season.
Large woody debris (LWD) and macerated debris are preserved as imprints and coalified plant material although the wood of most of the stumps has been replaced by magnetite. The LWD and macerated plant material are more abundant in Upper than Lower Permian deposits in which no stumps have been found. Because of the paucity of branches and root stocks, LWD is inferred to have been transported, which is consistent with its preferred orientation. Results from stream table experiments suggest orientation of LWD is controlled by flow direction when transported; therefore, orientation of LWD at Lamping Peak likely indicates paleoflow.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-05232006-135024 |
| Date | 29 June 2006 |
| Creators | Knepprath, Nichole Elizabeth |
| Contributors | Molly F. Miller, Kaye S. Savage, David J. Furbish |
| Publisher | VANDERBILT |
| Source Sets | Vanderbilt University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-05232006-135024/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Vanderbilt University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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