Evolution of seasonally dry Neotropical forests, chaco and cerrado in the neogene of the northern-center of Argentina Evolución de bosques estacionales secos neotropicales, chaco y cerrado en el neógeno del centro-norte de Argentina

ANZÓTEGUI, LUISA MATILDE; PRADO, Y.D.; GARRALLA, SILVINA SUSANA; MAUTINO, LILIA RENÉ

Publicacion Electronica de la Asociacion Paleontologica Argentina

Asociacion Paleontologica Argentina

Año: 2019 vol. 19 p. 7 - 17

The aims of this paper are to analyze the woody fossil (arboreal and shrubby) flora of the center-north of Argentina and to relate it to the flora of the current Seasonally Dry Neotropical Forests (SDNF), Chaco and Cerrado, in order to establish its permanence and extension over time. The fossil species (pollen, impressions of leaves and fruits, woods and cuticles) coming from of Paraná, Ituzaingó, Anta, San José, Chiquimil, Palo Pintado, Andalhuala, del Buey, Toro Negro, Sálicas, Arroyo Feliciano formations, YPF.SE.x-2 Los Horcones oil well, and the Playa del Zorro Aloformation. They are included in the Middle Miocene to Pleistocene period. There is evidence of woody fossil taxa with predecessors of the SDNF, Chaco and Cerrado. From this analysis, 14 species were selected as members of SDNF, 12 of Chaco and Cerrado. This fossil association maintained a more austral geographic distribution than the present vegetation of the SDNF and Cerrado. The fossil vegetation related to SDNF was equally fragmentary and disjunct, while the Cerrado had a more pronounced retraction, being confined to the Brazilian planalto.