Early angiosperm ecology: evidence from the Albian-Cenomanian of Europe.
OBJECTIVE
The mid-Cretaceous is a period of sudden turnover from gymnosperm to angiosperm-dominated floras. The aim was to investigate the fossil plant ecology in order to follow the spread of angiosperm taxa.


METHODS
Floristic lists and localities from the latest Albian-Cenomanian of Europe are analysed with Wagner's Parsimony Method, a clustering method currently used in phylogeny (cladistics).


RESULTS
Wagner's Parsimony Method points out that (a) gymnosperms dominated brackish water-related environments while angiosperms dominated freshwater-related environments (e.g. swamps, floodplains, levees, channels), (b) angiosperms showed the highest diversity in stable, freshwater-related environments, (c) a single angiosperm, 'Diospyros' cretacea, is restricted to brackish water-related environments and (d) the families Lauraceae and Platanaceae were exclusive to disturbed, braided river environments, implying a opportunist strategy for early tree angiosperms.


CONCLUSIONS
During the Mid-Cretaceous, European floras were characterized by (a) coastal gymnosperms, (b) highly diversified fluvial angiosperms and (c) the first European brackish water-related angiosperm.
Coiffard
C
C
UCB Lyon 1 et UMR 5125, Paléobotanique, 7 rue Dubois, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France.
Gomez
B
B
Kvacek
J
J
Thevenard
F
F
D044822:Biodiversity; D005075:Biological Evolution; D032462:Cycadopsida / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D019992:Databases as Topic; D017753:Ecosystem; D005060:Europe; D005580:Fossils; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny