Events

NECLIME will organize four open sessions on this conference:

• Beyond Milankovitch - Cenozoic vegetational dynamics on millennial to decadal scales
  Convenors: Andrea Kern, Mathias Harzhauser, Torsten Utescher
  
  High-resolution pollen analysis has proven to be a useful tool to reconstruct environmental shifts on millennial, centennial or even decadal timescales and demonstrate an insight into local short term vegetation dynamics. High-frequency vegetation patterns are recognized, which often allow calibrations with astronomical target curves. This has improved our knowledge as well as our understanding of palaeo-climate tremendously.
  Now, sub-Milankovitch signals come into the focus of palaeoclimatologists. These are related to global glaciation effects, to long period variations in solar activity, to multi-decadal to centennial variability of the Gleissberg (~80, 140-110 yr) and Suess (~250-200 yr) cycles of solar activity and even to Schwabe cycles of solar activity (10-12 yr).
  In this symposium we want to focus mainly on pre-Pleistocene records of such patterns, which are, however, extremely scarce to date. Thus, we encourage colleagues to present high resolution records to discuss rapid environmental change on sub-Milankovitch scales.
  
  
• Evolution and palaeoclimate  - molecular phylogenetic approaches and the Cenozoic plant fossil record
  Convenors: Svetlana Popova, Alexandra Nora Muellner
  
  The use of biomolecular methods along with traditional morphological and anatomical studies has proven a powerful tool to improve our knowledge about phylogenetic relationships of modern plant species. Molecular phylogenetic approaches are also increasingly used for the study of fossil taxa, to unravel the evolution of different characters in plant families and of biodiversity under palaeo-boundary conditions (e.g. palaeoclimate). Thus, not only the systematic affiliation of modern species to the plant fossil record, but also concepts of nearest living relatives for the palaeo-record can be improved. This has, in turn, impact on the quality of palaeoclimate reconstructions.
  The symposium will focus on the Cenozoic. We encourage colleagues to present contributions using phylogenetic approaches to analyse the evolution of biodiversity and biogeography of plant families.
  Topics covered:
  - Morphological and molecular trees integrating living and fossil taxa
  - Applying new techniques to taxonomic studies of fossils using a refined taxonomic resolution for palaeoclimate reconstructions.
  
  
• Early Pleistocene terrestrial climate and vegetation - the environment of early humans
  Convenors: Angela A. Bruch, Suzanne Leroy
  
  In order to get an entire picture of the environment and landscape that formed the habitat of early hominins and to identify environmental influences on migration, quantitative reconstructions of climate and vegetation based on fossil plant material are crucial prerequisites. Fossil floras from Africa and Eurasia of Early Pleistocene (2.6 to 0.8 Ma) analysed with standardised methods to quantify spatial patterns of climate and vegetation enable the reconstruction of spatiotemporal distribution patterns of environmental parameters. Moreover, long sequences from key regions are important sources to study the temporal development of climate and vegetation in high resolution and to quantify the amplitudes and cyclicity of observed changes.
  These data will add to the definition of environmental influences on migration at a given time. Together with other environmental proxies as palaeontology, geology and modelling and linked to observed spatiotemporal patterns in hominid occurrence and evolution, this may help to identify potential migration routes in those areas which are yet lacking archaeological evidence.
  To better understand the relationships between environment and the first Out-of-Africa event, the planned symposium intends to focus on the reconstruction and quantification of past vegetation and environmental conditions in Early Pleistocene of Africa and Eurasia. However, contributions are not meant to be restricted to hominin sites. Studies from all parts of Africa and Eurasia are highly welcome, both from terrestrial and marine sites. A further aim of this symposium is to combine and compare various methods and different proxies, including macro and micro botanical remains, i.e. pollen, phytoliths, fossil wood, leaves, fruits, seeds, charcoal, and others. Combining this information will greatly contribute to the understanding of the environment of our first ancestors.
  
  
• Palaeocarpological records
  Convenors: Edoardo Martinetto, Carol Gee
  
  Fruits, seeds and related plant parts (e.g. cones, cupules, disseminules, false fruits, bracts, utricles, etc.) often provide information which is not available through other plant records. Distinct morphological and anatomical features allow to establish a rather accurate taxonomic relationship between fossil and modern specimens, so that ecologic and environmental information can be obtained from the modern relatives, and used for the interpretation of palaeofloras.
  Additionally, particular techniques of sediment processing allow to concentrate many specimens, whose identification leads to the compilation of long lists of fossil taxa, which represent a conspicuous record of ancient plant communities. Such carpological assemblages can be also studied in modern sedimentary environments, thus pointing out how they reflect the surrounding vegetation.
  For this symposium we encourage contributions based on studies of fruits, seeds and related plant parts in regard to taxonomy, taphonomy, vegetation reconstruction, archaeobotany, with an emphasis on Cretaceous-Cenozoic records.
  These studies may extend to climatic analysis, calibration of phylogenetic trees by means of reliable fruit and seed characters and phylogeography.
  
  

NECLIME members are going to meet on the 8^th of July for the 11^th annual NECLIME meeting at 14.30 in lecture room 1 (Semsey room).
Several topics are allready announced, which can be viewed or downloaded in this circular.
We are looking forward to seeing you at this meeting in Budapest!

organised by Zhou Zhe-Kun and Volker Mosbrugger
Please register with a preliminary title of your contribution before APRIL 1^st to Zhou
Zhe-Kun (zhouzk@mail.kib.ac.cn).

The main focused topics are going to be:

• East Asian climate and vegetation in the Neogene - local and regional evidence;
  including
• Large scale patterns and teleconnections in Eastern Eurasia and comparison with
  Europe, including the history of East and Southeast Asia monsoon systems and the
  impact of Himalayan uplift on Eurasian Neogene climate history
• Impact of Neogene climatic and environmental changes on East Asian biodiversity

For more information click here.