A survey of the Neogene flora and vegetation pattern of the Pannonian domain based
on selected fossil plant assemblages is given. The paper aims to reveal the complex
interrelation of tectonic-palaeogeographic evolution, climate, flora and vegetation
development through the Neogene of the Pannonian domain. Flora and vegetation patterns
are based on well-documented and studied fossil plant assemblages (macrofloras, primarily
leaves). There are time intervals well-represented in the fossil record, e.g. the
Pannonian or the Sarmatian and others with relatively few localities, e.g. the Badenian.
A general but slow cooling trend is definitely observable after the Early Miocene
as reflected by both quantitative climate reconstructions and floristic change, i.e.
decrease of diversity, slow disappearance of thermophilous and exotic elements, as
well as decrease in the variety of vegetation types. A significant decline of coldest
month temperatures (as compared to warmest month temperatures) must have played a
defining role in forming flora and vegetation through the Neogene. As compared to
climate estimates for the Middle/Late Miocene fossil floras, warmer climate conditions
are indicated by the Ipolytarnoc flora and vegetation comprising an extremely high
number of thermophilous taxa as well as complex vegetation structure. The Early and
Middle Miocene fossil assemblages bear a significant relevance to the tectonic pattern
of the Pannonian domain. A transitional character in both flora and vegetation is
indicated by the Karpatian Magyaregregy locality. Knowledge of the Badenian flora
and vegetation is limited to the Middle Badenian Nogradszakal assemblage indicating
cooler climate conditions which contrasts with global climate change. In contrast
to the relatively poor azonal vegetation of Nogradszakal and most Pannonian localities,
the more diverse Sarmatian and Pliocene floras display a strong relation to each other
- attributable to palaeogeographic constraints. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights
reserved.
