W1: L4 = Palaeo Ecosystem 2 [Coal Flora] (Prof. Bamford) Flashcards

1
Q

Permian of Gondwana attributes? (7)

A

• Evolution of therapsids.

• Change from ice cover to temperate to warm climate.

• Correlates with other basins in the huge continent.

• Extinct taxa.

• Abrupt termination.

• Coal flora (economic).

• Glossopteris flora & lower plants.

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2
Q

Lower plants present in Permian of Gondwana? (4)

A

• Ferns.
• Bryophytes.
• Lycopods.
• Sphenophytes.

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3
Q

Why are coal flora economic?

A
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4
Q

Coal attributes? (2)

A

• Non-renewable energy.
• Contributes to greenhouse gasses.

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5
Q

Coal flora attributes? (3)

A

• In N. hemisphere = Carboniferous deposits.

• In S. hemisphere (Gondwana) = Permian deposits.

• Different plants produce different coals.

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6
Q

Coal flora ecosystem attributes? (7)

A

• Late Carboniferous–Early Permian in SA (and Gondwana).

• Continental position (climate)?

• Local environment (flora)?

• Peat formation, then

• Burial of pets (accumulation), then

• Formation of coals.

• Unique ecosystem.

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7
Q

Groups of Coal flora/Groups of coal formations? (2)

A
  • Dwyka group.
  • Ecca group.
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8
Q

Dwyka group attributes? (5)

A
  • Late Carboniferous to Early Permian.
  • SA at South Pole.
  • Several icesheets formed and melted.
  • Icehouse to Hothouse as land moved northwards.
  • Minimal plants to very many plants.
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9
Q

Ecca group attributes? (6)

A
  • Early Permian.
  • Karoo Basin (inland sea).
  • Ice receding with climate warming.
  • Presence of seas, deltas and swamps.
  • Abundant vegetation.
  • Very few animals and some fish.
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10
Q

Reconstruction of Dwyka group?

A
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11
Q

Reconstruction of Ecca group?

A
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12
Q

What do the quality, grade and type of coal depend on? (5)

A
  • Plant material.
  • Water.
  • Pressure.
  • Time.
  • Local conditions/Environmental conditions.
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13
Q

Process of the formation of coal? (7)

A

1) Water & plants.

2) Burial & exclusion of O2.

3) Minimal degradation.

4) Peat formation.

5) Burial of peats.

6) Compression of organic matter& loss of volatiles.

7) Heat & pressure = good coals.

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14
Q

Important thing to note about coal formation?

A

Variations in the quality, quantity, texture & type of coal produced differ with different ecosystems.

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15
Q

Egs of how coal type, quality, etc differ with differing ecosystems? (2)

A
  • Backswamps = in situ coal.
  • Small drainage channels = drift coals.
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16
Q

Ecca & Beaufort plant diversity attributes? (3)

A
  • Permian.
  • New taxa.
  • Common taxa (pre-Permain & post-Permian)
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17
Q

List of Ecca & Beaufort plant diversity [New taxa]? (4)

A
  • Glossopteris (main focus).
  • Cordaitales.
  • Ginkgoales.
  • Palaeovittaria.
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18
Q

Categories of New taxa? (2)

A
  • Seed ferns.
  • Gymnosperms.
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19
Q

List of Ecca & Beaufort plant diversity [Common taxa]? (4)

A
  • Ferns.
  • Lycopods.
  • Sphenophytes.
  • Bryophytes (rare).
20
Q

Glossopteris attributes? (6)

A
  • Only Gondwana (S. hemisphere).
  • Leaf form genus is tongue-shaped.
  • Leaves attached in whorls.
  • Simple leaves in venation.
  • Roots adapted to wet environments (swamps).
  • Permian to Early Triassic.
21
Q

Glossopteris female reproductive structures attributes? (4)

A
  • Numerous.
  • Various wings.
  • Many seeds.
  • Have capitulum.
22
Q

Capitulum?

A

= seed bearing structures.

23
Q

Glossopteris male reproductive structures attributes? (4)

A
  • Pollen producing.
  • Scale leaves bearing clusters of sporangia.
  • Extinct due to climate change during Permian.
  • Produced a lot of coal.
24
Q

Cordaitales attributes? (4)

A
  • Gymnosperm wood.
  • Fast growing, and therefore produces a lot of biomass.
  • Extinct.
  • Roots adapted to swampy environment.
25
Q

What are Cordaitales named in the N. hemisphere?

A

Cordaitales.

26
Q

What are Cordaitales named in South Africa?

A

Noeggerathiopsis.

27
Q

Ginkgoales attributes? (4)

A
  • Permian to present.
  • Gymnosperm wood.
  • Fruits (rare).
  • Pollen (common).
28
Q

Other Ecca lycopods attributes? (2)

A
  • Casts.
  • Produced while there was still O2 present, that’s why they are not black like coal.
29
Q

Fossil wood?

A
30
Q

Palaeoecology of Glossopteris attributes? (8)

A
  • Early Permian with ice sheets retreating & cold environment.
  • Roots adapted to waterlogged environments.
  • Leaves sometimes very large (mesic?).
  • Leaves thin & deciduous.
  • Coal swamps.
  • Other indicators = cold climate, esp. Dwyka & early Ecca.
  • Leaves in Beaufort sediments very small (dry?).
  • Transition to hot climate by P-Tr.
31
Q

Floral composition/type in the Northern hemisphere attributes? (2)

A
  • Carboniferous.
  • Lycopod flora.
32
Q

List of the Lycopod flora? (4)

A
  • Arborescent lycopods.
  • Arborescent sphenophytes.
  • Cordaitales.-
  • Ferns (extinct forms).
33
Q

Lycopod flora attributes? (3)

A
  • Not woody.
  • Little lignin.
  • Little suberin.
34
Q

Floral composition/type in the Southern hemisphere attributes? (2)

A
  • Permian.
  • Glossopterid flora.
35
Q

List of the Glossopterid flora? (6)

A
  • Glossopteris.
  • Ginkgo.
  • Cordaitales.
  • Herbaceous lycopods.
  • Herbaceous sphenophytes.
  • Ferns.
36
Q

Glossopterid flora attributes? (4)

A
  • Woody.
  • Lots of lignin.
  • Lots of suberin.
  • Seasonal.
37
Q

Gondwana correlations? (3)

A

1) P-Tr extinctions of Glossopteris & Cordaitales.

2) Diachronous disappearance of coals & appearance of redbeds (red Fe?).

3) Synchronous replacement of plant groups.

38
Q

Explain Gondwana correlation 2?

A

It was a response to shifting climatic belts, which caused progressively drier seasonal conditions at successively higher latitudes.

39
Q

Explain Gondwana correlation 3?

A

Possibly due to factors independent of climate change for floral turnover.

40
Q

P-Tr stands for?

A

Permo-Triassic.

41
Q

Permo-Triassic extinction: Animal extinction attributes? (5)

A
  • 98% marine invertebrate.
  • 85% land animals.
  • Mass volcanism then,
  • Increased methane then,
  • Global warming of 6 degrees celsius..
42
Q

Permo-Triassic extinction: Plant extinction plants affected? (3)

A
  • Glossopteris.
  • Arborescent lycopods.
  • Cordaitales.
43
Q

Permo-Triassic extinction: Plant extinction attributes? (2)

A
  • All lower plants survived & are present today.
  • Plants are more resilient than animals due to soil nutrients & adaptation (their lifestyle).
44
Q

Things to note about Palaeoecology? (4)

A
  • Think about the environment/communities & plants present at that time period, & how those changed over time.
  • Plants change/evolved from small & short to taller plants.
  • Plants change/evolved from simple to complex plants.
  • Main driver = climate change.
45
Q
A