Palynological investigations in the carnian of the Cave del Predil (Julian Alps, NE Italy)

The palynological analysis on a continuous shallow-marine succession of the western Tethys realm allows a better characterization of the Carnian (late Triassic) paleofloristic and paleoclimatic scenario. The classic succession of the “Raibl Group”, once the “Raibler Schichten”, in the Southern Alps (northern Italy) was investigated. Ammonoids and conodonts constrain the age of the fossil-rich terrigenous-carbonate sequence to the Julian and Tuvalian, the Julian/Tuvalian boundary lying in the upper part of the Tor Formation. In order to document the pollen biostratigraphy and the paleoecologic trends of this late Triassic interval, results of qualitative and quantitative spore and pollen analysis are presented. The new combination Converrucosisporites tumulosus (Leschik) Roghi is proposed. The recognition of three palynological assemblages facilitates realistic regional palynostratigraphical correlation of Carnian successions in the Southern Alps. Quantitative analysis of the pollen/spore assemblages is used to confirm humid environmental conditions during latest Julian and earliest Tuvalian times.