Fern spore diversity and abundance in Australia during the Cretaceous

Abstract

Changes in the Cretaceous fern flora of Australia were analysed by compiling data from the palynological literature. A decline in the relative diversity and abundance of free-sporing plants during the Late Cretaceous was concurrent with a rise in angiosperms, while the relative contribution of gymnosperms was unchanged. Ferns and lycophytes were the major contributors to the free-sporing plant pattern and declined markedly from higher Early Cretaceous levels; bryophyte relative diversity peaks in the mid-Cretaceous. The fern families Schizaeaceae, Osmundaceae and Cyatheaceae/Dicksoniaceae decline only marginally, with most of the decline seen in 'miscellaneous ferns' (mostly comprising fern ..