European mammal turnover driven by a global rapid warming event preceding the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum.

ABSTRACT: A brief global warming event known as the Pre-Onset Excursion (POE) occurred just before the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM, 56 Mya). The deconvolution of the evolutionary consequences of these two hyperthermal events is puzzling because of their close temporal proximity and the lack of comprehensive, well-calibrated paleontological records, especially in terrestrial environments. As a consequence, the impact of the POE on mammalian evolution and its role in shaping PETM faunas remains unclear. Here, we report from France a mammalian fauna, named Albas, which is interpreted to postdate the POE and predate the PETM. The absence of artiodactyls, perissodactyls, and euprimates at Albas lends support to the controversial hypothesis that these "modern" mammal groups appeared in the Euro

SUBMITTER: Tabuce R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12207454 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature