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This work is part of the Ph.D. Thesis of three of the authors (M.N. -geology-, R.P.F. and J.O.B. -paleobiology-), which are supported by a scholarship from the Instituto Geologic y Minero de Espana (IGME), an AVM grant of the University of Barcelona, and a FPI grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology, respectively. This study is a contribution of the IGME Project 491-CANOA 35015 "Investigacicin cientifica y tecnica de la Cueva de El Sop lao y su entomo geologico", the projects CGL2008-/01237BTE from the MICINN, CGL200800550/BTE: "Amber of the Cretaceous of Spain: A multidisciplinary study", and the ANR Project AMBRACE BLAN07-1-184190. The contribution is framed in a collaborative agreement among the Cantabrian Government (Regional Cultural, Tourism and Sports Ministry), IGME and SIEC S.A. We thank Gonzalo Nieto and the staff of the Royal Botanic Garden of Madrid for permission and assistance in the sampling of extant conifers. We also express our thanks to Francisco Javier Lopez Marcano (Regional Minister of the Cantabrian Government), Jose Pedro Ca Ivo Sorando (IGME) and Fermin Unzue (manager of the El Sop lao Cave) for their efforts and promotion of the study of the outcrop. We are grateful to Dr Daniel J. Bickel (Australian Museum, Sydney), Dr Vladimir Blagoderov (Natural History Museum, London) and an anonymous reviewer for careful reviews of the manuscript. Thanks are due to all people that participated in the paleontological excavations.

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Review of the El Soplao Amber Outcrop, Early Cretaceous of Cantabria, Spain

Publicado en:Acta Geol Sin-Engl. 84 (4): 959-976 - 2010-01-01 84(4), DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-6724.2010.00258.x

Autores: Najarro, Maria; Penalver, Enrique; Perez-De la Fuente, Ricardo; Ortega-Blanco, Jaime; Menor-Salvan, Cesar; Barron, Eduardo; Soriano, Carmen; Rosales, Idoia; Lopez Del Valle, Rafael; Velasco, Francisco; Tornos, Fernando; Daviero-Gomez, Veronique; Gomez, Bernard; Delclos, Xavier

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Resumen

El Soplao outcrop, an Early Cretaceous amber deposit recently discovered in northern Spain (Cantabria), has been shown to be the largest site of amber with arthropod inclusions that has been found in Spain so far. Relevant data provided herein for biogeochemistry of the amber, palynology, taphonomy and arthropod bioinclusions complement those previously published. This set of data suggests at least two botanical sources for the amber of El Soplao deposit. The nrst (type A amber) strongly supports a source related to Cheirolepidiaceae, and the second (type B amber) shows non-specific conifer biomarkers. Comparison of molecular composition of type A amber with Frenelopsis leaves (Cheirolepidiaceae) strongly suggests a biochemical affinity and a common botanical origin. A preliminary palynologlcal study indicates a regional high taxonomical diversity, mainly of pteridophyte spores and gymnosperm pollen grains. According to the preliminary palynologlcal data, the region was inhabited by conifer forests adapted to a dry season under a subtropical climate. The abundant charcoalified wood associated with the amber in the same beds is evidence of paleofires that most likely promoted both the resin production and an intensive erosion of the litter, and subsequent great accumulation of amber plus plant cuticles. In addition, for the first time in the fossil record, charcoalified plant fibers as bioinclusions in amber are reported. Other relevant taphonomic data are the exceptional presence of serpulids and bryozoans on the surfaces of some amber pieces indicating both a long exposure on marine or brackish-water and a mixed assemblage of amber. Lastly, new findings of insect bioinclusions, some of them uncommon in the fossil record or showing remarkable adaptations, are reported. In conclusion, a documented scenario for the origin of the El Soplao amber outcrop is provided.

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