The nature and influence of fire in Carboniferous ecosystems

doi:10.1016/0031-0182(94)90005-1

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

Volume 106, Issues 1–4, January 1994, Pages 91-112

https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-0182(94)90005-1 Get rights and content

Abstract

Fusain occurs widely in Carboniferous coals and sediments. It is now recognised to represent charcoal and be the product of wildfire. The occurrence of fire is partly constrained by atmospheric oxygen levels, availability and nature of fuel and by aspects of climate (rainfall and seasonability in particular). The majority of fires in the Carboniferous were probably started by lightning strikes or by volcanic activity. Experiments on the charring of modern plants has shown that the reflectance of charcoal (and hence fusain) is directly related to temperature of formation. Different fire types may yield fusain assemblages of differing reflectance spectrums, but it may be significant that many modern charcoal assemblages yield only semifusinites (as seen by reflectance microscopy). The significance of these findings is assessed in relation to the use of fusinites and semifusinites as depositional indicators, as interpreted from coal petrology. Fires may have a dramatic effect on ecosystems, not only causing changes in vegetational succession but also severe erosion can occur following a major fire which can be traced in depositional systems. In this paper we document three major Carboniferous sedimentary systems affected by fire: clastic sedimentary systems, using extensive fusain deposits in mid-Lower Carboniferous, near-shore sediments in Donegal, Ireland; volcanic systems using late Early Carboniferous, volcaniclastic sequences in the Midland Valley of Scotland; and coal and coal-bearing sequences in the Upper Carboniferous (Westphalian B) of the Pennine Basin, England. In the later settings the influence of fire in peat formation and succession is assessed. In addition, data on the vegetational composition of charcoal assemblages is considered. It is concluded that fire plays a major role in many Carboniferous ecosystems.

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¹: Present address: Universität Tübingen, Institut für Geologie and Paleontologie, Sigwartstrasse 10, D-7400, Tübingen, Germany.

View full text

The nature and influence of fire in Carboniferous ecosystems

Abstract

Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol.

Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol. (Global Plan. Change Sect.)

Int. J. Coal Geol.

Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol.

Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol.

Int. J. Coal Geol.

Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol.

Int. J. Coal Geol.

Biosystems

Sur le pouvoir reflecteur de la vitrinite et de la fusinite des houilles

C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris

Vegetation replacement following wildfire disturbance in Middle Pennsylvanian clastic wetlands: examples from Joggins, Nova Scotia, Canada

Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Progr.

Lycopod succession in coals: an example from the Low Barnsely Seam (Westphalian B), Yorkshire, England

Palaeoecology

Subsurface formation of charcoal and its possible relevance to the interpretation of charcoal remains in peat

Quat. Newsl.

Subsurface formation of charcoal an unexplained event in peat

Quat. Newsl.

Taphonomy of plant fossils from the Viséan of East Kirkton, West Lothian, Scotland

Trans. Soc. Edinburgh: Earth Sci.

Thermal maturation levels in the Devonian and Carboniferous rocks of Ireland

Geol. Surv. Ireland

Evidence of fires in the ancient Everglades and coastal swamps of Southern Florida

Interpreting the characteristics of coal seams from chemical, physical and petrographic studies of peat deposits

Products of natural burning as a component of the dispersed organic matter of sedimentary rocks

Some studies of the origin, nature and occurrence of charcoalified plant fossils

Fossil charcoal as evidence of past atmospheric composition

Nature

Wildfire, an interaction of biological and physical processes

Plant succession on burned areas in Okefenokee swamp following the fires of 1954 and 1955

Forest Fire — Control and Use

Burned area survey of Yellowstone National Park: The fires of 1988

Stanwoodia, a new genus of probable early gymnosperms from the Dinantian of East Kirkton, Scotland

Trans. R. Soc. Edinburgh, Earth Sci.

The Carboniferous rocks of the Donegal Syncline

Q. J. Geol. Soc. London