Peat-forming ecosystems of the Radnice Member (Westphalian) in the Late Paleozoic basins of central and western Bohemia

Multidisciplinary project focused on qualitative/quantitative reconstruction of plant habit and structure of Westphalian peat-forming ecosystems in unusual details based on study of in situ buried fossils excavated from volcanic ash beds in the Late Palaeozoic continental basins of the central and western Bohemia. This spectacular material provides unique data on density of vegetation including the understorey, vertical structure of the plant assemblage, and aut- as well as synecological demands of individual species. It also allows correlation of various plant organs commonly found isolated in clastic sediments without any relationship to their parent plants. Mode of occurrence / preservation and association with other species, in situ spores, morphological and, if preserved, also anatomical details (e.g. chared tissues) will be studied using common and special paleobotanical techniques as well as coal petrology, palynology and plant taphonomy methods. Comparison of dispersed spore spectrum