How the closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean influenced the paleoclimate and the composition of the flora in South Mongolia

• Applicant: Privatdozentin Dr. Evelyn Kustatscher
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 569353694

The closure of the MOO during the Early to Middle Jurassic deeply influenced the regional climate, sedimentation patterns, and floral composition of the SE Gobi Basin, contributing to an aridification trend across Central Asia. Due to its position at the intersection of major phytogeographic provinces, Mongolia offers a unique opportunity to investigate the biotic and environmental consequences of this major geotectonic transition. The project aims to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental, palaeoclimatic, and floristic evolution of the SE Gobi region through a multidisciplinary approach. The research will combine plant macro- and microfossil, palynofacies and biomarker studies, stable isotope measurements, high-resolution sedimentological and palaeosol analysis, and U-Pb CA-ID-TIMS dating of interbedded tuff layers. These datasets will support the reconstruction of climate changes, vegetation shifts, and plant migration pathways, and contribute to the development of a cyclostratigraphic model capable of detecting Milankovitch-scale oscillations in lacustrine and alluvial environments. The main project aims are: 1) reconstruct vegetation, climate and basin evolution during the closure of the MOO in Jurassic; 2) interpret the cyclic alternation of coal seams and fluvial sediments reflecting climate-driven changes; 3) trace an exchange of plant taxa between phytoprovinces.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Czech Republic
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Michael Krings
• Cooperation Partners: Jirina Daskova, Ph.D.; Dr. Jiri Kvacek; Roland Nádaskay, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Stanislav Oplustil