A paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic interpretation of a Miocene Rodent faunal succession in Southern France. Critical evaluation of the use of Rodents in paleoecology

A succession of rodent faunas of Miocene age (Late Early Miocene to Early Late Miocene) from southern France is analyzed for paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental reconstructions in the Calatayud-Teruel Basin of north central Spain. Several localities in the vicinity of Lyon (France) are also included in the present study. During Lower Miocene the environment was more forested in southern France than in north central Spain and the reserve is observed for Middle Miocene. The interpretation of the rodents is tested by information given by the bats which are associated to them in several localities. It is concluded that many extinct genera and species of rodent cannot be unriskly used to reconstruct past climates and environments