Vorkommen fossiler Charophyten in Deutschland

For geological research in Germany, fossil charophytes generally play a rather exotic, but sometimes significant role. This is especially true for the biostratigraphy (dating and correlation of rock successions) within non-marine sediments holding carbonates and marls (for Germany: mainly upper Jurassic to basal Cretaceous and Oligocene to Miocene). More generally, charophytes are often used for a simple first estimation of the depositional environments of sedimentary rocks. Here, charophyte remains (usually quite easily recognizable) simply serve as indicators for non-marine environments (fresh or brackish waters). For most geologists and carbonate specialists, the latter is certainly by far the most important benefit of the fossil remains of this group of algae.