Palaeoecology of non marine algae and stromatolites: Permian of France and adjacent countries

Abstract Some Permian, continental basins from Algeria, Morocco, France, Italy, Germany and Poland reveal algal remains and stromatolites, mainly during Lower Permian, but also during Middle and Upper Permian. The algae belong to 8 morphogenera and 12 morphospecies. Two species are new. The taxonomic attributions are difficult, even if some species resemble living species. The algae make unorganized masses, or laminated builtups (stromatolites, oncolites, oolites). Algal masses and stromatolites are contained in fluviatile sediments (active or abandoned channels) and lacustrine deposits (playas, ephemeral lakes shorelines, lakes several meters or decameters deep). Considering the sedimentological context, the water salinity could range from karstic springs (hard water) to evaporic ephemeral lakes (playas).