The project started in January 2000 and is planned for three years. It is one of several projects in Austria, which deals with the changes of the Miocene ecosystems and their geodynamic control. Abstract During Miocene times the evolution and uplift of the Alpine orogenic belt created new palaeogeographic and topographic conditions. The Molasse foreland basin, situated N to the developing Alpine orogene and in the eastern part, S of the Bohemian Massif accumulated clastic sediments and plant detritus from the newly exposed terrestrial areas.
Molasse sediments are widespread in the northern and northeastern parts of Austria.
The intensive extensional movements of the alpine nappes produced numerous fault systems, which resulted in subsidence and the creation of intramontane basins in the southeastern part of Austria. The sediments, which subsequently filled these basins, are plant-bearing. Previous geological and palaeobotanical research as well as the preliminary investigation of test samples are promising. A more complete picture will be obtained by combining the results with those of the leaf and palynology projects. Reference to the geological and palaeozoological projects should help to evaluate the causes of the changes in the palaeo-ecosystems.