The Messinian events and the Greek fossil mammal record

Greek Neogene mammal faunas, being centrally located to the stage of the Messinian play, hold clues to the understanding of this phenomenon. 23 Greek fossil mammal faunas containing 398 taxa, and spanning the period of MN Units 10 to MN15 are analysed, in order to investigate effects the Messinian Events had on Greek Neogene. Updated faunal lists are subjected to cluster statistical analyses for a quantitative estimation of chronological segregation patterns of the faunal assemblages. The Simpson's Faunal Resemblance Index was used as the variable for the faunal correlation. K-Means cluster analysis for two groups distinguished the 3 Samos and the 2 Pikermi faunas as the group with less variation within, than between the two groups in which the 23 faunas were separated. Join cluster analysis' basic pattern did separate the pre- from the post-Messinian faunas, but sampling error due to small faunal size, bias due to skewed sampling of the faunal diversity at the population level, and geographic proximity, could not be factored out. Biochronological (MN Unit) range analysis of 196 species in the faunas showed that the majority of mammals lived in MN12-13 times, and that there was considerable reduction in numbers of large mammal species present in the faunal assemblages after the Messinian. This can be caused not only by the alleged low turn out of (large) Pliocene mammals, but also by sampling error due to insufficient amount of paleontological research done in this time period. Micromammals around the Messinian Stage/Age indicate the presence of variable habitats in the area, dry and wet, forested and open country before, during and after the Messinian. Greek Neogene mammal faunas seem to support the recent understanding that the Messinian 'Event' was lengthy, cyclic in tempo, and diverse in mode