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14 pages, 2257 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Globorotalia truncatulinoides in the Mediterranean Basin during the Middle–Late Holocene: Bio-Chronological and Oceanographic Indicator

by Giulia Margaritelli, Fabrizio Lirer, Katrin Schroeder, Angela Cloke-Hayes, Antonio Caruso, Lucilla Capotondi, Teresa Broggy, Isabel Cacho and Francisco J. Sierro

Geosciences 2022, 12(6), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12060244 - 13 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2550

Abstract

The planktonic foraminiferal species Globorotalia truncatulinoides is widely used as a biostratigraphic proxy for the Quaternary in the Mediterranean region. High-resolution quantitative studies performed on sediment cores collected in the central and western Mediterranean Sea evidence a significant abundance of G. truncatulinoides during [...] Read more.

The planktonic foraminiferal species Globorotalia truncatulinoides is widely used as a biostratigraphic proxy for the Quaternary in the Mediterranean region. High-resolution quantitative studies performed on sediment cores collected in the central and western Mediterranean Sea evidence a significant abundance of G. truncatulinoides during the Middle Holocene. The robust chronological frame allows us to date this bio-event to 4.8–4.4 ka Before Present (BP), very close to the base of the Meghalayan stage (4.2 ka BP). As a consequence, we propose that G. truncatulinoides can be considered a potential marker for the Middle–Late Holocene chronological subdivision. G. truncatulinoides is a deep-dwelling planktonic foraminifer and their distributional pattern in the central and western Mediterranean Sea provides a tool to monitor the onset of the regional deep vertical mixing of the water column. During the Holocene, the significant increase in the abundance of this species is in phase with the end of African Humid Period, which marks the transition from a more humid climate to the present-day semi-arid climate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Foraminifera in Biochronology)

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21 pages, 43467 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Planktonic, Benthic Foraminiferal and Nannofossil Biostratigraphy Aids the Interpretation of the Evolution at Hole U1468A: IODP Expedition 359, the Maldives

by Silvia Spezzaferri, Jeremy Young, Stephanie Stainbank, Giovanni Coletti and Dick Kroon

Geosciences 2022, 12(6), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12060239 - 8 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2908

Abstract

Extended shallow carbonate platform, pelagic, and drift deposits were drilled during International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 359 in the Inner Sea of the Maldives. These sediments yield rich and well-diversified benthic, planktonic foraminiferal and nannofossil assemblages spanning from the early Oligocene to [...] Read more.

Extended shallow carbonate platform, pelagic, and drift deposits were drilled during International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 359 in the Inner Sea of the Maldives. These sediments yield rich and well-diversified benthic, planktonic foraminiferal and nannofossil assemblages spanning from the early Oligocene to the Recent. We present here the shore-based revised integrated biostratigraphy of these microfossil groups at IODP Hole 359-U1468A together with the paleobathymetric reconstruction. Our data suggests the presence of a late Oligocene carbonate platform, marked by the shallowest water depths of the entire sequence of around 80 m. This carbonate platform sequence occurred from around 29 Ma, the extrapolated minimum age estimate, at least up to 27.5 Ma and possibly up to 25.4 Ma. Up the sequence, similar carbonate production conditions occurred until 22.5 Ma across the Oligocene–Miocene transition, equated at 23.04 Ma, with increased water depths >120 m. Notably, in the time interval approximately from 24 to 21.5 Ma, orbitally induced sapropel layers indicate a change of open to restricted circulation. However, at around 22.5 Ma, pelagic deposition at a distal slope occurred with sedimentation rates of 3 cm/years. This initially occurred in water depths of >350 m but gradually reached deposition in water depths of >500 m, which persisted from 21.12 Ma until approximately the extrapolated age of 12.8 Ma. Sedimentation rates gradually increased to 10.5 cm/1000 years at around 450 m below sea floor, marking the initiation of the drift sequence as identified in seismic lines with an age estimate of 12.8 Ma. The initiation of the drift sequence is also marked by a drastic decrease in the preservation of benthic and planktonic foraminifera from good to very poor at around 12.8 Ma. The drift sequence essentially continued to the present day but was interrupted by two events: the deposition of distinct shallow water benthic shoals and a large hiatus. From 12.8 Ma, a shallowing upward bathymetry is suggested by the occurrence of shallow benthic foraminiferal assemblages that close to around 11.93 Ma reached a maximum water depth of 80 m. This shoal then prograded into the basin and persisted at least until 9.89 Ma. Basin conditions with water depths exceeding 500 m were re-established in the upper part of the sedimentary succession after a hiatus spanning approximately from 9.83 Ma to 2.39 Ma, implying that renewed open ocean conditions occurred in the Pliocene–Pleistocene part of the sedimentary record. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Foraminifera in Biochronology)

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43 pages, 7103 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diachroneity Rules the Mid-Latitudes: A Test Case Using Late Neogene Planktic Foraminifera across the Western Pacific

by Adriane R. Lam, Martin P. Crundwell, R. Mark Leckie, James Albanese and Jacob P. Uzel

Geosciences 2022, 12(5), 190; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12050190 - 26 Apr 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3415

Abstract

Planktic foraminifera are commonly used for first-order age control in deep-sea sediments from low-latitude regions based on a robust tropical–subtropical zonation scheme. Although multiple Neogene planktic foraminiferal biostratigraphic zonations for mid-latitude regions exist, quantification of diachroneity for the species used as datums to [...] Read more.

Planktic foraminifera are commonly used for first-order age control in deep-sea sediments from low-latitude regions based on a robust tropical–subtropical zonation scheme. Although multiple Neogene planktic foraminiferal biostratigraphic zonations for mid-latitude regions exist, quantification of diachroneity for the species used as datums to test paleobiogeographic patterns of origination and dispersal is lacking. Here, we update the age models for seven southwest-Pacific deep-sea sites using calcareous nannofossil and bolboform biostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy, and use 11 sites between 37.9° N and 40.6° S in the western Pacific to correlate existing planktic foraminiferal biozonations and quantify the diachroneity of species used as datums. For the first time, northwest and southwest Pacific biozones are correlated and compared to the global tropical planktic foraminiferal biozonation. We find a high degree of diachroneity in the western Pacific, within and between the northwest and southwest regions, and between the western Pacific and the tropical zonation. Importantly, some datums that are found to be diachronous between regions have reduced diachroneity within regions. Much work remains to refine regional planktic foraminiferal biozonations and more fully understand diachroneity between the tropics and mid-latitudes. This study indicates that diachroneity is the rule for Late Neogene planktic foraminifera, rather than the exception, in mid-latitude regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Foraminifera in Biochronology)

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24 pages, 9370 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Planktonic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous of the Central European Basin

by Danuta Peryt, Zofia Dubicka and Weronika Wierny

Geosciences 2022, 12(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12010022 - 5 Jan 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3661

Abstract

Planktonic foraminifera are one of the most stratigraphically important groups of organisms for the Cretaceous system. However, standard foraminiferal zonations based mostly on species from the Tethyan bioprovince are hardly applicable in temperate regions where warm-water taxa are scarce or lacking. We propose [...] Read more.

Planktonic foraminifera are one of the most stratigraphically important groups of organisms for the Cretaceous system. However, standard foraminiferal zonations based mostly on species from the Tethyan bioprovince are hardly applicable in temperate regions where warm-water taxa are scarce or lacking. We propose a foraminiferal zonation based on foraminiferal events recognized in the northern Foraminiferal Transitional Bioprovince, which likely has a high correlation potential at least at a regional scale. Fifteen planktonic foraminiferal zones are distinguished from the upper Albian up to the uppermost Maastrichtian strata in extra-Carpathian Poland and western Ukraine. From the bottom to the top, Thalmanninella appenninica, Th. globotruncanoides, Th. reicheli, Rotalipora cushmani, Whiteinella archaeocretacea, Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica, Marginotruncana coronata, M. sinuosa, Pseudotextularia nuttalli, Globotruncana linneiana, G. arca, Contusotruncana plummerae, Rugoglobigerina pennyi, Globotruncanella petaloidea and Guembelitria cretacea. These zones are calibrated by macrofaunal zonations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Foraminifera in Biochronology)

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26 pages, 6169 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Biochronological Scales of Planktic Foraminifera for the Early Danian Based on High-Resolution Biostratigraphy

by Ignacio Arenillas, Vicente Gilabert and José A. Arz

Geosciences 2021, 11(11), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11110479 - 22 Nov 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3960

Abstract

After the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary (KPB) catastrophic mass extinction event, an explosive evolutionary radiation of planktic foraminifera took place in consequence of the prompt occupation of empty niches. The rapid evolution of new species makes it possible to establish high-resolution biozonations in the lower [...] Read more.

After the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary (KPB) catastrophic mass extinction event, an explosive evolutionary radiation of planktic foraminifera took place in consequence of the prompt occupation of empty niches. The rapid evolution of new species makes it possible to establish high-resolution biozonations in the lower Danian. We propose two biostratigraphic scales for low-to-middle latitudes spanning the first two million years of the Danian. The first is based on qualitative data and includes four biozones: the Guembelitria cretacea Zone (Dan1), the Parvularugoglobigerina longiapertura Zone (Dan2), the Parvularugoglobigerina eugubina Zone (Dan3), and the Parasubbotina pseudobulloides Zone (Dan4). The latter two are divided into several sub-biozones: the Parvularugoglobigerina sabina Subzone (Dan3a) and the Eoglobigerina simplicissima Subzone (Dan3b) for the Pv. eugubina Zone, and the Praemurica taurica Subzone (Dan4a), the Subbotina triloculinoides Subzone (Dan4b), and the Globanomalina compressa Subzone (Dan4c) for the P. pseudobulloides Zone. The second scale is based on quantitative data and includes three acme-zones (abundance zones): the Guembelitria Acme-zone (DanAZ1), the Parvularugoglobigerina-Palaeoglobigerina Acme-zone (DanAZ2), and the Woodringina-Chiloguembelina Acme-zone (DanAZ3). Both biozonations are based on high-resolution samplings of the most continuous sections of the lower Danian worldwide and have been calibrated with recent magnetochronological and astrochronological dating. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Foraminifera in Biochronology)

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20 pages, 7093 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Are Past Sea-Ice Reconstructions Based on Planktonic Foraminifera Realistic? Study of the Last 50 ka as a Test to Validate Reconstructed Paleohydrography Derived from Transfer Functions Applied to Their Fossil Assemblages

by Frédérique Eynaud, Sébastien Zaragosi, Mélanie Wary, Emilie Woussen, Linda Rossignol and Adrien Voisin

Geosciences 2021, 11(10), 409; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11100409 - 28 Sep 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2265

Abstract

Since its existence, paleoceanography has relied on fossilized populations of planktonic foraminifera. Except for some extreme environments, this calcareous protist group composes most of the silty-to-sandy fraction of the marine sediments, i.e., the foraminiferal oozes, and its extraction is probably the simplest among [...] Read more.

Since its existence, paleoceanography has relied on fossilized populations of planktonic foraminifera. Except for some extreme environments, this calcareous protist group composes most of the silty-to-sandy fraction of the marine sediments, i.e., the foraminiferal oozes, and its extraction is probably the simplest among the currently existing set of marine fossil proxies. This tool has provided significant insights in the building of knowledge on past climates based on marine archives, especially with the quantification of past hydrographical variables, which have been a turning point for major comprehensive studies and a step towards the essential junction of modelling and paleodata. In this article, using the modern analog technique and a database compiling modern analogs (n = 1007), we test the reliability of this proxy in reconstructing paleohydrographical data other than the classical sea-surface temperatures, taking advantage of an update regarding a set of extractions from the World Ocean Atlas for transfer functions. Our study focuses on the last glacial period and its high climatic variability, using a set of cores distributed along the European margin, from temperate to subpolar sites. We discuss the significance of the reconstructed parameters regarding abrupt and extreme climate events, such as the well-known Heinrich events. We tested the robustness of the newly obtained paleodata by comparing them with older published reconstructions, especially those based on the complementary dinoflagellate cyst proxy. This study shows that the potential of planktonic foraminifera permits going further in reconstructions, with a good degree of confidence; however, this implies considering ecological forcings in a more holistic perspective, with the corollary to integrate the message of this fossil protist group, i.e., the obtained parameters, in light of a cohort of other data. This article constitutes a first step in this direction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Foraminifera in Biochronology)

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37 pages, 22209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agglutinated Foraminiferal Acmes and Their Role in the Biostratigraphy of the Campanian–Eocene Outer Carpathians

by Anna Waśkowska

Geosciences 2021, 11(9), 367; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11090367 - 31 Aug 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2811

Abstract

The biostratigraphy of the Outer Carpathians is based mainly on the ranges of agglutinated foraminifera. Species acmes provide the opportunity to enhance and support the existing biozonations. Assemblages of agglutinated foraminifera from the Campanian to Eocene of various tectonic-structural units were analyzed in [...] Read more.

The biostratigraphy of the Outer Carpathians is based mainly on the ranges of agglutinated foraminifera. Species acmes provide the opportunity to enhance and support the existing biozonations. Assemblages of agglutinated foraminifera from the Campanian to Eocene of various tectonic-structural units were analyzed in terms of their qualitative and quantitative occurrence. In this stratigraphic interval, 19 species display significantly increased abundance within a relatively short interval: Caudammina gigantea (Geroch) (upper Santonian–lowermost Maastrichtian), Caudammina ovulum (Grzybowski) (Campanian–Danian), Placentammina placenta (Grzybowski)-Saccammina grzybowskii (Schubert) (upper Campanian–Danian), Caudammina excelsa (Dylążanka) (lowermost Maastrichtian–Danian), Caudammina ovuloides (Grzybowski) (Danian–Selandian), Hormosina velascoensis (Cushman) (upper Danian–Selandian), Praesphaerammina gerochi (Hanzlíková) (Thanetian), Glomospira charoides (Jones et Parker)-Glomospira gordialis (Jones et Parker) (uppermost Thanetian–lowermost Ypresian), Trochammina spp. (upper Thanetian–lower Ypresian), Reticulophragmium amplectens (Grzybowski) (Lutetian–Bartonian), Reophax duplex (Grzybowski)-Reophax “pilulifer” Brady group of taxa (Lutetian–Priabonian), Haplophragmoides walteri (Grzybowski)-Haplophragmoides nauticus Kender, Kaminski et Jones (Lutetian–Bartonian), Spiroplectammina spectabilis (Grzybowski) (Lutetian–Priabonian), “Ammodiscus” latus Grzybowski (Bartonian–Priabonian), Praesphaerammina subgaleata (Vašíček) (Lutetian–Bartonian). The biostratigraphic position and quantitative data of species with increased abundance are presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Foraminifera in Biochronology)

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Review

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25 pages, 31716 KiB

Open AccessReview

The First 40 Million Years of Planktonic Foraminifera

by Felix Gradstein, Anna Waskowska and Larisa Glinskikh

Geosciences 2021, 11(2), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11020085 - 13 Feb 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3943

Abstract

We provide a biochronology of Jurassic planktonic foramininfera, using first order linkage to ammonite and nannofossil stratigraphy and geochronology. This enigmatic and understudied group of microfossils occurred from middle Toarcian through Tithonian time, from ~180 to ~143 Ma; its origin is unknown. There [...] Read more.

We provide a biochronology of Jurassic planktonic foramininfera, using first order linkage to ammonite and nannofossil stratigraphy and geochronology. This enigmatic and understudied group of microfossils occurred from middle Toarcian through Tithonian time, from ~180 to ~143 Ma; its origin is unknown. There are three genera: Globuligerina, Conoglobigerina and Petaloglobigerina. The genus Globuligerina, with a smooth to pustulose test surface texture appeared in Toarcian (late Early Jurassic) and Conoglobigerina, with a rough reticulate test surface texture in Oxfordian (early Late Jurassic) time. The genus Petaloglobigerina, having a petaloid last whorl with one or more claviform and twisted chambers evolved in early Kimmeridgian time from Globuligerina balakhmatovae. Biochronologic events for Jurassic planktonic foraminifera are most like First Common Appearance or Last Common Appearance events. The very first or very last appearance levels of taxa are not easily sampled and detected. We recognize stratigraphic events from eleven species across four postulated evolutionary lineages, calibrated to Geologic Time Scale 2020. A faunal change, which is not well documented led to the survival of only one taxon, most likely Gobuligerina oxfordiana in the Tithonian. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Foraminifera in Biochronology)

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