Diatom biostratigraphy and datum levels of sediments from ODP Leg 167 sites

Ocean Drilling Program Leg 167 represents the first time since 1978 that the North American Pacific margin was drilled to study ocean history. More than 7500 m of Quaternary to middle Miocene (14 Ma) sediments were recovered from 13 sites, representing the most complete stratigraphic sequence on the California margin. Diatoms are found in most samples in variable abundance and in a moderately well-preserved state throughout the sequence, and they are often dominated by robust, dissolution-resistant species. The Neogene North Pacific diatom zonation of Yanagisawa and Akiba (1998, doi:10.5575/geosoc.104.395) best divides the Miocene to Quaternary sequences, and updated ages of diatom biohorizons estimated based on the geomagnetic polarity time scale of Cande and Kent (1995, doi:10.1029/94JB03098) are slightly revised to adjust the differences between the other zonations. Most of the early middle Miocene through Pleistocene diatom datum levels that have been proven to be of stratigraphic utility in the North Pacific appear to be nearly isochronous within the level of resolution constrained by sample spacing. The assemblages are characterized by species typical of middle-to-high latitudes and regions of high surface-water productivity, predominantly by Coscinodiscus marginatus, Stephanopyxis species, Proboscia barboi, and Thalassiothrix longissima. Latest Miocene through Pliocene assemblages in the region of the California Current, however, are intermediate between those of subarctic and subtropical areas. As a result, neither the existing tropical nor the subarctic (high latitude) zonal schemes were applicable for this region. An interval of pronounced diatom dissolution detected throughout the Pliocene sequence apparently correspond to a relatively warmer paleoceanographic condition resulting in a slackening of the southward flow of the California Current.

Quantitative coccolithophore analyses in sediment core MD01-2446

Quantitative coccolithophore analyses were performed in core MD01-2446, located in the mid-latitude North Atlantic, to reconstruct climatically induced sea-surface water conditions throughout Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 14-9. The data are compared to new and available paleoenvironmental proxies from the same site as well as other nearby North Atlantic records that support the coccolithophore signature at glacial-interglacial to millennial climate scale. Total coccolithophore absolute abundance increases during interglacials but abruptly drops during the colder glacial phases and deglaciations. Coccolithophore warm-water taxa (wwt) indicate that MIS11c and MIS9e experienced warmer and more stable conditions throughout the whole photic zone compared to MIS13. MIS11 was a long-lasting warmer and stable interglacial characterized by a climate optimum during MIS11c when a more prominent influence of the subtropical front at the site is inferred. The wwt pattern also suggests distinct interstadial and stadial events lasting about 4-10 kyr. The glacial increases of Gephyrocapsa margereli-G. muellerae 3-4 µm along with higher values of Corg, additionally supported by the total alkenone abundance at Site U1313, indicate more productive surface waters, likely reflecting the migration of the polar front into the mid-latitude North Atlantic. Distinctive peaks of G. margereli-muellerae (> 4 µm), C. pelagicus pelagicus, Neogloboquadrina pachyderma left coiling, and reworked nannofossils, combined with minima in total nannofossil accumulation rate, are tracers of Heinrich-type events during MIS12 and MIS10. Additional Heinrich-type events are suggested during MIS12 and MIS14 based on biotic proxies, and we discuss possible iceberg sources at these times. Our results improve the understanding of mid-Brunhes paleoclimate and the impact on phytoplankton diversity in the mid-latitude North Atlantic region.

Living benthic foraminifera of the western and southern Arabian Sea

Sediments from the western and southern part of the Arabian Sea were collected periodically in the spring intermonsoon between March and May 1997 and additionally at the end of the Northeast Monsoon in February 1998. Assemblages of Rose Bengal stained, living deep-sea benthic foraminifera, their densities, vertical distribution pattern, and diversity were analysed after the Northeast Monsoon and short-time changes were recorded. In the western Arabian Sea, foraminiferal numbers increased steadily between March and the beginning of May, especially in the smaller size classes (30-63 µm, 63-125 µm). At the same time, the deepening of the foraminiferal living horizon, variable diversity and rapid variations between dominant foraminiferal communities were observed. We interpret these observations as the time-dependent response of benthic foraminifera to enhanced organic carbon fluxes during and after the Northeast Monsoon. In the southern Arabian Sea, constant low foraminiferal abundances during time, no distinctive change in the vertical distribution, reduced diversity, and more stable foraminiferal communities were noticed, which indicates no or little influence of the Northeast Monsoon to benthic foraminifera in this region.

Distribution, genesis and age of the Schlagwasser breccia (Warstein anticline, Rhenish massif)

The name "Schlagwasser breccia" is a synopsis of several debris flows in the Warstein area, which can be derived from the Warstein carbonate platform and the Scharfenberg reef. Though only locally developed, the breccia is important for the understanding of paleogeography and sedimentology in the Eastern Sauerland. Considering this breccia some gravitational-resedimentary slide movements between a high, consisting of reef carbonates, and a basin with flinz beds can be pointed out. From the uppermost Middle Devonian to the lowermost Lower Carboniferous several slides yielded the sedimentary components building up the 30 to 50 m thick polymict breccia. Some breccias were redeposited repeatedly as can be verified by different conodont maxima in single samples. Supplying area was the western part of the Warstein high, from which the slide masses glided off to the East and Southeast, more seldom to the West and Westsouthwest. All conodont zones from the upper Middle Devonian up to the lowermost Carboniferous could be identified in the Schlagwasser breccia. Therefore, an uninterrupted continuous sedimentation must have been prevalent in the supplying area; today this area nearly is denuded of flinz beds and cephalopod limestones. The slide masses spread transgressively to the East up to a substratum consisting of different units as massive limestone, flinz beds and cephalopod limestone; they are overlapped by Hangenberg beds, alum schists and siliceous rocks of the Lower Carboniferous. Parts of the substratum were transported during the progress of the slide masses. Proximal and distal parts of the flow masses can be distinguished by the diameter of the pebbles. Graded bedding and banking structures are marked only rarely. Way of transport was up to 3 km. Differently aged slide masses do not always overlap, but are placed side by side, too. Usually the slide masses do not spread out upon a greater area during sedimentation, but form closely limited debris flows. Synsedimentary fracturing and tilting of the reef platform, epirogenetic movements and seaquakes caused the slides. The entire formation period of the breccia includes about 20 millions of years. The longevity of the events points to solid paleomorphological situations around the eastern margin of the carbonate platform.

Stable isotope and Mg/Ca record of Globigerinoides ruger morphotypes

Tests of the planktonic foraminifer Globigerinoides ruber (white; d'Orbigny) have become a standard tool for reconstructing past oceanic environments. Paleoceanographers often utilize the Mg/Ca ratios of the foraminiferal tests for reconstructing low-latitude ocean glacial-interglacial changes in sea surface temperatures (SST). We report herein a comparison of Mg/Ca measurements on sample pairs (n = 20) of two G. ruber (white) morphotypes (G. ruber sensu stricto (s.s.) and G. ruber sensu lato (s.l.)) from surface and downcore samples of the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. G. ruber s.s. refers to specimens with spherical chambers sitting symmetrically over previous sutures with a wide, high arched aperture, whereas G. ruber s.l. refers to a more compact test with a diminutive final chamber and small aperture. The G. ruber s.s. specimens generally show significantly higher Mg/Ca ratios compared to G. ruber s.l. Our results from the Mg/Ca ratio analysis suggest that G. ruber s.l. specimens precipitated their shells in slightly colder surface waters than G. ruber s.s. specimens. This conclusion is supported by the differences in delta18O and delta13C values between the two morphotypes. Although it is still unclear if these two morphotypes represent phenotypic variants or sibling species, our findings seem to support the hypothesis of depth and/or seasonal allopatry within a single morphospecies.

Benthic foraminifera in surface sediments of the Arabian Sea

Assemblages of living deep-sea benthic foraminifera, their densities, vertical distribution pattern, and diversity, were investigated in the intermonsoon period after the northeast monsoon in the Arabian Sea in spring 1997. Foraminiferal numbers show a distinct gradient from north to south, with a maximum of 623 foraminifera in 50 cm**3 at the northern site. High percentages of small foraminifera were found in the western and northern part of the Arabian Sea. Most stations show a typical vertical distribution with a maximum in the first centimeter and decreasing numbers with increasing sediment depths. But at the central station, high densities can be found even in deeper sediment layers. Diversity is very high at the northern and western sites, but reduced at the central and southern stations. Data and faunal assemblages were compared with studies carried out in 1995. A principal component analysis of intermonsoon assemblages shows that the living benthic foraminifera can be characterized by five principal component communities. Dominant communities influencing each site differ strongly between the two years. In spring 1997, stations in the north, west and central Arabian Sea were dominated by opportunistic species, indicating the influence of fresh sedimentation pulses or enhanced organic carbon fluxes after the northeast monsoon.

Benthic and planktonic foraminifera in the Japan Sea

Biostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental history of deep and surficial waters of the Japan Sea are addressed using sequences recovered from the floor of the backarc basin. The study is divided into two parts: (1) foraminifer biostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental assessment of sedimentary sequences recovered from above igneous basement at the four sites and (2) detailed planktonic foraminifer paleoenvironmental analysis of Quaternary and Pliocene sequences from Sites 794 and 797 in the Yamato Basin. A total of 253 samples were examined for the foraminifer biostratigraphy and 325 samples for the detailed paleoenvironmental study of Quaternary and Pliocene sequences. Low abundance and sporadic occurrence of foraminifers limited interpretation of results. Foraminifer-bearing intervals were correlated where possible to diatom and calcareous nannofossil zonations, and the sequences were successfully assigned to the foraminifer zonation of Matsunaga. Unfortunately, extensive barren intervals and sporadic occurrences of planktonic foraminifers prevented zonation of Quaternary and Pliocene intervals, although some interesting conclusions about paleoenvironment were possible and are listed below. A sequence of Neogene (sensu lato) paleoenvironmental events were identified: (1) deepening of the Yamato basins to middle bathyal depths by the early to middle Miocene, an event contemporaneous with the age of some deep basins known from uplifted sections adjacent to the Japan Basin; (2) cooling of the Japan Sea in the early middle Miocene; (3) oxygenation of deep waters in the late Miocene; (4) further cooling of surficial water masses between the Olduvai Subchron and the Brunhes/Matuyama Boundary; and (5) extermination of lower middle bathyal faunas and replacement by upper middle bathyal faunas near the base of the Quaternary.

Response of deep-sea benthic foraminifera to Late Quaternary climate changes, southeast Indian Ocean, offshore Western Australia

The Late Quaternary benthic foraminifera of four deep-sea cores off Western Australia (ODP 122-760A, ODP 122-762B, BMR96GC21 and RC9-150) have been examined for evidence of increased surface productivity to explain the anomalously low sea-surface paleotemperatures inferred by planktic foraminifera for the last and penultimate glaciations. The delta13C trends of Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi, and differences between the delta13C trends of planktics (Globigerinoides sacculifer) and benthics (C. wuellerstorfi) in the four cores indicate that during stage 6 bottom waters were significantly depleted in delta13C, and strong delta13C gradients were established in the water column, while during stage 2 and the Last Glacial Maximum, delta13C trends did not differ greatly from that of the Holocene. Two main assemblages of benthic foraminifera were identified by principal component analyses: one dominated by Uvigerina peregrina, another dominated by U. proboscidea. Abundance of these Uvigerinids, and of taxa preferring an infaunal microhabitat, and of Epistominella exigua and Bulimina aculeata indicate that episodes of high influx of particulate organic matter were established in most sites during glacial episodes, and particularly so during stage 6, while evidence for upwelling during the Last Glacial Maximum is less strong. The Penultimate Glaciation upwellings were established within the areas of low sea-surface paleotemperature indicated by planktic foraminifera. During the Last Interglacial Climax, upwelling appears to have been established in an isolated region offshore from a strengthened Leeuwin Current off North West Cape. Last Glacial Maximum delta13C values of C. wuellerstorfi at waterdepths of less than 2000 m show smaller than global mean glacial-interglacial changes suggesting the development of a deep hydrological front. A similar vertical stratification/bathyal front was also established during the Penultimate Glaciation.

Miozene larger foraminifera in ODP Leg 133 holes

The Marion Plateau is a large carbonate platform off northeastern Queensland. Three sites (815, 816, and 826) were drilled on this platform and form the basis for this study. Larger benthic foraminifers, together with rare planktonic forms from the shallow-water carbonates that form the main part of the platform sequence, were studied to establish a biostratigraphy. The presence of Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidiná) howchini sensu lato and Ladoronia vermicularis, together with Globorotalia (Globorotalia) praemenardii and Orbulina, indicate an early middle Miocene (N9-N12) age (i.e., lower Tf stage) for these carbonates. Dolomitization has destroyed much of the original fabric of these carbonates, making study of the larger foraminifers difficult. Sites 815 (forereef location) and 826 (backreef, lagoonal setting) provide the best faunas. However, at all sites nodular coralline algae and Halimeda are the major bioclasts; coral fragments form a major component at Sites 816 and 826. The middle Miocene neritic sequence is separated from the overlying hemipelagic sequence by an unconformity that spans much of the middle and late Miocene. At Site 815, which is in a forereef situation, the overlying hemipelagic sequence contains a Zone N17A fauna, but at Site 816, higher on the platform, a similar sequence contains a Zone N19 fauna. The faunas indicate that the platform was built up during the early middle Miocene and remained at fairly constant water depths and temperatures during this period. It was then exposed prior to subsiding rapidly during the late Miocene and Pliocene to depths similar to those of the present day.

Distribution of deep-sea foraminifera in surface sediments east of New Zealand

Paleobathymetric assessments of fossil foraminiferal faunas play a significant role in the analysis of the paleogeographic, sedimentary, and tectonic histories of New Zealand's Neogene marine sedimentary basins. At depths >100 m, these assessments often have large uncertainties. This study, aimed at improving the precision of paleodepth assessments, documents the present-day distribution of deep-sea foraminifera (>63 µm) in 66 samples of seafloor sediment at 90-700 m water depth (outer shelf to mid-abyssal), east of New Zealand. One hundred and thirty-nine of the 465 recorded species of benthic foraminifera are new records for the New Zealand region. Characters of the foraminiferal faunas which appear to provide the most useful information for estimating paleobathymetry are, in decreasing order of reliability: relative abundance of common benthic species; benthic species associations; upper depth limits of key benthic species; and relative abundance of planktic foraminifera. R mode cluster analysis on the quantitative census data of the 58 most abundant species of benthic foraminifera produced six species associations within three higher level clusters: (1) calcareous species most abundant at mid-bathyal to outer shelf depths (<1000 m); (2) calcareous species most abundant at mid-bathyal and greater depths (>600 m); (3) agglutinated species mostly occurring at deep abyssal depths (>3000 m). A detrended correspondence analysis ordination plot exhibits a strong relationship between these species associations and bathymetry. This is manifest in the bathymetric ranges of the relative abundance peaks of many of the common benthic species (e.g., Abditodentrix pseudothalmanni 500-2800 m, Bolivina robusta 200-650 m, Bulimina marginata f. marginata 20-600 m, B. marginata f. aculeata 400-3000 m, Cassidulina norvangi 1000-4500 m, Epistominella exigua 1000-4700 m, and Trifarina angulosa 10-650 m), which should prove useful in paleobathymetric estimates. The upper depth limits of 28 benthic foraminiferal species (e.g., Fursenkoina complanata 200 m, Bulimina truncana 450 m, Melonis affinis 550 m, Eggerella bradyi 750 m, and Cassidulina norvangi 1000 m) have potential to improve the precision of paleobathymetric estimates based initially on the total faunal composition. The planktic percentage of foraminiferal tests increases from outer shelf to upper abyssal depths followed by a rapid decline within the foraminiferal lysocline (below c. 3600 m). A planktic percentage <50% is suggestive of shelf depths, and >50% is suggestive of bathyal or abyssal depths above the CCD. In the abyssal zone there is dramatic taphonomic loss of most agglutinated tests (except some textulariids) at burial depths of 0.1-0.2 m, which negates the potential usefulness of these taxa in paleobathymetric assessments.

Oxygen isotope and Mg/Ca record of planktonic foraminifera of sediment core MD01-2390

Changes in the local freshwater budget over the last 22,000 years have been estimated from a sediment core located in the southern South China Sea (SCS) using a combined approach of Mg/Ca and oxygen isotopes on the planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber (white) sensu stricto (s.s.). Core MD01-2390 (06°28,12N, 113°24,56E; water depth 1591 m) is located near the glacial paleo-river mouths of the Baram, Rajang and North Sunda/Molengraaff Rivers that drained the exposed Sunda Shelf. The delta18Oseawater record reveals lower average values (-0.96±0.18 per mil) during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) when compared with modern values (-0.54±0.18 per mil). Low salinity during the LGM is interpreted to reflect a higher freshwater contribution due to a greater proximity of the core site to the mouths of the Baram, Rajang and North Sunda/Molengraaff Rivers at that time. A general deglacial increasing trend in salinity due to the progressive landward displacement of the coastline during deglacial shelf flooding is punctuated by several short-term shifts towards higher and lower salinity that are likely related to abrupt changes in the intensity of the East Asian summer monsoon. Thus, the deglacial delta18Oseawater changes reflect the combined effects of sea-level-induced environmental changes on the shelf (e.g. phases of retreat and breakdown of the shelf drainage systems) and East Asian monsoon climate change. Lower salinity than at present during the Early Holocene may be attributed to an increase in summer monsoonal precipitation that is corroborated by previous marine and terrestrial studies that report a Preboreal-Early Holocene monsoon optimum in the Asian monsoon region.

Determination of ages and fossil Coleoptera fauna from eight sites in the London region

These data sets report the fossil beetle assemblages identified from the Mesolithic to Late Bronze Age at eight sites in the London region. All but one of the study sites are within 2 km of the modern course of the Thames. The sites produced 128 faunal assemblages that yielded 218 identified species in 41 families of Coleoptera (beetles).  Beetle faunas of Mesolithic age indicate extensive wetlands near the Thames, bordered by rich deciduous woodlands. The proportion of woodland species declined in the Neolithic, apparently because of the expansion of wetlands, rather than because of human activities. The Early Bronze Age faunas contained a greater proportion of coniferous woodland and aquatic (standing water) species. An increase in the dung beetle fauna indicates the presence of sheep, cattle and horses, and various beetles associated with crop lands demonstrate the local rise of agriculture, albeit several centuries after the beginnings of farming in other regions of Britain. Late Bronze Age faunas show the continued development of agriculture and animal husbandry along the lower Thames. About 33% of the total identified beetle fauna from the London area sites have limited modern distributions or are extinct in the U.K. Some of these species are associated with the dead wood found in primeval forests; others are wetland species whose habitat has been severely reduced in recent centuries. The third group is stream-dwelling beetles that require clean, clear waters and river bottoms.

AMS 14C dating points, isotopic compositions, Mg/Ca ratios and sea surface temperatures of sediment cores GeoB10029-4 and GeoB10038-4

Quantifying the spatial and temporal sea surface temperature (SST) and salinity changes of the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool is essential to understand the role of this region in connection with abrupt climate changes particularly during the last deglaciation. In this study we reconstruct SST and seawater d18O of the tropical eastern Indian Ocean for the past 40,000 years from two sediment cores (GeoB 10029-4, 1°30'S, 100°08'E, and GeoB 10038-4, 5°56'S, 103°15'E) retrieved offshore Sumatra. Our results show that annual mean SSTs increased about 2-3 °C at 19,000 years ago and exhibited southern hemisphere-like timing and pattern during the last deglaciation. Our SST records together with other Mg/Ca-based SST reconstructions around Indonesia do not track the monsoon variation since the last glacial period, as recorded by terrestrial monsoon archives. However, the spatial SST heterogeneity might be a result of changing monsoon intensity that shifts either the annual mean SSTs or the seasonality of G. ruber towards the warmer or the cooler season at different locations. Seawater d18O reconstructions north of the equator suggest fresher surface conditions during the last glacial and track the northern high-latitude climate change during the last deglaciation. In contrast, seawater ?18O records south of the equator do not show a significant difference between the last glacial period and the Holocene, and lack Bølling-Allerød and Younger Dryas periods suggestive of additional controls on annual mean surface hydrology in this part of the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool.

Living benthic foraminiferal assemblages in surface samples of the Arabian Sea

The distribution, biomass, and diversity of living (Rose Bengal stained) deep-sea benthic foraminifera (>30 µm) were investigated with multicorer samples from seven stations in the Arabian Sea during the intermonsoonal periods in March and in September/October, 1995. Water depths of the stations ranged between 1916 and 4425 m. The distribution of benthic foraminifera was compared with dissolved oxygen, % organic carbon, % calcium carbonate, ammonium, % silica, chloroplastic pigment equivalents, sand content, pore water content of the sediment, and organic carbon flux to explain the foraminiferal patterns and depositional environments. A total of six species-communities comprising 178 living species were identified by principal component analysis. The seasonal comparison shows that at the western stations foraminiferal abundance and biomass were higher during the Spring Intermonsoon than during the Fall Intermonsoon. The regional comparison indicates a distinct gradient in abundance, biomass, and diversity from west to east, and for biomass from north to south. Highest values are recorded in the western part of the Arabian Sea, where the influence of coastal and offshore upwelling are responsible for high carbon fluxes. Estimated total biomass of living benthic foraminifera integrated for the upper 5 cm of the sediment ranged between 11 mg Corg m**-2 at the southern station and 420 mg Corg m**-2 at the western station. Foraminifera in the size range from 30 to 125 ?m, the so-called microforaminifera, contributed between 20 and 65% to the abundance, but only 3% to 28% to the biomass of the fauna. Highest values were found in the central and southern Arabian Sea, indicating their importance in oligotrophic deep-sea areas. The overall abundance of benthic foraminifera is positively correlated with oxygen content and pore volume, and partly with carbon content and chloroplastic pigment equivalents of the sediment. The distributional patterns of the communities seem to be controlled by sand fraction, dissolved oxygen, calcium carbonate and organic carbon content of the sediment, but the critical variables are of different significance for each community.

Mid-Pleistocene Mg/Ca, temperature and stable isotopes from Globigerinoides ruber white and Globorotalia inflata of sediment core GeoB3801-6 from the subtropical South Atlantic

The glacial marine isotope stage 14 (MIS 14) appears in many climate records as an unusually warm glacial. During this period an almost monospecific, up to 1.5 m thick, laminated layer of the giant diatom Ethmodiscus rex has been deposited below the South Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. This oligotrophic region is today less favorable for diatom growth with sediments typically consisting of calcareous nannofossil oozes. We have reconstructed temperatures and the stable oxygen isotopic compositions of sea surface and thermocline water (d18Ow) from planktonic foraminiferal (Globigerinoides ruber and Globorotalia inflata) Mg/Ca and stable oxygen isotopes to test whether perturbations in surface ocean conditions contributed to the deposition of the diatom layer at ~530 kyr B.P. Temperatures and d18Ow values reconstructed from this diatom ooze interval are highly variable, with maxima similar to interglacial values. Since the area of the Ethmodiscus oozes resembles the region where Agulhas rings are present, we interpret these hydrographic changes to reflect the varying influence of warm and saline water of Indian Ocean origin that entered the Subtropical Gyre trapped in Agulhas rings. The formation of the Ethmodiscus oozes is associated with a period of maximum Agulhas leakage and a maximum frequency of Agulhas ring formation caused by a termination-type position of the Subtropical Front during the unusual warm MIS 14. The input of silica through the Agulhas rings enabled the shift in primary production from calcareous nannoplankton to diatoms, leading to the deposition of the massive diatom oozes.