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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1998; v. 131; p. 71-82;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1998.131.01.05
© 1998 Geological Society of London

Palaeoceanographic Issues

Mid-Cretaceous radiolarian zonation for the North Atlantic: an example of oceanographically controlled evolutionary processes in the marine biosphere?

Jochen Erbacher1 & Jürgen Thurow2

1 Institut für Geologie und Paläontologie, Universität Tübingen, Sigwartstrasse 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
2 University College of London, Department of Geological Sciences, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK

Mid-Cretaceous (Aptian-Turonian) sediments from seven Deep Sea Drilling Project and Ocean Drilling Program sites in the North Atlantic have been investigated in order to establish a mid-Cretaceous radiolarian biostratigraphy for the North Atlantic. One of the results, a new zonation for mid-Cretaceous North Atlantic radiolaria, is presented here. From parallel investigations of calcareous sections in central Italy an accurate calibration to standard planktonic foraminiferal zonations is possible. The evolution of mid-Cretaceous radiolaria appears to be strongly related to sea-level changes, nutrient supply and the extension of the oxygen minimum zone. A model was proposed that explains extinction/radiation events of mid-Cretaceous radiolaria as being controlled by sea-level fluctuations and resulting changes of productivity. These are the parameters that control the dimensions of the oxygen minimum zone, the fluctuation of which destroys and creates habitats.


Bundesanstalt fur Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, 30631 Hanover, Germany