Dataset Information

A quantitative look on northwestern Tethyan foraminiferal assemblages, Campanian Nierental Formation, Austria.

ABSTRACT: Deposits spanning the Radotruncana calcarata Taxon Range Zone at the Postalm section, Northern Calcareous Alps (Austria) are examined quantitatively for foraminiferal assemblages, especially the planktonic group. This study focuses on establishing a high resolution record spanning an 800 ka long stratigraphic interval from the active continental margin of the Penninic Ocean. The Postalm section displays reddish limestone- marl alternations representing precession cycles. For this study, 26 samples were taken bed by bed to allow a "per-precession-cycle" resolution (i.e., a minimum sample distance of ?20 ka). Samples from limestones as well as from marls were examined for foraminiferal assemblages. Data suggest a typical, open marine Campanian foraminiferal community. The >63 µm fraction is dominated by opportunist taxa, i.e., members of Muricohedbergella and biserial planktic foraminifera. Archaeoglobigerina and "Globigerinelloides" appear frequently and benthic foraminifera are very sparsely found. The share of globotruncanids, representing more complex morphotypes amongst planktonic foraminifera, is recorded with 5-10%. The state of preservation of foraminifera from the Postalm section is moderate to poor. Differences between samples from marls and samples from limestone are evident, but do not reveal evidence that there was an influence on the postdepositional microfossil communities. However, data from microfossils showing moderate to bad preservation can still offer valuable insight into the palaeoenvironment and biostratigraphy. Information gathered on the composition of the planktonic foraminiferal assemblage confirms a low-to-mid-latitude setting for the Postalm section. As well resolved records of Late Cretaceous foraminifera assemblages are rare, the examination of the Radotruncana calcarata Taxon Range Zone provides some insights into variations and short term changes during the very short period of 800 ka.

SUBMITTER: Wolfgring E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4793319 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A quantitative look on northwestern Tethyan foraminiferal assemblages, Campanian Nierental Formation, Austria.

Wolfgring Erik E Wagreich Michael M

PeerJ 20160308

Deposits spanning the Radotruncana calcarata Taxon Range Zone at the Postalm section, Northern Calcareous Alps (Austria) are examined quantitatively for foraminiferal assemblages, especially the planktonic group. This study focuses on establishing a high resolution record spanning an 800 ka long stratigraphic interval from the active continental margin of the Penninic Ocean. The Postalm section displays reddish limestone- marl alternations representing precession cycles. For this study, 26 sampl ...[more]

PMID: 26989610

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Project description:Foraminiferal propagule banks occur in fine sediment fractions that contain small individuals of benthic foraminifera. These sediments include locally sourced juveniles and propagules, as well as allochthonous propagules that have dispersed from surrounding areas. Such propagules can remain viable even under unfavorable local conditions. When exposed to more favorable conditions, they may grow to adult stages. Accordingly, during environmental changes, propagule banks have the potential to function as species pools and allow quick assemblage reactions. The propagule method was designed to study responses of foraminiferal assemblages by exposing propagule banks to controlled conditions in the laboratory, an approach that is applicable to a variety of ecological questions. Therefore it is important to understand the nature and dynamics of propagule banks, including local and seasonal influences. To obtain insights into the composition of local propagule banks, we studied experimentally grown assemblages from two shallow-water lagoons on Corfu Island in western Greece, and compared the results with in situ assemblages. We sampled in spring and autumn of 2017 and experimental treatments included the use of different substrates in our experiments to account for potential effects on assemblage compositions. Results revealed that sediments from each lagoon contained a distinct propagule bank. We found abundant allochthonous taxa among specimens grown in all experimental treatments, indicating dispersal of propagules, and possibly also juveniles, from adjacent regions into both lagoons. The time of sampling had a significant effect on experimental assemblages, indicating that the composition of propagule banks can vary throughout the year. However, no significant differences were found in assemblages grown in different substrata, suggesting a stronger influence of water variables (e.g., temperature or salinity) on assemblage compositions. Moreover, the experimental set-ups favored small, fast-growing, sediment-dwelling species tolerant of relatively high organic content. Our findings highlight the potential of propagule banks as species pools and will help to refine and improve future applications of the method.

Dataset Information

A quantitative look on northwestern Tethyan foraminiferal assemblages, Campanian Nierental Formation, Austria.

Publications

A quantitative look on northwestern Tethyan foraminiferal assemblages, Campanian Nierental Formation, Austria.

Similar Datasets

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