Planktonic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and Correlation Across the Cretaceous-Paleogene Transition at the Tethyan and the Atlantic Realms

Abstract

Based on high-resolution planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphical analysis at El Kef stratotype section (GSSP for the K/Pg boundary), Ellès section in Tunisia, and Agost and Caravaca sections in Spain (Tethyan realm), we attempt to compare biozones and subzones with those of the Bidart section (SW France) (Atlantic realm). The Abathomphalus mayaroensis zone of the upper Maastrichtian corresponds to the taxon range interval of the nominate species. We have identified the Plummerita hantkeninoides subzone. This species is present and associated with Pseudoguembelina hariaensis at the Tethyan realm. However, this species is absent at the middle latitude of the Atlantic realm (Bidart section, SW France). The Pseudoguembelina hariaensis species had larger paleogeographic spread, as it was present in both the Tethys and the Atlantic paleoceans. It is more relevant to be considered as the biomarker of a nominate uppermost Maastrichtian subzone instead of Plummerita hantkeninoides. The Danian stage is characterized by the Gt. cretacea zone, Pv. eugubina zone, and the Parasubbotina pseudobulloides zone. The deposition thickness of the zones and subzones at El Kef stratotype section and Ellès section is more expanded than at Agost and Caravaca sections (Spain) and Bidart section (France). They would be controlled by the sedimentary basin morphology.

Hypothesis testing on the planktic foraminiferal survival model after the KPB mass extinction: evidence from Tunisia and Algeria

“…Because the dispute among KPB specialists focused on the controversy over the causes of the extinction, the debate on the presence of "reworked specimens vs. survivor taxa" in lowermost Danian samples waned in the 2000s, and virtually nothing else was published in the 2010s, with only a few exceptions (e.g., Gallala et al 2009;Gallala 2013Gallala , 2014Punekar et al 2014;Molina 2015). However, this is a relevant issue both for the verification or refutation of the two main hypotheses about the causes of the KPB extinction (asteroid impact vs. massive volcanism) and for the reconstruction of the phylogenetic relationships among early Danian planktic foraminifera (e.g., Koutsoukos 2014).…”