Global dinoflagellate event associated with the late Paleocene thermal maximum

Abstract

Research Article| April 01, 2001 Global dinoflagellate event associated with the late Paleocene thermal maximum Erica M. Crouch; Erica M. Crouch 1Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, 3584 CD Utrecht, Netherlands Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Claus Heilmann-Clausen; Claus Heilmann-Clausen 2Geologisk Institut, Aarhus Universitet, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Henk Brinkhuis; Henk Brinkhuis 3Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, 3584 CD Utrecht, Netherlands Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Hugh E.G. Morgans; Hugh E.G. Morgans 4Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, P.O. Box 30–368, Lower Hutt, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Karyne M. Rogers; Karyne M. Rogers 4Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, P.O. Box 30–368, Lower Hutt, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Hans Egger; Hans Egger 5Geologische Bundesanstalt, Rasumofskygasse 23, A-1031 Vienna, Austria Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Birger Schmitz Birger Schmitz 6Marine Geology, Earth Sciences Centre, Box 460, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Erica M. Crouch 1Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, 3584 CD Utrecht, Netherlands Claus Heilmann-Clausen 2Geologisk Institut, Aarhus Universitet, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark Henk Brinkhuis 3Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, 3584 CD Utrecht, Netherlands Hugh E.G. Morgans 4Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, P.O. Box 30–368, Lower Hutt, New Zealand Karyne M. Rogers 4Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, P.O. Box 30–368, Lower Hutt, New Zealand Hans Egger 5Geologische Bundesanstalt, Rasumofskygasse 23, A-1031 Vienna, Austria Birger Schmitz 6Marine Geology, Earth Sciences Centre, Box 460, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 28 Aug 2000 Revision Received: 14 Dec 2000 Accepted: 21 Dec 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2001) 29 (4): 315–318. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0315:GDEAWT>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 28 Aug 2000 Revision Received: 14 Dec 2000 Accepted: 21 Dec 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Erica M. Crouch, Claus Heilmann-Clausen, Henk Brinkhuis, Hugh E.G. Morgans, Karyne M. Rogers, Hans Egger, Birger Schmitz; Global dinoflagellate event associated with the late Paleocene thermal maximum. Geology 2001;; 29 (4): 315–318. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0315:GDEAWT>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The late Paleocene thermal maximum, or LPTM (ca. 55 Ma), represents a geologically brief time interval (∼220 k.y.) characterized by profound global warming and associated environmental change. The LPTM is marked by a prominent negative carbon isotope excursion (CIE) interpreted to reflect a massive and abrupt input of 12C-enriched carbon to the ocean-atmosphere reservoir, possibly as a result of catastrophic gas-hydrate release, on time scales equivalent to present-day rates of anthropogenic carbon input. The LPTM corresponds to important changes in the global distribution of biota, including mass extinction of marine benthic organisms. The dinoflagellate cyst record indicates that surface- dwelling marine plankton in marginal seas also underwent significant perturbations during the LPTM. We report on the dramatic response of representatives of the genus Apectodinium from two upper Paleocene–lower Eocene sections in the Southern (New Zealand) and Northern (Austria) Hemispheres, where the dinoflagellate records are directly correlated with the CIE, benthic foraminifera extinction event, and calcareous nannofossil zonation. The results indicate that the inception of Apectodinium-dominated assemblages appears to be synchronous on a global scale, and that the event is precisely coincident with the beginning of the LPTM. Apectodinium markedly declined in abundance near the end of the LPTM. This Apectodinium event may be associated with (1) exceptionally high global sea-surface temperatures and/or (2) a significant increase in marginal-marine surface-water productivity. Such a globally synchronous acme of dinoflagellate cysts is unprecedented within the dinoflagellate cyst fossil record. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.