The Jurassic dinoflagellate cyst zonation of Subboreal Northwest Europe

Abstract

The Jurassic dinoflagellate cyst zonation for the British–Danish area is revised and discussed in relation to palaeoenvironmental factors, in particular, eustatic changes and fluctuations in palaeotemperature. The stepwise evolution of dinoflagellate cyst assemblages as defined by inceptions and apparent extinctions was largely controlled by sea-level change, particularly during intervals with significant short-term eustatic fluctuations. During times characterised by less pronounced, or longer term, sea-level change, fluctuations in oceanic palaeotemperatures appear to have influenced dinoflagellate evolution. Differences in the ranges of certain taxa between Denmark and the United Kingdom may be partly related to differences in palaeotemperature.