THE PALEOCENE-EOCENE THERMAL MAXIMUM: NEW DATA ON MICROFOSSIL TURNOVER AT THE ZUMAIA SECTION, SPAIN

Abstract

The benthic foraminiferal turnover and extinction event (BEE) associated with the negative carbon isotope excursion (CIE) across
\nthe Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is analyzed in
\nthe Zumaia section (Spain), one of the most complete and expanded deep-water sequences known worldwide. New biostratigraphic, paleoecologic, and paleoenvironmental data on benthic foraminifera are correlated to information on planktic foraminiferal and calcareous nannofossil turnover in order to evaluate possible causes and consequences of the PETM. Gradual but rapid extinction of 18% of the benthic foraminiferal species starts at the onset of the CIE, after the initial ocean warming (as inferred from calcareous nannofossils) recorded in the last 46 kyr of the Paleocene. This gradual extinction event culminated 10.5 kyr after the onset of the CIE and led to the main BEE, affecting 37% of the species. Therefore, extinctions across the PETM affected a total of 55% of the benthic foraminiferal species at Zumaia. The gradual extinction occurred under inferred oxic conditions without evidence for carbonate dissolution, indicating that carbonate corrosivity and oxygenation of the ocean bottom waters were not the main cause of the event. An interval characterized by dissolution occurs above the main BEE,
\nsuggesting that bottom waters became corrosive after the main extinction. Carbonate is progressively better preserved through the
\noverlying deposits, and carbon isotope values gradually return to
\nbackground levels. These data are consistent with a slow deepening
\nof the carbonate compensation depth after its initial rise owing to
\nabrupt acidification of the oceans. Microfossil data support a rapid
\nonset of the PETM, followed by long-term effects on calcareous
\nplankton and benthic foraminifera.