Giant protist Nummulites and its Eocene environment: Life span and habitat insights from δ18O and δ13C data from Nummulites and Venericardia, Hampshire basin, UK

Abstract

Research Article| August 01, 1999 Giant protist Nummulites and its Eocene environment: Life span and habitat insights from δ18O and δ13C data from Nummulites and Venericardia, Hampshire basin, UK Louise M. A. Purton; Louise M. A. Purton 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PR, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Martin D. Brasier Martin D. Brasier 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PR, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Louise M. A. Purton 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PR, UK Martin D. Brasier 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PR, UK Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1999) 27 (8): 711–714. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)027<0711:GPNAIE>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Louise M. A. Purton, Martin D. Brasier; Giant protist Nummulites and its Eocene environment: Life span and habitat insights from δ18O and δ13C data from Nummulites and Venericardia, Hampshire basin, UK. Geology 1999;; 27 (8): 711–714. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)027<0711:GPNAIE>2.3.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 Nummulites are virtually extinct, giant marine protists that reached up to 160 mm diameter during the warmest climatic phase of the Cenozoic. Until now, their life span and paleoenvironmental tolerance have remained enigmatic. Pioneering the use of high-resolution drilling techniques in Nummulites, we show that both N. laevigatus and coeval bivalve Venericardia planicosta from the Lutetian of Hampshire, United Kingdom (ca. 50–42.5 Ma), underwent strong, annual alternations in carbon and oxygen isotopes, possibly reflecting tolerance of broad environmental variation. Our data demonstrate a life span of at least 5 yr for N. laevigatus, and we estimate that the largest species may have lived for more than 100 yr. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.