Late Gauss to Early Matuyama invasions of Neogloboquadrina Atlantica in the Mediterranean and associated record of climatic change

Abstract

A well‐dated, high‐resolution record of climatic change is presented for the late Pliocene Mediterranean. Principal component analysis on abundances of 14 planktonic foraminiferal species reveals a series of late Gauss to early Matuyama surface water cooling events which can be correlated with North Atlantic glacial isotope stages 108 to 94. The abundance record of the benthic foraminifer Trifarina angulosa suggests lowered bottom water temperatures at times of surface water cooling. The record of surface water oxygen and carbon isotopes shows an inverse pattern with δ18O maxima and δ13C minima at times of cool sea surface temperature conditions. Concomitant decrease in P/B value and increased admixtures of clastic material suggest that late Gauss to early Matuyama surface water cooling events in the Mediterranean are accompanied with glacioeustatic sea level low‐stands. Major surface water cooling events are associated with invasions of Neogloboquadrina atlantica. This North Atlantic mid‐ to high‐latitude species is at 2.55 Ma close to the Gibraltar portal whereafter it could invade the Mediterranean repeatedly during periods of climatic cooling until it disappears from all over the North Atlantic and Mediterranean at the end of glacial stage 96.