Abstract
Species richness, absolute and relative abundances of Maastrichtian calcareous nannofossils were analyzed in Hole 1258A. Absolute abundances of taxa were used for the biozonation of this hole and the record of successive bio-events. Distribution patterns of cool water taxa such as Ahmuellerella octoradiata, Gartnerago segmentatum and Kamptnerius magnificus underscore two major cooling events. These events occurred during Chron C31r and during undifferentiated Chrons C31n to C30n. The latter event appears to be accompanied by lowered productivity, as expressed by the lower abundances of fertility index taxa Biscutum constans and Zeugrhabdotus spp. An end-Maastrichtian warming event is recorded in Chron C29r by the sudden drop in abundance of cool water taxa and acme of tropical taxon Micula murus. The disappearance of B. constans just before this event and the significant increase of Micula decussata, respectively, suggest lowered productivity and high-stress environmental conditions prior to the K/P boundary (Cretaceous–Paleogene). These results correlate very well with the climatic scenario proposed by Li and Keller (1998a) in South Atlantic Hole 525A as suggested by stable isotopes and distribution patterns of planktic foraminifera.
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