Mid-Cretaceous step-wise demise of the carbonate platform biota in the Northwest Pacific and establishment of the North Pacific biotic province

Abstract

The global spatiotemporal distribution of the Cretaceous carbonate platform biota, which is characterized by “tropical” Mesogean (= Cretaceous Tethys) taxa, is an important aspect of Earth's paleobiogeography. All available records of this biota in the Northwest Pacific (Japan and Sakhalin Island) are summarized in order to elucidate its stratigraphic distribution patterns and faunal changes, with special attention given to the biota of the Late Aptian–Early Albian. This carbonate platform biota flourished from the Berriasian to Early Albian interval in the Northwest Pacific, indicating that the Northwest Pacific clearly belonged to the Tethyan biotic realm at that time. A step-wise demise of the carbonate platform biota transpired in the latest Aptian to middle Albian interval. Mesogean key taxa (rudists and dasycladacean algae), some Mesogean indicators (hermatypic corals and stromatoporoids) and nerineacean gastropods disappeared at the Late Aptian to Early Albian transition. Following this event, other Mesogean indicators (orbitolinid foraminifers and calcareous red algae) and coated grains disappeared at the Early to middle Albian transition. There is no record of carbonate platform biota in the Northwest Pacific during the long interval between the Middle Albian and Paleocene. The step-wise demise of the carbonate platform biota in the latest Aptian–middle Albian interval strongly implies a “vicariance event”, which separated the North Pacific from the Tethyan biotic realm and established the North Pacific biotic province.