Abstract
After the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary (KPB) catastrophic mass extinction event, an explosive evolutionary radiation of planktic foraminifera took place in consequence of the prompt occupation of empty niches. The rapid evolution of new species makes it possible to establish high-resolution biozonations in the lower Danian. We propose two biostratigraphic scales for low-to-middle latitudes spanning the first two million years of the Danian. The first is based on qualitative data and includes four biozones: the Guembelitria cretacea Zone (Dan1), the Parvularugoglobigerina longiapertura Zone (Dan2), the Parvularugoglobigerina eugubina Zone (Dan3), and the Parasubbotina pseudobulloides Zone (Dan4). The latter two are divided into several sub-biozones: the Parvularugoglobigerina sabina Subzone (Dan3a) and the Eoglobigerina simplicissima Subzone (Dan3b) for the Pv. eugubina Zone, and the Praemurica taurica Subzone (Dan4a), the Subbotina triloculinoides Subzone (Dan4b), and the Globanomalina compressa Subzone (Dan4c) for the P. pseudobulloides Zone. The second scale is based on quantitative data and includes three acme-zones (abundance zones): the Guembelitria Acme-zone (DanAZ1), the Parvularugoglobigerina-Palaeoglobigerina Acme-zone (DanAZ2), and the Woodringina-Chiloguembelina Acme-zone (DanAZ3). Both biozonations are based on high-resolution samplings of the most continuous sections of the lower Danian worldwide and have been calibrated with recent magnetochronological and astrochronological dating.
Highlights
The high biostratigraphic resolution of planktic foraminifera is a result of their rapid evolution
A large number of biostratigraphic horizons can be recognized, but not all of them are of any utility in biochronostratigraphy and biochronology
Having conducted a review of ten selected lower Danian sections, which are among the most expanded, complete, and continuous sections in Spain, Tunisia, Mexico, and Cuba, we propose two alternative planktic foraminiferal zonations for the lower Danian, applicable for low and middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, and oceanic and outer neritic environments: one based on updated qualitative data and stratigraphic ranges, and the other based on quantitative data
Summary
The high biostratigraphic resolution of planktic foraminifera is a result of their rapid evolution. Having conducted a review of ten selected lower Danian sections, which are among the most expanded, complete, and continuous sections in Spain, Tunisia, Mexico, and Cuba, we propose two alternative planktic foraminiferal zonations for the lower Danian, applicable for low and middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, and oceanic and outer neritic environments: one based on updated qualitative data and stratigraphic ranges (interval zones), and the other based on quantitative data (abundance zones or acmezones) The former is correlated with the most standardized biozonations and calibrated with recent high-resolution magnetochronological and astrochronological dating. Calibrated ages by Gilabert et al [9] were linearly interpolated within each precession cycle recognized between the above-cited tie-points, allowing the large, orbitally driven changes in the sedimentation rate at the Zumaia section to be accounted for, and providing a detailed age calibration of the key-biohorizons (Table 1)
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