THE CRETACEOUS/PALEOGENE (K/P) BOUNDARY AT AIN SETTARA, TUNISIA: SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC MASS EXTINCTION IN PLANKTIC FORAMINIFERA

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 2000 THE CRETACEOUS/PALEOGENE (K/P) BOUNDARY AT AÏN SETTARA, TUNISIA: SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC MASS EXTINCTION IN PLANKTIC FORAMINIFERA Ignacio Arenillas; Ignacio Arenillas 1Área de Paleontología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, E-50009, Spain. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar José A. Arz; José A. Arz 2Facultad de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Linares, MEX-67700, Mexico. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Eustoquio Molina; Eustoquio Molina 1Área de Paleontología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, E-50009, Spain. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Christian Dupuis Christian Dupuis 3Laboratoire de Géologie fondamentale et appliquée, Faculté Polytechnique de Mons, B-7000, Belgium. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Ignacio Arenillas 1Área de Paleontología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, E-50009, Spain. José A. Arz 2Facultad de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Linares, MEX-67700, Mexico. Eustoquio Molina 1Área de Paleontología, Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza, E-50009, Spain. Christian Dupuis 3Laboratoire de Géologie fondamentale et appliquée, Faculté Polytechnique de Mons, B-7000, Belgium. Publisher: Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research Received: 24 Mar 1999 Accepted: 20 Jan 2000 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-264X Print ISSN: 0096-1191 © 2000 Journal of Foraminiferal Research Journal of Foraminiferal Research (2000) 30 (3): 202–218. https://doi.org/10.2113/0300202 Article history Received: 24 Mar 1999 Accepted: 20 Jan 2000 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Ignacio Arenillas, José A. Arz, Eustoquio Molina, Christian Dupuis; THE CRETACEOUS/PALEOGENE (K/P) BOUNDARY AT AÏN SETTARA, TUNISIA: SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC MASS EXTINCTION IN PLANKTIC FORAMINIFERA. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 2000;; 30 (3): 202–218. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/0300202 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 SocietyJournal of Foraminiferal Research Search Advanced Search Abstract The quantitative study and high resolution sampling of an essentially continuous and expanded Cretaceous/ Paleogene (K/P) boundary section in Tunisia allow us to test the model of extinction in planktic foraminifera. The extinction at the Aïn Settara section occurred over a short period of time similar to the Tunisian sections at El Kef and Elles and the Spanish sections at Agost, Caravaca and Zumaya. At Aïn Settara only 3 species disappeared in the latest Maastrichtian, 45 became extinct precisely at the K/P boundary and 18 disappeared in the earliest Danian. The species that became extinct at the K/P boundary constitute about 20% of the individuals in the population larger than 63 microns and 68% of the species, which suddenly became extinct in a catastrophic event precisely coinciding with the layer containing evidence for an asteroid impact. Most of these species are large, complex and low latitude deeper to intermediate dwelling forms. This extinction event is clearly the most important catastrophic mass extinction recorded in the history of planktic foraminifera. This pattern of extinction is superimposed on a controversial gradual pattern of extinction of 21 species that apparently began in the latest Maastrichtian and ended in the early Danian. The Maastrichtian species that seem to become extinct gradually are generally small, cosmopolitan and simple surface dwellers. The catastrophic mass extinction of the 45 species coincident with the K/P boundary is compatible with the effect of the impact of a large asteroid, whereas the gradual extinction of 18 species in the basal Danian could also be attributed to the long term disruptive effect of the impact. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.