Gangyi Lu

The Paleocene-Eocene transition in the Antarctic Indian Ocean: Inference from planktic foraminifera

Isotopic depth stratification and relative abundance studies of planktic foraminifera at ODP Site 738 reveal three major faunal turnovers during the latest Paleocene and early Eocene, reflecting the climatic and structural changes in the Antarctic surface ocean. Faunal Event 1 occurred near the Paleocene/Eocene boundary and is characterized by a faunal turnover in deep dwellers, decreased relative abundance in intermediate dwellers and increased relative abundance in surface dwellers. This event marks a temporary elimination of the vertical structure in the surface ocean over a period of more than 63,000 years that is apparently associated with the sudden shutdown of the “Antarctic Intermediate Water” production. The appearance of morozovellids before this event suggests that polar warming is the cause for the shutdown in the production of this water mass. At this time warm saline deep water may have formed at low latitudes. Faunal Event 2 occurred near the AP5a/AP5b Subzonal boundary and is characterized by a faunal turnover in deep dwellers with no apparent change in surface and intermediate dwellers. Increased individual size, wall-thickness and relative abundance in deep dwelling chiloguembelinids suggests the formation of a deep oxygen minima in the Antarctic Oceans during the maximum polar warming possibly as a result of upwelling of nutrient-rich deep water. Faunal Event 3 occurred in Subzone AP6 and is characterized by a faunal turnover in surface dwellers and a delayed diversification in deep dwellers. This event marks the onset of Antarctic cooling. A drastic decrease in the δ13C/δ18O values of the deep assemblage in Zone AP7 suggests an intensified thermocline and reduced upwelling following the polar cooling.

Ecological stasis and saltation: species richness change in planktic foraminifera during the late Paleocene to early Eocene, (DSDP) Site 577

Abstract A high resolution study of late Paleocene to early Eocene planktic foraminifera at DSDP Site 577 indicates the presence of three rapid faunal turnovers, or saltation events, with durations varying between 200–400 kyr and species turnover rates between 4–12 species/100 kyr. These saltation events are separated by slow faunal turnovers, or stasis intervals, with durations varying between 2.56–5.21 Myr and species turnover rates between 0.6–1.8 species/100 kyr. Each saltation event has different characteristics with disappearances equal to appearances in event T1, appearances dominate in event T2 that nearly double species richness, and primarily disappearances in event T3 that nearly halve species richness. Only event T2 near the P E boundary is associated with major and sudden environmental changes, as marked by a rapid warming in the deep ocean and high-latitude surface ocean and a negative excursion in carbonate δ13C values, that suggest a cause-effect relationship. The other two events occur during intervals of gradual environmental changes. We suggest that all three faunal events are triggered by the attainment of threshold conditions during the oceanic environmental changes. Threshold conditions may be attained through rapid environmental changes as in the case of event T2 near the P E boundary, or by gradual though cumulative environmental changes as appears to be the case in events T1 and T3. It is unclear, however, which environmental factors (e.g., temperature, salinity, nutrients, water-mass stratification) force rapid faunal turnovers or what role intrinsic biotic factors play.

Stability and change in Tethyan planktic foraminifera across the Paleocene–Eocene transition

Abstract Examination of planktic foraminifera in the Tethys basin during the Paleocene–Eocene transition reveals two stasis intervals that are separated by a major saltation event coincident with the P–E short-term perturbation in global climate and oceanography. Changes occurred at many spatial and temporal scales as well as many taxonomic and ecologic hierarchical levels, though with various rates and magnitudes. The stasis intervals are marked by slow changes at the species level and account for 50% of the observed first and last appearances during a 2.5 Myr interval. The saltation event is marked by rapid changes at the species and morpho-guild levels and accounts for the remaining 50% of first and last appearances during an interval of about 100–200 kyr. Despite these changes, many taxonomic and ecologic units, such as the depth assemblages and genera, and faunal parameters, such as species richness and turnover rates, are stable with respect to the P–E perturbation. This coexistence of change and stability marks the crisis of Tethyan planktic foraminifera across the P–E transition and reveals the possible dynamics of ecological evolution.