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Ostracod diversity and sea-level changes in the Late Cretaceous of southern England

Ostracod diversity and sea-level changes in the Late Cretaceous of southern England

Slipper, Ian J. (2005) Ostracod diversity and sea-level changes in the Late Cretaceous of southern England. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 225 (1-4). pp. 266-282. ISSN 0031-0182 (doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2005.06.014)

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Abstract

The available data of ostracod ranges for the Cenomanian, Campanian and Maastrichtian stages of the Late Cretaceous of the northern part of the Anglo-Paris Basin were examined and combined with new data from the Turonian, Santonian and Coniacian stages. A new cumulative species diversity curve is presented for the Ostracoda of the Late Cretaceous of Britain. The results obtained challenge the method of chronoecologic charts to determine sea-level from diversity. When a more complete data set is applied, and compared with published sea-level curves, the result is the inverse of that previously predicted by employing chronoecologic charts. A model is presented of changing sea-levels in S.E. England from the Cenomanian through to the Santonian, which integrates the new diversity data with published sea-level changes and curves of stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon. In the earliest Cenomanian, low diversity is associated with a deeper water depositional environment and warmer temperatures. The mid-Cenomanian diversity maximum corresponds to a regressive trough and cooler water. Over the Cenomanian– Turonian boundary interval the diversity minimum is correlated with global sea-level and temperature maxima. The proportion of ostracods possessing eye tubercles falls to a minimum over this period. After the diversity crash, the Cenomanian fauna was replaced by the new Turonian fauna; east–west migrations into the Anglo-Paris Basin were facilitated by the sea-level rise overcoming marginal basin highs. The pattern seen in the mid-Cenomanian is also present at the Turonian–Coniacian boundary interval; that of high diversity corresponding with a regressive trough on a long-term regressive trend with cooling conditions. The model for this northern part of the Anglo-Paris Basin then associates high diversity with regressive cooler conditions, and low diversity with deeper and warmer water.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Ostracods, Late Cretaceous, Diversity, Sea-level changes, Southeast England
Pre-2014 Departments: School of Science
Last Modified: 14 Oct 2016 09:29
URI: http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/12581

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