Upper bathyal trace fossils document palaeoclimate changes

Author(s)
Johann Hohenegger, Peter Pervesler, Alfred Uchman, Michael Wagreich
Abstract

Marine trace fossils were investigated in a 102-m cored section that covers -14.379 to -14.142Ma (Middle Miocene). Long-term climate trends are perfectly reflected by changing trace fossil communities of the upper bathyal (-200 to -300m). The community structure is expressed in abundance of taxa based on probabilities of time concordance between the deposition of the sediment and the time, when the traces were produced. Changes in community structure precisely parallel the increasing δ 13C isotopes during the Middle Miocene climate transition and perfectly mirror oscillations in solar insolation in both amplitudes and phase. Furthermore, the density stratification of the seawater caused by wind-induced currents is reflected in trace fossil communities. Additionally, the dependence of ichnotaxa abundance from threshold values in the sedimentation rate could be demonstrated.

Organisation(s)
Department of Palaeontology, Department of Geology
External organisation(s)
Jagiellonian University in Krakow
Journal
Terra Nova
Volume
21
Pages
229-236
No. of pages
8
ISSN
0954-4879
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3121.2009.00878.x
Publication date
06-2009
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
105118 Palaeontology
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Geology
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/126ddae7-3fa0-4c57-a7bb-c163178ab56f