Quaternary palaeoceanographic changes in the northern South China Sea (ODP Site 1146): radiolarian evidence

The abundance and accumulation rates of siliceous microfossils in the northern South China Sea, including radiolarians, diatoms and sponge spicules, increased during most glacial intervals within the past 1100 kyr. Similar trends are observed in the index of thermocline surface radiolarians (TSR), diatom accumulation rates (DAR), charcoal accumulation rates (CAR) and the abundance of radiolarian species Cycladophora davisiana davisiana. Decreasing sea‐surface temperature accompanied by increased seasonality since 900 ka is indicated by a decline in the tropical radiolarian assemblage, including Tetrapyle octacantha and Octopyle stenozona, and by an increase in the subtropical assemblage, including Pterocorys zancleus, Peromelissa phalacra and Ommatartuts tetrathalamus tetrathalamus. Rapid increases at about 800 to 700 ka of siliceous microfossils, charcoal, subsurface and intermediate radiolarians, as well as the TSR index and the DAR, imply a fundamental shift in climate and a shoaling thermocline. Although these fundamental changes in the silicious fauna and flora of the South China Sea take place within the context of a developing 100‐kyr cycle, they do not change in step with changing sea‐level as indicated by marine δ¹⁸O. This is most clearly illustrated by the step‐like increase in silica accumulation (radiolaria, diatoms and sponge spicules) at 680 ka. Rather, these fundamental changes probably reflect intensified surface productivity associated with enhanced East Asian winter‐monsoon circulation. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Toarcian–Aalenian (Early–Middle Jurassic) radiolarian fauna from the Los Molles Formation,Neuquén Basin,Argentina: Taxonomy and paleobiogeographic affinities

This paper reports the occurrence of a Toarcian–Aalenian (Early–Middle Jurassic) radiolarian fauna in the Los Molles Formation, Neuquén Basin, Argentina, as well as comments on its paleobiogeographic affinities. The micropaleontologic analysis was carried out in fine-grained rocks from a turbiditic section of the Los Molles Formation. These samples were first chemically processed using only hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and afterward treated with acetic (CH₃COOH) and hydrofluoric (HF) acids. The first chemical procedure permitted the recovery of only few spongy spumellarians, while the second one enabled to recover more diversified radiolarian assemblages. In general, the studied fauna presents low diversity and abundance, with a strong dominance of spumellarians over nassellarians. The fauna is composed by the genera Paronaella, Homoeoparonaella, Praeconocaryomma, Archaeocenosphaera, Orbiculiformella, Praeparvicingula, and some unidentified spumellarians and nassellarians. According to paleobiogeographic models, the studied Toarcian–Aalenian fauna presents a mid to high latitude affinity. It is possible to infer from those data a bipolar distribution of some taxa, such as Praeparvicingula and probably Praeconocaryomma, between the Northern and Southern hemispheres since the Early Jurassic (Toarcian).     

放射虫现代生态学的研究进展及其应用前景--利用放射虫化石揭示古海洋、古环境的基础研究

放射虫以其不易溶解的硅质壳体在古海洋、古环境研究中起着不可替代的作用,其种类组合与海洋物理、水文环境有着很好的对应关系。随着放射虫在古海洋环境研究中的广泛应用以及研究手段的改进,放射虫现代生态学研究在世界各大洋得到了广泛开展。中国加入综合大洋钻探计划,势必会加快[JP2]我国古海洋学的研究步伐,放射虫作为海洋微体古生物中的一个重要类群,其生态学知识是重建古海洋、古环境的基础。因此,有必要向我国学术界提供放射虫现代生态学的研究成果及最新发展趋势,促使我国放射虫的研究与国际接轨,以提供更多的古海洋、古环境替代性指标。     

Evolutionary Significance of Pylentonemid Radiolarians and Their Late Devonian Species from Southwestern Tianshan, China

A group of radiolarian fossils with a complete morphological gradient of increasing polarization are reported from upper Devonian successions in southwestern Tianshan, China. Specifically, the important transitional mophotypes, Pylentonema transitorum sp. nov., Archocyrtium medium sp. nov. and Quadrapesus transitivus sp. nov, were found. Based on the fact that the new transitional radiolarian fossils resemble more closely to pylentonemids （cyrtoid nassellarians） than to entactinids （spumellarians） in morphology, they are assigned to pylentonemids. Pylentonemids share characters of both the Nassellaria （e.g., horned cephalis, basal opening with pylome） and Spumellaria （e.g., system of trabecular spicules）, and they are thus of evolutionary significance. The evolutionary trend from spumellarians to nassellarians is characterized by （1） internal spicule： from simple trabecular spicules to complicate components （A;Ir,II;D;V;Lr,Li;MB）; （2） polarization of the radiolarian tests due to rearrangment of spine, from radial to an axial symmetry; （3） the gradual formation of a basal opening （aperture, pylome, or podome）; and the transition from a pseudopylome, a primative pylome with a narrow margin on the outer shell, to a true pylome rimmed with a narrow, elevated impermite wall.     

Significance of the radiolarian genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Afens</Emphasis> Riedel et Sanfilippo and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Multastrum</Emphasis> Vishnevskaya for the Boreal-Tethyan correlation of the Upper Cretaceous

In the last decades, our knowledge of Late Cretaceous radiolarians has considerably improved. Nevertheless, there are still significant problems concerning correlation between radiolarian communities of low, temperate, and high latitudes. This work shows the possibility of using species that belong to the phylogenetic lineages of the genera Afens Riedel et Sanfilippo, 1974, and Multastrum Vishnevskaya, 1991, for biostratigraphic subdivision of the Upper Cretaceous at low and high latitudes.     

Stratigraphic significance of Middle Triassic radiolarians from the central part of Kotel’nyi Island (New Siberian Islands)

New data on Middle Triassic radiolarians from the central part of Kotel’nyi Island are discussed. The Triassic section is represented by clays and mudstones with diverse macro- and microfossils, which confirm the presence of lower Anisian, upper Anisian, and upper Ladinian sediments on the island. The lower Anisian Substage 10–15 m thick is composed of clays with ammonoid species Karangatites evolutus. The upper Anisian Substage 20 m thick consists of clays with phosphate concretions and bivalves Daonella sp. cf. D. moussoni Merian, D. americana Smith, ammonoid form Indigirophyllites sp. ex gr. I. spetsbergensis (Oeberg), and radiolarian assemblage with Glomeropyle boreale Bragin. The upper Ladinian Substage 25–30 m thick is composed of clays with phosphate concretions and bivalves including Daonella frami Kittl., ammonoid species Indigirophyllites sp. ex gr. I. oimekonensis Popow, and radiolarian assemblage with Muelleritortis firma (Gorican). The middle Anisian and lower Ladinian substages are missing, which may be explained by the incompleteness of the section. The Middle Triassic section of Kotel’nyi Island is first stratified on the basis of radiolarians, which are supplemented by the data on cephalopods and bivalves. Glomeropyle saccum Bragin, sp. nov. is described.     

Early cretaceous radiolarian assemblages from the East Sakhalin Mountains

Three-dimensional radiolarian skeletons isolated from rock matrix in HF solution and then studied under scanning electron microscope substantiate the Early Cretaceous age of volcanogenic-cherty deposits sampled from fragmentary rock successions of the East Sakhalin Mountains. Accordingly the Berriasian age is established for jasper packets formerly attributed to the Upper Paleozoic-Mesozoic Daldagan Group; the Valanginian radiolarians are identified in cherty rock intercalations in the Upper Paleozoic (?) Ivashkino Formation; the Berriasian-Barremian assemblage is macerated from cherty tuffites of the Jurassic-Cretaceous Ostraya Formation; and the Aptian-early Albian radiolarians are characteristic of tuffaceous cherty rocks sampled from the Cretaceous Khoe Formation of the Nabil Group. Photographic documentation of radiolarian skeletons specifies taxonomic composition and age of the Berriasian, Valanginian, Berriasian-Valanginian, Barremian, and Aptian-Albian radiolarian assemblages from the East Sakhalin Mountains, and their evolution as related to abiotic events is considered. Coexistence of Tethyan and Pacific species in the same rock samples evidence origin of radiolarian assemblages in an ecotone. Consequently, the assemblages are applicable for intra- and interregional correlations and paleogeographic reconstructions.     

Early Neogene Radiolarian faunal turnover in the northern Indian Ocean: Evidence from Andaman-Nicobar

Two intervals of faunal turnover are revealed by the study of radiolarians from the Early to Middle Miocene sequence of Andaman-Nicobar belonging to Stichocorys wolffii-Calocycletta costata-Dorcadospyris alata zones. These faunal changes are reflected in the values of species diversity, change in abundance of taxa, origination and extinction events and change in radiolarian assemblages. One such faunal change is identified in the latest Early Miocene. The time of this faunal change is marked by the extinction of species like Carpocanopsis cingulata and appearance of Calocycletta costata, Giraffospyris toxaria, Acrocubus octopylus and Liriospyris parkerae, an increasing trend in percentage of cold water species and a decreasing trend in species diversity upwards. The interval coincides with the time of initiation of cooling of sea surface water. Another, and the most prominent faunal turnover of radiolarians is recognized in the Middle Miocene Dorcadospyris alata Zone at about 14.8–12.7 Ma and is characterized by almost complete disappearance of an earlier dominant assemblage and an increase in abundance of an assemblage that was practically absent in the older sequence. The time of this turnover can be correlated with the time of Middle Miocene cooling identified in the examined sequence.     

Ophiolitic radiolarites of the Crimea and their significance for geodynamics of Mesotethys

In southern Crimea, at the southeastern foot of the Demerdzhi Mountain, at the base of conglomerates, aged from the Callovian to the Kimmeridgian, there were revealed pebbles of radiolarian cherts, from which using hydrofluoric acid, Triassic radiolarians of fine and satisfactory preservation were identified. Among them were Podobursa primitiva Tekin, Picapora robusta Kozur et Mostler, Spinotriassocampe carnica Kozur et Mostler, etc., by which the age of Crimean radiolarites was dated as Triassic (Ladinian-Early Norian).     

Radiolarians from Upper Jurassic (Middle Oxfordian and Upper Kimmeridgian) deposits of Yaroslavl oblast

The middle Oxfordian and late Kimmeridgian radiolarian assemblages from Upper Jurassic deposits of Yaroslavl oblast are studied for the first time. The middle Oxfordian assemblage is dominated by stauraxonic morphotypes of genera Paronaella and Pseudocrucella occurring in association with discoid forms. Nassellarian radiolarians are very rare in this assemblage of extremely low taxonomic diversity, which is lacking spheroidal morphotypes. The late Kimmeridgian assemblage is more diverse in morphological and taxonomic aspects. It includes spheroidal forms, those of the family Pantanelliidae Pessagno inclusive, and more frequent nassellarian species, but stauraxonic radiolarians are less abundant in its composition. This assemblage is comparable to a considerable extent with the Kimmeridgian radiolarians from Moscow oblast, being of the South Boreal type according to its composition.     

The central Qiangtang Metamorphic Belt in northern Tibet is an in-situ Paleo-Tethys Ocean: Evidence from newly discovered Late Devonian radiolarians

The paleogeographic position of the North Qiangtang Block, as well as the origin of the Central Qiangtang Metamorphic Belt (CQMB) have subjected to considerable debate that hampers the understanding of the early evolution of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. This study reports a new radiolarian fauna of a Famennian age (Late Devonian) from the ophiolitic mélange south of Gangtang Co, northern Tibet, including Callela parvispinosa Won, Entactinia foveolata Nazarov, and Plenoentactinia pinguis Won. The discovery of Devonian radiolarians in the CQMB strongly supports the model that the Longmu Co–Shuanghu suture zone represents the main branch of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. A correlation of the Late Devonian radiolarian in Tethys realm reveals that the Longmu Co–Shuanghu suture zone was connected to the Changning–Menglian suture zone in western Yunnan, the Chiang Mai–Inthanon and Chanthaburi suture zones in Thailand, and the Bentong–Raub suture zone in Malay Peninsula. The synchronous advent of Late Devonian radiolarians suggests that the Paleo-Tethys Ocean may have opened during that time.     

Studies on bedded cherts

Radiolarian cherts from two localities in North-western Italy have been studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence analysis. The quality of preservation of the radiolarians decreased from dark red to pale cherts. The effect of diagenetic processes (solution, reprecipitation and recrystallization) was least in red cherts where contained hematitic and clay material inhibited the movement of pore solutions, and greatest in the pale cherts resulting in the destruction of the original skeletal material. It is suggested that these radiolarian cherts were produced from an accumulation of siliceous radiolarian skeletons subsequently altered diagenetically with consequent loss of skeletal structure.     

Foraminifers and radiolarians across the Albian-Cenomanian and Cenomanian-Turonian Boundaries (Northern Peri-Tethys)

Changes in morphological diversity and taxonomic composition of late Albian-early Turonian foraminiferal and radiolarian assemblages from the northern Peri-Tethys are considered. Several stages are defined in evolution of planktonic foraminifers: polytaxic (Albian-Cenomanian), oligotaxic (Cenomanian-Turonian boundary period), and polytaxic (Turonian). The Albian-Cenomanian stage was characterized by intense development of rotaliporids representing an intricate group of planktonic foraminifers, which became extinct in the terminal Cenomanian. An intense speciation of the radiolarian genus Crolanium and last occurrences of its most species, the index species C. cuneatum included, was characteristic of the terminal Albian. Spheroid and discoid radiolarians were dominant in the Cenomanian, while the Turonian was marked by intense development of all the radiolarian morphotypes.     

Molluscan biostratigraphy and paleomagnetism of Campanian strata, Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia: implications for Pacific coast North America biochronology

A previously uncollected fauna of ammonites, bivalves, and other molluscs, associated with radiolarian microfossils, has been newly recognized near Lawn Hill on the east coast of central Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia. The regional biostratigraphic zonation indicates that the Lawn Hill fauna is correlative with the Nostoceras hornbyense zonule of the Pachydiscus suciaensis ammonite biozone, recognized in the Nanaimo Group of southeast Vancouver Island. The Nostoceras hornbyense Zone (new) is herein proposed for strata of Pacific coast Canada containing the zonal index. Several molluscan taxa present in the Lawn Hill section are new to British Columbia and the ammonite fauna suggests that the Nostoceras hornbyense Zone is late Campanian in age, supported by radiolarian taxa present in the section. Strata sampled in the Lawn Hill section preserve reversed-polarity magnetization, considered likely correlative with Chron 32r. The presence of the Nostoceras hornbyense Zone on Queen Charlotte Islands is the first recognition of this zone in Canada north of central Vancouver Island and represents the youngest Cretaceous known in this region. Campanian radiolarians identified from the Lawn Hill section are also the first recognized from the Pacific coast of Canada.     

Campanian-Maastrichtian radiolarians from the Malokuril’skaya Formation,the Shikotan Island

The results of radiolarian analysis confirm the Campanian-Maastrichtian age of the Malokuril’skaya Formation in the Shikotan Island. The Campanian-Maastrichtian age of the formation is implied simultaneously by radiolarians and inoceramids. The studied Campanian and Campanian-Maastrichtian radiolarian assemblages include abundant specimens representing genus Prunobrachium, characteristic of which was bipolar distribution in cold-water to temperate basins. The new occurrence site of prunobrachids is established at the latitude of 43°N, the Far East of Russia.     

Biostratigraphy of the Çeşmeler and Elmalι Dere formations: First records of upper Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera and radiolarians from the Eastern Pontides (Maçka,Trabzon, Turkey)

Upper Cretaceous pelagic deposits outcropping in the Maçka (Trabzon) region include radiolarians and pelagic foraminifera. The Çatak Group represented by the volcano-sedimentary successions consists of three formations having different properties. Two sections, ÇTK1 and ÇTK2, are selected from the Çe meler and Elmalι Dere formations, respectively, establishing the biostratigraphy of outcropping sedimentary units. A total of 17 species of Whiteinella, Helvetoglobotruncana, Marginotruncana, Dicarinella, Praeglobotruncana, Archaeoglobigerina and Hedbergella demonstrating the early Turonian–Coniacian are established in the ÇTK1 stratigraphic section. The early Turonian radiolarian fauna consisting of Halesium sexangulum Pessagno, 1971, Crucella cachensis Pessagno, 1971, Stichomitra communis Squinabol, 1903 is also defined in the same section. A total of 30 species of Crucella, Halesium, Pessagnobrachia, Patulibracchium, Alievium, Archaeospongoprunum, Dicyomitra, Stichomitra, Diacanthocapsa, Dactiyliodiscus, Amphipydax, Pseudoaulophocus, Acaeniotyle, Archaeodictyomitra, Actinomma, Xitus, Neosciadocapsidae characterizing the early and late Turonian, as well as the Coniacian–early Santonian are recognized from red-coloured pelagic limestones of the ÇTK2 section. Also, planktonic foraminifera species of Marginotruncana, Hedbergella, Heterohelix, Globotruncana, Globotruncanita, Archaeoglobigerina, Dicarinella characterizing the Coniacian–Santonian are described in the thin sections of the same samples. The age of red-coloured limestones is identified as the Coniacian–Santonian benefit from radiolarians and pelagic foraminifera. Consequently, radiolarians and pelagic foraminifera within sedimentary successions of the investigation area are distributed in two intervals that coincide with the early Turonian–Coniacian and Coniacian–Santonian intervals.     

Siliceous and organic-rich sedimentation during the Cenomanian–Turonian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE2) on the northern margin of Africa: an evidence from the Bargou area, Tunisia

The late Cenomanian–early Turonian deposits in Tunisia recording the OAE2 event are commonly attributed to the Bahloul Formation. These deposits are composed of dark clayey limestone and organic-rich black shales with abundant planktic foraminifera. At the Bargou area, Oued Kharroub section, these organic-rich deposits include siliceous beds with abundant radiolarians recalling the “Livello Bonarelli”. A total of 25 radiolarian species are identified with a maximum of 18 species per sample. Moreover, the species skeleton preservation is usually poor to moderate in the most studied samples [estimated preservation index (PI) values ranging between 4 and 6]. Two successive assemblages are distinguished. The oldest one (R_I) is dominated by nassellarians, which includes mainly Stichomitra, Pseudodictyomitra and Rhopalosyringium genera. It is included within the upper part of foraminiferal Rotalipora cushmani Zone and lower part of Whiteinella archaeocretacea zone. In contrast, the youngest assemblage (R_II), which belongs to the upper part of the W. archaeocretacea zone and the earliest Turonian Watinoceras ammonite assemblage, is dominated by spumellarians and includes mainly Archaeocenosphaera, Cavaspongia, Pseudoeucyrtis and Pyramispongia genera. In addition, major and trace elements are analysed to test whether the geochemical record was synchronous to the biotic event or not. Thus, selected crossplots, Al₂O₃ vs. SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ vs. TiO₂, are used to evaluate the detrital input, and V/Cr vs. V/(V?+?Ni) and U/Th vs. V/(V?+?Ni) are used to evaluate the bottom redox conditions and the primary productivity within the Bahloul Formation. A strong Si/Al increase is marked in the lower part of the siliceous and organic-rich Bahloul Formation that could be explained by a local increase in upwelling-related biogenic SiO₂ (silica-secreting organisms). Relative low abundance of terrigenous-related Ti/Al and K/Al ratios and enrichment of some productivity proxies such as Ba (organic matter related trace elements) suggests that the Bahloul was of relatively elevated primary productivity and minimal detrital input. Enrichments in redox-sensitive trace metals U and V in the Bahloul Formation deposits and redox indices, such as V/(V?+?Ni), U/Th and V/Cr, indicate that oxygen-restricted conditions prevailed during the late Cenomanian–earliest Turonian times and correlate well with relative abundances of some radiolarian and foraminiferal paleo-environmental indicators. In addition, indicators of detrital flux variations are used. Al₂O₃ shows a slight positive correlation with TiO₂ and a less distinct correlation with SiO₂.     

Radiolarians of the upper Cenomanian and lower Turonian from deposits of the Ananuri Formation, the western Caucasus (Lazarevskoe area)

Diverse radiolarians (over 70 species) are detected in cherty rocks above the bituminous shale horizon, the marker of anoxic event OAE-2 recorded across the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary in the upper part of the Ananuri Formation of flyschoid deposits, the Lazarevskoe area of the western Caucasus. The radiolarian assemblages studied are comparable in composition with radiolarians from concurrent Cenomanian-Turonian boundary strata in other Mediterranean regions (e.g., in the Crimea and Turkey). The lower radiolarian assemblage includes index species Dactyliosphaera silviae of synonymous Cenomanian zone. Alievium superbum present in the upper assemblage is index species of the relevant Turonian zone. Within the studied flyschoid sequence, sediments indicative of the above event (bituminous shales and cherts) are confined to upper elements of flysch rhythms.     

Turonian Radiolarians from Karnezeika,Argolis Peninsula,Peloponnesus (Greece)

Near Karnezeika a roughly 140 m thick Upper Cretaceous section consists of interbedded pelagic limestones, cherts and coarse polymict breccias including ophiolites and shallow water limestones. At the base, pink pelagic limestones rest on deeply altered and fractured Lower Jurassic Pantokrator Limestone. This first pelagic facies is dated as middle Turonian, based on planktonic Foraminifera. Over 100 m of coarse ophiolite-carbonate breccias, interpreted as a channel or canyon fill in a pelagic environment, document the erosion of the Late Jurassic nappe edifice along the Cretaceous Pelagonian margin. Above these breccias, we mesured 16 m of principally pink and red pelagic limestones and radiolarian cherts, in which we recovered well-preserved radiolarians discussed here. In this interval, the presence of planktonic Foraminfera allows to state a late Turonian to Coniacian age. More than 40 radiolarian species are described and figured in this work. The radiolarian chronostratigraphy established by 10 different authors in 11 publications was compared for this study and used to establish radiolarian ranges. This exercise shows major discrepancies between authors for the radiolarian ranges of the studied assemblage. Nevertheless, a Turonian age can be stated based on a synthesis of cited radiolarian ranges. This age is consistent with the age based on planktonic foraminifera. In combining the ages of both Radiolaria and planktonic Foraminifera, the studied samples can be restricted to the late Turonian. However, the discrepancies of published radiolarian ranges call for an urgent, major revision of the Late Cretaceous radiolarian biochronology. The integration of planktonic foraminifera with radiolarians may greatly enhance biochronologic resolution in sections where both groups occur.