%0 Journal Article
%T Planktonic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and Correlation Across the Cretaceous-Paleogene Transition at the Tethyan and the Atlantic Realms
%A Njoud Gallala
%J Paleontology Journal
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/643278
%X Based on high-resolution planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphical analysis at El Kef stratotype section (GSSP for the K/Pg boundary), Ell¨¨s section in Tunisia, and Agost and Caravaca sections in Spain (Tethyan realm), we attempt to compare biozones and subzones with those of the Bidart section (SW France) (Atlantic realm). The Abathomphalus mayaroensis zone of the upper Maastrichtian corresponds to the taxon range interval of the nominate species. We have identified the Plummerita hantkeninoides subzone. This species is present and associated with Pseudoguembelina hariaensis at the Tethyan realm. However, this species is absent at the middle latitude of the Atlantic realm (Bidart section, SW France). The Pseudoguembelina hariaensis species had larger paleogeographic spread, as it was present in both the Tethys and the Atlantic paleoceans. It is more relevant to be considered as the biomarker of a nominate uppermost Maastrichtian subzone instead of Plummerita hantkeninoides. The Danian stage is characterized by the Gt. cretacea zone, Pv. eugubina zone, and the Parasubbotina pseudobulloides zone. The deposition thickness of the zones and subzones at El Kef stratotype section and Ell¨¨s section is more expanded than at Agost and Caravaca sections (Spain) and Bidart section (France). They would be controlled by the sedimentary basin morphology. 1. Introduction At the K/Pg boundary, with most of the Heterohelicids, the Globotruncanids suffered mass extinctions. These extinctions affecting many other biological groups of vertebrates and invertebrates induced a major crisis considered as the most severe and catastrophic biological event in the history of our planet. This crisis documented in many research on the foraminifers groups ([4¨C6], among others) became more accurate until the specialists began to use the high resolution biostratigraphical analyses ([7¨C16], among others). The extinction model of planktic foraminifers groups, at the K/Pg boundary, is very controversial. Some authors consider that the lower Danian assemblages include reworked specimens of Maastrichtian taxa [17¨C19], whereas others have suggested that at least a substantial part of the latest Maastrichtian species survived into the earliest Danian [20, 21]. Deep-water benthic foraminifers were less influenced by the K/Pg boundary event, but their diversity and abundance decreased temporarily [15, 22, 23]. After these K/Pg boundary mass extinctions, small and new planktic foraminiferal species began to appear following an ˇ°explosiveˇ± adaptive radiation pattern. Consistent debates on the
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/paleontology/2013/643278/