Cretaceous Research (2002) 23, 333349

doi:10.1006/cres.2002.1008, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on

CenomanianTuronian palaeoceanographic
change on the Kerguelen Plateau: a comparison
with Northern Hemisphere records
Ann Holbourn and Wolfgang Kuhnt
Institut fur Geowissenschaften, Christian-Albrechts-Universitat, Olshausenstr. 40, 24118 Kiel;
e-mails: ah@gpi.uni-kiel.de; wk@gpi.uni-kiel.de

Revised manuscript accepted 25 March 2002

Recent drilling on the Kerguelen Plateau (Ocean Drilling Program Leg 183) has provided a unique and exciting high latitude
record of palaeoceanographic change during the CenomanianTuronian in the Southern Ocean. The benthic foraminiferal
succession at Site 1138 records the evolution of the Kerguelen Plateau from a subaerially exposed platform in the
Cenomanian to a bathyal, pelagic environment in the early Turonian, following a major transgressive pulse and increased
thermal subsidence of the Kerguelen Plateau, which led to a sea-level rise of possibly several hundred metres. Diversified
benthic foraminiferal assemblages indicate an upper bathyal, mesotrophic setting after the peak of the transgression. The
assemblages exhibit strong similarities to temperate, shelf and slope assemblages in the Northern Hemisphere. This bimodal
distribution reflects the existence of open oceanic gateways and a dynamic trans-hemispheric global circulation. Equatorial
assemblages are characterized by a low-diversity, high carbon flux biofacies. Assemblages from Alaska demonstrate high
organic productivity and low oxygen conditions and the prevalence of elevated temperatures on the flooded shelf of the North
Slope. Our results show that the distribution of upper bathyal benthic foraminifera was strongly modulated by carbon flux
and oxygenation fluctuations, and not by physical migration barriers.  2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

K W: Ocean Drilling Program; Leg 183; Kerguelen Plateau; benthic foraminifera; biogeography;
palaeoceanography; CenomanianTuronian.

1. Introduction models (Barron et al., 1993, 1995; Hay, 1995; Valdes

The mid-Cretaceous was characterized by some of the
highest atmospheric CO2 concentrations, warmest
climate, and highest sea level in Earths history (cf.
Haq et al., 1987; Clarke & Jenkyns, 1999). The late
Cenomanian event, originally referred to as Oceanic
Anoxic Event 2 by Schlanger & Jenkyns (1976), is
typified by a large, positive, global carbon-isotope
excursion in both carbonate and organic matter,
caused by a major perturbation of the global carbon
budget. During this period, major fluctuations in
oceanic circulation, surface water productivity and
preservation of organic matter led to the global
deposition of organic-rich sediments, and possibly
exerted a profound impact on the evolution of the
terrestrial and marine biota (Sepkoski, 1986; Hart &
Leary, 1991; Kaiho & Hasegawa, 1994; Boulter et al.,
1998; Huber et al., 1999).
The existence of weak latitudinal temperature
gradients during the mid-Cretaceous has been
demonstrated by climate and oceanic circulation
et al., 1997; Poulsen et al., 1998), and by a growing
body of sedimentological (Frakes & Francis, 1988),
isotopic (Huber et al., 1995; Huber, 1998; Norris &
Wilson, 1998; Fassell & Bralower, 1999; Poulsen
et al., 1999; Wilson & Norris, 2001), faunal (Parrish
et al., 1987; Tarduno et al., 1998) and floral evidence
(Jeerson, 1982; Spicer & Parrish, 1986; Herman &
Spicer, 1996; Parrish et al., 1998; Falcon-Lang et al.,
2001). However, the temporal and causal relation-
ships among sea-level rise, carbon burial, climate
evolution, and the role of the trans-hemispheric global
circulation, as well as the influence of opening and
closing oceanic gateways, are still unclear and
intensely debated for this period of time (Hay et al.,
1999; Gale et al., 2000; Voigt, 2000).
The impact of the CenomanianTuronian palae-
oceanographic event in temperate and subtropical
regions of the Northern Hemisphere has been exten-
sively documented, and most previous studies have
focused on sediments from Europe, North and Cen-
tral America, North Africa and the North Atlantic

01956671/02/$35.00/0  2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

334 A. Holbourn and W. Kuhnt
(e.g., Kuhnt et al., 1990; Jenkyns et al., 1994; Gale,
1995; Kuhnt & Wiedmann, 1995; Leckie et al., 1998;
Huber et al., 1999; Paul et al., 1999; Jarvis et al.,
2001). By contrast, records from the Southern
Hemisphere, and especially from high latitudes,
have proved more elusive, except for relatively rare
studies of cores and land sections, principally from
South America, the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean
(Koutsoukos et al., 1990; Thurow et al., 1992; Huber
et al., 1995; Clarke & Jenkyns, 1999; Petrizzo, 2001).
Leg 183, recently drilled on the Kerguelen Plateau
(Figure 1), provided new material from which to
evaluate the impact of the CenomanianTuronian
palaeoceanographic event in a high latitude, temper-
ate region of the Southern Ocean that probably played
a crucial role in modulating global climate and oceanic
circulation. One of the most striking finds when
drilling on the Kerguelen Plateau, was the recovery of
a mid-Cretaceous sedimentary succession at Site 1138
(water depth 1141.4 m), which comprises a 60-cm-
thick laminated black shale followed by lower
Turonian pelagic chalks (Figure 2), and represents the
local expression of the CenomanianTuronian palae-
oceanographic event. This sedimentary succession
contains some relatively well-preserved benthic
foraminifera that can be used as proxy indicators
to monitor changes in oxygenation, bathymetry and
carbon flux regimes and thus, to reconstruct sea-level
fluctuations and oceanic circulation patterns during
the CenomanianTuronian on the Kerguelen Plateau.
The main purpose of this paper is to (1) document
late Cenomanianearly Turonian benthic foramin-
iferal distribution patterns, and to evaluate how faunal
changes are linked to sedimentary and palaeo-
environmental changes on the Kerguelen Plateau; (2)
compare this Southern Ocean record with selected
Northern Hemisphere records from various latitudes
(Alaska, northern Germany, southern France and
western Africa); (3) assess latitudinal distribution
gradients and evaluate the main factors influencing
benthic foraminiferal distribution during the late
Cenomanianearly Turonian.
2. Geological setting
The locations of ODP (Ocean Drilling Program)
Site 1138 and the onshore sections of Tarfaya,
Vergons, Wunstorf and Alaska during the mid-
Cretaceous are shown in Figure 1. A stratigraphic
correlation and geological summary of these sections
is presented in Table 1.
Kerguelen Plateau Site 1138
ODP Site 1138 is located southeast of Heard and
McDonald islands, on the Kerguelen Plateau, a giant
oceanic igneous plateau that started to form in the
Early Cretaceous. The 60-m-thick Cenomanian
Turonian sedimentary succession drilled at Hole
1138A represents a transgressive sequence from sub-
aerial volcanic rocks, capped by regolith and fluvial
deposits, through neritic sandstones to bathyal,
pelagic oozes. Detailed sedimentological descriptions
can be found in Con et al. (2000). We visited the
ODP Core Repository in College Station, Texas, in
the spring of 1999 to select additional samples and to
prepare a detailed lithological description of cores
1138A-73R68R. This is shown in Figure 2.
Tarfaya, South Morocco
The Tarfaya Basin is a tectonically stable Mesozoic
basin, which extends along the coast of southern
Morocco between latitudes 28 and 24N. Bituminous
marls were deposited in an open shelf setting during
the late Cenomanian and early Turonian. At Shell
well S75, the more distal of the locations studied, the
40-m-thick CenomanianTuronian sedimentary suc-
cession consists almost exclusively of organic matter
and biogenic carbonates (up to 90%). At the more
proximal location of Oued Amma Fatma, the 17-m-
thick succession is intercalated with coarse bio-
clastic limestones displaying erosive bases. Detailed
sedimentological descriptions, and stratigraphic and
geochemical analyses can be found in Kuhnt et al.
(1997), Holbourn et al. (1999) and Luderer (1999).
Vergons, southern France
The Vergons section is situated in the deeper part of
the Vocontian Basin in southern France. During the
late Cenomanian and early Turonian, the basin
formed a western gulf of the Tethys in the Alpine area.
At Vergons, a rhythmic succession of nannofossil
marls and limestones accumulated in an upper to
middle bathyal, passive marginal setting. This succes-
sion is interrupted by a distinct, approximately 1-m-
thick band of homogenous and laminated organic-rich
shales in the uppermost Cenomanian. The marlstone-
limestone succession shows evidence of submarine
sliding; slumping is observed within the black shales.
Detailed sedimentological descriptions, and strati-
graphic and geochemical analyses have been pre-
sented previously by Crumiere et al. (1990).
Wunstorf, North Germany
The Wunstorf section was deposited in the Boreal,
pelagic shelf basin of Northwest Europe. The upper
Cenomanianlower Turonian succession consists of
 Alaska

Wunstorf

Vergons

Tarfaya

Kerguelen
CenomanianTuronian palaeoceanography of the Kerguelen Plateau

Black laminated shales or marlstones Chalks or marlstones Sandstones

Figure 1. 90 Ma palaeogeographic reconstruction (after Smith et al., 1994) showing location of ODP Site 1138 (Kerguelen Plateau) and onshore sections of
Tarfaya, Vergons, Wunstorf and Alaska.
335
336 A. Holbourn and W. Kuhnt

Gavelinella Gyroidinoides Praebulimina Tappanina Lenticulina Calcareous

m Samples dakotensis lenticulus nannina laciniosa spp. foraminifera

641
1

642.18
2
642.54

3
643.62
643.83

645.13
5 645.42

646.25
6

650.18

ODP 1831138A 650.6

1
Depth (mbsf)

Lithol. Unit

651.31
Recovery

651.78
Zone

Core

2
652.42
652.71
3
68R 653.21
653.49
653.76
4
650 IV
654.53
5
69R 655.29

6 655.92
660
Barren or very impoverished assemblages
656.42

7
70R 657.13

657.8
V 8
670

71R

680

72R 669.34

VI 1
670.45
690
670.76

73R 2

671.94
Barren or very impoverished assemblages

3 672.13

679.55
1
680.24

2 680.81 Light to dark grey Black organic-rich

claystones claystones
681.47
3
Coarse sandstones Light grey
with pebbles chalks
682.46
Glauconitic Dark brown silty
sandstones claystones
Glauconitic calcareous Calcareous glauconitic
1 689.5 sandstones sandy claystones
690.17
2 690.45

691.15
3
691.71
0 25 50 75 100 25 50 75 100 25 50 75 100 25 50 75 100 25 50 75 100 25 50 75 100

Figure 2. Lithology and percentage distribution of benthic foraminifera in CenomanianTuronian sedimentary rocks from
Hole 1138A.
Table 1. Stratigraphic and geological summary of sections studied from ODP Site 1138 and onshore Tarfaya, Vergons, Wunstorf and Alaska.

Kerguelen South Morocco Southern France North Germany North Germany Alaska
Site 1138 Tarfaya Vergons Wunstorf (marl) Wunstorf (clay) North Slope

Age archaeocretaceahelvetica archaeocretaceahelvetica archaeocretacea Zone cushmani and cushmani Zone archaeocretacea Zone
Zone Zone archaeocretacea zones
Palaeolatitude 60S 10N 25N 40N 40N 85N
temperate tropical subtropical temperate temperate arctic
Southern Ocean East Atlantic Tethys N European shelf N European shelf Arctic Ocean
Setting subsiding shelf outer shelf passive upper to middle pelagic shelf basin pelagic shelf basin shelf passive margin
oceanic volcanic margin bathyal passive stable continent with stable continent with
platform margin salt tectonics salt tectonics
Depth of water 50300 m 200300 m 5001500 m 200500 m 200500 m 50200 m
Lithology dark glauconitic shales laminated organic-rich homogeneous and nannofossil homogenous black laminated
and nannofossil oozes nannofossil oozes laminated marlstones shales organic-rich shales
organic-rich shales
and nannofossil
marlstones
Anoxia short term dysoxic intense and long term intense, short term none none intense and long
term
Maximum TOC <3% 20% 5% <1% 3% >5%
Accumulation very low very high low none low moderate
rate of black-
shale section
References Con et al. (2000) Kuhnt et al. (1997) Crumiere et al. Kuhnt & Wiedmann Kuhnt & Wiedmann Tappan (1957)
Holbourn et al. (1999) (1990) (1995) (1995) Tappan (1962)
CenomanianTuronian palaeoceanography of the Kerguelen Plateau

Luderer (1999) Berquist (1966)

337
338 A. Holbourn and W. Kuhnt
two main sedimentary units: a first cycle of thin,
organic-rich claystones in the Rotalipora cushmani
Zone, and a second cycle of organic-rich marlstones
with a high carbonate content in the Whiteinella
archaeocretacea Zone. Detailed sedimentological and
stratigraphic descriptions have been provided by
Kuhnt & Wiedmann (1995) and Mutterlose et al.
(1998).
North Slope of Alaska
Umiat 1 well was a test oil well drilled on the North
Slope of Alaska during the 1940s. It was situated
between two branches of the Seabee Creek, on the
north side of the Colville River. At this site, beds of
the Seabee Formation of late Cenomanianearly
Turonian age extend from the surface to a depth of
nearly 300 m. The sedimentary succession consists of
laminated organic-rich shales, which are overlain by
siltstones and sandstones. Detailed sedimentological
and stratigraphic descriptions can be found in Tappan
(1957, 1962) and Berquist (1966).
3. Methods
Samples were dried, weighed, and treated initially
with a mixture of H2O2 (15%) and chalk to avoid
carbonate dissolution by sulfuric acid from oxidation
of disseminated pyrite. Samples were then wet-sieved
through a 63
m screen. Those that did not disinte-
grate were dried and soaked in a concentrated anionic
tenside solution (REWOQUAT of REWO Chemie,
Steinau an der Strasse, Germany). Residues were dry
sieved into 63125
m, 125250
m and 250630
m We observed the first occurrence (FO) of Helveto-
fractions. Samples were picked from the whole frac-
tion or from splits of each fraction, and total numbers
were recalculated accordingly. Approximately equal
numbers of specimens were counted from each frac-
tion. Thus, in the large size fraction, usually all
specimens were counted, whereas in the small size
fraction only a small split was counted, owing to the
very large number of tests. Splitting was not necessary
for samples within the black shales, where foramin-
iferal density (specimens per gram of dried sediment)
was extremely low.
We used correspondence analysis to discriminate
benthic foraminiferal distribution patterns and to
assess latitudinal distribution gradients. Quantitative
distribution charts of benthic foraminifera were com-
bined into a coded matrix for a total of 65 samples
with frequency counts of 79 taxa. Original counts of
benthic foraminifera were converted into six fre-
quency classes using a logarithmic scale to reduce
over-representation of extremely abundant taxa (see
Field et al., 1982). Rare taxa with fewer than three
occurrences were excluded, and species with morpho-
logical intergrades were assembled into larger taxo-
nomic groupings. The correspondence analysis was
carried out using the software package ECOLOGIX
written in 1982 by M. Roux (Montpellier University).
ECOLOGIX was run on a VAX/VMS computer at
the University of Kiel. A more detailed description of
the application of correspondence analysis to micro-
palaeontological data sets is given in Saint-Marc &
Berggren (1988), Kuhnt & Moullade (1991) and
Kuhnt et al. (1999).
Stable carbon isotope measurements of planktonic
tests from selected samples were made with a
Finnigan MAT 251 mass spectrometer installed at the
Leibniz-Labor fur Altersbestimmung und Isotopen-
forschung in Kiel. The instrument is coupled on-line
to a Carbo-Kiel device for automated CO2 prep-
aration from carbonate samples for isotopic analysis.
Samples were reacted by individual acid addition. The
system has an accuracy (on the  scale) of 0.05
for oxygen carbon and 0.08 for carbon oxygen
isotopes (Erlenkeuser, pers. comm. 2000). The re-
sults were calibrated using the National Institute
Bureau of Standards and Technology (Gaithersburg,
Maryland), carbonate isotope standard NBS 20 and,
in addition, NBS 19 and 18, and are reported on the
PeeDee belemnite (PDB) scale.
4. Kerguelen Plateau
Stratigraphy
globotruncana helvetica in Sample 1138A-69R-1,
131133 cm. Samples from interval 1138A-69R-2,
36 cm to -69R-4, 122 cm, were assigned to the W.
archaeocretacea Zone. As neither R. cushmani nor other
diagnostic planktonic foraminifera were found below
this interval, precise dating of the lower part of the
sedimentological succession was not possible. The
abrupt lithological change from glauconitic sand-
stones, siltstones and claystones to black shales
recorded in the lower part of Core 1138A-69R
(Figure 2) suggests that stratigraphic gaps occur and
that part of the late Cenomanian transgression record
is probably missing.
Planktonic foraminiferal 13C values (Table 2)
allow a tentative correlation with the end of the global
carbon isotope excursion, based on the presence of a
carbon isotope positive peak and decline in the inter-
val 1138A-69R-2, 36 cm to -69R-1, 131 cm, above
the black shale, the absence of R. cushmani, and the
first occurrence of H. helvetica at the end of the
 CenomanianTuronian palaeoceanography of the Kerguelen Plateau 339

Table 2. 13C values of planktonic foraminifera. Late Cenomanianearly Turonian palaeoceanographic

changes

Interval (cm)

Interval (cm)
The lithological succession from silty claystones
through glauconitic sandstones, black shales and
Section

18O
Core

finally cyclic claystones and chalks (cores 1138A-

13C
Hole

mbsf
Leg

73R67R) represents a transgressive sequence,

183 1138 A 68 R 1 60 64 641.00
183 1138 A 68 R 3 37 39 643.62
183 1138 A 68 R 4 76 79 645.42
183 1138 A 69 R 1 131 133 651.31
183 1138 A 69 R 2 36 38 651.78
183 1138 A 69 R 3 62 64 653.21
183 1138 A 69 R 3 117 119 653.76
183 1138 A 69 R 4 44 46 654.53
decline. This interval corresponds to the Recovery
interval of Paul et al. (1999) in the lower part of the
Holywell Member at Eastbourne, England.
Benthic foraminiferal distribution patterns
The benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the litho-
logical succession from cores 1138A-73R67R
show marked variations in abundance and diversity
(Table 3, Figure 2). The basal silty claystones (cores
1138A-73R72R) are virtually barren of foraminifera.
By contrast, the glauconitic sandstones in cores
1138A-71R70R contain assemblages that are
strongly dominated by Gavelinella dakotensis (repre-
senting close to 100% of the whole assemblages).
Diversity increases in the overlying calcareous, glau-
conitic, sandy claystones from sections 1138A-69R-
56, where Gyroidinoides lenticulus, Lenticulina spp.
and Praebulimina nannina co-occur with G. dakotensis.
The black shales above the calcareous, glauconitic,
sandy claystones (interval 1138A-69R-5, 2785 cm)
are virtually barren of foraminifera. However, the
overlying upper Cenomanian-lower Turonian cyclic
alternations of light grey chalks and dark grey to black
nannofosssil claystones in cores 1138A-69R68R con-
tain moderately- to well-preserved calcareous assem-
blages, which exhibit significant variations in
abundance and diversity. Among the 31 taxa ident-
ified within this upper interval, the most common
species are Gavelinella dakotensis, Gyroidinoides lenticu-
lus, Lenticulina spp., P. nannina and Tappanina lac-
iniosa. Virtually all the species found at Site 1138 are
cosmopolitan, and are known to occur commonly
in open shelf and bathyal settings. Common taxa at
Site 1138A are illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.
reflecting a significant increase in water depth from a
2.34
3.23 subaerially exposed platform in the Cenomanian to a
2.71
4.57 bathyal, pelagic environment in the early Turonian,
2.83
4.23 following a major transgressive pulse coupled with
3.18
3.24 increased thermal subsidence of the Kerguelen
3.63
3.35
2.91
3.13
Plateau after intense volcanism. The glauconitic sand-
3.12
3.09 stones from cores 1138A-71R70R contain no plank-
3.00
3.44 tonic foraminifera and virtually monospecific benthic
assemblages of G. dakotensis, pointing to a restricted
proximal environment. By contrast, the more diversi-
fied assemblages in the overlying calcareous, glauco-
nitic, sandy claystones (sections 1138A-69R-56)
indicate a more distal, marine setting. Deposition of
the black-shale section (interval 1138A-69R-5, 27
85 cm) corresponded to an interval of high organic
flux and extremely low oxygenation on the sea floor,
demonstrated by the scarcity of benthic foraminiferal
tests and the presence of abundant authigenic pyrite.
As sea-floor ventilation improved, diversified benthic
foraminiferal assemblages with Gavelinella dakotensis,
Gyroidinoides lenticulus and P. nannina became estab-
lished (cores 1138A-69R68R). The high proportion
of buliminids in the assemblages suggests an upper
bathyal, mesotrophic setting. Marked changes in car-
bon flux and bottom-water oxygenation are suggested
by fluctuations in benthic foraminiferal abundance
and diversity during deposition of the overlying cyclic
darker claystones and lighter chalks (cores 1138A-
69R68R). These changes point to variable circu-
lation and productivity regimes and to climate insta-
bility during the recovery period following the global
black-shale event.
5. Comparison with Northern Hemisphere
records
South Morocco
Lower Turonian benthic foraminiferal assemblages
from Oued Amma Fatma and Shell well S75 in the
Tarfaya Basin reflect extremely high accumulation
rates of benthic foraminiferal tests and low diversity.
The assemblages are dominated by Gabonita levis,
G. obesa and Praebulimina seabeensis (Table 4). The
composition of the foraminiferal assemblages suggests
a high productivity outer shelf to upper slope. Marked
variations in abundance and composition appear to
have been related to changing oxygenation levels on
Table 3. Distribution of benthic foraminifera in sections 1138A-73R67R (number of tests/g); x indicates a value less than 1.
340

Leg
Hole
Core
Section
Interval
Interval
mbsf
Astacolus parallelus
Astacolus spp.
Bolivina anambra
Ellipsoidella sp. 1
Frondicularia sp.
Frondovaginulina inversa
Fursenkoina tegulata
Gaudryina sp.
Gavelinella dakotensis
Globulina prisca
Gyroidinoides lenticulus
Laevidentalina spp.
Lenticulina spp.
Lingulogavellinela turonica
Marssonella oxycona
Oolina sulcata
Oolina spp.
Osangularia spp.
Planularia complanata
Pleurostomella spp.
Praebulimina nannina
Psilocitharella recta
Pyramidulina sceptrum
Pyrulinoides acuminata
Quadrimorphina allomorphinoides
Ramulina aculeata
Saracenaria spp.
Spiroplectinata annectens
Tappanina laciniosa
Triloculina spp.
Valvulineria spp.
Number of tests/g

183 1138 A 67 R 1 61 63 631.31 x x 4 x 1135 399 40 14 37 52 x 252 4 16 x 1953

183 1138 A 68 R 1 60 64 641 x 3 276 37 2 3 1 x 90 1 1 3 417
183 1138 A 68 R 2 43 45 642.18 x 272 157 1 15 1 13 1 x 149 7 41 657
183 1138 A 68 R 2 79 81 642.54 x 90 52 x 1 9 x 12 x 164
183 1138 A 68 R 3 37 39 643.62 7 x 43 2 4 471 2 156 4 43 4 2 253 2 2 x 14 129 1137
183 1138 A 68 R 3 58 60 643.83 x 289 97 x 23 29 1 x 210 x 7 7 29 691
183 1138 A 68 R 4 47 49 645.13 x 66 16 x 2 1 41 1 x 5 134
183 1138 A 68 R 4 76 79 645.42 2 x 415 112 7 7 x 1 4 17 273 5 1 x 130 9 984
183 1138 A 68 R 5 69 71 646.25 12 335 200 12 2 148 2 6 49 25 790
183 1138 A 69 R 1 18 20 650.18 15 x 2 994 334 6 29 2 23 23 386 x 10 x 100 52 1975
183 1138 A 69 R 1 60 62 650.6 3 1 0 0 x 1 x x 5
183 1138 A 69 R 1 131 133 651.31 3 11 481 238 69 20 22 x 3 146 91 67 1151
183 1138 A 69 R 2 36 38 651.78 x 18 95 32 5 7 8 x 6 59 x 14 2 245
183 1138 A 69 R 2 100 102 652.42 5 54 149 6 26 29 1 2 131 x 26 1 10 439
183 1138 A 69 R 3 12 14 652.71 4 78 69 4 4 x 25 6 80 x 5 7 282
183 1138 A 69 R 3 62 64 653.21 x 16 153 99 14 53 2 146 19 40 12 554
183 1138 A 69 R 3 90 92 653.49 12 3 x 15
183 1138 A 69 R 3 117 119 653.76 5 59 1096 320 5 96 x 36 9 572 109 167 14 167 2653
A. Holbourn and W. Kuhnt

183 1138 A 69 R 4 44 46 654.53 2 6 24 7 3 1 x 34 3 63 5 148

183 1138 A 69 R 4 120 122 655.29 x x 1 4 2 x 1 2 x 8 x 2 x 18
183 1138 A 69 R 5 35 37 655.92 x x x x x
183 1138 A 69 R 5 85 87 656.42 x x x x x x
183 1138 A 69 R 6 6 8 657.13 41 26 2 1 x 3 x 72
183 1138 A 69 R 6 73 75 657.8 12 x x x 12
183 1138 A 71 R 1 14 16 669.34 774 x 774
183 1138 A 71 R 1 125 127 670.45 1216 x 1 18 x x 18 18 x x 1270
183 1138 A 71 R 2 26 28 670.76 1150 x 5 1 1156
183 1138 A 71 R 2 144 146 671.94 x x
183 1138 A 71 R CC 13 15 672.13 0
183 1138 A 72 R 1 65 67 679.55 0
183 1138 A 72 R 1 134 136 680.24 0
183 1138 A 72 R 2 41 43 680.81 x x
183 1138 A 72 R 2 107 109 681.47 0
183 1138 A 72 R 3 56 58 682.46 x x
183 1138 A 73 R 2 19 21 689.5 x x x
183 1138 A 73 R 2 86 88 690.17 0
183 1138 A 73 R 3 19 21 690.45 x x
183 1138 A 73 R 3 89 91 691.15 x x
183 1138 A 73 R 3 145 147 691.71 0
 CenomanianTuronian palaeoceanography of the Kerguelen Plateau
Figure 3. Common species at Site 1138A. 1, 2, Prae-
bulimina nannina, Sample 1138A, 67R-1W 6163 cm.
3, Marsonella oxycona, Sample 1138A, 67R-1W 61
63 cm. 4, Spiroplectinata annectens, Sample 1138A,
69R-1W 131133 cm. 5, 6, Tappanina laciniosa,
Sample 1138A, 68R-4W 7678 cm. 7, Lingulogave-
linella turonica, Sample 1138A, 68R-4W 7678 cm. 8,
Fursenkoina tegulata, Sample 1138A, 69R-4W 44
46 cm. Scale bar represents 100
m for specimens 3, 4,
7, 8, and 30
m for specimens 1, 2, 5, 6.
the sea floor, in response to cyclic fluctuations in
carbon flux or changing circulation patterns. Frequent
erosive features and hummocky cross-stratification at
the more proximal location of Oued Amma Fatma
suggest an outer shelf environment above the storm
wave base, compatible with a vigorous coastal
upwelling regime. A detailed cyclostratigraphic analy-
sis provided by Kuhnt et al. (1997) established the
Milankovitch nature of the CenomanianTuronian
cyclicity in the Tarfaya Basin.
Vergons, southern France
The assemblages in the marlstones of the Vergons
section are relatively diverse and consist of mixed
agglutinated and calcareous taxa. Most common
species are Bolivina anambra, Gavelinella dakotensis,
Gyroidinoides lenticulus, P. nannina, Rhizammina
indivisa, T. laciniosa, and various nodosariids
(Table 4). By contrast, the laminated organic-rich
shales are barren or contain very impoverished assem-
blages. An open marine mesotrophic setting during
deposition of the marl facies is indicated by the
relatively high diversity of the assemblages, which
contain a large proportion of buliminids. The relative
341
Figure 4. Common species at Site 1138A. 13, Gavelinella
dakotensis, Sample 1138A, 69R-1W 131133 cm. 4,
Gyroidinoides lenticulus, Sample 1138A, 67R-1W 61
63 cm. 5, 6, Gyroidinoides lenticulus, Sample 1138A,
69R-1W 131133 cm. Scale bar represents 100
m for
specimens 13, and 30
m for specimens 46.
abundance of agglutinated tests in the assemblages
points to upper or middle bathyal depths, which is in
accordance with common submarine slump and slide
features within the section.
Wunstorf, northern Germany
Two main benthic foraminiferal assemblages are
associated with distinct lithologies. The upper
Cenomanian claystones contain an assemblage that
is strongly dominated by agglutinated foraminifera
(Table 4). Characteristic taxa are Ammodiscus
cretaceus, Dorothia filiformis, Glomospira charoides,
Haplophragmoides concavus, Recurvoides spp.,
Rhabdammina indivisa, Reophax, sp., Saccammina
placenta, Textularia spp. and Trochammina spp. The
assemblage composition suggests restricted circu-
lation and preservation of organic matter under
oxygen-minimum conditions. A few calcareous forms
are also present, such as G. dakotensis, P. nannina and
T. laciniosa. The calcareous forms may represent a
transient, sporadic biofacies that developed during
spells of improved ventilation. Original discrete cal-
careous laminae and biofacies changes may have been
subsequently obliterated by bioturbation and diagen-
esis. Alternatively, the high abundance of agglutinated
forms in the claystones may reflect a preservational
bias, as these tests often have low preservation
potential in carbonate-rich deposits.

Table 4. Occurrence of common benthic foraminifera in Kerguelen, Tarfaya, Vergons, Wunstorf and Alaskan sections. Taxa shown represent >5% of the
assemblages, and are given in decreasing order of abundance.
archaeocretaceahelvetica archaeocretaceahelvetica
Zone
Kerguelen
Site 1138
Gavelinella dakotensis
Praebulimina nannina
Gyroidinoides lenticulus
Tappanina laciniosa
Lenticulina spp.
Valvulineria spp.
Osangularia spp.
Spiroplectinata annectens
Spiroplectinata complanata
Fursenkoina tegulata
Laevidentalina spp.
Bolivina anambra
Lingulogavelinella turonica
Pleurostomella spp.
This paper
archaeocretacea cushmaniarchaeocretacea
Zone Zone zones
South Morocco Southern France North Germany
Tarfaya Vergons Wunstorf (marlstones)
Gabonita levis Praebulimina nannina Gavelinella dakotensis
Gabonita obesa Gavelinella dakotensis Lingulogavelinella turonica
Praebulimina seabeensis Bolivina anambra Rhizammina indivisa
Gavelinella dakotensis Rhizammina indivisa Buliminella sp.
Neobulimina albertensis Gyroidinoides lenticulus Tappanina laciniosa
Tappanina laciniosa Textularia spp.
Laevidentalina spp. Ammodiscus cretaceus
Lenticulina spp. Lenticulina spp.
Pyramidulina spp. Dorothia sp. 1
Spiroplectinata annectens Praebulimina nannina
Spiroplectinata complanata Trocholina sp.
Trochammina spp. Spiroplectinata annectens
Reophax spp. Spiroplectinata complanata
Dorothia filiformis Bolivina anambra
Pleurostomella spp. Bulbobaculites sp.
Clavulinoides gaultinus
Dorothia filiformis
Marssonella oxycona
Spirillina minima
Laevidentalina spp.
Saccammina placenta
Ramulina aculeata
Trochammina spp.
Arenobulimina spp.
Pleurostomella spp.
Gaudryina sp.
Pyramidulina spp.
Pseudobolivina spp.
Spiroloculina sp.
Holbourn et al. Tronchetti & Kuhnt &
(1999) Grosheny (1991) Wiedmann (1995)
Luderer (1999) This paper This paper
342
cushmani archaeocretacea
Zone Zone
North Germany Alaska
Wunstorf (claystones) North Slope
Rhizammina indivisa Textularia spp.
Saccammina placenta Saccammina placenta
Trochammina spp. Praebulimina seabeensis
Dorothia filiformis Neobulimina albertensis
Gavelinella dakotensis Trochammina spp.
Tappanina laciniosa Verneuilinoides spp.
Praebulimina nannina
Glomospira charoides
Trocholina sp.
Textularia spp.
Reophax sp.
Ammodiscus cretaceus
Haplophragmoides concavus
Bolivina anambra
Recurvoides spp.
A. Holbourn and W. Kuhnt
Kuhnt & Tappan (1957, 1962)
Wiedmann (1995)
This paper
 CenomanianTuronian palaeoceanography of the Kerguelen Plateau
By contrast, the assemblage found in the upper
Cenomanian and lower Turonian marlstones is
diverse, and contains a high proportion of calcareous
forms. Common taxa are Buliminella sp., Bolivina
anambra, G. dakotensis, Lingulogavelinella turonica, P.
nannina, Tappanina laciniosa, Trocholina sp. and
diverse nodosariids (Table 4). This assemblage also
includes a significant proportion of agglutinated taxa
such as Ammodiscus cretaceus, Arenobulimina spp.,
Bulbobaculites spp., Clavulinoides gaultinus, D.
filiformis, Marssonella oxycona, R. indivisa, Saccammina
placenta, Spiroplectinata spp., Textularia spp. and
Trochammina spp. (Table 4). The high proportion of
calcareous tests and significant abundance of bulimi-
nids indicates enhanced primary productivity and
relatively improved ventilation on the sea floor during
deposition of the marl facies.
Umiat 1 well, Alaska
The laminated organic-rich shales are virtually barren
except for an interval close to the base of the Seabee
Formation, which contains assemblages strongly
dominated by Neobulimina albertensis, P. seabeensis,
and a few agglutinated foraminifera such as Reophax
spp., S. placenta, Textularia spp. and Trochammina
spp. (Table 4). Virtually all samples from below and
above this fossiliferous interval were barren of benthic
and planktonic foraminifera, suggesting that sucient
water depth and oxygenation developed only briefly
for the transient establishment of benthic foramin-
iferal assemblages, probably at the peak of the late
Cenomanianearly Turonian transgression on the
Arctic North Slope. The dominance of buliminids in
the assemblages of that interval indicates an enhanced
carbon flux, probably coupled with strong dysoxia on
the seafloor.
6. CenomanianTuronian biogeographic
patterns
Benthic foraminiferal distribution in the Kerguelen,
Tarfaya, Vergons, Wunstorf and Alaskan sections
Benthic foraminiferal distribution in samples from
Kerguelen, Vergons, Wunstorf, the Tarfaya Basin and
Alaska shows no distinct hemispheral bias. Most taxa
present in the Kerguelen assemblages also occur in
northern temperate and subtropical assemblages
from Wunstorf and Vergons, suggesting that late
Cenomanian and early Turonian benthic foraminifera
were widely distributed in mid to high latitudes
(Tables 4, 5).
343
A Correspondence Analysis performed on six sample
series from Kerguelen, the Tarfaya Basin, Vergons,
Wunstorf and Alaska confirms the same trend (Table 6,
Figure 5). Taxa from Kerguelen, Vergons and
Wunstorf exhibit a striking continuum of distribution
along the F2 axis, whereas taxa from Alaska and the
Tarfaya Basin occur in isolated clusters (Figure 5A).
Virtually all calcareous species common in assemblages
from Vergons, Wunstorf and Kerguelen exhibit nega-
tive F1 and F2 values (Figure 5A). These typically
include Gavelinella dakotensis, Gyroidinoides lenticulus,
Lingulogavelinella turonica, P. nannina, T. laciniosa and
various nodosariids. Taxa with negative F1 and positive
F2 values correspond to agglutinated taxa that occur
commonly at Wunstorf and/or Vergons, but are absent
or extremely rare at Kerguelen (Figure 5A). Character-
istic taxa are A. cretaceus, D. filiformis, R. indivisa and
Trochammina spp. As virtually all of these agglutinated
taxa are known to have a cosmopolitan distribution
(Kuhnt & Kaminski, 1990), their scarcity in the
Kerguelen succession probably reflects an environ-
mental or preservational bias.
Five clusters of samples are identified, based on
Factor 1 and 2 values, which correspond to distinct
geographic locations and characteristic lithologies
(Figure 5B).
1. Samples from dark and light coloured claystones
and chalks at Kerguelen display negative F1 and F2
values. They are characterized by relatively diverse
calcareous assemblages.
2. Samples from marlstones at Vergons and Wunstorf
mostly show negative F1 values and positive F2
values (generally below 500). They contain mixed
agglutinated and calcareous assemblages.
3. Samples from claystones at Wunstorf are distin-
guished by negative F1 values and high positive F2
values (exceeding 1200). They are characterized by
predominantly agglutinated assemblages.
4. Samples from laminated organic-rich shales on the
North Slope of Alaska display positive F1 and F2
values. Assemblages within these samples are domi-
nated by buliminids such as P. seabeensis and N.
albertensis.
5. Samples from laminated organic-rich oozes in
the Tarfaya Basin exhibit high positive F1 values and
negative F2 values. They contain assemblages that are
dominated by buliminids such as G. levis, G. obesa and
P. seabeensis.
Overall, the Kerguelen assemblages show greater
affinity to subtropical and temperate assemblages at
Vergons and Wunstorf (except for the scarcity of
agglutinated taxa), and dier strikingly from assem-
blages from the Tarfaya Basin and Alaska, which are
344 A. Holbourn and W. Kuhnt

Table 5. Comparative occurrence of benthic foraminifera in Kerguelen, Tarfaya, Vergons, Wunstorf and Alaskan sections.

Kerguelen S. Morocco S. France N. Germany Alaska

Site 1138 Tarfaya Vergons Wunstorf N. Slope

Ammobaculites sp.
Ammodiscus cretaceus (Reuss, 1845)
Ammodiscus infimus Franke, 1936
Arenobulimina spp.
Astacolus parallelus (Reuss, 1863)
Astacolus spp.
Bolivina anambra Petters, 1982
Bulbobaculites sp.
Buliminella sp.
Clavulinoides gaultinus (Morozowa, 1948)
Clavulinoides sp.
Dorothia filiformis (Berthelin, 1880)
Dorothia gradata Berthelin, 1880
Dorothia sp. 1
Eggerellina mariae Ten Dam, 1950
Ellipsoidella sp. 1
Epistomina sp.
Frondicularia sp.
Frondovaginulina inversa (Reuss, 1844)
Fursenkoina tegulata (Reuss, 1845)
Gabonita levis (de Klasz, Marie and Rerat, 1961)
Gabonita obesa (de Klasz, Marie and Rerat, 1961)
Gaudryina sp.
Gavelinella dakotensis (Fox, 1954)
Globulina prisca (Reuss, 1863)
Glomospira charoides (Jones and Parker, 1860)
Glomospira gordialis (Jones and Parker, 1860)
Glomospira irregularis (Grzybowski, 1896)
Glomospirella gaultina (Berthelin, 1880)
Guttulina spp.
Gyroidinoides lenticulus (Reuss, 1845)
Haplophragmoides concavus (Chapman, 1892)
Haplophragmoides cf. bulloides (Beissel, 1886)
Hormosina crassa Geroch, 1966
Laevidentalina spp.
Lenticulina spp.
Lingulogavelinella turonica (Butt, 1966)
Lituotuba lituiformis (Brady, 1879)
Marssonella oxycona (Reuss, 1860)
Marssonella trocha (dOrbigny, 1840)
Neobulimina albertensis (Stelck and Wall, 1954)
Oolina spp.
Oolina sulcata (Walker and Jacob, 1798)
Osangularia spp.
Planularia complanata (Reuss, 1845)
Pleurostomella spp.
Praebulimina nannina (Tappan, 1940)
Praebulimina seabeensis Tappan, 1957
Pseudobolivina spp.
Psilocitharella recta (Reuss, 1863)
Pyramidulina sceptrum (Reuss, 1863)
Pyramidulina spp.
Pyrulinoides acuminata (dOrbigny, 1840)
Quadrimorphina allomorphinoides (Reuss, 1860)
Quinqueloculina antiqua (Franke, 1928)
Ramulina aculeata (dOrbigny, 1840)
Ramulina globotubulosa Cushman, 1938
Recurvoides spp.
 CenomanianTuronian palaeoceanography of the Kerguelen Plateau 345

Table 5. Continued.

Kerguelen S. Morocco S. France N. Germany Alaska

Site 1138 Tarfaya Vergons Wunstorf N. Slope

Reophax sp.
Rhizammina indivisa Brady, 1884
Saccammina placenta (Grzybowski, 1898)
Saracenaria spp.
Sigmoilopsis sp.
Spirillina minima Schacko, 1897
Spiroloculina sp.
Spiroplectammina cretosa Cushman, 1932
Spiroplectammina sp.
Spiroplectinata annectens (Parker and Jones, 1863)
Spiroplectinata complanata (Reuss, 1860)
Stilostomella sp.
Subreophax sp.
Tappanina laciniosa Eicher and Worstell, 1970
Textularia spp.
Triloculina spp.
Tristix excavatus (Reuss, 1863)
Tritaxia pyramidata Reuss, 1863
Trochammina spp.
Trochamminoides sp.
Trocholina sp.
Valvulineria spp.
Verneuilinoides sp.

Figure 5. Results of correspondence analysis.

dominated by buliminid species that do not occur at
Kerguelen, Vergons and Wunstorf (Figure 5A).
Factors influencing benthic foraminiferal distribution
We deduced that the F1 values of the correspondence
analysis mainly reflect a carbon flux and/or oxygen-
ation gradient for the following reasons: (1) It is well
established that carbon flux and primary productivity
strongly influence the distribution of modern outer
shelf to abyssal benthic foraminifera (Jorissen &
Rohling, 2000), whereas factors such as temperature,
salinity, and substrate characteristics become more
346 A. Holbourn and W. Kuhnt

Table 6. Factor 1 and 2 values of benthic foraminifera. significant in shallower environments. (2) Analyses of
modern benthic foraminiferal distribution-patterns
Code Benthic foraminifera F1 F2
along a carbon flux gradient show a strong correlation
AMC Ammodiscus cretaceus
312 1104 between F1 values and carbon flux (Kuhnt et al.,
AMI Ammodiscus infimus
193 1980 1999; Wollenburg & Kuhnt, 2000; Weinelt et al.,
ARS Arenobulimina spp.
362 606
ASP Astacolus parallelus
510
1005 2000). (3) Negative and positive F1 values match
ASS Astacolus spp.
519
924
BOA Bolivina anambra 1025
298
palaeoenvironmental interpretations derived from
BUS Bulbobaculites sp.
295 1281 independent sedimentologial evidence: at Kerguelen,
BUP Buliminella sp.
381 524
CLG Clavulinoides gaultinus
379 510 Vergons and Wunstorf, marlstones and chalks with
CLS Clavulinoides sp.
342 578 high carbonate and low TOC content reflect meso-
DOS Dorothia sp. 1
323 930
DOF Dorothia filiformis
302 1154 trophic conditions, whereas in Tarfaya and Alaska,
DOG Dorothia gradata
418 443 organic-rich oozes and black shales characterize
EGM Eggerellina mariae
397 732
ELS Ellipsoidella sp. 1
533
1199 eutrophic conditions.
EPS Epistomina sp.
342 578
FRS Frondicularia sp.
538
878 Factor 2 values are related to the relative abundance
FRI Frondovaginulina inversa
460
426 of calcareous (positive F2 values) and agglutinated
FUT Fursenkoina tegulata
541
914
GAL Gabonita levis 2653
701 (negative F2 values) tests, which probably reflect
GAO Gabonita obesa 2718
665 taphonomic processes and local dierences in
GAS Gaudryina sp.
416 318
GAD Gavelinella dakotensis
39
574 hydrography. Although the five locations studied are
GLP Globulina prisca
424
1577
GLC Glomospira charoides
301 1265 broadly comparable in terms of depths and environ-
GLG Glomospira gordialis
222 1814 mental settings, some dierences are evident
GLI Glomospira irregularis
246 1566
GLA Glomospirella gaultina
268 1205 (Table 1). For instance, at Wunstorf, where the
GUS Guttulina spp.
397 94 highest proportion of agglutinated tests is found,
GYL Gyroidinoides lenticulus
477
648
HAC Haplophragmoides concavus
332 1094 circulation was probably quite restricted, as the basin
HAS Haplophragmoides cf. bulloides
249 1605
HOC Hormosina crassa
342 578
remained relatively isolated and strongly influenced by
LAS Laevidentalina spp.
440
264 salt tectonics in the late Cenomanianearly Turonian
LES Lenticulina spp. 262
475
LIT Lingulogavellinela turonica
428
258 (Mutterlose et al., 1998). These conditions probably
LIL Lituotuba lituiformis
412 328 favoured the establishment and preservation of assem-
MAO Marssonella oxycona
447
200
MAT Marssonella trocha
417 252 blages with a high agglutinated component, particu-
NEA Neobulimina albertensis 1244 1556
OOS Oolina sulcata
314
1956
larly during episodes of clay deposition. At Vergons,
OOP Oolina spp.
467
1339 which was situated on a more open shelf but at a
OSS Osangularia spp.
517
1039
PLC Planularia complanata
481
511 slightly greater depth than Kerguelen or Wunstorf, the
PLS Pleurostomella spp.
462
359 proportion of agglutinated foraminifera was lower
PRN Praebulimina nannina
474
530
PRS Praebulimina seabeensis 2407
296 than at Wunstorf but higher than at Kerguelen.
PSS Pseudobolivina spp.
308 1239 Sedimentological, geochemical and micropalaeon-
PSR Psilocitharella recta 81
979
PYS Pyramidulina sceptrum
509
1005 tological evidence indicate that the Tarfaya region,
PYP Pyramidulina spp.
403 436
PYA Pyrulinoides acuminata
533
1199 where the highest F1 values are displayed, belonged to
QUA Quadrimorphina allomorphinoides
475
672 a broad equatorial belt of high productivity, which was
QUN Quinqueloculina antiqua
330 830
RAA Ramulina aculeata
442
59 probably linked to intense upwelling along the
RAG Ramulina globotubulosa
394 454 outer shelf of equatorial coastal basins (Einsele &
RES Recurvoides spp.
336 1342
REO Reophax sp.
341 1114 Wiedmann, 1982; Kuhnt & Wiedmann, 1995;
RHI Rhizammina indivisa
325 1015
SAP Saccammina placenta 248 1522 Luderer, 1999). Gradients in productivity probably
SAS Saracenaria spp.
480
1205 intensified, as this zone of high productivity
SIS Sigmoilopsis sp.
425 298
SPM Spirillina minima
386 458 reached maximum latitudinal expanse during the late
SPS Spiroloculina sp.
334 933 Cenomanian and early Turonian maximum sea-level
SPC Spiroplectammina cretosa
288 1567
SPP Spiroplectammina sp.
421 275 rise (Holbourn et al., 1999). In temperate and sub-
SPO Spiroplectinata spp.
474
359
STS Stilostomella sp.
421 555
tropical regions such as Kerguelen, Wunstorf and
SUS Subreophax sp.
288 1567 Vergons, the duration and intensity of shelf and upper
TAL Tappanina laciniosa
449
81
TES Textularia spp. 219 1078 slope dysoxia appear to have been more short-lived, as
TRS Triloculina spp.
552
980 diversified benthic assemblages remained estab-
TRE Tristix excavatus
423 427
TRP Tritaxia pyramidata
372 491 lished during most of the late Cenomanian and early
TRO Trochammina spp.
208 1318 Turonian. In the high Arctic, benthic foraminiferal
TRI Trochamminoides sp.
421 555
TRH Trocholina sp.
374 808 assemblages dominated by buliminids demonstrate
VAS Valvulineria spp.
530
1031
VES Verneuilinoides sp.
329 201 high organic productivity and low-oxygen conditions
on the flooded shelf of the North Slope, and thus
 CenomanianTuronian palaeoceanography of the Kerguelen Plateau
provide further evidence for an ice-free Arctic Ocean
during the peak of the late Cenomanianearly
Turonian transgression.
Impact of C/T event on benthic foraminiferal evolution
Our data from the Kerguelen, Tarfaya, Vergons,
Wunstorf and Alaskan sections do not provide evi-
dence for a major benthic foraminiferal turnover dur-
ing the late Cenomanian and early Turonian event at
high latitudes. Firstly, most of the taxa recorded at the
five locations studied have long stratigraphic ranges,
which are known to extend from the Cenomanian to
the Turonian. Secondly, the changes in biofacies
recorded in the late Cenomanian and early Turonian,
are mainly coincident with changes in hydrography
and sedimentological facies. At Wunstorf, the late
Cenomanian assemblages in the homogeneous black
shales are predominantly composed of agglutinated
taxa that disappear in overlying marlstones. By con-
trast, the marlstones are characterized by calcareous
species that are rarely present in the black shales.
Thus, the observed faunal changes are probably the
expression of environmental change and taphonomic
bias, rather than of true extinction and radiation
events. Gale et al. (2000) and Smith et al. (2001)
highlighted the fact that diversity and preservation
potential are strongly influenced by water-depth at
times of major sea-level change, and cautioned
that so-called mass extinctions may merely reflect
taphonomic bias.
7. Conclusions
The benthic foraminiferal succession at ODP Site
1138 records the evolution of the Kerguelen
Plateau from a subaerially exposed platform in the
Cenomanian to a bathyal, pelagic environment in the
early Turonian. This environmental change can
be attributed partly to thermal subsidence of the
Kerguelen Plateau following an episode of intense
volcanism, and partly to the global sea-level rise at the
end of the Cenomanian. The early Turonian assem-
blages from ODP Site 1138 show moderate to high
diversity, and contain mainly species of the genera
Gavelinella, Gyroidinoides, Lenticulina, Praebulimina
and Tappanina, typical of temperate shelf and slope
settings. Our comparison of early Turonian benthic
foraminiferal assemblages indicates that most species
from mesotrophic, temperate shelves and slopes occur
in both southern and northern mid to high latitudes,
but are absent in equatorial shelves and slopes.
Equatorial assemblages are characterized by a low-
diversity, high carbon-flux biofacies (Bolivina,
347
Gabonita). This bimodal distribution at mid to high
latitudes provides evidence for a vigorous oceanic
circulation and dynamic trans-hemispheric water-
transfer through open oceanic gateways. The palaeo-
biogeographic distribution of upper bathyal benthic
foraminifera in the late Cenomanian and early
Turonian was strongly modulated by carbon flux and
oxygenation fluctuations, and not by physical mi-
gration barriers. At all sites studied, the Cenomanian
Turonian transition is characterized by marked
lithological changes, indicating changes in water
depth, carbon flux and/or terrigeneous flux. Thus,
benthic foraminiferal overturns during the late
Cenomanian and early Turonian may relate to local
environmental changes and do not necessarily record
an increase in global extinction and radiation events.
Acknowledgements
We are very grateful to Eduardo Koutsoukos, David
Batten and one anonymous reviewer for critically
reviewing the manuscript. This research used samples
provided by the Ocean Drilling Program. The ODP is
sponsored by the US National Science Foundation
(NSF) and participating countries under management
of Joint Oceanographic Institutions (JOI) Inc. Fund-
ing for this research was provided by the Deutsche
Forschungsgemeinschaft within the German ODP-
Schwerpunkt (grants KU 649/7 and KU649/8). We
thank the sta of the SEM Laboratory and Photo-
graphic Unit of the Institut fur Geowissenschaften at
the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel, and the
sta of the ODP Core Repository in College Station,
Texas for their help.
References
Barron, E. J., Petersen, W. H., Pollard, D. & Thompson, S.
1993. Past climate and the role of ocean heat transport: model
simulation for the Cretaceous. Paleoceanography 8, 785798.
Barron, E. J., Fawcett, P. J. & Peterson, W. H. 1995. A
simulation of mid-Cretaceous climate. Paleoceanography 10,
953962.
Berquist, H. R. 1966. Micropaleontology of the Mesozoic rocks of
northern Alaska. Professional Paper of the United States Geological
Survey 302D, 93227.
Boulter, M. C., Gee, D. & Fisher, F. C. 1998. Angiosperm
radiation at the Cenomanian/Turonian and Cretaceous/Tertiary
boundaries. Cretaceous Research 19, 107112.
Clarke, L. J. & Jenkyns, H. C. 1999. New oxygen isotope evidence
for long-term Cretaceous climatic change in the Southern
Hemisphere. Geology 27, 699702.
Con, M. F., Frey, F. A., Wallace, P. J., Antretter, M. J. et al. (22
other authors) 2000. Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program,
Initial Reports 183 [Online]. Available from World Wide Web:
Khttp://www-odp.tamu.edu/publications/183_IR/183ir.htmL.
[Cited 20010813].
Crumiere, J. P., Crumiere-Ayraud, C., Espitalie, J. & Cotillon, P.
1990. Global and regional controls on potential source-rock
348 A. Holbourn and W. Kuhnt
deposition and preservation: the CenomanianTuronian Oceanic
Anoxic Event (CTOAE) on the European Tethyan margin
(southeastern France). In Deposition of organic facies (ed. Huc,
A. Y.), American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Studies in
Geology 30, 107118.
Einsele, G. & Wiedmann, J. 1982. Turonian black shales in the
Moroccan coastal basins: first upwelling in the Atlantic ocean. In
Geology of the northwest African continental margin (eds von Rad,
U., Hinz, K., Sarnthein, M. & Seibold, E.), pp. 396414
(Springer-Verlag, Berlin).
Falcon-Lang, H. J., Cantrill, D. J. & Nichols, G. J. 2001. Biodiver-
sity and terrestrial ecology of a mid-Cretaceous, high latitude
floodplain, Alexander Island, Antarctica. Journal of the Geological
Society, London 158, 709724.
Fassell, M. L. & Bralower, T. J. 1999. Warm, equable mid-
Cretaceous climates: stable isotope evidence. In Evolution of the
Cretaceous ocean-climate system (eds Barrera, E. & Johnson, C. C.),
Geological Society of America, Special Paper 332, 121142.
Field, J. G., Clarke, K. R. & Warwick, R. M. 1982. A practical
strategy for analysing multispecies distribution patterns. Marine
Ecology Progress Series 8, 3752.
Frakes, L. A. & Francis, J. E. 1988. A guide to Phanerozoic cold
polar climates from high-latitude ice-rafting in the Cretaceous.
Nature 333, 547549.
Gale, A. S. 1995. Cyclostratigraphy and correlation of the
Cenomanian of Western Europe. In Orbital forcing timescales and
cyclostratigraphy (eds House, M. R. & Gale, A. S.), Geological
Society, London, Special Publication 85, 177197.
Gale, A. S., Smith, A. B., Monks, N. E. A., Young, J. A., Howard,
A., Wray, D. S. & Huggett, J. M. 2000. Marine biodiversity
through the late Cenomanianearly Turonian: palaeoceano-
graphic controls and sequence stratigraphic biases. Journal of the
Geological Society, London 157, 745757.
Haq, B. U., Hardenbol, J. & Vail, P. R. 1987. Chronology of
fluctuating sea levels since the Triassic (250 million years ago to
present). Science 235, 11561167.
Hart, M. B. & Leary, P. N. 1991. Stepwise mass extinctions: the
case for the late Cenomanian event. Terra Nova 3, 142147.
Hay, W. W. 1995. Paleoceanography of marine organic carbon-rich
sediments. In Paleogeography, paleoclimate and source rocks (ed.
Huc, A. Y.), American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Studies in
Geology 40, 2159.
Hay, W. W., DeConto, R., Wold, C. N., Wilson, K. M., Voigt, S.,
Schulz, M., Wold-Rossby, A., Dullo, W.-C., Ronov, A. B.,
Balukhovsky, A. N. & Soeding, E. 1999. Alternative global
Cretaceous paleogeography. In Evolution of the Cretaceous ocean-
climate system (eds Barrera, E. & Johnson, C. C.), Geological
Society of America, Special Paper 332, 121142.
Herman, A. & Spicer, R. A. 1996. Palaeobotanical evidence for a
warm Cretaceous Arctic Ocean. Nature 380, 330333.
Holbourn, A. E. L., Kuhnt, W., El Albani, A., Pletsch, T., Luderer,
F. & Wagner, T. 1999. Upper Cretaceous palaeoenvironments
and benthic foraminiferal assemblages from potential source
rocks from the western African margin, central Atlantic. In The
oil and gas habitats of the South Atlantic (eds Cameron, N. R.,
Bate, R. H. & Clure, V. S.), Geological Society, London, Special
Publication 153, 195222.
Huber, B. T. 1998. Tropical paradise at the Cretaceous poles.
Science 282, 21992200.
Huber, B. T., Hodell, D. A. & Hamilton, C. P. 1995. MiddleLate
Cretaceous climate of the southern high latitudes: stable
isotopic evidence for minimal equator-to-pole thermal gradients.
Geological Society of America, Bulletin 107, 11641191.
Huber, B. T., Leckie, R. M., Norris, R. D., Bralower, T. J. & CoBabe,
E. 1999. Foraminiferal assemblage and stable isotopic change across
the CenomanianTuronian boundary in the subtropical North
Atlantic. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 29, 392417.
Jarvis, I., Murphy, A. M. & Gale, A. S. 2001. Geochemistry of
pelagic and hemipelagic carbonates: criteria for identifying sys-
tems tracts and sea-level change. Journal of the Geological Society,
London 158, 685696.
Jeerson, T. H. 1982. Fossil forests from the Lower Cretaceous of
Alexander Island, Antarctica. Palaeontology 25, 681708.
Jenkyns, H. C., Gale, A. S. & Corfield, R. M. 1994. Carbon- and
oxygen- isotope stratigraphy of the English Chalk and the Italian
Scalia and its palaeoclimatic significance. Geological Magazine
131, 134.
Jorissen, F. J. & Rohling, E. J. (eds) 2000. Foraminiferal proxies of
paleoproductivity. Marine Micropaleontology (Special Issue), 40,
131344.
Kaiho, K. & Hasewaga, T. 1994. End-Cenomanian benthic
foraminiferal extinctions and oceanic dysoxic events in the
northwestern Pacific Ocean. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,
Palaeoecology 111, 2943.
Koutsoukos E. A. M., Leary, P. M. & Hart, M. B. 1990. Latest
Cenomanianearliest Turonian low oxygen tolerant benthonic
foraminifera: a case study from the Sergipe Basin (NE Brazil)
and the western Anglo-Paris Basin (southern England). Palaeo-
geography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 77, 145177.
Kuhnt, W. & Kaminski, M. A. 1990. Paleoecology of Late
Cretaceous to Paleocene deep-water agglutinated foraminifera
from the North Atlantic and western Tethys. In Paleoecology,
biostratigraphy, paleoceanography and taxonomy of agglutinated
foraminifera (eds Hemleben, C., Kaminski, M. A., Kuhnt, W.
& Scott, D. B.), NATO ASI Series 327, 433505 (Kluwer
Academic Publishers, Dordrecht).
Kuhnt, W. & Moullade, M. 1991. Quantitative analysis of Upper
Cretaceous abyssal agglutinated foraminiferal distribution in
the North Atlantic paleoceanographic implications. Revue de
Micropaleontologie 34, 313349.
Kuhnt, W. & Wiedmann, J. 1995. CenomanianTuronian source
rocks: paleobiogeographic and paleoenvironmental aspects. In
Paleogeography, paleoclimate and source rocks (ed. Huc, A. Y.),
American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Studies in Geology 40,
213232.
Kuhnt, W., Hess, S. & Jian, Z. 1999. Quantitative composition of
benthic foraminiferal assemblages as a proxy indicator for organic
carbon flux rates in the South China Sea. In Response of West
Pacific marginal seas to global climate change (eds Sarnthein, M. &
Wang, P. X.), Marine Geology 156, 123157.
Kuhnt, W., Nederbragt, S. & Leine, L. 1997. Cyclicity of
CenomanianTuronian organic-carbon-rich sediments in the
Tarfaya Atlantic Coastal Basin (Morocco). Cretaceous Research
18, 587601.
Kuhnt, W., Herbin, J. P., Thurow, J. & Wiedmann, J. 1990.
Distribution of CenomanianTuronian organic facies in the
Western Mediterranean and along the adjacent Atlantic margin.
In Deposition of organic facies (ed. Huc, A. Y.), American Associ-
ation of Petroleum Geologists, Studies in Geology 30, 133160.
Leckie, R. M., Yuretich, R. F., West, O. L. O., Finkelstein, D. &
Schmidt, M. 1998. Paleoceanography of the southwestern
Western Interior Sea during the time of the Cenomanian-
Turonian boundary (Late Cretaceous). In Stratigraphy and
paleoenvironments of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, USA
(eds Dean, W. F. & Arthur, M. A.), SEPM (Society for
Sedimentary Geology) Concepts in Sedimentology and Paleontology 6,
101126.
Luderer, F. 1999. Das Cenom/Turon Grenzereigniss im Tarfaya-
Becken (SW Marokko). PhD Thesis, Kiel University, 110 pp.
Mutterlose, J., Bornemann, A., Rauer, S., Spaeth, C. & Wood,
C. J. (eds) 1998. Key localities of the Northwest European
Cretaceous. Bochumer Geologische und Geotechnische Arbeiten 48,
231 pp.
Norris, R. D. & Wilson, P. A. 1998. Low latitude sea surface
temperatures for the mid-Cretaceous and the evolution of
planktonic foraminifera. Geology 26, 823826.
Parrish, J. M., Parrish, J. T., Hutchison, J. H. & Spicer, R. A. 1987.
Late Cretaceous vertebrate fossils from the North Slope of Alaska
and implications for dinosaur ecology. Palaios 2, 377389.
Parrish, J. T., Daniel, I. L., Kennedy, E. M. & Spicer, R. A. 1998.
Palaeoclimatic significance of mid-Cretaceous floras from the
Middle Clarence Valley, New Zealand. Palaios 13, 149159.
 CenomanianTuronian palaeoceanography of the Kerguelen Plateau
Paul, C. R. C., Lamolda, M. A., Mitchell, S. F., Vaziri, M. R.,
Gorostidi, A. & Marshall, J. D. 1999. The Cenomanian-
Turonian boundary at Eastbourne (Sussex, UK): a proposed
European reference section. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,
Palaeoecology 150, 83121.
Petrizzo, M. R. 2001. Late Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera
from Kerguelen Plateau (ODP Leg 183): new data to improve the
Southern Ocean biozonation. Cretaceous Research 22, 829855.
Poulsen, C. J., Seidov, D., Barron, E. J. & Peterson, W. H. 1998.
The impact of paleogeographic evolution on the surface
oceanic circulation and the marine environment within the
mid-Cretaceous Tethys. Paleoceanography 13, 546559.
Poulsen, C. J., Barron, E. J., Peterson, W. H. & Wilson, P. A. 1999.
A reinterpretation of mid-Cretaceous shallow-marine tempera-
tures through model-data comparison. Paleoceanography 14,
679697.
Schlanger, S. O. & Jenkyns. H. C. 1976. Cretaceous oceanic
anoxic events causes and consequences. Geologie en Mijnbouw
55, 179184.
Sepkoski, J. J. Jr 1986. Phanerozoic overview of mass extinction. In
Patterns and processes in the history of life (eds Raup, D. M. &
Sepkoski, J. J. Jr), pp. 277295 (Springer Verlag, Berlin).
Saint-Marc, P. & Berggren, W. A. 1988. A quantitative analysis of
Paleocene benthic foraminiferal asemblages in central Tunisia.
Journal of Foraminiferal Research 18, 97113.
Smith, A. B., Gale, A. S. & Monks, N. E. A. 2001. Sea-level change
and rock-record bias in the Cretaceous: a problem for extinction
and biodiversity studies. Paleobiology 27, 241253.
Smith, A. G., Smith, D. G. & Funnell, B. M. 1994. Atlas of
Mesozoic and Cenozoic coastlines, 99 pp. (Cambridge University
Press, Cambridge).
Spicer, R. A. & Parrish, J. T. 1986. Palaeobotanical evidence for
cool north polar climates in middle Cretaceous (Albian
Cenomanian) time. Geology 14, 703706.
Tappan, H. 1957. New Cretaceous index foraminifera from
northern Alaska. United States National Museum, Bulletin 215,
201222.
349
Tappan, H. 1962. Foraminifera from the Arctic Slope of Alaska.
Part 3, Cretaceous foraminifera. Professional Paper of the United
States Geological Survey 236C, 1209.
Tarduno, J., Brinkman, D. B., Renne, P. R., Cottrell, R. D., Sher,
H. & Castillo, P. 1998. Evidence for extreme climatic warmth
from Late Cretaceous Arctic vertebrates. Science 282, 22412244.
Thurow, J., Brumsack, H.-J., Rullkotter, J., Littke, R. & Meyers, P.
1992. The Cenomanian/Turonian boundary event in the Indian
Ocean a key to understand the global picture. In Synthesis of
results from scientific drilling in the Indian Ocean (eds Duncan,
R. A., Rea, D. K., Kidd, R. B., von Rad, U. & Weissel,
J. K.), American Geophysical Union, Geophysical Monograph 70,
253273.
Tronchetti, G. & Grosheny, D. 1991. Les assemblages des
foraminiferes benthiques au passage CenomanienTuronien a
Vergons, SE France. Geobios 24, 1331.
Valdes, P. J., Sellwood, B. W. & Price, G. D. 1997. The concept of
Cretaceous climate equability. Palaeoclimates, data and modelling
1, 139158.
Voigt, S. 2000. CenomanianTuronian composite 13C curve for
Western and Central Europe: the role of organic and inorganic
carbon fluxes. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
160, 91104.
Weinelt, M., Kuhnt, W., Sarnthein, M., Altenbach, A., Costello O.,
Erlenkeuser, H., Matthiessen, J., Pflaumann, U., Simstich, J.,
Struck, U., Thies, A., Trauth, M. & Vogelsang, E. 2000. Pale-
oceanographic proxies in the northern North Atlantic. In The
northern North Atlantic: a changing environment (eds Schafer, P.,
Schluter, M., Schroder-Ritzrau, W. & Thiede, J.), pp. 319352
(Springer-Verlag, Berlin)
Wilson, P. A. & Norris, R. D. 2001. Warm tropical ocean surface
and global anoxia during the mid-Cretaceous period. Nature 412,
425429.
Wollenburg, J. & Kuhnt, W. 2000. The response of benthic
foraminifers to carbon flux and primary production in the Arctic
Ocean. Marine Micropaleontology 40, 189231.