Dinoflagellate cysts from the Pannonian (late Miocene) "white marls" in Pécs-Danitzpuszta, southern Hungary

Dinoflagellate-cyst based biostratigraphy is an important tool in the stratigraphical subdivision and correlation of the Neogene Lake Pannon deposits. A total of 66 palynological samples were investigated from the Pannonian (upper Miocene) marl succession exposed in the Pécs-Danitzpuszta sand pit in order to evaluate the biostratigraphical assignment and constrain the age of the strata. Earlier attempts to recover dinoflagellate cysts from this important reference section had failed. In our material, six samples contained well-preserved palynomorphs. One sample from the lower part of the succession (D25) contained a probably reworked middle Miocene assemblage. Samples from the middle segment of the succession (D3, D2, D1) indicate the Pontiadinium pecsvaradensis Zone (ca. 10.8 to 10.6 Ma). Samples from the top of the marl (D219, D221) did not give additional stratigraphic information (P. pecsvaradensis Zone or younger). The palynofacies of samples D3 to D221 indicates a relatively distal, calm, occasionally oxygen-deficient, probably deep depositional environment.

Marine Palynomorphs from the Plio-Pleistocene interval of the AND-1B Drill-Core McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

<p>The ANDRILL project recovered over 600 m of Plio-Pleistocene sediments within the Ross embayment, Antarctica. These sediments contain a record of local and regional paleoenvironmental conditions and glacial dynamism. They also provide a proxy for ice dynamics of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) during a period when global temperatures were ~3OC higher than modern. This unique record provides an analogue for future global climate change, which is expected to rise by 3OC by the end of the 21st century. Sixty-one samples from the upper 600 m of the AND-1B core were analysed for their palynomorph content yielding 4 to 5380 grains per sample (with an average frequency of 34 grains per gram). Marine palynomorphs including fossil dinoflagellate cysts, acritarchs, and prasinophyte algae were the focus of this study and fluctuations in their abundance and diversity reflect changes in paleoenvironment and glacial dynamics. The upper 600 m can be divided into 6 discrete units based on the palynomorph assemblage: The early-Pliocene (~5.0 – 4.6 Ma. Unit 1) is characterised by relatively high abundances of in situ round brown dinoflagellate cysts, microforaminiferal linings, and Leiosphaeridia, suggesting warmer than modern paleoenvironmental conditions and seasonal ice within the Ross embayment. The WAIS was likely small and highly dynamic during Unit 1. The mid-Pliocene (~4.6 – 3.4 Ma. Unit 2) exhibits relatively high abundances of round brown dinoflagellate cysts, microforaminiferal linings, and scolecodonts. The relatively low abundance of Leiosphaeridia (understood to indicate proximal/seasonal ice) suggests that ice free conditions at the drill site may have existed for up to ~1.2 Ma and that this may be the warmest period recorded in the core. During the warm, mid-Pliocene interval a sudden increase in scolecodonts (fossilized polychaete remains) may give indications into the water depth at the drill site because of their dependence on physical disturbance (decreasing with depth) for population growth. Further study of the scolecodonts is required before confident estimates of water depth can be made. The mid- to late-Pliocene (~3.4 – 2.6 Ma. Units 3, 4 & 5) is characterised by a variable palynomorph assemblage indicating variability in paleoenvironmental conditions, ice cover at the drill site, and ultimately a variable WAIS. A spike in the prasinophyte alga Cymatiosphaera (understood to indicate reduced salinity) at the base of a diatomite unit in the late-Pliocene may be a record of algae thriving in meltwater from the collapse of the WAIS. Further highresolution analysis is needed to help resolve this event. The Quaternary interval (~2.6 Ma and younger. Unit 6) is significantly different from previous units and is dominated by reworked Eocene dinoflagellate cysts and acritarchs (the “Transantarctic Flora”). This interval records a period of significant cooling and glacial expansion and the WAIS likely grew to its modern “polar” state. The WAIS may have undergone several collapses during super-interglacial periods in the Pleistocene but if it did it did not persist in its collapsed state for significant periods of time.</p>

Climate Change in the Southern Ocean During the Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene: A Palynological Perspective

<p>The Antarctic and Southern Ocean is an area that was greatly affected by climatic changes during the Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene (E/O). This study aims to document climate-induced changes of the marine palynomorphs (mostly dinoflagellate cysts) by developing a Circum-Antarctic biozonation, and establishing the distribution and effects of cooling on the palynomorph assemblages and the palaeoenvironment. Samples were obtained from four sites by the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) and Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) and the palynological content was analyzed. These sites were selected as they may record effects of circulation changes and cooling trends, reflecting climate changes. ODP site 696B, was inner neritic and located in the South Orkney microcontinent, Weddell Sea. The other three sites were pelagic with ODP 699A located on the Northeast Georgia Rise, Falklands, ODP 748B located in the Western part of the Raggart Basin, Kerguelen Plateau and DSDP 277 located in Cathedral Depression on the Southern Campbell Plateau. From this analysis a comprehensive record of the local climatic transitions was ascertained, utilising assemblages of fossil organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts), acritarchs, prasinophyte algae, microforaminiferal linings, scoledonts and terrestrial material. The establishment of a standard nannofossil biostratigraphy provided a temporal framework of the marine palynomorphs in each site. Key dinocyst datums recognised as first or last occurrences that correlated reliably between sites, were compared with the nannofossil zones of each site. The purpose was to provide a Middle Eocene/Early Oligocene dinocyst biostratigraphy that temporally constrains the assemblages. Six primary datums and two secondary datums resulted, which lead to the recognition of four biozones and established a new biozonation in the Southern Ocean. The zones identified various dinocyst events, giving an indication of their probable palaeoenvironments. The Circum-Antarctic distribution pattern of palynomorph assemblages was documented in each site as a total abundance of grains per gram. The ranges and composition of palynomorph assemblages of each site were displayed as a percentage of total abundance. To document any cooling effects the dinocysts were separated into Gonyaulacoid or Peridinioid assemblages to best illustrate their preferred palaeoenvironment. Key findings showed that the pelagic and inner neritic sites differed greatly. Site 696B was the most climatically stable site and dominated by Peridinioid dinocysts which are predominantly heterotrophic. They are most common in an inner neritic palaeoenvironment, but are also present in nutrient upwellings and eutrophic surface waters with lower sea surface temperatures. Terrestrial material dominates all marine palynomorphs in this site which was shallow and warm with few changes up to the E/O boundary ~33.7 Ma, but became more variable in the Early Oligocene. In comparison, the pelagic sites (699, 748B, 277) were unstable, with missing or condensed sediments and no palynomorphs present at differing times. They were mostly dominated by Gonyaulacoid dinocysts, which are autotrophs and generally located in outer neritic to open ocean palaeoenvironments. The non dinocysts of Prasinophyte algae and Leiosphaeridia palynomorphs appeared in higher abundances in the pelagic sites than in the inner neritic sites. Specific dinocyst markers identified temperature changes within the pelagic sites, subsequently highlighting the climatic changes that occurred during the Middle Eocene/Early Oligocene. From ~46 Ma the pelagic sites recorded conditions that were oceanic and cooler. Between ~44 - ~41.5 Ma, a warming in site 748B indicated enhanced stratification and elevated nutrient availability. This was not the case in site 696B and may be due to warm temperatures already present. From ~41.4 Ma the pelagic sites showed that the palaeoenvironment continued to cool, indicated by the presence of Leiosphaeridia and Prasinophyte algae. The palaeoenvironment was oceanic with upwelling and offshore sea surface productivity, illustrated by the Gonyaulacoid and Peridinioid dinocysts present. During the Late Eocene from ~37 Ma a transitional and changeable palaeoenvironment was shown by the high numbers of Operculodinium spp present in sites 696B and 277. From ~33.7 Ma (E/O boundary) in the pelagic sites, most Peridinioid dinocysts had disappeared and very few Gonyaulacoid dinocysts were present. In contrast the inner neritic site (696B) Peridinioid dinocysts were still dominant, and a more gradual disappearance of all the marine palynomorphs was evident.</p>

Climate Change in the Southern Ocean During the Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene: A Palynological Perspective

<p>The Antarctic and Southern Ocean is an area that was greatly affected by climatic changes during the Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene (E/O). This study aims to document climate-induced changes of the marine palynomorphs (mostly dinoflagellate cysts) by developing a Circum-Antarctic biozonation, and establishing the distribution and effects of cooling on the palynomorph assemblages and the palaeoenvironment. Samples were obtained from four sites by the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) and Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) and the palynological content was analyzed. These sites were selected as they may record effects of circulation changes and cooling trends, reflecting climate changes. ODP site 696B, was inner neritic and located in the South Orkney microcontinent, Weddell Sea. The other three sites were pelagic with ODP 699A located on the Northeast Georgia Rise, Falklands, ODP 748B located in the Western part of the Raggart Basin, Kerguelen Plateau and DSDP 277 located in Cathedral Depression on the Southern Campbell Plateau. From this analysis a comprehensive record of the local climatic transitions was ascertained, utilising assemblages of fossil organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts), acritarchs, prasinophyte algae, microforaminiferal linings, scoledonts and terrestrial material. The establishment of a standard nannofossil biostratigraphy provided a temporal framework of the marine palynomorphs in each site. Key dinocyst datums recognised as first or last occurrences that correlated reliably between sites, were compared with the nannofossil zones of each site. The purpose was to provide a Middle Eocene/Early Oligocene dinocyst biostratigraphy that temporally constrains the assemblages. Six primary datums and two secondary datums resulted, which lead to the recognition of four biozones and established a new biozonation in the Southern Ocean. The zones identified various dinocyst events, giving an indication of their probable palaeoenvironments. The Circum-Antarctic distribution pattern of palynomorph assemblages was documented in each site as a total abundance of grains per gram. The ranges and composition of palynomorph assemblages of each site were displayed as a percentage of total abundance. To document any cooling effects the dinocysts were separated into Gonyaulacoid or Peridinioid assemblages to best illustrate their preferred palaeoenvironment. Key findings showed that the pelagic and inner neritic sites differed greatly. Site 696B was the most climatically stable site and dominated by Peridinioid dinocysts which are predominantly heterotrophic. They are most common in an inner neritic palaeoenvironment, but are also present in nutrient upwellings and eutrophic surface waters with lower sea surface temperatures. Terrestrial material dominates all marine palynomorphs in this site which was shallow and warm with few changes up to the E/O boundary ~33.7 Ma, but became more variable in the Early Oligocene. In comparison, the pelagic sites (699, 748B, 277) were unstable, with missing or condensed sediments and no palynomorphs present at differing times. They were mostly dominated by Gonyaulacoid dinocysts, which are autotrophs and generally located in outer neritic to open ocean palaeoenvironments. The non dinocysts of Prasinophyte algae and Leiosphaeridia palynomorphs appeared in higher abundances in the pelagic sites than in the inner neritic sites. Specific dinocyst markers identified temperature changes within the pelagic sites, subsequently highlighting the climatic changes that occurred during the Middle Eocene/Early Oligocene. From ~46 Ma the pelagic sites recorded conditions that were oceanic and cooler. Between ~44 - ~41.5 Ma, a warming in site 748B indicated enhanced stratification and elevated nutrient availability. This was not the case in site 696B and may be due to warm temperatures already present. From ~41.4 Ma the pelagic sites showed that the palaeoenvironment continued to cool, indicated by the presence of Leiosphaeridia and Prasinophyte algae. The palaeoenvironment was oceanic with upwelling and offshore sea surface productivity, illustrated by the Gonyaulacoid and Peridinioid dinocysts present. During the Late Eocene from ~37 Ma a transitional and changeable palaeoenvironment was shown by the high numbers of Operculodinium spp present in sites 696B and 277. From ~33.7 Ma (E/O boundary) in the pelagic sites, most Peridinioid dinocysts had disappeared and very few Gonyaulacoid dinocysts were present. In contrast the inner neritic site (696B) Peridinioid dinocysts were still dominant, and a more gradual disappearance of all the marine palynomorphs was evident.</p>

Marine Palynomorphs from the Plio-Pleistocene interval of the AND-1B Drill-Core McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

<p>The ANDRILL project recovered over 600 m of Plio-Pleistocene sediments within the Ross embayment, Antarctica. These sediments contain a record of local and regional paleoenvironmental conditions and glacial dynamism. They also provide a proxy for ice dynamics of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) during a period when global temperatures were ~3OC higher than modern. This unique record provides an analogue for future global climate change, which is expected to rise by 3OC by the end of the 21st century. Sixty-one samples from the upper 600 m of the AND-1B core were analysed for their palynomorph content yielding 4 to 5380 grains per sample (with an average frequency of 34 grains per gram). Marine palynomorphs including fossil dinoflagellate cysts, acritarchs, and prasinophyte algae were the focus of this study and fluctuations in their abundance and diversity reflect changes in paleoenvironment and glacial dynamics. The upper 600 m can be divided into 6 discrete units based on the palynomorph assemblage: The early-Pliocene (~5.0 – 4.6 Ma. Unit 1) is characterised by relatively high abundances of in situ round brown dinoflagellate cysts, microforaminiferal linings, and Leiosphaeridia, suggesting warmer than modern paleoenvironmental conditions and seasonal ice within the Ross embayment. The WAIS was likely small and highly dynamic during Unit 1. The mid-Pliocene (~4.6 – 3.4 Ma. Unit 2) exhibits relatively high abundances of round brown dinoflagellate cysts, microforaminiferal linings, and scolecodonts. The relatively low abundance of Leiosphaeridia (understood to indicate proximal/seasonal ice) suggests that ice free conditions at the drill site may have existed for up to ~1.2 Ma and that this may be the warmest period recorded in the core. During the warm, mid-Pliocene interval a sudden increase in scolecodonts (fossilized polychaete remains) may give indications into the water depth at the drill site because of their dependence on physical disturbance (decreasing with depth) for population growth. Further study of the scolecodonts is required before confident estimates of water depth can be made. The mid- to late-Pliocene (~3.4 – 2.6 Ma. Units 3, 4 & 5) is characterised by a variable palynomorph assemblage indicating variability in paleoenvironmental conditions, ice cover at the drill site, and ultimately a variable WAIS. A spike in the prasinophyte alga Cymatiosphaera (understood to indicate reduced salinity) at the base of a diatomite unit in the late-Pliocene may be a record of algae thriving in meltwater from the collapse of the WAIS. Further highresolution analysis is needed to help resolve this event. The Quaternary interval (~2.6 Ma and younger. Unit 6) is significantly different from previous units and is dominated by reworked Eocene dinoflagellate cysts and acritarchs (the “Transantarctic Flora”). This interval records a period of significant cooling and glacial expansion and the WAIS likely grew to its modern “polar” state. The WAIS may have undergone several collapses during super-interglacial periods in the Pleistocene but if it did it did not persist in its collapsed state for significant periods of time.</p>

Sedimentary Environmental Evolution of the Western Taiwan Shoal Area since the Late Pleistocene

A new pollen analysis and major and trace element contents were conducted on a 40 m long gravity core recovered from the Taiwan Shoal (sand ridges), south of the Taiwan Strait, beginning in the Late Pleistocene. The changes in the pollen assemblage and concentration represent the climate change around the Taiwan Shoal and the strength of the Zhe-Min Coastal Current, whereas variations in major and trace element contents can imply the source of the sediments in the Taiwan Shoal, which are correlated with the rise or fall of the sea level with increased marine dinoflagellate cysts. The interval of 40–30 m was characterized by high pollen and spore concentrations, and evergreen Quercus was dominant taxon, which indicates a warm sedimentary environment, and the surrounding area of the Taiwan Shoal were covered by a tropical and subtropical broad-leaved forest. There were no pollen and spores from 30–24 m, which indicates a strong hydrodynamic sedimentary environment, and most of the Taiwan Shoal might have been experience subaerial exposure. The interval of 24–17 m was characterized by the reappearance of pollen and spores, as well as marine dinoflagellate cysts and foraminifera, suggesting the climate was warm and wet in the study area and an apparent marine sedimentary environment with relatively high sea level. Deciduous Quercus dominated the interval of 17–12 m, which indicated that the climate was relatively cool, corresponding to the end of Marine isotope stages3 (MIS3) to the Last Glacial Maximum accompanied by weathering and denudation. Above 12 m, the low pollen concentration with increased marine dinoflagellate cysts and foraminifera abundance suggested a marine sedimentary environment in the Taiwan Shoal. The high concentrations in Pinus corresponds to Holocene high sea level.