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The Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary is arguably the most critical transition in Earth history. This boundary is currently defined by the GSSP (Global Stratotype Section and Point) at Fortune Head (Newfoundland, Canada) at a point that was once regarded as the first appearance of the branching trace fossil Treptichnus pedum. However, T. pedum has been subsequently found below the GSSP, and its distribution is largely restricted to sandstone facies where chemostratigraphic correlation tools are difficult to apply. Thus, the stratigraphic value of the Fortune Head GSSP has come under scrutiny, and there is a need to search for an alternative definition of this boundary using other biostratigraphic criteria. Investigations of acanthomorphic acritarchs in basal Cambrian strata of South China suggest that these microfossils may provide an appropriate biostratigraphic marker for the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary, because of their wide distribution in chert-phosphorite layers intercalated with carbonates and shales, thus allowing their biostratigraphic occurrences to be calibrated with small shelly fossil (SSF) biostratigraphy and carbon isotope chemostratigraphy. Acanthomorphic acritarchs of the Asteridium-Heliosphaeridium-Comasphaeridium (AHC) assemblage zone have been identified at 11 localities in chert-phosphorite layers in the basal Cambrian Yanjiahe, Liuchapo, and Niutitang formations. These localities span a 300 km transect in South China, with depositional environments varying from a shallow carbonate shelf, to an outer shelf-slope transition and an open ocean slope-basin. The Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary can be bracketed between basal Cambrian AHC assemblage and the upper Ediacaran fossils, Horodyskia minor and Palaeopascichnus jiumenensis (HmPj assemblage zone), which occur in the lower Liuchapo Formation. There is no stratigraphic overlap between the AHC and HmPj assemblage zones. Available data show that the AHC assemblage zone is in close stratigraphic proximity with the basal Cambrian SSFs and a negative "13C excursion near the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary. Thus, in South China, the first occurrences of AHC assemblage microfossils and last occurrences of HmPj fossils can effectively "bookend" the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary to fine-scale resolution (down to 0.5 m in present study) in the Yanjiahe and Liuchapo formations. We propose that the AHC assemblage can be used to redefine the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary and this proposal should be tested with detailed acanthomorph biostratigraphy beyond South China. / Master of Science

<p>The Geologic <i>TimeScale Creator </i>(TSCreator) project has compiled a range of paleo-environmental and bio-diversity data which provides the opportunity to explore origination, speciation and extinction events. My PhD research has four major interconnected themes which include the visualization methods of evolutionary tree and the impacts of climate change on the evolution of life in longer and shorter timeframes: <b>(1) </b>Evolutionary range data of planktonic foraminifera and nannofossils over the Cenozoic era have been updated with our latest geological timescale. These evolutionary ranges can be visualized in the form of interactive, extensible evolutionary trees and can be compared with other geologic data columns. <b>(2) </b>A novel approach of integrating morphospecies and lineage trees is proposed to expand the scope of exploration of the evolutionary history of microfossils. It is now possible to visualize morphological changes and ancestor-descendant lineage relationships on TSCreator charts which helps mutual learning of these species based on genetic and bio-stratigraphic studies. <b>(3) </b>These evolutionary datasets have been used to analyze semi-periodic cycles in the past bio-diversity and characteristic rates of turnover. Well-known Milankovitch cycles have been found as the drivers of fluctuations in the speciation and extinction processes. <b>(4) </b>Within a shorter 2000-year time period, global cooling events might have been a factor of human civilization turnover. Using our regional and global cultural turnover time series data, the effect of climate change on human culture has been proposed. The enhancement of the evolutionary visualization system accomplished by this research will hopefully allow academic and non-academic users across the world to research and easily explore Earth history data through publicly available TSCreator program and websites. </p>

Submitted by CARLA MARIA GOULART DE MORAES (carlagm) on 2015-05-08T18:55:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 RodrigodoMonteGuerra.pdf: 19509141 bytes, checksum: 3e17b817d88748afa71b52b6e19e720c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-08T18:55:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RodrigodoMonteGuerra.pdf: 19509141 bytes, checksum: 3e17b817d88748afa71b52b6e19e720c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-08 / Nenhuma / Este estudo apresenta inferências bioestratigráficas e paleoecológicas baseadas na distribuição de nanofósseis calcários em três poços perfurados na plataforma continental da Bacia de Pelotas, sul do Brasil. Estudos bioestratigráficos na bacia foram realizados no final da década de 1980, porém nos últimos trinta anos o arcabouço bioestratigráfico com nanofósseis calcários para as bacias marginais brasileiras obteve um refinamento significativo, justificando a elaboração de um novo estudo. A sucessão é composta principalmente por rochas siliciclásticas provenientes de amostras de calha com pequenos intervalos de testemunhos. Foram reconhecidas onze biozonas atingindo a seção Albiano superior/Maastrichtiano, o resultado das análises bioestratigráficas produziram uma melhor resolução principalmente para o Turoniano e o Campaniano da bacia. Abundâncias relativas e absolutas de espécies do Cretáceo foram utilizadas para a determinação de inferências paleoecológicas, as primeiras com base em nanofósseis calcários para a Bacia de Pelotas. Estes dados sugerem o predomínio de condições de águas quentes com alguns eventos de esfriamento da água durante o Turoniano superior, Turoniano superior/Coniaciano inferior, Coniaciano superior e Santoniano superior/Campaniano inferior. / This study reports biostratigraphic and paleoecologic inferences based on the distribution of calcareous nannofossils in three wells drilled in Pelotas Basin continental shelf, southern Brazil. The first biostratigraphic study in the basin comes from late 1980s, however the Brazilian nannoplankton biostratigraphic framework reached a higher resolution in the last thirty years, justifying the development of a new study. The successions are composed mainly by siliciclastic rocks coming from cutting samples and short intervals of cored samples. Eleven biozones were recognized, within the upper Albian and Maastrichtian interval, the biostratigraphic analyses provided a higher resolution mainly for Turonian and Campanian strata in the basin. Absolute and relative abundances of some Cretaceous calcareous nannofossils species provided paleoecological proxies, pioneer in Pelotas Basin using this fossil group. The results suggest a prevalence of warm-water condition, with cooling events during the upper Turonian, upper Turonian/lower Coniacian, upper Coniacian and upper Santonian/lower Campanian.

A Bacia do Espírito Santo possui importantes campos de petróleo e gás em exploração, entretanto poucos trabalhos micropaleontológicos estão disponíveis para esta região uma vez que a maior parte deste conhecimento é relativo a relatórios internos de empresas de petróleo e gás. Este trabalho apresenta uma análise bioestratigráfica e paleoambiental de sucessões sedimentares do intervalo Aptiano-Albiano das formações Mariricu (Membro Itaúnas), São Mateus e Regência. A amostragem é derivada de dois poços (BES-01 e BES-02) perfurados na porção emersa da bacia. Dentre as 24 amostras, 18 revelaram assembleias palinológicas diversificadas, incluindo 51 táxons de plantas terrestres (23 de esporos e 28 de grãos de pólen), 4 táxons de algas (3 dinocistos e 1 alga clorofícea), bem como táxons não determinados de palinoforaminíferos, fungos, escolecodontes e acritarcos. Os grãos de pólen de gimnospermas são dominantes em ambos os poços, principalmente representados pela abundância e diversidade de Classopollis; outros gêneros de grãos de pólen e esporos ocorrem subordinados. A análise bioestratigráfica se baseou nos intervalos cronoestratigráficos de espécies-guias comparadas com biozoneamentos estabelecidos principalmente para a própria Bacia do Espírito Santo, como também para as demais bacias marginais brasileiras As amostras do BES-01 apresentaram idade Albiano inferior, enquanto para as amostras do poço BES-02 foi atribuída idades entre o Aptiano superior e o Albiano inferior (sem distinção). Os dinocistos e os palinoforaminíferos são restritos a alguns níveis do poço BES-01; a assembleia monoespecífica distinta do gênero Subtilisphaera representa o primeiro registro da Ecozona Subtilisphaera na Bacia do Espírito Santo, indicando a ocorrência mais ao sul desta ecozona nas bacias marginais brasileiras. Comparando a frequência da matéria orgânica particulada nas amostras (palinomorfos, fitoclastos e matéria orgânica amorfa), se interpretou o ambiente deposicional como uma região costeira ocasionalmente influenciada por transgressões marinhas. A palinoflora representa a fase final da Província Dicheiropollis etruscus/Afropollis documentada em várias bacias marginais no Brasil e na África, principalmente definida por elementos gimnospérmicos fortemente adaptados a condições climáticas quentes e secas. / The Espírito Santo Basin comprises important oil and gas fields, mostly in active exploration. However, few micropaleontological contributions are available for this region, once most part of its knowledge is concerning to internal reports of oil and gas companies. This work presents a biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental analysis from an Aptian-Albian succession of Mariricu (Itaúnas Member), São Mateus and Regência formations. Sampling is derived from two wells (BES-01 and BES-02), drilled in the onshore portion of the basin. Among 24 samples, 18 revealed abundant and diverse assemblages of palynomorphs, including 51 taxa related to terrestrial plants (23 of fern spores, and 28 of gimnospermic pollen grains), 4 algae (3 of dinocysts and 1 chlorophicean), as well as no determined taxa of foraminiferal linings, fungi, scolecodonts and acritarch. Gimnospermic pollen grains are dominant in both wells, mainly represented by an expressive abundance and diversity of Classopollis; other gimnospermic pollen grains and pteridophitic spores are subordinate. Biostratigraphic assignments are based on the ranges of certain guide species compared with schemes mainly established for the Espírito Santo Basin, as well as to other Brazilian marginal basins The samples of BES-01 were defined as early Albian in age, whereas an age from late Aptian to early Albian (without distinction) was assigned for the samples of well BES-02. Dinocysts (mainly Subtilisphaera) and foraminiferal linings are restricted to certain levels of the well BES-01. A distinctive monospecific assemblage of the Subtilisphaera in some samples reflects the first record of the Subtilisphaera Ecozone in the Espírito Santo Basin, representing its most meridional occurrence in the Brazilian marginal basins. Comparing the frequency of palynological content in both wells (palynomorphs, phytoclasts and amorphous organic matter), the depositional environment is interpreted as a coastal area, episodically influenced by marine transgressions. The palynofloral content of the assemblages is assumed to represent the final stage of the Dicheiropollis etruscus/Afropollis Province, which is well documented in several marginal basins of Brazil and Africa, mainly defined by a gimnospermic elements, strongly adapted to warm and dry climate conditions.

La sédimentation dans le Golfe de Cadix, de Gibraltar au Cap Saint-Vincent, est soumise à la circulation d’un flux permanent d’eau profonde venant de la Méditerranée connu sous le nom de Veine d’Eau Méditerranéenne ou VEM. Cette eau plus chaude, plus salée et plus dense que les eaux atlantiques s’écoule sur les marges espagnole et portugaise avec un débit moyen aussi important queplusieurs fleuves du globe. Ce courant de fond entraîne le transport et le remaniement des particules déjà déposées sur le fond. L’étude biostratigraphique détaillée à partir du sens d’enroulement de l’espèce de foraminifère planctonique Globorotalia truncatulinoides, de l’espèce polaire Neogloquadrina pachyderma senestre et du ptéropode Limacina retroversa calibrée par de nombreuses datations 14C AMS et des analyses isotopiques a permis de corréler les carottes. Les variations des processus sédimentaires dans le temps et dans l’espace montrent l’influence du climat sur les variations des taux de sédimentation et la granularité des dépôts. Ainsi, deux périodes de moindre activité de la VEM se situent pendant le Bølling-Alleröd et l’Holocène inférieur. Le Younger Dryas traduit au contraire une période de forte circulation de la VEM. De nombreux hiatus sédimentaires et dépôts gravitaires (glissements, turbidites) traduisent une instabilité sédimentaire liée à la fréquence des tremblements de terre qui se produisent dans le Golfe de Cadix et dans les régions adjacentes. Huit types de traces fossiles ont été reconnus (Chondrites, Diplocraterion, Nereites, Paleophycus, Phycosiphon, Thalassinoides, Zoophycos, des filaments (Trichichnus et Mycelia) et des traces restent indéterminées. Les traces fossiles de Zoophycos et de Paleophycus pendant le LGM traduisent la présence de circulations de masses d’eaux riches en oxygène au niveau du fond. Ces traces fossiles de Zoophycos sont visibles du LGM à l’Holocène inférieur au niveau du chenal-levée de Tasyo. / Sedimentation in the Gulf of Cadiz from Gibraltar Strait to Cape Saint Vincent is submitted to a permanent deep water flux coming from the Mediterranean Sea and called the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW). This hotter and saltier water is denser that the Atlantic waters and flows along the Spanish and Portuguese margins with an average discharge as large as the discharge of several world rivers. This bottom current generates the transport and the remolding of already deposited particles. The detailed biostratigraphic study using the coiling direction of planktonic foraminifer species Globorotalia truncatulinoides, of polar specie Neogloquadrina pachyderma sinistral and of pteropod Limacina retroversa and calibrated by numerous 14C AMS dating and stable isotope analysis allowed to correlate sediment cores. Variation of sedimentary processes in time and space shows the impact of climate on sedimentation rates and sediment grain size. Two periods of lesser activity of the MOW are identified during the Bölling-Alleröd and early Holocene. Conversely, the Younger Dryas shows a higher activity of the MOW. Numerous sedimentary hiatuses and mass flow deposits (slumps, turbidites) suggest sedimentary instabilities related to the frequent earthquakes that are initiated in the Gulf of Cadiz and neighboring areas. Height types of fossil traces have been identified (Chondrites, Diplocraterion, Nereites, Paleophycus, Phycosiphon, Thalassinoides, Zoophycos, filaments (Trichichnus and Mycelia) and undetermined traces. Fossil traces of Zoophycos and Paleophycus during the LGM show the activity of oxygen-rich water flowing along the seafloor. Fossil traces of Zoophycos are identified from LGM to lower Holocene in the Tasyo channel-levee.

<p>Small shelly fossils are common in sediments of Early Cambrian age and include the earliest common representatives of metazoan animals with mineralized hard parts. The group includes fossils of very different morphology, composition and ultrastructure. They seem to represent skeletal remains of numerous animal groups, the biological affinities of which are largely unresolved. However, the wide geographic range of many forms has the potential to enhance biostratigraphic and palaeogeographic resolution in the Early Cambrian. </p><p>The late Early Cambrian sequence of North-East Greenland has yielded an assemblage of more than 88 species of small shelly fossils, brachiopods and trilobites, indicative of a middle Dyeran age (Botoman equivalent). The recovered fossils include a number of species that are known from other Early Cambrian palaeocontinents, and particularly strong ties to late Early Cambrian faunas of Australia are documented. The many cosmopolitan taxa thus identified suggests a close juxtaposition of palaeocontinents at this time. </p><p>The systematic affinity of many of these small shelly fossils is poorly understood, partly because of their fragmentary nature and poor preservation. However, new data from North-East Greenland improves our understanding of the function and biological affinity of certain taxa. Collections of the problematic fossil <i>Mongolitubulus</i> from North and North-East Greenland exhibit characters indicative of a defensive function as spines of bivalved arthropods, while species of the problematic genus <i>Triplicatella</i> represent the opercula of an unknown tubular shell, probably related to orthothecid hyoliths. The bivalved fossil <i>Mickwitzia</i> from North-East Greenland combines characters of linguliform brachiopods and sclerites of <i>Micrina</i>, a non-bivalved problematic form (halkieriid) from Australia. The combination suggests that <i>Mickwitzia</i> is a stem group brachiopod and strengthens arguments for a halkieriid ancestry of the brachiopod phylum.</p>

Small shelly fossils are common in sediments of Early Cambrian age and include the earliest common representatives of metazoan animals with mineralized hard parts. The group includes fossils of very different morphology, composition and ultrastructure. They seem to represent skeletal remains of numerous animal groups, the biological affinities of which are largely unresolved. However, the wide geographic range of many forms has the potential to enhance biostratigraphic and palaeogeographic resolution in the Early Cambrian. The late Early Cambrian sequence of North-East Greenland has yielded an assemblage of more than 88 species of small shelly fossils, brachiopods and trilobites, indicative of a middle Dyeran age (Botoman equivalent). The recovered fossils include a number of species that are known from other Early Cambrian palaeocontinents, and particularly strong ties to late Early Cambrian faunas of Australia are documented. The many cosmopolitan taxa thus identified suggests a close juxtaposition of palaeocontinents at this time. The systematic affinity of many of these small shelly fossils is poorly understood, partly because of their fragmentary nature and poor preservation. However, new data from North-East Greenland improves our understanding of the function and biological affinity of certain taxa. Collections of the problematic fossil Mongolitubulus from North and North-East Greenland exhibit characters indicative of a defensive function as spines of bivalved arthropods, while species of the problematic genus Triplicatella represent the opercula of an unknown tubular shell, probably related to orthothecid hyoliths. The bivalved fossil Mickwitzia from North-East Greenland combines characters of linguliform brachiopods and sclerites of Micrina, a non-bivalved problematic form (halkieriid) from Australia. The combination suggests that Mickwitzia is a stem group brachiopod and strengthens arguments for a halkieriid ancestry of the brachiopod phylum.

The aim of this study is to delineate the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary by using planktonic foraminifers. In this manner, Kokaksu Section (Bartin, NW Anatolia) was selected and the Akveren Formation, characterized by a calciturbiditic-clayey limestone and marl intercalation of Campanian-Maastrichtian age, was examined. 59 samples were emphasized for position of boundary. Late Campanian-Maastrichtian planktonic foraminifers were studied in thin section and by washed samples. Two different biostratigraphical frameworks have been established. Globotruncanid zonation consists of Campanian Globotruncana aegyptiaca Zone, Upper Campanian-Middle Maastrichtian Gansserina gansseri Zone and Upper Maastrichtian Abathomphalus mayaroensis Zone, whereas heterohelicids biozonation includes Campanian Pseudotextularia elegans Zone, Lower Maastrichtian Planoglobulina acervuloinides Zone, Middle Maastrichtian Racemiguembelina fructicosa Zone and Upper Maastrichtian Pseudoguembelina hariensis Zone. Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary was determined as the boundary between Pseudotextularia elegans and Planoglobulina acervuloinides zones and Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary was designated by total disappearance of Late Cretaceous forms. Heterohelicid biozonation has been established in this study for the first time in Turkey. Collecting 300 individuals from each sample, diversity and abundance of assemblages were analyzed in terms of genus and species. ir evaluation of are important in observation of evolutionary trends and ecological changes. Moreover, evolution of different morphotypes is important in this evaluation. Such a study is new in Turkey in terms of examination of responses of planktonic foraminifers to environmental changes. Taxonomic framework has been constructed to define each species and differences of comparable forms have been discussed. Both scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs and thin section photographs were used in order to show se distinctions.