La problématique de ce travail concerne des cas concrets d'application de l'approche paléobiologique chez les ammonites. Une attention spéciale a été donnée à la variabilité intraspécifique et ses conséquences taxinomiques, ainsi qu'à l'étude des patterns et processus évolutifs des groupes étudiés, afin d'en tirer des généralités. Les études paléobiologiques sur des exemples très variés montrent que la variabilité et le degré de sa prise en compte par les auteurs a une influence particulière sur les conceptions taxinomiques, et par conséquent sur la biostratigraphie et sur la compréhension des mécanismes évolutifs. Les lois de Westermann semblent être prépondérantes pour expliquer la variabilité intraspécifique d'un grand nombre de groupes d'ammonites, mais elles ne sont pas la seule source de covariation et leur influence doit être relativisée face à d'autres facteurs habituellement peu pris en compte. Les facteurs de la variabilité intraspécifique reconnus concernent : (1) le dimorphisme, (2) une variabilité dipolaire dans l'application stricte de la première loi de Westermann, (3) des variation par rapport à l'énoncé général de cette loi, (4) une variabilité tripolaire, (5) des relations hétérochroniques morphologiques dépendantes ou indépendantes, (6) un facteur d'atténuation de l'ornementation, et (7) différents facteurs d'enroulement liés ou non à d'autres caractères morphologiques et ornementaux chez les ammonites hétéromorphes. / The issue of this work involves concrete case of application of the palaeobiological approach in ammonites. Special attention was given to intraspecific variability and its taxonomic consequences and the study of evolutionary processes and patterns of the groups studied, in order to draw generalizations. Paleobiological studies on a variety of examples show that the degree of variability and its consideration by the authors has a particular influence on taxonomic concepts, and consequently on the biostratigraphy and the understanding of evolutionary mechanisms. Westermann laws seem to be dominant to explain intraspecific variability of a large number of ammonites groups, but they are not the only source of covariation and their influence must be relativized against other factors usually not taken into account. Factors of intraspecific variability recognized are: (1) dimorphism, (2) a dipolar variability in the strict application of the first Westermann’s law, (3) changes compared to the general statement of the law, (4) tripolar variability, (5) heterochronic relationships morphological dependent or independent, (6) an attenuation factor of ornamentation, and (7) various coiling factors related or not to other morphological and ornamental characters in heteromorphic ammonites.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / This study was aimed at determining the sedimentary environment, its evolution and facies areal distribution of the Upper Shallow Marine (USM, Late Valanginian). The study was conducted in wells E-S1, F-AH4 and E-W1 in the Bredasdorp basin between E-M and F-AH fields, located in a basinwards transect roughly transverse to the palaeocoast. The wells were studied by logging all the cores in detail between the chosen intervals, followed by facies analysis. Each core log was tied with its respective gamma ray and resistivity well logs. The logs were then correlated based on their log signatures, trends and facies interpretation. The Gamma ray logs show a fining-upwards and coarsening-upwards trend (“hour-glass shape”) in E-S1 and F-AH4 while in E-W1 it shows more accommodation space. These trends are believed to have been influenced by relative sea level changes, such as transgression and regression. Facies analysis identified seven facies in the study area: Facies A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Facies A, B and C were interpreted as fair-weather and storm deposits of the offshore-transition zone, shoreface and foreshore respectively. Facies D was considered as lagoonal mud deposits, while Facies E and F were interpreted as tidal channel and tidal bar deposits respectively. Finally Facies G was considered as fluvial channel deposits. The facies inferred that the sedimentary environment of the study area is a wave-dominated estuary or an Island-bar lagoon system. This led to the production of a conceptual model showing the possible locations for the three wells in the Island bar-lagoon system. The conceptual model inferred the previous findings from PGS (1999) report, that the Upper Shallow Marine beds were deposited in a tidal/estuarine to shoreface setting. This model also supports the findings of Magobiyane (2014), which proposed a wave-dominated estuary for the Upper Shallow Marine reservoir between E-M and F-AH fields, located west of the study area.

An important episode of carbon sequestration, Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE-1a), characterizes the Lower Aptian worldwide, and is mostly known from deeper-water settings. The present work of two Lower Aptian deposits, Madotz (N Spain) and Curití Quarry (Colombia), is a multiproxy study that includes fossil assemblages, microfacies, X-ray diffraction bulk and clay mineralogy, elemental analyses (major, minor, trace elements), Rock-Eval pyrolysis, biomarkers, inorganic and organic carbon content, and stable carbon isotopes. The results provide baseline evidence of the local and global controlling environmental factors influencing OAE-1a in shallow-water settings. The data also improve our general understanding of the conditions under which organic-carbon-rich deposits accumulate. The sequence at Madotz includes four intervals (Unit 1; Subunits 2a, 2b and 2c) that overlap the times prior to, during and after the occurrence of OAE-1a. The Lower Unit 1(3m thick) is essentially siliciclastic, and Subunit 2a (20m) contains Urgonian carbonate facies that document abruptly changing platform conditions prior to OAE-1a. Subunit 2b (24.4 m) is a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic facies with orbitolinid-rich levels that coincides with OAE-1a δ13C stages C4-C6, and is coeval with the upper part of the Deshayesites forbesi ammonite zone. Levels with pyrite and the highest TOC values (0.4-0.97%), interpreted as accumulating under suboxic conditions, and are restricted to δ13C stages C4 and C5. The best development of the suboxic facies is at the level representing the peak of the transgression. Subunit 2c, within δ13C stage C7, shows a return of the Urgonian facies. The 23.35-m section at Curití includes a 6.3-m interval at the base of the Paja Formation dominated by organic-rich marlstones and shales lacking benthic fossils and bioturbation, with TOC values as high as 8.84%. The interval overlies a level containing reworked and phosphatized assemblages of middle Barremian to lowest Aptian ammonites. The range of values and the overall pattern of the δ13Corg (-22.05‰ to -20.47‰) in the 6.3m-interval is comparable with Lower Aptian δ13C stage C7. Thus, conditions of oxygen depletion at this site also occurred after Oceanic Anoxic Event-1a, which developed between carbon isotope stages C3 and C6. Both sites, Madotz and Curití, attest to the importance of terrigenous and nutrient fluxes in increasing OM productivity that led to episodic oxygen deficiency.

Thesis is focused on foraminifera from classical Březno section. It describes the basic charakteristics of foraminifera, Czech Cretaceous Basin, Březno section near Louny and history of research of Cretaceous foraminifera in Czech Republic. Taxonomically studied planktonic foraminifera species are from family Heterohelicidae Cushman, 1927, and benthos species are from family Lagenidae Reuss, 1862, Nodosariidae Ehrenberg, 1838, and Vaginulinidae Reuss, 1860. Key words: Foraminifera, Cretaceous, Březno near Louny, Heterohelicidae, Lagenidae, Nodosariidae, Vaginulinidae

This thesis addresses the systematics and taxonomics of the ammonite assemblages of the Lower and Middle Turonian of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin (BCB). It describes nineteen species of fifteen genera. Amongst others it concerns: Watinoceras coloradoense (Henderson), Spathites (Jeanrogericeras) reveliereanum (Courtiller), Paramammites sp. cf. P. polymorphus (Perervinquière), and Lecointricecras carinatum (Kennedy et al.) from the BCB, which have been described for the very first time. Another important taxon that is described is Prionocyclus albinus (Fritsch), which has not been encountered in the BCB since the year 1872 when it was established as a holotype by A. Fritsch. This specimen is now deposited in the National Museum in Prague. Most of these significant taxa belong to the collection of Dr. J. Soukup. He collected the specimens in various locations near Žďánice u Kouřimi mainly in the first half of the 20th century. The locations no longer exist. Stratigraphically important zonal ammonites, primarily W. coloradoense and Fagesia catinus (Mantell), are a direct evidence of the presence of two ammonite zones in the lower Lower Turonian in this part of the BCB (the zones Watinoceras coloradoense/devonense and Fagesia catinus). They also illustrate a larger stratigraphical extent of...

Masters of Science / Located on the western offshore on the Atlantic Ocean margin of Southern Africa, the Orange Basin is the youngest and largest of the South Africa’s seven sedimentary basins. This passive margin basin in known for its hydrocarbon potential and therefore is the focus of attraction of several oil exploration companies. The study area lies near the continental margin in which four exploratory wells were drilled. An attempt has been made in this work to understand the depositional settings of these reservoirs and their biostratigraphy. Distribution of important planktonic index foraminifera helps in dating the reservoir sections. Paleoecological studies of benthic foraminifera were used for understanding the prevailing environment during the Cretaceous period. The study indicates that most of the reservoirs are distributed in the Albian (Early Cretaceous) and a few in the Cenomanian age sediments. Relatively shallow shelf sedimentation prevailed in the Late Aptian to middle part of Albian with deposition of arenaceous units. There were periodic localised deepening as well as very shallow depositional condition leading to exposure (diastem) as indicated by lithology and faunal composition. Gradual rise in sea level started in Late Albian and the entire area was under bathyal environment till the end of Cenomanian stage. This is indicated by deposition of claystone rich units and the associated fossil benthics indicates deposition in slope area. The few relatively minor argillaceous sandstone and siltstone units are with poor reservoir quality.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Durban Basin located on the eastern coast of South Africa has been a focus of interest for Petroleum Exploration for the last few decades. Only four exploratory wells have been drilled in this offshore basin without success. During the initial stage of its creation, the basin suffered major tectonic disturbance as evident from the presence extensional faults followed by intense igneous activities. This was followed by marine sedimentation in the late Mesozoic (late Jurassic-early Cretaceous). An attempt has been made in this work to understand the distribution of the rock in space and time for the early Cretaceous sediments considered most prospective for hydrocarbon exploration in Southern Africa. Temporal distribution of planktonic foraminifera helps in identification of the three early Cretaceous (Barremian to Albian) stages within the drilled intervals. Foraminiferal biostratigraphic studies integrated with sedimentology, log motif analysis and seismic data analysis helps to predict paleodepth and depositional environment during early Cretaceous in this research. The integrated analysis reveals that during the Barremian-early Aptian stages graben filled sediments were deposited in a marine shelf in the northern part of the studied area (site Jc-D1) whereas, in the central and southern part finer clastics were deposited in middle slope (site Jc-B1 and Jc-C1). The thick claystone section and presence of minor limestone lenses and their benthic foraminifera assemblage in late Aptian-Albian stage in the northern area indicates possibility of submarine fan. Overlying succession dated between late Aptian to Albian and early part of Cenomanian interval in the three studied exploratory wells shows serrated log signatures. The dominant claystone lithology with intermittent siltstone/sandstone units and the benthic foraminifera indicates fluctuating distal marine slope environment with periodic shallowness in the entire area.

The diploma thesis deals with the study of stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon of Cretaceous rocks from the Jičín volcanic field. The aim of the thesis is to identify isotope alterations in Cretaceous sediments transported by basic magmas in the form of xenoliths and to determine the origin of oxygen and carbon of hydrothermal vein carbonates that penetrate the bodies of neovolcanites. The study is divided into two parts. The theoretical part summarizes in general the stratigraphy of the Czech Cretaceous Basin and Cenozoic volcanism of the Bohemian Massif, geochemistry of stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon and geology of studied localities in the Jičín volcanic field. The practical part presents a detailed isotope study of Hřídelec, Kulatý vrch, Zebín, Veliš and Kunětická hora localities. Cretaceous rocks from xenoliths in these neovolcanites show extreme variability in the isotopic composition of both carbon (from 0,15 to -11,1 ‰ V-PDB) and oxygen (from -5,4 to -22,9 ‰ V-PDB). They significantly exceed the variability of the isotopic composition of diagenetically altered Cretaceous rocks from the same area. The wide range of oxygen isotope composition is the result mainly of fluid temperature variability (approx. 300 - 20 řC), which isotopically altered Cretaceous sediments. Carbon isotope...

The presented work is focused on research of distribution of trace elements in carbonate sediments and fossils in the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin. To obtain maximum information about the composition of the primary carbonate and its crystallization environment, the trace elements were analyzed mainly in fractions soluble in diluted acid. Another objective is the comparison of trace-element abundance in the soluble fraction and in the residue (or in the total mass of the samples). The results show that there are no systematic differences in the chemical composition of the original carbonate between various regions and stratigraphic positions (Cenomanian - upper Turonian). Elements like Sr, Mg and Mn in carbonate were affected by diagenesis, but contents and mutual ratios of the rare earth elements in all carbonates are similar and are characterized by negative cerium anomaly. The Ce-anomaly could be attenuated by elevated content of clastic matter, and in the soluble portions ocassionally via contamination by secondary phosphate. On the other hand, soluble fractions of limonite-rich and calcite-poor sandstones have positive cerium anomaly, which is the effect of Ce-sorbtion on limonite.

The Mesozoic is punctuated by several rapid global warming events that are marked by the worldwide deposition of organic-rich marine sediments. These events, known as oceanic anoxic events (OAEs), are characterised by intervals where the worldwide carbon cycle suffers a disruption due to major palaeoceanographic and climatic shifts, leading to anoxic marine environments and the creation of black shales. For this study, the Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE 1a), which occurred during the Early Cretaceous Aptian age (~120 Ma) was analysed. It was likely triggered by the Greater Ontong Java underwater volcanic event and is associated with major changes in marine environments and ecosystems, including nekton and plankton turnover, and sea water composition changes. The impact of this event on terrestrial land-based ecosystems is, however, less well understood. Here I document well preserved and diverse spore-pollen assemblages spanning OAE 1a from southern Sweden by examining the Höllviken I core. Before the OAE, palynofloras are dominated by conifers, suggestive of a relatively mild and dry coastal environment. At the onset of the OAE a fern spike occurs, where there is a shift to early successional stage vegetation. Gymnosperm diversity and abundance sharply decrease, and the palynofloral assemblages become dominated by ferns, indicating a shift to warm and wet conditions. Gymnosperms gradually recover thereafter, but the formerly abundant conifer pollen Classopollis does not recover and remains rare. Dinoflagellate cysts and microforaminiferal test linings increase in abundance after OAE 1a, suggesting a higher degree of marine influence. These findings show that OAE 1a had a substantial impact on the composition and diversity of high latitude terrestrial vegetation and marine plankton communities. / <p>The work for this thesis was financially supported by the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree PANGEA programme.</p>