Early Jurassic benthic foraminiferal ecology from the Central High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

authored by: Tanner Fonville, Rowan C. Martindale, Travis N. Stone, Michel Septfontaine, Stephane Bodin, François Nicolas Krencker, Lahcen Kabiri
Abstract: The Central High Atlas Mountains of Morocco have an extensive record of Lower Jurassic deposits from the Tethyan Ocean. In the Amellago region, Ziz Valley, and Dadès Valley several fossilized reef outcrops preserve benthic foraminifera spanning the Pliensbachian and Toarcian stages. This study analyzes benthic foraminiferal assemblage changes across the bi-phased extinctions at the Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary and the Jenkyns Event (also referred to as the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event). In Pliensbachian samples, assemblages with abundant Glomospira sp., Glomospirella sp., Siphovalvulina sp., Haurania deserta, Placopsilina sp., Mesoendothyra sp., and Everticyclammina praevirguliana are observed. Following both the Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary event and the Jenkyns Event, benthic foraminiferal density, evenness, and species richness decreased, indicating these communities underwent ecologic stress; however, loss of diversity was most substantial between samples that pre-date and post-date the Jenkyns Event. Whereas the Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary event coincides with the demise of the large benthic foraminifera Mesoendothyra sp. and Everticyclammina praevirguliana, the Jenkyns Event was detrimental for most clades of benthic foraminifera, including many small, resilient taxa. Based on the evidence provided, we suggest that the Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary and the Jenkyns Event were distinct events, potentially caused by distinct environmental perturbations.
External Organisation(s): University of Texas at Austin
Aarhus University
Universite Moulay Ismail
Type: Article
Journal: PALAIOS
Volume: 39
Pages: 277-299
No. of pages: 23
ISSN: 0883-1351
Publication date: 31.08.2024
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Palaeontology
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2023.026 (Access: Closed)

BibTeX

@article{1d4e1316deef4cf7bcaf5169cb52cef4,
title = "Early Jurassic benthic foraminiferal ecology from the Central High Atlas Mountains, Morocco",
abstract = "The Central High Atlas Mountains of Morocco have an extensive record of Lower Jurassic deposits from the Tethyan Ocean. In the Amellago region, Ziz Valley, and Dad{\`e}s Valley several fossilized reef outcrops preserve benthic foraminifera spanning the Pliensbachian and Toarcian stages. This study analyzes benthic foraminiferal assemblage changes across the bi-phased extinctions at the Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary and the Jenkyns Event (also referred to as the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event). In Pliensbachian samples, assemblages with abundant Glomospira sp., Glomospirella sp., Siphovalvulina sp., Haurania deserta, Placopsilina sp., Mesoendothyra sp., and Everticyclammina praevirguliana are observed. Following both the Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary event and the Jenkyns Event, benthic foraminiferal density, evenness, and species richness decreased, indicating these communities underwent ecologic stress; however, loss of diversity was most substantial between samples that pre-date and post-date the Jenkyns Event. Whereas the Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary event coincides with the demise of the large benthic foraminifera Mesoendothyra sp. and Everticyclammina praevirguliana, the Jenkyns Event was detrimental for most clades of benthic foraminifera, including many small, resilient taxa. Based on the evidence provided, we suggest that the Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary and the Jenkyns Event were distinct events, potentially caused by distinct environmental perturbations.",
author = "Tanner Fonville and Martindale, {Rowan C.} and Stone, {Travis N.} and Michel Septfontaine and Stephane Bodin and Krencker, {Fran{\c c}ois Nicolas} and Lahcen Kabiri",
note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2024, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology)",
year = "2024",
month = aug,
day = "31",
doi = "10.2110/palo.2023.026",
language = "English",
volume = "39",
pages = "277--299",
journal = "PALAIOS",
issn = "0883-1351",
publisher = "SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology",
number = "8",
}