Bio-evolution patterns in a green-house world: Calcareous nannofossils from the Cenomanian-Turonian interval of NW-Europe

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Jörg Mutterlose
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2007 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 42287106

We intend to study the biostratigraphy, palaeoecology and palaeoceanography of the Cenomanian - Turonian of five sections (Wunstorf, Konrad, Baddeckenstedt, Eastbourne, Goban Spur) with the focus on Wunstorf. These sections cover a transect from shallow water platform settings via hemi-pelagic black shales to pelagic chalk successions partly with black shales. High resolution stable isotope curves (δ18O, δ13C) provide a detailed stratigraphic framework for a high resolution correlation of each of these sites. This study aims at a better reconstruction of the paleoenvironment and palaeoceanography of different marine settings and the heterogenous sediment signals (black shale versus chalk) by analysing and interpreting the calcareous nannofossils. We want to understand the evolution and radiation patterns of calcareous nannofossils in different oceanographic environments during the peak of the Cretaceous greenhouse world. Our project has the following goals: a) to develop a high resolution biostratigraphie framework for the Wunstorf core, b) to understand the paleoecology and paleoceanography of different mid-latitudinal sites, c) to interpret both, black shale and chalk formation in the light of calc. nannofossil productivity, d) to decipher the evolution of calc. nannofossils during the peak of the global green house world.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Jochen Erbacher