1. Biostratigraphy and Microfossils Professor Simon K. Haslett Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching Simon.haslett@newport.ac.uk 1 st September 2010

2. Introduction Biostratigraphy is the use of fossils to date sediments and reconstruct past environments, and enables ages to be applied to isolated samples. Any fossil has the potential of being used biostratigraphically, however, in deep-sea sediments retrieved using coring equipment, the best fossils to use are those that are small and abundant in the core samples. Microfossils are thus the most appropriate types of fossils to use when investigating DSDP (Deep Sea Drilling Project) and ODP (Ocean Drilling Program) material. In this presentation, some of the microfossils that can be derived from deep-sea sediments and used for biostratigraphical purposes are described.

3. Quaternary microfossils: foraminifera There are many types of Quaternary microfossils including: 1.Foraminifera – wholly marine Sarcodine Protozoa that secrete both calcareous and organic-cemented tests. Lives in both benthonic and planktonic modes (see Murray, 2002).

4. Quaternary microfossils: radiolaria 2.Radiolaria – wholly marine Sarcodine Protozoa that secrete a siliceous test. Only planktonic mode of life (see Haslett, 2002).

5. Quaternary microfossils: calcareous nannofossils 3.Calcareous nannofossils – marine planktonic algae that secrete calcareous plates. Includes coccoliths (see Jordan, 2002).

6. Quaternary microfossils: diatoms 4.Diatoms – algae that secrete siliceous frustules. Can live in both freshwater and marine environments, in both benthonic and planktonic modes of life (see Kennington, 2002).

7. Quaternary microfossils: ostracods and dinoflagellates 5.Ostracods – crustaceans that secrete a bivalved calcareous carapace. Can live in both freshwater and marine environments, in both benthonic and planktonic modes of life (see Boomer, 2002). 6.Dinoflagellates – calcareous or, more commonly, organic-walled marine algae. Planktonic, but has a benthonic resting stage (see Dale and Dale, 2002).

8. Radiolarian practical 1 Part A The purpose of these practicals is to develop your skills at identifying biostratigraphically important species of radiolaria. Using suitable Late Cenozoic samples such as those collected by the DSDP and ODP, search for the following biostratigraphically important species: The species and events that you should cover include: FAD of Amphirhopalum ypsilon LAD of Stichocorys peregrina FAD of Lamprocyrtis neoheteroporos FAD of Theocorythium trachelium FAD of Theocalyptra davisiana LAD of Pterocanium prismatium FAD of Pterocorys minythorax FAD of Lamprocyrtis nigriniae LAD of Theocorythium vetulum LAD of Lamprocyrtis neoheteroporos FAD of Collosphaera tuberosa For each of these biodatums, from the following tables (Haslett, 2004), establish their age in each of the major oceans (if they occur in all), and assess their suitability as zonal markers and for inclusion in regional and/or global late Cenozoic biostratigraphic schemes. Lamprocyrtis neoheteroporos (left), Lamprocyrtis nigriniae (right)

9. Radiolarian practical 2 BiodatumsAtlantic Ocean 1 Indian Ocean 2 Pacific Ocean 3 Age RangeAccuracy FAD Buccinosphaera invaginata0.13-0.19 0.06 LAD Stylatractus universus0.27-0.60.4-0.50.41-0.50.27-0.60.33 FAD Collosphaera tuberosa0.43-0.630.58-0.650.43-0.650.22 LAD Anthocyrtidium nosicaae0.6-0.80.71-0.820.6-0.820.22 LAD Pterocorys campanula0.71-0.84 0.13 FAD Pterocorys hertwigii0.8-0.940.82-0.910.8-0.940.14 FAD Anthocyrtidium euryclathrum0.91-0.94 0.03 LAD Anthocyrtidium angulare1.02-1.131.12-1.251.02-1.250.23 FAD Lamprocyrtis nigriniae1.11-1.171.21-1.451.11-1.450.34 LAD Lamprocyrtis neoheteroporos1.06-1.171.19-1.231.02-1.121.02-1.230.21 LAD Anthocyrtidium michelinae1.63-1.67 0.04 LAD Pterocanium prismatium1.64-1.681.7-1.781.64-1.780.14 FAD Anthocyrtidium angulare1.64-1.771.75-1.791.64-1.790.15 FAD Pterocorys zancleus1.77-1.79 0.02 LAD Theocorythium vetulum1.9-21.16-1.261.16-20.84 LAD Anthocyrtidium jenghisi2.27-2.52.27-2.52 0.25 FAD Cycladophora davisiana2.24-2.442.33-2.672.65-2.762.24-2.760.52 FAD Lamprocyrtis neoheteroporos2.07-2.242.4-2.673.14-3.362.07-3.361.29 FAD Theocorythium trachelium2.33-2.691.47-1.781.47-2.691.22 FAD Pterocorys minythorax1.49-1.781.49.1.780.29 LAD Lamprocyrtis heteroporos1.49-2.09 0.6 LAD Stichocorys peregrina2.79-2.942.75-2.842.49-2.882.49-2.940.45 FAD Lamprocyrtis heteroporos3.14-3.44 0.3 LAD Anthocyrtidium ehrenbergi3-3.07 0.07 LAD Anthocyrtidium pliocenica3.4-3.563.13-3.63 0.5 LAD Phormostichoartus fistula3.31-3.453.48-5.33.31-5.31.99 LAD Lychnodictyum audax3.39-3.533.67-4.043.39-4.040.65 1 after Haslett (1994) & Westberg-Smith et al. (1986) 2 after Johnson et al. (1989) & Haslett et al. (1995) 3 Moore et al. (1993) & Moore (1995)

10. Radiolarian practical 3 Part B Once you are familiar with these species, select two Late Cenozoic samples of unknown age (from those available) and date it using solely the radiolarian fauna present. Assign each sample to a radiolarian zone and be sure to justify your decisions, stating the margin of error, and to discuss/illustrate any uncertainties. Zone codeNameZone typeDuration (Ma)Lower boundary definitionOther biodatums within the zone NR1Buccinosphaera invaginataRange Chronozone0.17-0FAD Buccinosphaera invaginatanone NR2Collosphaera tuberosaInterval Chronozone0.42-0.17LAD Stylatractus universusnone NR3Stylatractus universusInterval Chronozone0.58-0.42FAD Collosphaera tuberosanone NR4Amphirhopalum ypsilonInterval Chronozone1-0.58LAD Anthocyrtidium angulareLAD Anthocyrtidium nosicaae LAD Pterocorys campanula FAD Pterocorys hertwigii FAD Anthocyrtidium euryclathrum NR5Anthocyrtidium angulareInterval Chronozone1.55-1LAD Pterocanium prismatiumFAD Lamprocyrtis nigriniae LAD Lamprocyrtis neoheteroporos LAD Anthocyrtidium michelinae NR6Pterocanium prismatiumInterval Chronozone2.35-1.55LAD Anthocyrtidium jenghisiFAD Anthocyrtidium angulare FAD Pterocorys zancleus LAD Theocorythium vetulum NR7Anthocyrtidium jenghisiInterval Chronozone2.65-2.35LAD Stichocorys peregrinaFAD Cycladophora davisiana FAD Lamprocyrtis neoheteroporos FAD Theocorythium trachelium NR8Stichocorys peregrinaInterval Chronozone3.25-2.65LAD Phormostichoartus fistulaLAD Anthocyrtidium ehrenbergi LAD Anthocyrtidium pliocenica NR9Phormostichoartus fistulaInterval Chronozone3.55-3.25LAD Phormostichoartus doliolumLAD Lychnodictyum audax NR10Phormostichoartus doliolumInterval Chronozone3.87-3.55LAD Anthocyrtidium prolatumLAD Amphirhopalum ypsilon LAD Spongaster pentas FAD Spongaster tetras LAD Spongodiscus klingi LAD Spongaster berminghami NR11Anthocyrtidium prolatumRange Chronozone4.7-3.87FAD Anthocyrtidium prolatumFAD Spongaster pentas FAD Anthocyrtidium ophirense

11. Summary Biostratigraphy is the use of fossils to date sediments and reconstruct palaeoenvironments. Microfossils are the most common fossils in marine sediments. Some of the more important groups of microfossils include: foraminifera, radiolaria, calcareous nannofossils, diatoms, ostracods, and dinoflagellates. Each of these fossils have unique features which allow them to be placed at specific points in space and time.

12. References Boomer, I. 2002. Environmental applications of marine and freshwater Ostracoda. pp. 115-138. In: Haslett, S.K. (ed.). Quaternary Environmental Micropalaeontology. Arnold, London, 340pp. Dale, B. and Dale, A.L. 2002. Environmental applications of dinoflagellate cysts and acritarchs. pp. 207-240. In: Haslett, S.K. (ed.). Quaternary Environmental Micropalaeontology. Arnold, London, 340pp. Haslett, S.K. 1994. Plio-Pleistocene radiolarian biostratigraphy and palaeoceanography of the mid-latitude North Atlantic (DSDP Site 609). Geological Magazine, 131: 57-66. Haslett, S.K., Kennington, K., Funnell, B.M. and Kersley, C.L. 1995. Pliocene-Pleistocene radiolarian and diatom biostratigraphy of ODP hole 709C (equatorial Indian Ocean). Journal of Micropalaeontology, 14: 135-143. Haslett, S.K. 2002. Palaeoceanographic applications of planktonic Sarcodine Protozoa: Radiolaria and Foraminifera. pp. 139-165. In: Haslett, S.K. (ed.). Quaternary Environmental Micropalaeontology. Arnold, London, 340pp. Haslett, S.K. 2004. Late Neogene-Quaternary radiolarian biostratigraphy: a brief review. Journal of Micropalaeontology, 23: 39-47. Johnson, D.A., Schneider, D.A., Nigrini, C.A., Caulet, J.P. and Kent, D.V. 1989. Pliocene-Pleistocene radiolarian events and magnetostratigraphic calibrations for the tropical Indian Ocean. Marine Micropalaeontology, 14: 33-66. Jordon, R.W. 2002. Environmental applications of calcareous nannofossils. pp. 185-206. In: Haslett, S.K. (ed.). Quaternary Environmental Micropalaeontology. Arnold, London, 340pp. Kennington, K. 2002. The environmental applications of diatoms. pp. 166-184. In: Haslett, S.K. (ed.). Quaternary Environmental Micropalaeontology. Arnold, London, 340pp. Moore, T.C. Jr. 1995. Radiolarian stratigraphy. Leg 138. Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, 138: 191-232. Moore, T.C. Jr., Skackleton, N.J. and Pisias, N.G.1993. Palaeoceanography and the diachrony of radiolarian events in the eastern equatorial Pacific. Palaeoceanography, 8: 567-586. Murray, J.W. 2002. Introduction to benthic foraminifera. pp. 5-13. In: Haslett, S.K. (ed.). Quaternary Environmental Micropalaeontology. Arnold, London, 340pp. Westberg-Smith, M.J., Tway, L.E. and Riedel, W.R. 1986. Radiolarians from the North Atlantic Ocean. Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 94. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 94: 763-777.

13. This resource was created by the University of Wales, Newport and released as an open educational resource through the 'C-change in GEES' project exploring the open licensing of climate change and sustainability resources in the Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. The C-change in GEES project was funded by HEFCE as part of the JISC/HE Academy UKOER programme and coordinated by the GEES Subject Centre. This resource is licensed under the terms of the Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/).http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ All images courtesy of Professor Simon Haslett. However the resource, where specified below, contains other 3 rd party materials under their own licenses. The licenses and attributions are outlined below: 1.The name of the University of Wales, Newport and its logos are unregistered trade marks of the University. The University reserves all rights to these items beyond their inclusion in these CC resources. 2.The JISC logo, the C-change logo and the logo of the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for the Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences are licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution -non-commercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK England & Wales license. All reproductions must comply with the terms of that license. AuthorProfessor Simon K. Haslett Research AssistantJonathan Wallen InstituteUniversity of Wales, Newport TitleBiostratigraphy and microfossils Description This presentation focuses on the process of assigning relative ages to deep-sea sediments using the microfossil assemblages contained within them. Date Created2010 Educational LevelHigher Keywords UKOER, GEESOER, earth sciences, environmental sciences, foraminifera, radiolaria, calcareous nannofossils, diatoms, ostracods, dinoflagellates, palaeoenvironment, biostratigraphy, microfossils, fossils, quaternary, micropalaeontology, ocean drilling Creative Commons LicenseAttribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales