Vegetation response to exceptional global warmth during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2

verfasst von

Ulrich Heimhofer, Nina Wucherpfennig, Thierry Adatte, Stefan Schouten, Elke Schneebeli-Hermann, Silvia Gardin, Gerta Keller, Sarah Kentsch, Ariane Kujau

Abstract

The Cenomanian–Turonian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE2; ~94.5 million years ago) represents an episode of global-scale marine anoxia and biotic turnover, which corresponds to one of the warmest time intervals in the Phanerozoic. Despite its global significance, information on continental ecosystem response to this greenhouse episode is lacking. Here we present a terrestrial palynological record combined with marine-derived temperature data (TEX₈₆) across an expanded OAE2 section from the Southern Provençal Basin, France. Despite high TEX₈₆-derived temperature estimates reaching up to 38 °C, the continental hinterland did support a diverse vegetation, adapted to persist under elevated temperatures. A transient phase of climatic instability and cooling during OAE2 known as Plenus Cold Event (PCE) is marked by the proliferation of open, savanna-type vegetation rich in angiosperms at the expanse of conifer-dominated forest ecosystems. A rise in early representatives of Normapolles-type pollen during the PCE marks the initial radiation of this important angiosperm group.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institut für Geologie
Abteilung Geologie
AG Sedimentologie, Stratigraphie und Palynologie

Externe Organisation(en)

Université de Lausanne (UNIL)
Utrecht University
Universität Zürich (UZH)
Université Paris 6
Princeton University
Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ)

Typ

Artikel

Journal

Nature Communications

Band

9

ISSN

2041-1723

Publikationsdatum

20.09.2018

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Allgemeine Chemie, Allgemeine Biochemie, Genetik und Molekularbiologie, Allgemeine Physik und Astronomie

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 14 – Lebensraum Wasser, SDG 15 – Lebensraum Land

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06319-6 (Zugang: Offen)