| Summary: | The planktonic foraminiferal distribution identified in 560 samples from the hemipelagic sequence of the Metochia section in Gavdos island, allowed to establish an ecostratigraphical scheme which provides a very important tool for the biochronological subdivision of the Late Miocene, from 9.7 to 6.8 Ma, a period of supposedly substantial changes in the Mediterranean-Atlantic connections. The quantitative distribution of planktonic foraminifera evidences a succession of microfaunal assemblages (ecozones) characterizing the progressively changing surface water environment. The compositional changes and frequency variations allow to identify II ecozones which coincide with alternations of cool-warm intervals. Cool intervals are characterized by a period of dominance in sinistral coiling neoglobo-quadrinids and an increase of G. falconensis, G. bulloides, which are indicators of cool water. High sea surface temperatures are indicated by the increase of G. nepenthes, G. trilobus and G. siphonifera. © 2004 Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, D-70176 Stuttgart.
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