Foraminifer, epifauna and infauna abundance of ODP Hole 183-1138A and core ELT54.007-PC, Kerguelen Plateau

• Main Author: Quilty, Patrick G
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2002
• Subjects: 183-1138A; AMGRF; Antarctic Marine Geology Research Facility; Florida State University; DRILL; Drilling/drill rig; ELT54; ELT54.007-PC; Eltanin; Indian Ocean; Joides Resolution; Kerguelen Plateau; Leg183; Ocean Drilling Program; ODP; PC; PetExplor; Piston corer; Antarc*; Antarctic
• Online Access: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.785103; https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.785103

Late Campanian and Maastrichtian benthic foraminifers are recorded from 12 samples from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 183, Cores 183-1138A-52R through 63R (487.3-602.4 meters below seafloor), Kerguelen Plateau, Indian Ocean, and Danian benthics from one sample in the same section. The entire late Maastrichtian foraminifer fauna is noted from a dredge sample 220 km to the north. The structure of the fauna is compared with the Cenomanian-Turonian of the nearby Eltanin core E54-7. Faunas are reviewed in terms of planktonic percentage, composition, epifaunal/infaunal ratios, and dominance/diversity indices. The region was in the cool Austral Faunal Province through the Campanian-Maastrichtian and was probably warmer in the Cenomanian-Turonian. The ODP section is now 1600 meters below sea level and has subsided several hundred meters since deposition. Its fauna is dominated by epifaunal species suggesting little influence of upwelling. The dredge location has subsided little. Its fauna has a high infaunal content consistent with significant influence of upwelling near the plateau edge. The dominant benthic species remain constant through the ODP Cretaceous section, but subdominance changes, and the section is divided into three informal zones based on dominance/subdominance characteristics of the benthic fauna. Brief taxonomic comments are made on several species and some are figured.