Palynostratigraphy of the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass-extinction interval of the Southern Hemisphere

• The palynofloral changes around the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction event reveal the fine details of vegetation response to a global environmental crisis-in this case an asteroid impact in Mexico 65.5 million years ago. Due to the extinction of several plant taxa at the K-Pg boundary, palynostratigraphy is a prime tool for localizing the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary in non-marine successions. The Southern Hemisphere includes the tropical to sub-tropical Palmae Province, the high-latitude Nothofagidites/Proteacidites Province, and a transitional zone of mixed floristic composition. Maastrichtian key-species that go extinct at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary within the Palmae Province include Aquilapollenites magnus, Buttinia andreevi, Crassitricolporites brasiliensis, Proteacidites dehaani and Gabonisporis vigourouxii. In the Nothofagidites/Proteacidites Province, taxa such as Tricolporites lilliei, Triporopollenites sectilis, Quadraplanus brossus, Nothofagidites kaitangata, and Grapnelispora evansii have their last appearances at the boundary. It is obvious that more thorough analyses of the palynological signals across the K-Pg boundary in the The palynofloral changes around the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction event reveal the fine details of vegetation response to a global environmental crisis-in this case an asteroid impact in Mexico 65.5 million years ago. Due to the extinction of several plant taxa at the K-Pg boundary, palynostratigraphy is a prime tool for localizing the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary in non-marine successions. The Southern Hemisphere includes the tropical to sub-tropical Palmae Province, the high-latitude Nothofagidites/Proteacidites Province, and a transitional zone of mixed floristic composition. Maastrichtian key-species that go extinct at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary within the Palmae Province include Aquilapollenites magnus, Buttinia andreevi, Crassitricolporites brasiliensis, Proteacidites dehaani and Gabonisporis vigourouxii. In the Nothofagidites/Proteacidites Province, taxa such as Tricolporites lilliei, Triporopollenites sectilis, Quadraplanus brossus, Nothofagidites kaitangata, and Grapnelispora evansii have their last appearances at the boundary. It is obvious that more thorough analyses of the palynological signals across the K-Pg boundary in the Southern Hemisphere and China are required to elucidate the detailed patterns of vegetation response at different latitudes and at varying distances from the impact site in Yucatan, Mexico.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Geologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Geology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

biostratigraphy

palynology

pollen

spores

mass-extinction

Cretaceous

Paleogene

Hemisphere

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)