2023
New otolith assemblages from the Miocene of the North Sea Basin and their biostratigraphic significance.
Publication
Publication
Cainozoic Research , Volume 23 - Issue 2 p. 189- 227
Since the early days of Koken, the otoliths from Miocene sediments, primarily from the Middle Miocene (Hemmoorian and Reinbekian), of the southern North Sea Basin are among the most intensely studied. Here, we report on new collections of otoliths, in particular from Lower Miocene (Vierlandian) and Upper Miocene (Langenfeldian, Gramian and Syltian) deposits, which represent previously less intensely studied intervals. We are able to detail the stratigraphic ranges of certain otolith-based species, which in turn improves their stratigraphic value. Our focus for biostratigraphic applications of otoliths is on faunal events rather than phylogenetic successions. We have identified three species as candidates for the recognition of the Oligocene/Miocene boundary in the North Sea Basin and another that might help to define the base of the Reinbekian. The Reinbekian/Langenfeldian boundary is marked by a significant faunal change in otoliths most likely related to the Mid-Miocene Climate Transition. In the Syltian, we have identified an endemic escape species from the Eastern Paratethys, which we propose as an event correlation marker. Some of the otolith markers are calibrated with the biozonation established on nassariid gastropods of the genus Tritia Risso, 1826. However, more calibration with further biostratigraphic useful biota such as foraminifera, dinocysts and bolboforms are necessary for the verification of a revised otolith-zonation. We also identified six new otolith-based species from the Upper Miocene, which in the order of their description are Hygophum kentnielseni (Myctophidae), Cataetyx alpersi (Bythitidae), Otarionichthys hofstedtae (Bythitidae), Bothus isselburgensis (Bothidae), Trachurus gramensis (Carangidae) and Parascolopsis septentrionalis (Nemipteridae).
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Cainozoic Research | |
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 NL ("Naamsvermelding-NietCommercieel-GeenAfgeleideWerken") | |
Organisation | Werkgroep voor Tertiaire en Kwartaire Geologie |
Werner Schwarzhans, & Fritz von der Hocht. (2023). New otolith assemblages from the Miocene of the North Sea Basin and their biostratigraphic significance. Cainozoic Research, 23(2), 189–227. |