Palaeo-ecology of the OAE 2 (Cenomanian-Turonian) and OAE 3 (Coniacian-Santonian) at Tarfaya, NW Africa, as reflected by marine palynology.

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Helmut Keupp
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2010 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 160363422

Critical stratigraphic units provided by 5 core sections from the Upper Cretaceous of Tarfaya, NW Africa, are to be analysed palynologically, with emphasis on organic-walled algae cysts (dinoflagellate cysts, prasinophytes, acritarchs). Core S 75 covers the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary Event proper (CTBE, Oceanic Anoxic Event 2) up into the Lower Turonian. Four new cores from the multidisciplinary project Atlantic Margin Integrated Basin Analysis, Morocco , available in late 2009, are to recover the OAE 2 (Cenomanian/Turonian) up to the OAE 3 (Coniacian/Santonian). The response of the various algal groups and palynologic proxies to the dynamic of the OAE 2 and OAE 3 respectively are to be considered and compared with independent palaeo-environmental proxies. A main focus will be on the response of prasinophyte green algae to potential oxygen deficiency in photic zone waters (biomarker). Special attention will be given to the comparison of palaeo-ecologic boundary conditions of the two events. This approach is provided by the integration of palynologic data with multidisciplinary data sets including micropalaeontology, geochemistry and sedimentology, which are available for core S 75 already and will be available from the multidisciplinary project for the new cores. The comparison of the palynologic results with independent proxy data will greatly enhance the knowledge on both, the palaeo-ecological potential of marine palynology as well as thedynamic of OAE origin and evolution.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants