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Benthic foraminiferal fauna turnover at 2.1 Ma in the northern South China Sea

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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

Quantitative analysis of benthic foraminifera from ODP Site 1146 in the northern South China Sea (SCS) shows that abundance of Bulimina alazanensis, sometimes up to about 90%, decreased gradually since 3.2 Ma, especially at 2.1 Ma. Abundance of other benthic foraminiferal species, Globobulimina subglobosa and Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi, increased after 2.1 Ma. Comparison with changes in oxygen and carbon isotopes of planktonic and benthic foraminifera shows that high abundance values of B. alazanensis corresponded with lower values of oxygen isotope, but for carbon isotope, high values of the species were consistent with heavier carbon isotope of benthic foraminifera and lighter carbon isotope of planktonic foraminifera, respectively, and vice versa. Considering factors such as uplift of Bashi Strait, expansion of the North Hemisphere Glaciation, strengthening of East Asian winter monsoon and variations in oxygen and carbon isotope of foraminifera, changes of B. alazanensis in ODP Site 1146 suggest that the source of deep water masses of the northern South China Sea changed from the warm Pacific deep water with high oxygen content to Pacific Intermediate water with low oxygen content at 2.1 Ma. In addition, the strengthened East Asian winter monsoon resulted in increased primary productivity, high nutrient and suboxic bottom water. Variations in species of B. alazanensis seemed to be unable to tolerate environmental stress induced by deep water masses and productivity changes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    Huang BaoQi

  2. Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Huang BaoQi, Jian ZhiMin & Wang PinXian

Authors
  1. Huang BaoQi
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  2. Jian ZhiMin
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  3. Wang PinXian
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Huang BaoQi.

Additional information

Supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40306007)

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Huang, B., Jian, Z. & Wang, P. Benthic foraminiferal fauna turnover at 2.1 Ma in the northern South China Sea. CHINESE SCI BULL 52, 839–843 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-007-0114-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-007-0114-3

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