Abstract
The normal, biologically productive ocean is characterized by a gradient of the 13C/12C ratio from surface to deep waters. Here we present stable isotope data from planktonic and benthic micro-fossils across the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary in the North pacific, which reveal a rapid and complete breakdown in this biologically mediated gradient. The fluxes of barium (a proxy for organic carbon) and CaCO3 also decrease significantly at the time of the major marine plankton extinctions. The implied substantial reduction in oceanic primary productivity persisted for ∼0.5 Myr before the carbon isotope gradient was gradually re-established. In addition, the stable isotope and preservational data indicate that environmental change, including cooling, began at least 200 kyr before the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary, and a peak warming of ∼3 °C occurred 600 kyr after the boundary event.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Heath, G. R. et al. Init. Rep. DSDP 86 (1985).
Monechi, S. Init. Rep. DSDP 86, 301–306 (1985).
Zachos, J. C. & Arthur, M. A. Paleoceanography 1, 5–26 (1986).
Gerstel, J., Thunell, R. C., Zachos, J. C. & Arthur, M. A. Paleoceanography 1, 97–117 (1986).
Smit, J. & Romein, A. J. T. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 74, 155–170 (1985).
Michel, H. V., Asaro, F., Alvarez, W. & Alvarez, L. W. Init. Rep. DSDP 86, 533–538 (1985).
Zachos, J. C., Arthur, M. A., Thunell, R. C., Williams, D. F. & Tappa, E. J. Init. Rep. DSDP 86, 513–532 (1985).
Broecker, W. S. & Peng, T. H. Tracers in the Sea (ELDIGIO, New York, 1982).
Hsu, K. J. & McKenzie, J. A. in The Carbon Cycle & Atmospheric CO2: Natural Variations Archean to Present (eds Sundquist, E. T. & Broecker, W. S.) 487–492 (Am. Geophys. Un., Washington DC, 1985).
Corliss, B. H. Nature 314, 435–438 (1985).
McCorkle, D. C., Emerson, S. R. & Quay, P. D. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 74, 13–26 (1985).
Thierstein, H. R. Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Miner. spec. Publn 32, 355–394 (1981).
Dehairs, F., Lambert, C. E., Chesselet, R. & Risler, N. Biogeochemistry 4, 119–139 (1987).
Chan, L. H., Drummond, D., Edmond, J. M. & Grant, B. Deep Sea Res. 24, 613–649 (1977).
Dymond, J. Am. Geophys. Un. Ocean Sci Mtg (1986).
Church, T. M. in Reviews in Mineralogy, Vol. 6 (ed. Burns, R. G.) 175–209 (Miner. Soc. Am., Washington DC, 1976).
Schmitz, B. Paleoceanography 2, 63–78 (1987).
Haq, B. U., Hardenbol, J. & Vail, P. R. Science 235, 1156–1167 (1987).
Emerson, S. E., Bender, M. A. J. Mar. Res. 39, 139–162 (1981).
Gerstel, J., Thunell, R. & Ehrlich, R. Geology 15, 665–668 (1987).
Doh, S-J., King, J. W. & Leinen, M. Paleoceanography 3, 89–112 (1988).
Crowley, T. S. & North, G. R. Science 240, 996–1002 (1988).
McLean, D. M. Cret. Res. 6, 235–259 (1985).
Kasting, J. F., Richardson, S. M., Pollack, J. B. & Toon, O. B. Am. J. Sci. 286, 361–389 (1986).
Rampino, M. & Volk, T. Nature 332, 63–65 (1988).
Caldeira, K. G., Rampino, M. R. & Zachos, J. C. Eos 69, 377 (1988).
Craig, H. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta. 12, 133–149 (1955).
Bleil, U. Init. Rep. DSDP 86, 441–458 (1985).
Berggren, W. A., Kent, D. V., Flynn, J. J. & Van Couvering, J. A. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 96, 1407–1418 (1985).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zachos, J., Arthur, M. & Dean, W. Geochemical evidence for suppression of pelagic marine productivity at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary. Nature 337, 61–64 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/337061a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/337061a0
This article is cited by
-
The Chicxulub impact and its environmental consequences
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (2022)
-
Late Cretaceous to Miocene Paleoclimatic changes in the Indian Ocean: insights from the deepwater Mannar Basin, Sri Lanka
Geo-Marine Letters (2021)
-
Biotic and environmental changes in the Panthalassa Ocean across the Norian (Late Triassic) impact event
Progress in Earth and Planetary Science (2020)
-
Planktonic foraminiferal extinction pattern, evolution, turnover, and geochemical anomalies across the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary (K/Pg) in Izeh (Zagros Basin, SW Iran)
Arabian Journal of Geosciences (2017)
-
End-Cretaceous extinction in Antarctica linked to both Deccan volcanism and meteorite impact via climate change
Nature Communications (2016)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
