Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Abrupt deep-sea warming, palaeoceanographic changes and benthic extinctions at the end of the Palaeocene

Nature volume 353, pages 225–229 (1991)Cite this article

Abstract

A remarkable oxygen and carbon isotope excursion occurred in Antarctic waters near the end of the Palaeocene (~57.33 Myr ago), indicating rapid global warming and oceanographic changes that caused one of the largest deep-sea benthic extinctions of the past 90 million years. In contrast, the oceanic plankton were largely unaffected, implying a decoupling of the deep and shallow ecosystems. The data suggest that for a few thousand years, ocean circulation underwent fundamental changes producing a transient state that, although brief, had long-term effects on environmental and biotic evolution.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Tjalsma, R. C. & Lohmann, G. P. Micropaleont. spec. Publ. 4 (Micropaleontology Press, New York, 1983).

  2. Douglas, R. & Woodruff, F. in The Oceanic Lithosphere, The Sea, Vol. 7 (ed. Emiliani, C.), 1233–1327 (Wiley, New York. 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Beckmann, J. P. Reports Int. Geol. Cong. 21st Session. Norden, Part V 57–69 (1960).

  4. Thomas, E. in Origins and Evolution of the Antarctic Biota (ed. Crame, J. A.) Spec. Publ. No. 47, 283–296 (Geological Society, London, 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Thomas, E. in Proc. ODP. Scient. Results 113 (eds Barker, P. F. et al.) 571–594 (Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Miller, K. G. et al. Paleoceanography 2, 741–761 (1987).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Berggren, W. A. & Miller, K. G. Micropaleontology 34, 362–380 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Boltovskoy, E. & Boltovskoy, D. Rev. Micropaleont. 31(2), 67–84 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Shackleton, N. J. et al. in Init. Reports DSDP 74 (eds Moore, T, C. et al.) 599–612 (US Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Shackleton, N. J. Palaeogr. Palaeoclimat. Palaeoecol. 57, 91–102 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Katz, M. E. & Miller, K. G. in Proc. ODP, Scient. Results 144 (eds Ciesielski, P. F. et al.) (Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas, in the press).

  12. Kennett, J. P. & Stott, L. D. in Proc. ODP, Scient. Results 113 (eds Barker, P. F. et al.) 865–880 (Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Shackleton, N. J. & Kennett, J. P. in Init. Reports DSDP 29 (eds Kennett, J. P. et al.) 743–755 (US Government Printing Office. Washington DC, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Savin, S. M., Douglas, R. G. & Stehli, F. G. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 86, 1499–1510 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Kennett, J. P. Mar. Micropaleontol. 3, 301–345 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Stott, L. D., Kennett, J. P., Shackleton, N. J. & Corfield, R. M. in Proc. ODP, Scient. Results 113 (eds Barker, P. F. et al.) 849–863 (Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Childress, J. J. in Oceanography: The Present and Future (ed. Brewer, P.) 127–135 (Springer, New York, 1983).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  18. Barker, P. F. et al. Proc. ODP, Init. Reports 113 (Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas, 1988).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kennett, J. P. & Barker, P. F. in Proc. ODP, Scient. Results 113 (eds Barker, P. F. et al.) 937–960 (Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Stott, L. D. & Kennett, J. P. in Proc. ODP, Scient Results 113 (eds Barker, P. F. et al.) 549–569 (Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Spiess, V. in Proc. ODP, Scient Results 113 (eds Barker, P. F. et al.) 261–315 (Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas. 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Berggren, W. A., Kent, D. V. & Flynn, J. J. Mem. Geol. Soc. London 10, 141–195 (1985).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Aubry, M.-P. et al. Paleoceanography 3, 707–742 (1988).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Pospichal, J. J. & Wise, S. W. Jr Proc. ODP, Scient. Results 113 (eds Barker, P. F. et al.) 613–638 (Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Robert, C. & Maillot, H. Proc. ODP, Scient. Results 113 (eds Barker, P. F. et al.) 51–70 (Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Corliss, B. H. & Chen, C. Geology 16, 716–719 (1988).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Aubry, M.-P., Gradstein, F. M. & Jansa, L. F. Micropaleontology 36(2), 164–172 (1990).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Bernard, J. M. J. Foram. Res. 16, 207–215 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Schnitker, D. in Init. Reports DSDP 48 (eds Montadert, L. et al.) 377–414 (US Government Printing Office, Washington DC, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Nomura, R. in Proc. ODP, Scient. Results 121 (eds Peirce, J. W. et al.) (Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas, in the press).

  31. von Hildebrandt, A. Akad Wiss. (Wien). Math -Naturw. Klasse. Abh. n. ser. 108, 1–182 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Braga, G., De Biase, R. Grunig, A. & Proto Decima, F. in Monogr. micropaleontol. sul Paleocene e I'Eocene di Possagno, Prov. di Treviso, Italia, Abh.-Mem. Suisse Paleontol. (ed. Bolli, H. M.) 97, 85–111 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Russell, D. A. Ann. Rev. Earth planet. Sci. 7, 163–182 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Alvarez, L. W., Alvarez, W., Asaro, F. & Michel, H. V. Science 208, 1095–1108 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Stott, L. D. & Kennett, J. P. Proc. ODP, Scient. Results 113 (eds Barker. P. F. et al.) 829–846 (Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  36. Thomas, E. in Geol. Soc. Am. spec. Publ. 247 (in the press).

  37. Broecker, W. S. & Peng, T.-H. Tracers in the Sea (Eldigio, Palisades, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Kennett, J. P. & Shackleton, N. J. Nature 260, 513–515 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Shackleton, N. J., Corfield, R. M. & Hall, M. A., J. foram. Res. 15, 321–336 (1985).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Rea, D. K. Zachos, J. C., Owen, R. M. & Gingerich, P. D. Palaeogr. Palaeoclimat., Palaeoecol. 79, 117–128 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. Corfield, R. M. & Shackleton, N. J. Historical Biology 1, 323–343 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Berner, R. A. & Canfield, D. E., Am. J. Science 289, 333–361 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Shackleton, N. J. in Geol. Soc. Spec. Publ. 26, 423–434 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  44. Herbert, T. D. & Sarmiento, J. L. Geology 19, 702–705 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. Brass, G. W., Southam, J. R. & Peterson, W. H. Nature 296, 620–623 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Kennett, J. P. J. geophys. Res. 82, 3843–3860 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Haq, B. U. Oceanologica Acta 4 (Suppl. to Vol. 4, Proc. 26th Int. Geol. Congress) 71–82 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  48. Hay, W. W. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 100, 1934–1956 (1988).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  49. Benson, R. H. Historical Biogeography Plate Tectonics, and the Changing Environment (eds Gray, J. A. & Boucot, A. J.) 379–389 (Oregon State University Press, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  50. Truswell, E. M. New Zealand Dept. Sci. Ind. Res. Bull. 237, 131–134 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  51. Mohr, B. A. R. Proc. ODP, Scient. Results 113 (eds Barker, P. F. et al.) (Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  52. Case, J. A. Geol. Soc. Am. Mem. 169, 523–530 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  53. Miller, K. G. & Fairbanks, R. G. The Carbon Cycle and Atmospheric CO2: Natural Variations, Archean to Present (eds Sundquist, E. & Broecker, W. S.) Am. geophys. Un. Monogr. Series 32, 469–486 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  54. Haq, B. U., Hardenbol, J. & Vail, P. R. Science 235, 1156–1166 (1987).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Sarmiento, J. L. & Toggweiler, J. R. Nature 308, 621–624 (1984).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Berggren, W. A., Kent, D. V., Obradovich, J. D. & Swisher, C. C. in Eocene-Oligocene Climatic and Biotic Evolution (eds Prothero, D. R. & Berggren, W. A.) (Princeton University Press, in the press).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Science Institute and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106-6150, USA

    J. P. Kennett

  2. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 90089-0740, USA

    L. D. Stott

Authors
  1. J. P. Kennett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. D. Stott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kennett, J., Stott, L. Abrupt deep-sea warming, palaeoceanographic changes and benthic extinctions at the end of the Palaeocene. Nature 353, 225–229 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/353225a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/353225a0

This article is cited by

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.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing