Planktic foraminiferal turnover across the Paleocene-Eocene transition at DSDP Site 401, Bay of Biscay, North Atlantic

Planktic foraminifera across the Paleocene-Eocene transition at DSDP Site 401 indicate that the benthic foraminiferal mass extinction occurred within Subzone P 6a of Berggren and Miller (1988), or P5 of Berggren et al. (1995) and coincident with a sudden 2.0‰ excursion in δ¹³C values. The benthic foraminiferal extinction event (BFEE) and δ¹³C excursion was accompanied by a planktic foraminiferal turnover marked by an influx of warm water species (Morozovella and Acarinina), a decrease in cooler water species (Subbotina), a sudden short-term increase in low oxygen tolerant taxa (Chiloguembelina), and no significant species extinctions. These faunal changes suggest climatic warming, expansion of the oxygen minimum zone, and a well stratified ocean water column. Oxygen isotope data of the surface dweller M. subbotina suggest climate warming beginning with a gradual 0.5‰ decrease in δ¹⁸O in the 175 cm preceding the benthic foraminiferal extinction event followed by a sudden decrease of 1‰ (4°C) at the BFEE. The δ¹³C excursion occurred over 27 cm of sediment and, assuming constant sediment accumulation rates, represents a maximum of 23 ka. Recovery to pre- excursion δ¹³C values occurs within 172 cm, or about 144 ka. Climate cooling begins in Subzone P 6c as indicated by an increase in cooler water subbotinids and acarininids with rounded chambers and a decrease in warm water morozovellids.