Brinkhuis, Henk; Munsterman, D. K.; Sengers, S.; Sluijs, A.; Warnaar, J.; Williams, G. L. (2004): Late Eocene-Quaternary dinoflagellate cysts from ODP Site 1168, off western Tasmania. Texas A&M University, Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, TX, United States, In: Exon, Neville F., Kennett, James P., Malone, Mitchell J., Brinkhuis, Henk, Chaproniere, George C. H., Ennyu, Atsuhito, Fothergill, Patrick, Fuller, Michael D., Grauert, Marianne, Hill, Peter J., Janecek, Thomas R., Kelly, Daniel C., Latimer, Jennifer C., Nees, Stefan, Ninnemann, Ulysses S., Nuernberg, Dirk, Pekar, Stephen F., Pellaton, Caroline C., Pfuhl, Helen A., Robert, Christian M., Roessig, Kristeen L. McGonigal, Roehl, Ursula, Schellenberg, Stephen A., Shevenell, Amelia E., Stickley, Catherine E., Suzuki, Noritoshi, Touchard, Yannick, Wei, Wuchang, White, Timothy S., Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program; scientific results; the Tasmanian gateway; Cenozoic climatic and oceanographic development; covering Leg 189 of the cruises of the drilling vessel JOIDES Resolution; Hobart, Tasmania, to Sydney, Australia; Sites 1168-1172; 11 March-6 May 2000, 189, georefid:2005-011448

Abstract:
Palynomorphs were studied in samples from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 189, Hole 1168A (slope of the western margin of Tasmania; 2463 m water depth). Besides organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts), broad categories of other palynomorphs were quantified in terms of relative abundance. In this contribution, we provide an overview of the early late Eocene-Quaternary dinocyst distribution and illustrate main trends in palynomorph distribution. Dinocyst species throughout Hole 1168A are largely cosmopolitan with important contributions of typical low-latitude taxa and virtual absence of endemic Antarctic taxa. Dinocyst stratigraphic distribution broadly matches that known from the Northern Hemisphere and equatorial regions, although significant differences are noted. Selected potentially biochronostratigraphically useful events are summarized. The distribution of dinocysts in the middle-upper Miocene interval is rather patchy, probably due to prolonged exposure to oxygen. An important general aspect in the dinocyst assemblages is the near absence of Antarctic endemic species and the apparent influence of relatively warm waters throughout the succession at Site 1168. General palynomorph distribution indicates continued deepening from an initial shallow, even restricted, marine setting from late Eocene-Quaternary times. A curious massive influx of small skolochorate acritarchs is recorded throughout the late early-early middle Miocene; the significance of this signal is not yet understood. A general long-term oligotrophic nature of the surface waters influencing Site 1168 is suggested from the low abundance of (proto) peridinioid, presumably heterotrophic, species. The overall dinocyst distribution pattern corresponds to the long-term existence of a Leeuwin-like current influencing the region, including Site 1168, confirming results of earlier studies on other microfossil groups. The occasional influence of colder surface water conditions is, however, also apparent, notably during the late Pliocene-Quaternary, indicating the potential of high-resolution dinocyst analysis for future paleoceanographic studies.
Coverage:
West: 144.2400 East: 144.2500 North: -42.3600 South: -42.3700
Relations:
Expedition: 189
Site: 189-1168
Supplemental Information:
Available only on CD-ROM in PDF format and on the Web in PDF or HTML; includes appendix
Data access:
Provider: SEDIS Publication Catalogue
Data set link: http://sedis.iodp.org/pub-catalogue/index.php?id=10.2973/odp.proc.sr.189.105.2003 (c.f. for more detailed metadata)
Data download: application/pdf
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