Evidence for reduced export productivity following the Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction

Selen Esmeray-Senlet; James D. Wright; Richard K. Olsson; Kenneth G. Miller; James V. Browning; Tracy M. Quan

doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/2014PA002724

Evidence for reduced export productivity following the Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction

Selen Esmeray-Senlet, James D. Wright, Richard K. Olsson, Kenneth G. Miller, James V. Browning, Tracy M. Quan

School of Arts and Sciences, Earth & Planetary Sciences

Rutgers, The State University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) mass extinction was associated with a collapse in the carbon isotopic (δ¹³C) gradient between planktonic and benthic foraminifera and a decrease in bulk carbonate δ¹³C values. These perturbations have been explained by several hypotheses: global collapse of primary productivity (Strangelove Ocean), greatly reduced export but not primary productivity (Living Ocean), little or no reduction in export productivity (Resilient Ocean), and geographic heterogeneity in the change of export productivity (Heterogeneous Ocean). We tested primary versus export productivity changes in the paleoshelf of New Jersey, where δ¹³C values and organic carbon accumulation rates can distinguish among different ocean responses. On the shelf, the K/Pg boundary is associated with a ~2.5‰ δ¹³C decrease in bulk carbonate, a ~0.8‰ δ¹³C decrease in organic carbon, a collapse of the surface to bottom δ¹³C gradient, and a drop in organic carbon accumulation rates. We interpret an early Danian ~1.0‰ planktonic foraminiferal δ¹³C gradient, a ~0.75‰ cross-shelf benthic foraminiferal δ¹³C gradient, and a drop in carbon accumulation rates to reflect the presence of active primary but limited export productivity, consistent with the Living Ocean hypothesis. We evaluated interbasinal deep-sea benthic foraminiferal δ¹³C gradients between the Pacific (Site 1210) and Atlantic (Site 1262) oceans as a proxy for changes in export productivity. The interbasinal δ¹³C gradient was reduced after the mass extinction, suggesting a reduction in global export productivity. Although our data support the Living Ocean hypothesis, evidence from paleoupwelling zones shows significant export productivity, indicating spatial heterogeneity in the wake of the K/Pg mass extinction (Heterogeneous Ocean).

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	718-738
Number of pages	21
Journal	Paleoceanography
Volume	30
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/2014PA002724
State	Published - Jun 1 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oceanography
Palaeontology

Keywords

Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary
carbon and oxygen isotopes
foraminifera
marine carbon cycle
productivity

Access to Document

https://doi.org/10.1002/2014PA002724

Cite this

@article{f031ddad4b114f8ba5c08c09ffb5d58d,

title = "Evidence for reduced export productivity following the Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction",

abstract = "The Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) mass extinction was associated with a collapse in the carbon isotopic (δ13C) gradient between planktonic and benthic foraminifera and a decrease in bulk carbonate δ13C values. These perturbations have been explained by several hypotheses: global collapse of primary productivity (Strangelove Ocean), greatly reduced export but not primary productivity (Living Ocean), little or no reduction in export productivity (Resilient Ocean), and geographic heterogeneity in the change of export productivity (Heterogeneous Ocean). We tested primary versus export productivity changes in the paleoshelf of New Jersey, where δ13C values and organic carbon accumulation rates can distinguish among different ocean responses. On the shelf, the K/Pg boundary is associated with a ~2.5‰ δ13C decrease in bulk carbonate, a ~0.8‰ δ13C decrease in organic carbon, a collapse of the surface to bottom δ13C gradient, and a drop in organic carbon accumulation rates. We interpret an early Danian ~1.0‰ planktonic foraminiferal δ13C gradient, a ~0.75‰ cross-shelf benthic foraminiferal δ13C gradient, and a drop in carbon accumulation rates to reflect the presence of active primary but limited export productivity, consistent with the Living Ocean hypothesis. We evaluated interbasinal deep-sea benthic foraminiferal δ13C gradients between the Pacific (Site 1210) and Atlantic (Site 1262) oceans as a proxy for changes in export productivity. The interbasinal δ13C gradient was reduced after the mass extinction, suggesting a reduction in global export productivity. Although our data support the Living Ocean hypothesis, evidence from paleoupwelling zones shows significant export productivity, indicating spatial heterogeneity in the wake of the K/Pg mass extinction (Heterogeneous Ocean).",

keywords = "Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary, carbon and oxygen isotopes, foraminifera, marine carbon cycle, productivity",

author = "Selen Esmeray-Senlet and Wright, {James D.} and Olsson, {Richard K.} and Miller, {Kenneth G.} and Browning, {James V.} and Quan, {Tracy M.}",

year = "2015",

month = jun,

day = "1",

doi = "https://doi.org/10.1002/2014PA002724",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "30",

pages = "718--738",

journal = "Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology",

issn = "2572-4517",

publisher = "American Geophysical Union",

number = "6",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Evidence for reduced export productivity following the Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction

AU - Esmeray-Senlet, Selen

AU - Wright, James D.

AU - Olsson, Richard K.

AU - Miller, Kenneth G.

AU - Browning, James V.

AU - Quan, Tracy M.

PY - 2015/6/1

Y1 - 2015/6/1

N2 - The Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) mass extinction was associated with a collapse in the carbon isotopic (δ13C) gradient between planktonic and benthic foraminifera and a decrease in bulk carbonate δ13C values. These perturbations have been explained by several hypotheses: global collapse of primary productivity (Strangelove Ocean), greatly reduced export but not primary productivity (Living Ocean), little or no reduction in export productivity (Resilient Ocean), and geographic heterogeneity in the change of export productivity (Heterogeneous Ocean). We tested primary versus export productivity changes in the paleoshelf of New Jersey, where δ13C values and organic carbon accumulation rates can distinguish among different ocean responses. On the shelf, the K/Pg boundary is associated with a ~2.5‰ δ13C decrease in bulk carbonate, a ~0.8‰ δ13C decrease in organic carbon, a collapse of the surface to bottom δ13C gradient, and a drop in organic carbon accumulation rates. We interpret an early Danian ~1.0‰ planktonic foraminiferal δ13C gradient, a ~0.75‰ cross-shelf benthic foraminiferal δ13C gradient, and a drop in carbon accumulation rates to reflect the presence of active primary but limited export productivity, consistent with the Living Ocean hypothesis. We evaluated interbasinal deep-sea benthic foraminiferal δ13C gradients between the Pacific (Site 1210) and Atlantic (Site 1262) oceans as a proxy for changes in export productivity. The interbasinal δ13C gradient was reduced after the mass extinction, suggesting a reduction in global export productivity. Although our data support the Living Ocean hypothesis, evidence from paleoupwelling zones shows significant export productivity, indicating spatial heterogeneity in the wake of the K/Pg mass extinction (Heterogeneous Ocean).

AB - The Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) mass extinction was associated with a collapse in the carbon isotopic (δ13C) gradient between planktonic and benthic foraminifera and a decrease in bulk carbonate δ13C values. These perturbations have been explained by several hypotheses: global collapse of primary productivity (Strangelove Ocean), greatly reduced export but not primary productivity (Living Ocean), little or no reduction in export productivity (Resilient Ocean), and geographic heterogeneity in the change of export productivity (Heterogeneous Ocean). We tested primary versus export productivity changes in the paleoshelf of New Jersey, where δ13C values and organic carbon accumulation rates can distinguish among different ocean responses. On the shelf, the K/Pg boundary is associated with a ~2.5‰ δ13C decrease in bulk carbonate, a ~0.8‰ δ13C decrease in organic carbon, a collapse of the surface to bottom δ13C gradient, and a drop in organic carbon accumulation rates. We interpret an early Danian ~1.0‰ planktonic foraminiferal δ13C gradient, a ~0.75‰ cross-shelf benthic foraminiferal δ13C gradient, and a drop in carbon accumulation rates to reflect the presence of active primary but limited export productivity, consistent with the Living Ocean hypothesis. We evaluated interbasinal deep-sea benthic foraminiferal δ13C gradients between the Pacific (Site 1210) and Atlantic (Site 1262) oceans as a proxy for changes in export productivity. The interbasinal δ13C gradient was reduced after the mass extinction, suggesting a reduction in global export productivity. Although our data support the Living Ocean hypothesis, evidence from paleoupwelling zones shows significant export productivity, indicating spatial heterogeneity in the wake of the K/Pg mass extinction (Heterogeneous Ocean).

KW - Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary

KW - carbon and oxygen isotopes

KW - foraminifera

KW - marine carbon cycle

KW - productivity

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84947493351&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84947493351&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - https://doi.org/10.1002/2014PA002724

DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/2014PA002724

M3 - Article

VL - 30

SP - 718

EP - 738

JO - Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology

JF - Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology

SN - 2572-4517

IS - 6

ER -

Evidence for reduced export productivity following the Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this