Die Entwicklung der kalkigen Nannofossilien und der kalkigen Dinoflagellaten-Zysten an der Kreide/Tertiär-Grenze in Westbrandenburg im Vergleich mit Profilen in Nordjütland und Seeland (Dänemark)

Der Untersuchung der Entwicklung der kalkigen Nannofossilien und der kalkigen Dinoflagellaten-Zysten an der Kreide/Tertiär-Grenze liegt Probenmaterial aus der Kembohrung Nennhausen 2/ 63 (Westbrandenburg) und von den Dänischen Vergleichsprofilen in Nordjütland (Nye K10v, Kj01by Gaard, Bulbjerg, Vokslev) und von der Typuslokalität des Danien, Stevns Klint (Seeland), zugrunde. Aus der Einstufung des Probenmaterials aus der Bohrung Nennhausen 2/ 63 anhand kalkiger Nannofossilien ergibt sich eine stratigraphische Neubewertung dieses Materials. Der beprobte Bereich (Teufe 812 - 572 m) umfaßt den Abschnitt vom höheren Untermaastricht (Oberer Bereich der CC 24 nach SISSINGH, 1977) bis zum untersten Dan (untere NP2 nach MARTINI, 1971 bzw. untere Cruciplacolithus asymmetricus-Zone nach VAN HECK & PRINS, 1987). Die Kreide/Tertiär- Grenze ist, tiefer als bisher, bei Bohrmeter 590, begründet durch eine Fazieswechsel von Tonmergel zu glaukonitischem Kalkfeinsandstein und das Auftreten der ersten tertiären Florenelemente sowie der "survivor"-Arten anzusetzen. Der Hiatus im Grenzbereich umfaßt nur den oberen Bereich der CC 26 (Nephrolithus frequens-Zone nach SISSINGH, 1977) und den unteren Bereich der Biantholithus sparsus-Zone nach VAN HECK & PRINS, 1987). Die Bohrung Nennhausen durchteufte ein für Ostdeutschland einmaliges Profil im Bereich der Kreide/Tertiär- Grenze, dessen für den Küstenbereich ungewöhnliche Vollständigkeit durch die Lokalisierung in einer Salzstockrandsenke begründet wird. Der in der Nennhausener Abfolge fehlende Bereich wird, entsprechend der Korrelation der Nannofossildaten, von den Dänischen Vergleichsprofilen vollständig abgedeckt, so daß die Darstellung der Entwicklung der Vergesellschaftung kalkiger Dinoflagellaten-Zysten im Kreide/Tertiär- Übergangsbereich möglich wird. Aus der taxonomischen Bearbeitung ergeben sich Neubeschreibungen folgender Taxa: vier Gattungen: Orthotabulata (Orthopi thonelloideae), Operculodinella (Obliquipithonelloideae), Lentodinella und Septiareata (Pithonelloideae), 13 Arten: Orthopithonelloideae: Orthopithonella multipora, Orthocarinellum biconvexum, Orthotabulata obscura, Bitorus bulbjergensis, Ruegenia crassa, Obliquipithonelloideae: Obliquipithonella ossa, Operculodinella hydria, Od. reticulata, Od. costata, Carinellum turbosimile, Calcicarpinum tetramurus, Pithonelloideae: Lentodinella danica, Septiareata pyramiforma, und einer “Form- Art": Orthopithonella gustafsonii forma salebra. Die Gattungsdiagnose von Orthocarinellum wird dahingehend erweitert, daß auch Formen mit gleichmäßig gewölbtem Epi- und Hypotrakt einbezogen sind. Die Morphospezies Obliquipithonella operculata, Operculodinella hydria, Od. reticulata und Od. Costata werden als zusammengehörige Formreihe sensu KEUPP et al. (1991) mit gleitenden Übergängen erkannt. Mit der Einbeziehung von O. operculata als kugelförmiges Minimalstadium in die Formreihe, in der O. hydria das monocarinate Stadium, Od. reticulata das kryptotabulate und Od. costata das nahezu holotabulate Stadium vertreten, wird deren Zystennatur bestätigt. Nach ihrer Reichweite sind für den Bereich der Kreide Tertiär-Grenze vier Gruppierungen von Morphospezies kalkiger Dinoflagellaten-Zysten unterscheidbar: 1. das Gros der "Durchläufer“ [;] 2. wenige Formen, die offensichtlich ohne direkte Reaktion zu ihr, im Kreide/Tertiär-Übergangsbereich ihren Niedergang haben [;] 3. “Stress“- Formen, mit bloom-artiger Entwicklung im untersten Dan [;] 4. Formen, die erst ab dem oberen Paläozän bekannt sind. [;] Ausgehend davon können im untersuchten Material vermutlich als Reaktion auf den ökologischen Stress infolge der Ereignisse an der Kreide/Tertiär-Grenze fünf Etappen mit jeweils spezifischer Zystengemeinschaft erkannt werden. Diese lassen innerhalb der Assoziationen der kalkigen Dinoflagellaten- Zysten eine Entwicklung vermuten, die ähnlich der der kalkigen Nannofossilien neben den 'Durchläuferarten” ein Überdauern der Grenze durch bloom-artige Häufigkeit von "Stress”-Formen dokumentiert, aus denen sich später mehrere neue Morphospezies ableiten. Eine Analyse von evolutiven Aspekten scheitert jedoch daran, daß es sich bei den untersuchten Objekten nur um die fossil erhaltungsfähigen Kalkwände der Zysten der kalkigen Dinoflagellaten handelt, während die Theka fossil nicht überliefert ist. Die verwendeten taxonomischen Einheiten tragen deskriptiven Charakter, spiegeln also nur die erfaßbaren Merkmalskombinationen wider, deren genetische Fixierung vorerst nicht sicher erkannt werden kann. Darüber hinaus kann aufgrund des Nachweises funktionell strukturierter Organica an der Basis der kalkigen Innenwand von Bonetocardiella sp. ein Biomineralisationsprozess abstrahiert werden. Dieser ist, ausgehend von den beobachteten Strukturen, durch eine genetische Steuerung sowohl der Kristallnukleierung durch Anlage eines spezifischen Stützskeletts als auch des Kristallwachstums, gekennzeichnet. An Obliquipithonella ossa n.sp. sind erstmals an einer einfachwandigen obliquipithonelloiden Form, als Nukleierungszentren interpretierte, sternförmige Eindrücke auf der proximalen Seite der wandaufbauenden Skelettkristalle beobachtet worden. Ausgehend davon kann angenommen werden, daß ein entsprechend konfiguriertes Netz aus Mucusfasem als spezifizierte, also genetisch fixierte unlösliche (gerüstbildende) Strukturkomponente fungierte. Der stark von der anorganischen Gestalt abweichende Skelettkristallhabitus scheint maßgeblich auf die inhibitierende Wirkung immobilisierter löslicher (Nukleierungs-) Matrix zurückführbar zu sein. Sowohl Kristallnukleierung als auch Kristallwachstüm haben demnach einer genetischen Kontrolle unterlegen. Die Charakteristika von O. ossa n.sp. lassen vermuten, daß es sich um einen Morphotyp handelt, der eine Zwischenstellung zwischen Orthopithonelloideae und Obliquipithonelloideae einnimmt. Die Biomineraliationsprozesse von orthopithonelloiden und obliquipithonelloiden kalkigen Dinoflagellaten-Zysten sind vermutlich weniger krass zu trennen als vielmehr durch Übergänge bestimmt.The purpose of this study is to investigate the development of calcareous nannofossils and especially of calcareous dinoflagellate cysts (Calciodinellaceae, DEFLANDRE (1947) across the Cretaceous/Tertiary-boundary. The samples originate from core Nennhausen 2/ 63 (western Brandenburg, eastern Germany) and for comparison from Danish sections in Northern Jutland (Nye Kiev, Kjelby Gaard, Bulbjerg, Vokslev) and from the type Danian Stevns Klint (Seeland). The nannofossil data from the core samples give evidence for a new stratigraphical interpretation of the material allready investigated between 1965 and 1971. The sampled depth interval (812-572 m) ranges from late early Maastrichtian (upper part of CC 24 sensu SISSINGH (1977) to lowermost Danian (lower part of NP2, MARTINI, 1971; lower Cruciplacolithus asymmetricus-zone VAN HECK & PRINS, 1987). The K/T-boundary is considered to be located lower than hitherto supposed, based on the first appearance of tertiary floral elements and "survivors” and on an abrupt change of facies from clayey marl to greensands, both at a depth of 590 metres. The hiatus in the boundary interval comprises the uppermost part of CC 26 (= Nephrolithus frequens-zone, SISSINGH, 1977) and the lower part of the Biantholithus sparsus-zone (VAN HECK & PRINS, 1987).The Nennhause Core recovered a unique profile for eastern Germany. The profile contains an uncommonly complete record of the K/T-boundary interval for the near shore environment of this area, caused by its location in the rim syncline of a salt diapir. The missing interval of the core is, according to the correlation of the nannofossil data, completely covered by the Danish profiles. This fact allows characterization of the development of the assemblages of calcareous dinoflagellate cysts around the K/T-boundary. For the description of calcareous dinoflagllate cysts only a morphospecies- concept is possible because only the cyst stage is preserved and we know nothing about the thecae. Even though the taxa used follow binary nomenclature, they are only of descriptive nature and express the external features of their bearers. The extent of genetic fixation of these is still questionable. Moreover the problem whether calcareous dinoflagellate cysts are stratigraphical useful or not derives from that fact. The taxonomical study of the calcareous dinoflagellate cysts results in the description of: - 4 new genera: Orthotabulata (Orthopithonelloideae), Operculodinella (Obliquipithonelloideae), Lentodinella and Septiareata (Pithonelloideae) - 13 new species: Orthopithonelloideae: Orthopithonella multipora, Orthocarinellum biconvexum, Orthotabulata obscura, Bitorus bulbjergensis, Ruegenia crassa, Obliquipithonelloideae: Obliquipithonella ossa, Operculodinella hydria, Od. reticulata, Od. costata, Carinellum turbosimile, Calcicarpinum tetramurus, Pithonelloideae: Lentodinella danica, Septiareata pyramiforma. - 1 new "form”-species: Orthopithonella gustafsonii forma salebra. The diagnosis of the genus Orthocarinellum is extended in order to integrate forms with equally bulged epiand hypotracts. The morphospecies Obliquipthonella operculata, Operculodinella hydria, Od. reticulata and Od. costata are recognized as belonging to one “form group" sensu KEUPP et al. (1991) with gradual transitions. While Obliquipthonella operculata represents the spherical minimum-stage, Operculodinella hydria is assigned to the monocarinate, Od. reticulata to the cryptotabulate and Od. costata to the nearly holotabulate cyst-stage. By including Obliquipthonella operculata, known by nannofosssil workers as "Thoracosphaera" operculata, within a "form group" of increasing paratabulation its long debated cyst nature can be confirmed. Corresponding to the range of the particular morphospecies around the K/T- boundary interval four groupings of calcareous dinoflagellate cysts are discernible: 1. persisting forms, which are the most numerous [;] 2. a few forms, declining without evident reaction to the ecological stress within the K/T -transition interval [;] 3. "stress"- forms first occuring in the upper Maastrichtian at low abundances and showing a bloom-like development in the lowermost Danian [;] 4. incomming forms known only up from the upper Paleocene and above. [;] From this a development of 5 more or less artifical stages can be recognized following the ecological stress at the K/T- boundary. They allow to infer a similar development within the calcareous cyst-assemblage to that known from the calcareous nannofossils. It is characterized (besides the persisting forms without any reactions) by the "surviving" of "stress"-forms, from which later the new morphotypes seem to have derived. For instance Pithonella sphaerica which dominates Cretaceous assemblages from the Albian upward is replaced by Lentodinella danica n.g. n.sp. during the boundary crisis. In addition aspects of biomineralization are discussed, especially for Bonetocardiella sp., a member of the subfamily Pithonelloideae KEUPP (1987). The observation of organic remains, with an obviously functional structure, at the base of the inner calcareous wall, permits the abstraction of a biomineralization-model. Growth startes from a biologically induced and controlled, and therefore genetically fixed nucleation and growth of the wallbuilding crystals. Main control originates from a specific connective-skeleton of fossiliferous organic fibres ("mucofibrous material", GAO et al., 1989) acting as an insoluble matrix, which is preservable under special conditions. An obliquipithonelloid calcareous dinoflagellate cyst, Obliquipithonella ossa n.sp., showed for the first time, star-shaped imprints on the inner surface of each calcite-crystal of the single layered calcareous wall. They are interpreted as nucleation-centres, localities where the net of organic fibres has crossing-points from which the nucleation has its onset. This suggests that the organic net (insoluble, structur forming matrix) had a highly characteristic morphology and therefore must have been a genetically determined structure. The strong deviation of the wall crystal morphology from the inorganic habit indicates growth control by the mobilized molecules of the soluble (nucleating) matrix. Again both nucleation and growth of crystals seem to be biological controlled and genetically determined. The biomineralization processes of ortho- and obliquipithonelloid calcareous dinoflagellate cysts are presumably not crossly different but controlled by gradational alteration of the same underlying process.thesisDFG, SUB Göttinge

Relative abundance of diatoms in surface sediments of Lake Lama

The patterns of spatial variation of diatom assemblages from surface sediments in Lake Lama were quantified using a combined approach of ordination and geostatistics. The aims were (i) to estimate the amount of variation between diatom assemblages within the lake, (ii) to model the spatial variability of the diatom assemblages and their diversity, and (iii) to map the diatom distributions in the lake. A correspondence analysis (CA) separated the diatom assemblages into a planktonic and a periphytic group. Rheophilic taxa were found within the periphytic group. Variogram analysis showed that only the sample scores of the first CA axis and the Shannon diversity index were spatially structured. The range of spatial correlation was estimated to be 55 km for both variables. The diversity and, to a lesser extent, the sample scores had considerable small-scale variability of about 20 and 3%, respectively. Estimates of the first component of the CA and the Shannon index were derived using block-kriging. The maps of the estimates provided a basis for partitioning Lake Lama according to the spatial structures into an eastern and a western basin, a north–south connection between the basins, and a north–south directed tip at the far eastern end. It was shown that variation in diatom assemblages is mainly spatially structured at the catchment scale and that there is a considerable amount of variation at smaller scales. According to the modeled spatial distribution, the assemblages are most likely affected by the lake size, morphology, and the water and nutrient input introduced by rivers. This has to be taken into account when paleolimnological interpretations are drawn from records of complex lake systems like Lake Lama

Age determination of section LAB2-94 (Table 3)

A Late Quaternary permafrost profile from the Labaz Lake area (Taymyr Peninsula, Central Siberia) has been investigated using analyses of diatoms, pollen, sedimentology and geochemistry. A sedimentation gap for the termination of the Pleistocene and the start of lacustrine sedimentation in the Boreal can be inferred. At that time shallow-lake conditions prevailed and a connection to the Labaz Lake is probable. The diatom data provide indications for the assessment of the Holocene environmental development of the study site in more detail. The most favourable climatic conditions and comparatively higher water level stands are inferred for the early Atlantic. Towards the end of this period the gradual transition to a wetland with poor-fen character took place. Within the Subboreal there was a short episode with mild climate conditions. At that time the last trees occurred in the Labaz Lake area and somewhat higher water level stands were likely. The Subatlantic climate deterioration led to further drying up of the wetland along with a lowering of water pH and permafrost aggradation. The transition from a locality with low-centre to one with high-centre polygons is still underway

Diatom Si deposition, spring warming duration, and spring mixing duration of sediment core Tiefer-See

Monitoring during three meteorologically different spring seasons in 2012, 2013, and 2014 revealed that temperature increase in spring, which influences spring lake mixing duration, markedly affected nutrient availability and diatom deposition in a sediment trap close to the bottom of deep Tiefer See, NE Germany. Deposition of Stephanodiscus taxa and small Cyclotella taxa was much higher after late ice out and a deep, short lake mixing period in spring 2013, compared to that after gradual warming and lengthy lake mixing periods in spring 2012 and 2014, when only brief or marginal ice cover occurred. Availability of dissolved Si and P was 33 and 20 % higher, respectively, in 2013 compared to 2014. The observed relation between high (low) diatom deposition and short (lengthy) mixing duration in spring was applied to varved sediments deposited between AD 1924 and 2008. Low detrital Si content in trapped material and a sediment core enabled use of µXRF-counts of Si as a proxy for diatom silica. The spring mixing duration for 1951-2008 was derived from FLake-model calculations. The spring warming duration related to lake mixing was approximated from air temperatures for 1924-2008 using the dates when daily mean air temperature exceeded 5 °C (start) and 10 °C (end). Diatom silica deposition showed a significant (p < 0.0001) inverse linear relationship with the modeled spring mixing duration (R**2 = 0.36) and the spring warming duration (R**2 = 0.28). In both cases, the relationship is strengthened when data from the period of low diatom production (1987-2005) is excluded (R**2 = 0.59 and R**2 = 0.35). Part of this low diatom production is related to external nutrient supply that favored growth of cyanobacteria at the expense of diatoms. This approach shows that diatom Si deposition was strongly influenced by the availability of light and nutrients, related to the duration of lake mixing and warming in spring, during most of the studied period. The remaining unexplained variability, however, indicates that additional factors influence Si deposition. Further tests in other deep, temperate lakes are necessary to verify if this relation is a common feature and consequently, if diatom Si can be used as a proxy for spring mixing duration in such lakes

The 8.2 ka event : evidence for seasonal differences and the rate of climate change in western Europe

Recent studies have drawn attention to differences in the seasonal impact of the 8.2 ka event, with longer cooler summers and shorter cooler/drier winters. However, there are no data available on the simultaneity or the rate of onset of the seasonal changes in Europe. Based on the microfacies and geochemical analyses of seasonally laminated varved sediments from Holzmaar, we present evidence of differences in duration and onset time of changes in summer temperature and winter rainfall during the 8.2 ka event. Since both summer and winter climate signals are co-registered within a single varve, there can be no ambiguity about the phasing and duration of the signals. Our data show that the onset and withdrawal of the 8.2 ka summer cooling occurred within a year, and that summer rains were reduced or absent during the investigated period. The onset of cooler summers preceded the onset of winter dryness by ca. 28 years. In view of the differences in nature and duration of the impact of the 8.2 ka event we suggest that a clearer definition of the 8.2 ka event (summer cooling or winter cooling/dryness) needs to be developed. Based on regional comparison and available modelling studies we also discuss the roles of solar variability, changes in North Atlantic Thermohaline circulation, and North Atlantic Circulation (NAO) during the period under consideration. Wavelet analyses of seasonal laminae indicates that the longer NAO cycles, linked to changes in the N. Atlantic temperatures, were more frequent during the drier periods

Monitoring of Calcite Precipitation in Hardwater Lakes with Multi-Spectral Remote Sensing Archives

Calcite precipitation is a common phenomenon in calcium-rich hardwater lakes during spring and summer, but the number and spatial distribution of lakes with calcite precipitation is unknown. This paper presents a remote sensing based method to observe calcite precipitation over large areas, which are an important prerequisite for a systematic monitoring and evaluation of restoration measurements. We use globally archived satellite remote sensing data for a retrospective systematic assessment of past multi-temporal calcite precipitation events. The database of this study consists of 205 data sets that comprise freely available Landsat and Sentinel 2 data acquired between 1998 and 2015 covering the Northeast German Plain. Calcite precipitation is automatically identified using the green spectra and the metric BGR area, the triangular area between the blue, green and red reflectance value. The validation is based on field measurements of CaCO3 concentrations at three selected lakes, Feldberger Haussee, Breiter Luzin and Schmaler Luzin. The classification accuracy (0.88) is highest for calcite concentrations ≥0.7 mg/L. False negative results are caused by the choice of a conservative classification threshold. False positive results can be explained by already increased calcite concentrations. We successfully transferred the developed method to 21 other hardwater lakes in Northeast Germany. The average duration of lakes with regular calcite precipitation is 37 days. The frequency of calcite precipitation reaches from single time detections up to detections nearly every year. False negative classification results and gaps in Landsat time series reduce the accuracy of frequency and duration monitoring, but in future the image density will increase by acquisitions of Sentinel-2a (and 2b). Our study tested successfully the transfer of the classification approach to Sentinel-2 images. Our study shows that 15 of the 24 lakes have at least one phase of calcite precipitation and all events occur between May and September. At the lakes Schmaler Luzin and Feldberger Haussee, we illustrated the influence of ecological restoration measures aiming at nutrient reduction in the lake water on calcite precipitation. Our study emphasizes the high variance of calcite precipitation in hardwater lakes: each lake has to be monitored individually, which is feasible using Landsat and Sentinel-2 time series