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The Cretaceous-Tertiary biotic transition

N. MACLEOD, P. F. RAWSON, P. L. FOREY, F. T. BANNER, M. K. BOUDAGHER-FADEL, P. R. BOWN, J. A. BURNETT, P. CHAMBERS, S. CULVER, S. E. EVANS, C. JEFFERY, M. A. KAMINSKI, A. R. LORD, A. C. MILNER, A. R. MILNER, N. MORRIS, E. OWEN, B. R. ROSEN, A. B. SMITH, P. D. TAYLOR, E. URQUHART and J. R. YOUNG
Journal of the Geological Society, 154, 265-292, 1 March 1997, https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.154.2.0265
N. MACLEOD
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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P. F. RAWSON
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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P. L. FOREY
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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F. T. BANNER
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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M. K. BOUDAGHER-FADEL
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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P. R. BOWN
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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J. A. BURNETT
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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P. CHAMBERS
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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S. CULVER
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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S. E. EVANS
3Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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C. JEFFERY
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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M. A. KAMINSKI
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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A. R. LORD
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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A. C. MILNER
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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A. R. MILNER
4Department of Biology, Birkbeck College, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, UK
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N. MORRIS
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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E. OWEN
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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B. R. ROSEN
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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A. B. SMITH
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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P. D. TAYLOR
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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E. URQUHART
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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J. R. YOUNG
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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Abstract

Mass extinctions are recognized through the study of fossil groups across event horizons, and from analyses of long-term trends in taxonomic richness and diversity. Both approaches have inherent flaws, and data that once seemed reliable can be readily superseded by the discovery of new fossils and/or the application of new analytical techniques. Herein the current state of the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) biostratigraphical record is reviewed for most major fossil clades, including: calcareous nannoplankton, dinoflagellates, diatoms, radiolaria, foraminifera, ostracodes, scleractinian corals, bryozoans, brachio-pods, molluscs, echinoderms, fish, amphibians, reptiles and terrestrial plants (macrofossils and palynomorphs). These reviews take account of possible biasing factors in the fossil record in order to extract the most comprehensive picture of the K-T biotic crisis available. Results suggest that many faunal and floral groups (ostracodes, bryozoa, ammonite cephalopods, bivalves, archosaurs) were in decline throughout the latest Maastrichtian while others (diatoms, radiolaria, benthic foraminifera, brachiopods, gastropods, fish, amphibians, lepidosaurs, terrestrial plants) passed through the K-T event horizon with only minor taxonomic richness and/or diversity changes. A few microfossil groups (calcareous nannoplankton, dinoflagellates, planktonic foraminifera) did experience a turnover of varying magnitudes in the latest Maastrichtian-earliest Danian. However, many of these turnovers, along with changes in ecological dominance patterns among benthic foraminifera, began in the latest Maastrichtian. Improved taxonomic estimates of the overall pattern and magnitude of the K-T extinction event must await the development of more reliable systematic and phylogenetic data for all Upper Cretaceous clades.

  • K-T boundary
  • mass extinctions
  • taxonomy
  • phylogeny
  • © Geological Society of London 1997

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Journal of the Geological Society: 154 (2)
Journal of the Geological Society
Volume 154, Issue 2
March 1997
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The Cretaceous-Tertiary biotic transition

N. MACLEOD, P. F. RAWSON, P. L. FOREY, F. T. BANNER, M. K. BOUDAGHER-FADEL, P. R. BOWN, J. A. BURNETT, P. CHAMBERS, S. CULVER, S. E. EVANS, C. JEFFERY, M. A. KAMINSKI, A. R. LORD, A. C. MILNER, A. R. MILNER, N. MORRIS, E. OWEN, B. R. ROSEN, A. B. SMITH, P. D. TAYLOR, E. URQUHART and J. R. YOUNG
Journal of the Geological Society, 154, 265-292, 1 March 1997, https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.154.2.0265
N. MACLEOD
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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P. F. RAWSON
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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P. L. FOREY
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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F. T. BANNER
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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M. K. BOUDAGHER-FADEL
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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P. R. BOWN
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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J. A. BURNETT
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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P. CHAMBERS
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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S. CULVER
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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S. E. EVANS
3Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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C. JEFFERY
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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M. A. KAMINSKI
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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A. R. LORD
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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A. C. MILNER
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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A. R. MILNER
4Department of Biology, Birkbeck College, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, UK
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N. MORRIS
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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E. OWEN
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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B. R. ROSEN
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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A. B. SMITH
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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P. D. TAYLOR
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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E. URQUHART
2Department of Geological Sciences, University College, London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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J. R. YOUNG
1Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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The Cretaceous-Tertiary biotic transition

N. MACLEOD, P. F. RAWSON, P. L. FOREY, F. T. BANNER, M. K. BOUDAGHER-FADEL, P. R. BOWN, J. A. BURNETT, P. CHAMBERS, S. CULVER, S. E. EVANS, C. JEFFERY, M. A. KAMINSKI, A. R. LORD, A. C. MILNER, A. R. MILNER, N. MORRIS, E. OWEN, B. R. ROSEN, A. B. SMITH, P. D. TAYLOR, E. URQUHART and J. R. YOUNG
Journal of the Geological Society, 154, 265-292, 1 March 1997, https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.154.2.0265
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