TY - JOUR
T1 - Ichnological analysis of the Messinian-Zanclean (Miocene-Pliocene) transition at Eraclea Minoa (Sicily)
T2 - Tracemaker response to the Terminal Messinian Flood
AU - Rodríguez-Tovar, Francisco J.
AU - van Dijk, Gijs
AU - Maars, Jasper
AU - Andreetto, Federico
AU - Hernández-Molina, F. Javier
AU - Krijgsman, Wout
N1 - Funding Information:
This paper benefited from comments and suggestions by reviewers, Dr. Uchman (Jagiellonian University) and two anonymous, and Dr. Angiolini (Palaeo3 editor). Research by R-T was funded by Grants PID2019-104625RB-100 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and TED2021-131697B-C21, by FEDER/Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Economía y Conocimiento/ Projects P18-RT- 4074, projects B-RNM-072-UGR18 and A-RNM-368-UGR20 (FEDER Andalucía), Research Group RNM178 (Junta de Andalucía), and Projects PID2019-104625RB-100 (Secretaría de Estado de I + D + I, Spain), B-RNM-072-UGR18 (FEDER Andalucía), P18-RT-4074 (Junta de Andalucía), and Scientific Excellence Unit UCE-2016-05 (Universidad de Granada). The research of the UU-team was supported by the project SALTGIANT, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020s research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 765256.
Funding Information:
This paper benefited from comments and suggestions by reviewers, Dr. Uchman (Jagiellonian University) and two anonymous, and Dr. Angiolini (Palaeo3 editor). Research by R-T was funded by Grants PID2019-104625RB-100 funded by MCIN/AEI / 10.13039/501100011033 and TED2021-131697B-C21, by FEDER/Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Economía y Conocimiento/ Projects P18-RT- 4074, projects B-RNM-072-UGR18 and A-RNM-368-UGR20 (FEDER Andalucía), Research Group RNM178 (Junta de Andalucía), and Projects PID2019-104625RB-100 (Secretaría de Estado de I + D + I, Spain), B-RNM-072-UGR18 (FEDER Andalucía), P18-RT-4074 (Junta de Andalucía), and Scientific Excellence Unit UCE-2016-05 (Universidad de Granada). The research of the UU-team was supported by the project SALTGIANT, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020s research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 765256 .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023
PY - 2023/6/1
Y1 - 2023/6/1
N2 - A detailed ichnological analysis has been conducted, for the first time, of the Arenazzolo and Trubi formations of the Caltanissetta Basin in Sicily. Aim of this analysis is to evaluate paleoenvironmental changes affecting macrobenthic tracemaker communities during the re-flooding of the Mediterranean at the end of the Messinian Salinity Crisis. The uppermost Messinian Arenazzolo Formation is characterized by a scarcity of trace fossils, probably related to high energy depositional conditions, and perhaps no fully normal salinity level yet, resulting in an unfavourable habitat for macrobenthic tracemaker communities. The exclusive presence of small traces (Chondrites) sparsely distributed in several horizons is associated to intermittent phases of lower energy conditions facilitating colonization by opportunistic tracemakers. A significant change in trace fossil assemblages is observed at the transition to the Zanclean Trubi Formation. Here the ichnofossil assemblage consists of?Arenicolites, Chondrites, Halimedides, Palaeophycus, Planolites, Thalassinoides, Trichichnus and Zoophycos, assigned to the Zoophycos ichnofacies, revealing an abundant, diverse, well-developed, multi-tiered, tracemaker community. This change observed at the Messsinian/Zanclean boundary is related to the rapid establishment of normal, full-marine, conditions with well oxygenated bottom- and pore-waters, and food availability in a deep marine environment. Comparison with previous micropaleontological studies supports the magnitude of the paleoenvironmental change affecting both pelagic and benthic environments.
AB - A detailed ichnological analysis has been conducted, for the first time, of the Arenazzolo and Trubi formations of the Caltanissetta Basin in Sicily. Aim of this analysis is to evaluate paleoenvironmental changes affecting macrobenthic tracemaker communities during the re-flooding of the Mediterranean at the end of the Messinian Salinity Crisis. The uppermost Messinian Arenazzolo Formation is characterized by a scarcity of trace fossils, probably related to high energy depositional conditions, and perhaps no fully normal salinity level yet, resulting in an unfavourable habitat for macrobenthic tracemaker communities. The exclusive presence of small traces (Chondrites) sparsely distributed in several horizons is associated to intermittent phases of lower energy conditions facilitating colonization by opportunistic tracemakers. A significant change in trace fossil assemblages is observed at the transition to the Zanclean Trubi Formation. Here the ichnofossil assemblage consists of?Arenicolites, Chondrites, Halimedides, Palaeophycus, Planolites, Thalassinoides, Trichichnus and Zoophycos, assigned to the Zoophycos ichnofacies, revealing an abundant, diverse, well-developed, multi-tiered, tracemaker community. This change observed at the Messsinian/Zanclean boundary is related to the rapid establishment of normal, full-marine, conditions with well oxygenated bottom- and pore-waters, and food availability in a deep marine environment. Comparison with previous micropaleontological studies supports the magnitude of the paleoenvironmental change affecting both pelagic and benthic environments.
KW - Deep marine deposits
KW - Mediterranean Sea
KW - Messinian Salinity Crisis
KW - Miocene/Pliocene boundary
KW - Trace fossils
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85152681191&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111539
DO - 10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111539
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85152681191
SN - 0031-0182
VL - 619
SP - 1
EP - 13
JO - Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
JF - Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
M1 - 111539
ER -