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Malvinia escutiana, a new biostratigraphically important Oligocene dinoflagellate cyst from the Southern Ocean
Houben, A.J.P.; Bijl, P.K.; Raquel Guerstein, G.; Sluijs, A.; Brinkhuis, H. (2011). Malvinia escutiana, a new biostratigraphically important Oligocene dinoflagellate cyst from the Southern Ocean. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. 165(3-4): 175-182. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2011.03.002
In: Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. Elsevier: Tokyo; Oxford; Lausanne; New York; Shannon; London; Amsterdam. ISSN 0034-6667; e-ISSN 1879-0615, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Malvinia escutiana
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    dinoflagellate cysts; peridinioid; Eocene; Oligocene; Southern Ocean; Antarctic glaciation

Authors  Top 
  • Houben, A.J.P.
  • Bijl, P.K.
  • Raquel Guerstein, G.
  • Sluijs, A.
  • Brinkhuis, H., more

Abstract
    The Eocene–Oligocene Transition (EOT, ~ 34 Ma) represents the culmination of Eocene cooling by the initiation of large-scale Antarctic glaciation. Recognition and correlation of the EOT in Southern Ocean sedimentary successions have been difficult as a result of the general lack of well-calibrated biostratigraphic markers. Here we describe an unusual hypnozygotic organic walled dinoflagellate cyst (dinocyst) that originated in the Southern Ocean in conjunction with the onset of major Antarctic glaciation as reflected by 'oxygen isotope event 1' (Oi-1).We restudied samples from Deep Sea Drilling Program (DSDP) Site 511 using Light Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy and found that a taxon previously known as Forma T constitutes a new protoperidinioid dinocyst genus and species that we name Malvinia escutiana. Published and re-evaluated data from other Southern Ocean sites show that M. escutiana did not occur before the Oi-1 (33.7 Ma), emphasizing its potential as a useful biostratigraphic marker for this key interval in the Southern Ocean's Cenozoic climate history.

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