The Middle to Upper Jurassic stable isotope record of Madagascar: Linking temperature changes with plate tectonics during the break-up of Gondwana
Alberti M, Arabas A, Fürsich F, Andersen N, Ziółkowski P (2019)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2019
Journal
Book Volume: 73
Pages Range: 1-15
Abstract
Stable isotope (δ 18 O, δ 13 C) analyses were performed on well preserved belemnites, oysters, and rhynchonellid brachiopods from the Middle to Upper Jurassic of the Morondava Basin in southern Madagascar. Both brachiopods and oysters indicate similar average temperatures of 18.7 to 19.3 °C in the Early Callovian, followed by a temperature decrease towards the Middle Oxfordian (13.9 °C) and a minimum in the Early Kimmeridgian (12.3 °C). In contrast, belemnites from the Oxfordian show lower average temperatures of 10.0 °C, which is likely caused by specific conditions for these organisms (e.g., different fractionation or life habits). Additionally, three oysters from the Upper Oxfordian and Lower Kimmeridgian were used for high-resolution stable isotope analyses. The data show seasonal fluctuations of >6 °C around averages between 14.4 and 14.7 °C. Latitudinal temperature gradients for the Callovian and Kimmeridgian are similar to today at the examined low latitudes of the southern hemisphere. The observed cooling of around 5 °C from the Callovian to the Oxfordian/Kimmeridgian can be attributed to a concurrent southward drift of Madagascar during the break-up of Gondwana. Thus, the study underlines the importance of considering palaeogeography in interpreting stable isotope data as well as the potential of detecting and timing palaeogeographic events by using stable isotope analyses.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
Germany (DE)
Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences / Instytut Nauk Geologicznych Polskiej Akademii Nauk (ING)
Poland (PL)
University of Warsaw / Uniwersytet Warszawski
Poland (PL)
Germany (DE)
Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences / Instytut Nauk Geologicznych Polskiej Akademii Nauk (ING)
Poland (PL)
University of Warsaw / Uniwersytet Warszawski
Poland (PL)
How to cite
APA:
Alberti, M., Arabas, A., Fürsich, F., Andersen, N., & Ziółkowski, P. (2019). The Middle to Upper Jurassic stable isotope record of Madagascar: Linking temperature changes with plate tectonics during the break-up of Gondwana. Gondwana Research, 73, 1-15. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2019.03.012
MLA:
Alberti, Matthias, et al. "The Middle to Upper Jurassic stable isotope record of Madagascar: Linking temperature changes with plate tectonics during the break-up of Gondwana." Gondwana Research 73 (2019): 1-15.
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