The oxygen and carbon isotopic composition of Langhian foraminiferal tests as a paleoecological proxy in a marginal part of the Carpathian Foredeep (Czech Republic)
Abstract
Foraminiferal assemblages from three locations of the Moravian part of the Carpathian Foredeep (Kralice, Premyslovice, Zidlochovice) have been studied in order to determine the paleoenvironmental conditions during the Early Badenian (Middle Miocene). Paleobiological characteristics (plankton/benthos-ratio, relative abundances of warm-water plankton species, five-chambered Globoturborotalita spp., Coccolithus pelagicus and high nutrient markers [benthos], test sizes and ranges of Globigerina sp. and cibicidoids, Benthic Foraminiferal Oxygen Index) were determined along with stable C and 0 isotope compositions.
The stable isotope compositions show large variabilities indicating sample inhomogeneity in well preserved foraminiferal samples, interpreted as a sign of primary environmental variation and postmortem mixing of tests of different populations and sources. Based on the combined interpretation of paleobiological indicators and isotopic compositions, two theoretical models were established to describe the observed paleobiological and stable isotope data, that were used to categorize the locations studied.
Several types of near-shore paleoenvironment were distinguished using the theoretical models: (i) bay influenced by seasonal phytodetritus supply from the continent (Kralice); (ii) dynamic shore characterized by variable isotopic compositions probably due to mixing of indigenous, transported and reworked tests (Premyslovice); (iii) shore of alternating normal marine and continentally influenced environments (Zidlochovice).