Within a 5.5-m-thick succession of upper Burdigalian (CNP-zone NN4) shallow neritic sediments fro... more Within a 5.5-m-thick succession of upper Burdigalian (CNP-zone NN4) shallow neritic sediments from the North Alpine Foreland Basin in Lower Austria a high-resolution section of finely laminated sediment with a thickness of 940.5 mm was logged. The section was continuously sampled, resulting in 100 samples, covering a thickness of ~ 10 mm each. An integrated approach was applied to these samples in order to study proxy records including calcareous nannoplankton, geochemical and geophysical data. Multivariate statistics on the autochthonous assemblage were used to evaluate the ecological preferences of each taxon and to rule out possible contamination of the signal by taphonomic processes. In order to assess changes in the assemblage composition throughout the section, three taphogroups were defined using both the autochthonous and allochthonous nannofossils. Based on the distribution of these taphogroups five distinct intervals were defined that are indicative of centennial to decada...
The Sarmatian stage is the deprived child of European stratigraphers, being usually simply referr... more The Sarmatian stage is the deprived child of European stratigraphers, being usually simply referred to as the brackish transition from the "enthralling" Badenian with its diverse marine fauna towards the Pannonian with its exciting endemic freshwater species. In this paper we focus the attention on the swift fl uctuations of the relative sea-level during the Early Sarmatian. These shifts are
The complex geodynamic history of the Paratethys periodically fostered the evolution of a highly ... more The complex geodynamic history of the Paratethys periodically fostered the evolution of a highly endemic biota with only limited exchange between the neighboring Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific provinces. The resulting very peculiar fossil assemblages forced the introduction of a regional chronostratigraphic subdivision for the Western/Central and Eastern Paratethys respectively. For the Central Paratethys we present a summarized and updated database for
Thescleractinian Manicina area/ala is a common coral on Caribbean hard and soft substrata and was... more Thescleractinian Manicina area/ala is a common coral on Caribbean hard and soft substrata and was studied at Lee Stocking Island (Exurna Cays, Bahamas). It is not only found in reefal areas but also on bioclastic sand with seagrasses. The meandroid coralla typically grow to sizes of 2 to 10 cm and are morphologically variable. Growth form can vary from conical with round to oval cross-section to turbinate forms with few meanders and flat oval cross-section. The conical morphotype is usually attached to hard substratum, while the turbinate morphotype tends to live unattached, usually upright, in soft substratum. In infratidal areas, both attached and unattached turbinate forms were found in close vicinity, however, conical attached forms were rare.
The Early Miocene (Burdigalian) section at Gebel Gharra (SW Suez, Egypt) represents a mixed carbo... more The Early Miocene (Burdigalian) section at Gebel Gharra (SW Suez, Egypt) represents a mixed carbonate/siliciclastic regime and is composed of a series of ®ning-and deepening-upward sequences. Mass occurrences of scutellid echinoids and pectinid bivalves are remarkable features within this section. Five pectinid horizons, occurring in two superpositioned ®ning-upward sequences, are qualitatively and quantitatively studied in detail. The taxonomic composition of respective pectinid accumulations clearly support a deepening-upward interpretation with decreasing pectinid diversity, decreasing convexity, shell thickness, and sculpturing. The taphonomic parameters of the pectinid beds, in combination with the study of co-occurring biota and frequency and density of shell encrustations and bioerosion, clearly point to different mechanisms for shell accumulations, namely as`composite concentrations' and`reworked event-concentrations'. q
The Vienna Basin and the Styrian Basin have been cornerstones for the definition and description ... more The Vienna Basin and the Styrian Basin have been cornerstones for the definition and description of the Central Euro- pean Sarmatian Stage. New inter- and intrabasin correlations of well-logs and surface outcrops reveal a rather uniform development of depositional systems in all considered basins, which excludes local autocyclic processes as the sole trigger. The lithostratigraphy of these basins is critically
Geodynamic processes influenced the complex evolution of the Paratethys, an extended marginal sea... more Geodynamic processes influenced the complex evolution of the Paratethys, an extended marginal sea, which is characterised by intermittently open and closed marine seaways with its surrounding oceans. Especially in the Miocene, this led to substantial changes in marine environments and ecosystems by changing basin geometries, water circulation, water depth, water chemistry, climate etc. Investigations of stable isotopes of fossil carbonate
Located at the interface between land and sea, marl prairies are sensitive to changes in water ba... more Located at the interface between land and sea, marl prairies are sensitive to changes in water balance and useful recorders of climate and sea-level changes. Palustrine carbonate in marl prairies precipitates in temporary, barely flooded grasslands within microbial mats. Despite the special mode of carbonate production, descriptions of the sedimentary facies are exceptional and cursory because marl prairies are so far reported only from the recent of the Everglades (Florida, USA), where they produce an unspectacular calcite mud. We present a Pleistocene Everglades-type marl prairie from coastal Tanzania as the first fossil example. The unique preservation and high productivity (two times higher than in the Everglades) of the periphyton community in this marl prairie is due to increased calcification of coccoid and filamentous cyanobacteria. The excellent preservation allows us to characterize a marl prairie facies in great detail for the first time. Facies analyses of the sediments reveal a transition from tidal to terrestrial settings that started at ca. 44 14 C ka in response to eustatic sea-level fall and coastal tectonic uplift. The resultant drop of the groundwater table triggered the development of the marl prairie. The decline of the marl prairie was initiated at ca. 33 14 C ka due to the onset of the Last Glacial Aridity Maximum in equatorial East Africa.
Stable isotope data of mollusc shells from two adjacent time slices (Karpatian/Badenian) from the... more Stable isotope data of mollusc shells from two adjacent time slices (Karpatian/Badenian) from the Central Paratethys were investigated to detect differences in environmental parameters and to depict shifts in the isotope signature of the Paratethyan seawater around the Early/Middle Miocene transition. Altogether seventeen different gastropod species and one bivalve species from the Karpatian (Korneuburg Basin) and the Badenian (Northern Alpine Foreland Basin) were selected. Representatives of various ecological guilds yielded different isotope patterns, especially in y 13 C, reflecting different original habitats or nutrition. Although molluscs precipitate their shells in oxygen isotopic equilibrium, we preferred to compare isotope data of shells of the same genus of the family Turritellidae from the Karpatian and Badenian. The Badenian Turritella shells from the Northern Alpine Foreland Basin yielded distinctly higher y 18 O and y 13 C values than the respective Karpatian shells from the Korneuburg Basin. As the main factors controlling y 18 O values in gastropod shells are temperature and y 18 O of the water during precipitation, the differences between the oxygen isotope data of the two time slices can only be explained by these factors. Good independent palaeotemperature proxies exist for the Early to Middle Miocene of Central Europe; they do not indicate a significant temperature variation. Therefore, different y 18 O values of the seawater in the different basins of the Central Paratethys must be responsible for the contrasting y 18 O values. When calculated with commonly assumed y 18 O seawater values for the Miocene Badenian, Turritella shells indicate too cold temperatures. These data clearly document the danger of palaeotemperature interpretations based solely on stable isotopes. As smaller and marginal marine settings such as the Paratethys Sea can be seriously influenced by regional differences in the isotope composition of the seawater, only a thorough, consistent control by other climate proxies (e.g. palaeoecology of molluscs, as in this study) allows a sensible interpretation. D
The Early Ottnangian Cooling (EOC), a distinct cold-spell in European climate at ~ 18 Ma precedin... more The Early Ottnangian Cooling (EOC), a distinct cold-spell in European climate at ~ 18 Ma preceding the Miocene Climate Optimum, is frequently reported in Paratethys records; however, the duration, magnitude, and underlying causes are poorly understood. A new palaeoclimatic data-set provides unexpected insights into this event. U(K') 37-based sea-surface temperatures > 24 °C between ~ 18.1 and 17.7 Myrs substantially exceed existing estimates, and indicate a significantly warmer European climate than previously assumed for this usually poorly recovered time interval. The EOC is expressed as an average drop of 2-3 °C in Paratethyan water temperatures between ~ 18.1 and 17.8 Myrs with two distinct cold snaps at ~ 17.86 Ma and ~ 17.81 Ma. The short duration of the EOC excludes Tethyan Seaway closure as its underlying cause, although the enhanced palaeoclimatic sensitivity of the Paratethys due to this palaeogeographic configuration potentially contributed to the magnitude of SST ...
The Korneuburg Basin, with mainly upper Lower Miocene (Karpatian) sediment filling, is divided by... more The Korneuburg Basin, with mainly upper Lower Miocene (Karpatian) sediment filling, is divided by the Mollmannsdorf-Oberga¨nserndorf Swell into two sub-basins characterised by different environmental settings. Paleoecological data indicate a marine northern part and a mainly estuarine southern part. Nevertheless, short-termed marine ingressions from the north allowed marine faunas (ostracods, molluscs, and echinoids) to temporarily settle the southern part of the basin. The carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of gastropod shells from these different environmental settings were investigated. Highest d 18 O and d 13 C values are found in Turritella shells from the northern part of the basin, and in Turritella shells from layers interpreted as a marine ingression in the south. Generally, components of the mudflat fauna (Tympanotonos cinctus, Granulolabium bicinctum, Terebralia bidendata, and Ocenebra crassilabiata) have slightly lower isotope values. Considerable freshwater influx in the southern part is documented by abundant freshwater genera such as Melanopsis, which show low carbon and oxygen isotope values. Data of identical taxa, especially Turritella and Granulolabium, reflect a trend from higher isotope values at the marine northern part to slightly lower values in the mainly estuarine southern part of the basin. Differences in d 18 O between the marine and the estuarine assemblages are interpreted to be caused by changes in salinity and isotopic composition of ambient water rather than by temperature. Paleotemperature estimates derived from oxygen isotope data are in good agreement with existing paleoclimatic proxies for the Korneuburg Basin. Hence, an annual range of the sea-surface temperature from 13 to 26°C can be predicted within that protected basin.
Two different coral framework structures located in a shallow subtidal area on the east coast of ... more Two different coral framework structures located in a shallow subtidal area on the east coast of Bali are described in this study. One structure is a typical coral carpet with a distinct internal succession of coral taxa and growth forms. It starts with a variety of coral species exhibiting massive, tabular, branching, and platy growth forms settling on volcanic boulders and cobbles. The main body of the coral carpet is composed almost monospecifically of Acropora cf. vaughani, which has filled all accommodating spaces up to the low-water sea level. Mostof this carpet died during the bleaching event of 1998 and the resultant dead Acropora framework is now capped by a platy Montipora assemblage. Some of the Acropora branches within the dead carpet, however, are still alive and display active growth. The Montipora cover protects the dead Acropora framework against mechanical and biological destruction. The few still growing Acropora branches may also contribute to the strength of the framework. The second coral framework is made up almost monogenerically of Montipora. One species of Montipora is of a laminar growth form and produces whorl-like colonies. Within this framework, only part of the Montipora colonies are dead; however, these are intensively fragmented. The fragments have been rapidly settled by a platy Montipora species, which has stabilized the fragments. In this case, the fragment shedding of the Montipora offers the opportunity for progradation of the framework on these fragments. Concerning the Acropora carpet, similar examples from the fossil record of the Miocene era of Spain and Austria have been reported.
Summary Coral assemblages in northern Safaga Bay, Red Sea, Egypt, are qualitatively described. N... more Summary Coral assemblages in northern Safaga Bay, Red Sea, Egypt, are qualitatively described. Nine distinct assemblages were found, which correspond to quantitatively defined community types previously described from the area off Hurghada, northern Red Sea. Their distribution within northern Safaga Bay was mapped. Strong gradient and/or steep relief assemblages were:Acropora assemblage on windward (exposed) reefs,Porites assemblage on leeward (sheltered) reefs,Millepora assemblage
The Ottnangian stage represents the middle Burdigalian (c. 18.1-17.2 Ma) within the regional stra... more The Ottnangian stage represents the middle Burdigalian (c. 18.1-17.2 Ma) within the regional stratigraphic concept for the Central Paratethys. The section Ottnang-Schanze in the North Alpine Foreland Basin of Upper Austria has been defined as its stratotype by . We present an updated stratigraphic evaluation of the section based on biostratigraphy of foraminifers, dinoflagellate cysts and calcareous nannoplankton as well as magnetostratigraphy.
The turnover from the Sarmatian Paratethys Sea into Lake Pannon around 11.6 Ma seriously impacted... more The turnover from the Sarmatian Paratethys Sea into Lake Pannon around 11.6 Ma seriously impacted aquatic biota like ostracods and triggered their adaptation to the changed environments. One survivor of this ecological switch is certainly the genus Cyprideis, which is well known for its radiation in Lake Pannon. A high-resolution micropalaeontological investigation of a transgressive-regressive sedimentary cycle just above the Middle/Late Miocene boundary focused on the taxonomy of the found Cyprideis species. Species-diagnostic characters were evaluated applying qualitative as well as linear and geometric morphometric analyses. These examinations led to the introduction of two new ostracod species (Cyprideis kapfensteinensis Gross n. sp. and Cyprideis mataschensis Gross n. sp.), which diverge only indistinctly in outline, but are undoubtedly separated by their size and hinge structure along with considerable differences in number of posteroventral spines. We conclude that these co-occurring species were two sympatric species, which were probably adapted to different microhabitats. C. kapfensteinensis is only recognised in the interval at the peak of the transgression, which corresponds to the maximum deepening of the lake in this area and with meso-/polyhaline conditions. In contrast, C. mataschensis seems to be a more euryplastic species because it appears well before this event and is also recorded in the regressive prodelta sediments up section.
Tile genus Ammonia is one of the most common benthic foraminifer of considerable biogeographic im... more Tile genus Ammonia is one of the most common benthic foraminifer of considerable biogeographic importance. The taxonomic status of most of the described species of Ammonia, however, is yet unsettled. In the present study, we used the partial large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) sequences as an alternative approach to distinguish different specimens of Amntonia living in the Lagoon of Venice. We have obtained DNA sequences from 20 living specimens whose tests were examined previously by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Sequence analysis revealed the presence of two groups, which differ by more than 10,5 %. Within each group, the sequence divergence ranges from 0.2 % to 6.9 %. The two groups that can be separated genetically, are called Ammonia sp. 1 and Ammonia sp. 2. Their morphological distinction, however, is problematic. The tests of Ammonia sp. 1 are generally characterized by a more lobate periphery, more elevated dorsal sutures and larger perforations compared to those of Ammonia sp. 2, but none of these characters can be used with certainty for the morphological distinction of both groups.
Zoologischer Anzeiger - A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 2007
Extensive terrestrial exchanges were initiated by the closure of the Tethyan Seaway during the Ea... more Extensive terrestrial exchanges were initiated by the closure of the Tethyan Seaway during the Early Miocene.
Within a 5.5-m-thick succession of upper Burdigalian (CNP-zone NN4) shallow neritic sediments fro... more Within a 5.5-m-thick succession of upper Burdigalian (CNP-zone NN4) shallow neritic sediments from the North Alpine Foreland Basin in Lower Austria a high-resolution section of finely laminated sediment with a thickness of 940.5 mm was logged. The section was continuously sampled, resulting in 100 samples, covering a thickness of ~ 10 mm each. An integrated approach was applied to these samples in order to study proxy records including calcareous nannoplankton, geochemical and geophysical data. Multivariate statistics on the autochthonous assemblage were used to evaluate the ecological preferences of each taxon and to rule out possible contamination of the signal by taphonomic processes. In order to assess changes in the assemblage composition throughout the section, three taphogroups were defined using both the autochthonous and allochthonous nannofossils. Based on the distribution of these taphogroups five distinct intervals were defined that are indicative of centennial to decada...
The Sarmatian stage is the deprived child of European stratigraphers, being usually simply referr... more The Sarmatian stage is the deprived child of European stratigraphers, being usually simply referred to as the brackish transition from the "enthralling" Badenian with its diverse marine fauna towards the Pannonian with its exciting endemic freshwater species. In this paper we focus the attention on the swift fl uctuations of the relative sea-level during the Early Sarmatian. These shifts are
The complex geodynamic history of the Paratethys periodically fostered the evolution of a highly ... more The complex geodynamic history of the Paratethys periodically fostered the evolution of a highly endemic biota with only limited exchange between the neighboring Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific provinces. The resulting very peculiar fossil assemblages forced the introduction of a regional chronostratigraphic subdivision for the Western/Central and Eastern Paratethys respectively. For the Central Paratethys we present a summarized and updated database for
Thescleractinian Manicina area/ala is a common coral on Caribbean hard and soft substrata and was... more Thescleractinian Manicina area/ala is a common coral on Caribbean hard and soft substrata and was studied at Lee Stocking Island (Exurna Cays, Bahamas). It is not only found in reefal areas but also on bioclastic sand with seagrasses. The meandroid coralla typically grow to sizes of 2 to 10 cm and are morphologically variable. Growth form can vary from conical with round to oval cross-section to turbinate forms with few meanders and flat oval cross-section. The conical morphotype is usually attached to hard substratum, while the turbinate morphotype tends to live unattached, usually upright, in soft substratum. In infratidal areas, both attached and unattached turbinate forms were found in close vicinity, however, conical attached forms were rare.
The Early Miocene (Burdigalian) section at Gebel Gharra (SW Suez, Egypt) represents a mixed carbo... more The Early Miocene (Burdigalian) section at Gebel Gharra (SW Suez, Egypt) represents a mixed carbonate/siliciclastic regime and is composed of a series of ®ning-and deepening-upward sequences. Mass occurrences of scutellid echinoids and pectinid bivalves are remarkable features within this section. Five pectinid horizons, occurring in two superpositioned ®ning-upward sequences, are qualitatively and quantitatively studied in detail. The taxonomic composition of respective pectinid accumulations clearly support a deepening-upward interpretation with decreasing pectinid diversity, decreasing convexity, shell thickness, and sculpturing. The taphonomic parameters of the pectinid beds, in combination with the study of co-occurring biota and frequency and density of shell encrustations and bioerosion, clearly point to different mechanisms for shell accumulations, namely as`composite concentrations' and`reworked event-concentrations'. q
The Vienna Basin and the Styrian Basin have been cornerstones for the definition and description ... more The Vienna Basin and the Styrian Basin have been cornerstones for the definition and description of the Central Euro- pean Sarmatian Stage. New inter- and intrabasin correlations of well-logs and surface outcrops reveal a rather uniform development of depositional systems in all considered basins, which excludes local autocyclic processes as the sole trigger. The lithostratigraphy of these basins is critically
Geodynamic processes influenced the complex evolution of the Paratethys, an extended marginal sea... more Geodynamic processes influenced the complex evolution of the Paratethys, an extended marginal sea, which is characterised by intermittently open and closed marine seaways with its surrounding oceans. Especially in the Miocene, this led to substantial changes in marine environments and ecosystems by changing basin geometries, water circulation, water depth, water chemistry, climate etc. Investigations of stable isotopes of fossil carbonate
Located at the interface between land and sea, marl prairies are sensitive to changes in water ba... more Located at the interface between land and sea, marl prairies are sensitive to changes in water balance and useful recorders of climate and sea-level changes. Palustrine carbonate in marl prairies precipitates in temporary, barely flooded grasslands within microbial mats. Despite the special mode of carbonate production, descriptions of the sedimentary facies are exceptional and cursory because marl prairies are so far reported only from the recent of the Everglades (Florida, USA), where they produce an unspectacular calcite mud. We present a Pleistocene Everglades-type marl prairie from coastal Tanzania as the first fossil example. The unique preservation and high productivity (two times higher than in the Everglades) of the periphyton community in this marl prairie is due to increased calcification of coccoid and filamentous cyanobacteria. The excellent preservation allows us to characterize a marl prairie facies in great detail for the first time. Facies analyses of the sediments reveal a transition from tidal to terrestrial settings that started at ca. 44 14 C ka in response to eustatic sea-level fall and coastal tectonic uplift. The resultant drop of the groundwater table triggered the development of the marl prairie. The decline of the marl prairie was initiated at ca. 33 14 C ka due to the onset of the Last Glacial Aridity Maximum in equatorial East Africa.
Stable isotope data of mollusc shells from two adjacent time slices (Karpatian/Badenian) from the... more Stable isotope data of mollusc shells from two adjacent time slices (Karpatian/Badenian) from the Central Paratethys were investigated to detect differences in environmental parameters and to depict shifts in the isotope signature of the Paratethyan seawater around the Early/Middle Miocene transition. Altogether seventeen different gastropod species and one bivalve species from the Karpatian (Korneuburg Basin) and the Badenian (Northern Alpine Foreland Basin) were selected. Representatives of various ecological guilds yielded different isotope patterns, especially in y 13 C, reflecting different original habitats or nutrition. Although molluscs precipitate their shells in oxygen isotopic equilibrium, we preferred to compare isotope data of shells of the same genus of the family Turritellidae from the Karpatian and Badenian. The Badenian Turritella shells from the Northern Alpine Foreland Basin yielded distinctly higher y 18 O and y 13 C values than the respective Karpatian shells from the Korneuburg Basin. As the main factors controlling y 18 O values in gastropod shells are temperature and y 18 O of the water during precipitation, the differences between the oxygen isotope data of the two time slices can only be explained by these factors. Good independent palaeotemperature proxies exist for the Early to Middle Miocene of Central Europe; they do not indicate a significant temperature variation. Therefore, different y 18 O values of the seawater in the different basins of the Central Paratethys must be responsible for the contrasting y 18 O values. When calculated with commonly assumed y 18 O seawater values for the Miocene Badenian, Turritella shells indicate too cold temperatures. These data clearly document the danger of palaeotemperature interpretations based solely on stable isotopes. As smaller and marginal marine settings such as the Paratethys Sea can be seriously influenced by regional differences in the isotope composition of the seawater, only a thorough, consistent control by other climate proxies (e.g. palaeoecology of molluscs, as in this study) allows a sensible interpretation. D
The Early Ottnangian Cooling (EOC), a distinct cold-spell in European climate at ~ 18 Ma precedin... more The Early Ottnangian Cooling (EOC), a distinct cold-spell in European climate at ~ 18 Ma preceding the Miocene Climate Optimum, is frequently reported in Paratethys records; however, the duration, magnitude, and underlying causes are poorly understood. A new palaeoclimatic data-set provides unexpected insights into this event. U(K') 37-based sea-surface temperatures > 24 °C between ~ 18.1 and 17.7 Myrs substantially exceed existing estimates, and indicate a significantly warmer European climate than previously assumed for this usually poorly recovered time interval. The EOC is expressed as an average drop of 2-3 °C in Paratethyan water temperatures between ~ 18.1 and 17.8 Myrs with two distinct cold snaps at ~ 17.86 Ma and ~ 17.81 Ma. The short duration of the EOC excludes Tethyan Seaway closure as its underlying cause, although the enhanced palaeoclimatic sensitivity of the Paratethys due to this palaeogeographic configuration potentially contributed to the magnitude of SST ...
The Korneuburg Basin, with mainly upper Lower Miocene (Karpatian) sediment filling, is divided by... more The Korneuburg Basin, with mainly upper Lower Miocene (Karpatian) sediment filling, is divided by the Mollmannsdorf-Oberga¨nserndorf Swell into two sub-basins characterised by different environmental settings. Paleoecological data indicate a marine northern part and a mainly estuarine southern part. Nevertheless, short-termed marine ingressions from the north allowed marine faunas (ostracods, molluscs, and echinoids) to temporarily settle the southern part of the basin. The carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of gastropod shells from these different environmental settings were investigated. Highest d 18 O and d 13 C values are found in Turritella shells from the northern part of the basin, and in Turritella shells from layers interpreted as a marine ingression in the south. Generally, components of the mudflat fauna (Tympanotonos cinctus, Granulolabium bicinctum, Terebralia bidendata, and Ocenebra crassilabiata) have slightly lower isotope values. Considerable freshwater influx in the southern part is documented by abundant freshwater genera such as Melanopsis, which show low carbon and oxygen isotope values. Data of identical taxa, especially Turritella and Granulolabium, reflect a trend from higher isotope values at the marine northern part to slightly lower values in the mainly estuarine southern part of the basin. Differences in d 18 O between the marine and the estuarine assemblages are interpreted to be caused by changes in salinity and isotopic composition of ambient water rather than by temperature. Paleotemperature estimates derived from oxygen isotope data are in good agreement with existing paleoclimatic proxies for the Korneuburg Basin. Hence, an annual range of the sea-surface temperature from 13 to 26°C can be predicted within that protected basin.
Two different coral framework structures located in a shallow subtidal area on the east coast of ... more Two different coral framework structures located in a shallow subtidal area on the east coast of Bali are described in this study. One structure is a typical coral carpet with a distinct internal succession of coral taxa and growth forms. It starts with a variety of coral species exhibiting massive, tabular, branching, and platy growth forms settling on volcanic boulders and cobbles. The main body of the coral carpet is composed almost monospecifically of Acropora cf. vaughani, which has filled all accommodating spaces up to the low-water sea level. Mostof this carpet died during the bleaching event of 1998 and the resultant dead Acropora framework is now capped by a platy Montipora assemblage. Some of the Acropora branches within the dead carpet, however, are still alive and display active growth. The Montipora cover protects the dead Acropora framework against mechanical and biological destruction. The few still growing Acropora branches may also contribute to the strength of the framework. The second coral framework is made up almost monogenerically of Montipora. One species of Montipora is of a laminar growth form and produces whorl-like colonies. Within this framework, only part of the Montipora colonies are dead; however, these are intensively fragmented. The fragments have been rapidly settled by a platy Montipora species, which has stabilized the fragments. In this case, the fragment shedding of the Montipora offers the opportunity for progradation of the framework on these fragments. Concerning the Acropora carpet, similar examples from the fossil record of the Miocene era of Spain and Austria have been reported.
Summary Coral assemblages in northern Safaga Bay, Red Sea, Egypt, are qualitatively described. N... more Summary Coral assemblages in northern Safaga Bay, Red Sea, Egypt, are qualitatively described. Nine distinct assemblages were found, which correspond to quantitatively defined community types previously described from the area off Hurghada, northern Red Sea. Their distribution within northern Safaga Bay was mapped. Strong gradient and/or steep relief assemblages were:Acropora assemblage on windward (exposed) reefs,Porites assemblage on leeward (sheltered) reefs,Millepora assemblage
The Ottnangian stage represents the middle Burdigalian (c. 18.1-17.2 Ma) within the regional stra... more The Ottnangian stage represents the middle Burdigalian (c. 18.1-17.2 Ma) within the regional stratigraphic concept for the Central Paratethys. The section Ottnang-Schanze in the North Alpine Foreland Basin of Upper Austria has been defined as its stratotype by . We present an updated stratigraphic evaluation of the section based on biostratigraphy of foraminifers, dinoflagellate cysts and calcareous nannoplankton as well as magnetostratigraphy.
The turnover from the Sarmatian Paratethys Sea into Lake Pannon around 11.6 Ma seriously impacted... more The turnover from the Sarmatian Paratethys Sea into Lake Pannon around 11.6 Ma seriously impacted aquatic biota like ostracods and triggered their adaptation to the changed environments. One survivor of this ecological switch is certainly the genus Cyprideis, which is well known for its radiation in Lake Pannon. A high-resolution micropalaeontological investigation of a transgressive-regressive sedimentary cycle just above the Middle/Late Miocene boundary focused on the taxonomy of the found Cyprideis species. Species-diagnostic characters were evaluated applying qualitative as well as linear and geometric morphometric analyses. These examinations led to the introduction of two new ostracod species (Cyprideis kapfensteinensis Gross n. sp. and Cyprideis mataschensis Gross n. sp.), which diverge only indistinctly in outline, but are undoubtedly separated by their size and hinge structure along with considerable differences in number of posteroventral spines. We conclude that these co-occurring species were two sympatric species, which were probably adapted to different microhabitats. C. kapfensteinensis is only recognised in the interval at the peak of the transgression, which corresponds to the maximum deepening of the lake in this area and with meso-/polyhaline conditions. In contrast, C. mataschensis seems to be a more euryplastic species because it appears well before this event and is also recorded in the regressive prodelta sediments up section.
Tile genus Ammonia is one of the most common benthic foraminifer of considerable biogeographic im... more Tile genus Ammonia is one of the most common benthic foraminifer of considerable biogeographic importance. The taxonomic status of most of the described species of Ammonia, however, is yet unsettled. In the present study, we used the partial large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) sequences as an alternative approach to distinguish different specimens of Amntonia living in the Lagoon of Venice. We have obtained DNA sequences from 20 living specimens whose tests were examined previously by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Sequence analysis revealed the presence of two groups, which differ by more than 10,5 %. Within each group, the sequence divergence ranges from 0.2 % to 6.9 %. The two groups that can be separated genetically, are called Ammonia sp. 1 and Ammonia sp. 2. Their morphological distinction, however, is problematic. The tests of Ammonia sp. 1 are generally characterized by a more lobate periphery, more elevated dorsal sutures and larger perforations compared to those of Ammonia sp. 2, but none of these characters can be used with certainty for the morphological distinction of both groups.
Zoologischer Anzeiger - A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 2007
Extensive terrestrial exchanges were initiated by the closure of the Tethyan Seaway during the Ea... more Extensive terrestrial exchanges were initiated by the closure of the Tethyan Seaway during the Early Miocene.
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Papers by Werner Piller