TINY KEYS TO UNLOCKING THE KELLWASSER EVENTS: DETAILED CHARACTERIZATION OF ORGANIC WALLED MICROFOSSILS ASSOCIATED WITH EXTINCTION IN WESTERN NEW YORK STATE

Research Article| February 12, 2019 TINY KEYS TO UNLOCKING THE KELLWASSER EVENTS: DETAILED CHARACTERIZATION OF ORGANIC WALLED MICROFOSSILS ASSOCIATED WITH EXTINCTION IN WESTERN NEW YORK STATE ABIGAIL A. KELLY; ABIGAIL A. KELLY 1University of Cincinnati, Department of Geology, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220, USA 2Williams College, Geoscience Department, Williamstown, Massachusetts 01267, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar PHOEBE A. COHEN; PHOEBE A. COHEN 2Williams College, Geoscience Department, Williamstown, Massachusetts 01267, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar DIANA L. BOYER DIANA L. BOYER 3Winthrop University, Department of Chemistry, Physics and Geology, Rock Hill, South Carolina 29733, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information ABIGAIL A. KELLY 1University of Cincinnati, Department of Geology, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220, USA 2Williams College, Geoscience Department, Williamstown, Massachusetts 01267, USA PHOEBE A. COHEN 2Williams College, Geoscience Department, Williamstown, Massachusetts 01267, USA DIANA L. BOYER 3Winthrop University, Department of Chemistry, Physics and Geology, Rock Hill, South Carolina 29733, USA email: pac3@williams.edu Publisher: SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology First Online: 12 Feb 2019 Online Issn: 1938-5323 Print Issn: 0883-1351 Copyright © 2019, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology) PALAIOS (2019) 34 (2): 96–104. https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2018.063 Article history First Online: 12 Feb 2019 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation ABIGAIL A. KELLY, PHOEBE A. COHEN, DIANA L. BOYER; TINY KEYS TO UNLOCKING THE KELLWASSER EVENTS: DETAILED CHARACTERIZATION OF ORGANIC WALLED MICROFOSSILS ASSOCIATED WITH EXTINCTION IN WESTERN NEW YORK STATE. PALAIOS 2019;; 34 (2): 96–104. doi: https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2018.063 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyPALAIOS Search Advanced Search ABSTRACT Globally, Upper Devonian sedimentary successions are characterized by multiple organic-rich strata associated with dysoxic to anoxic conditions and biological turnover of varying magnitude, including the Lower and Upper Kellwasser intervals. The cause or causes of the Kellwasser extinction and their relationship to coeval environmental conditions remains actively debated. Here we show that organic-walled microfossils (OWMs) are preserved within the Kellwasser intervals at two localities in western New York State that are otherwise devoid of macrofossils. While OWMs are significantly more abundant within the Upper Kellwasser interval, the assemblages are slightly more diverse within the Lower Kellwasser interval, including two distinct smooth-walled leiosphere populations based on size and, in the more proximal locality, acanthomorphic (spinose) forms. Mo and U concentrations at these localities range from 1–86 ppm and 2–14 ppm respectively, and support oxygen stress, but not persistent anoxia or euxinia, through these events. Notably the Lower Kellwasser exhibits both greater OWM variability and more evidence of anoxic conditions, while the Upper Kellwasser exhibits relatively consistent OWM assemblages and more dysoxic conditions. We interpret OWM abundance, especially large leiosphere forms, as a possible signal of algal blooms potentially associated with eutrophication. Our results suggest that eutrophication may have played a larger role during the Lower Kellwasser event than during the Upper Kellwasser event and demonstrate how OWMs can provide an important link between primary productivity, eutrophication, and the deposition of organic rich-strata. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.