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Tithonian

The Tithonian is the youngest stage of the Late Jurassic Epoch and the uppermost division of the Upper Jurassic Series in the geologic timescale, spanning from 149.2 ± 0.7 Ma to 143.1 ± 0.6 Ma.^[1] Named after the mythological figure Tithonus, this stage is characterized by widespread marine limestone deposits rich in ammonites, nannofossils, and other invertebrates, reflecting diverse shallow marine environments across the Tethyan realm and beyond.^[2] Contemporaneously, continental settings preserved iconic terrestrial faunas, including large sauropod dinosaurs such as Diplodocus and Apatosaurus, theropods like Allosaurus, and stegosaurs, particularly in formations like the Morrison in North America.^[3] The base of the Tithonian is provisionally defined by the lowest occurrence of the ammonite Hybonoticeras hybonotum near the base of the corresponding biozone, with candidate Global Stratotype Sections and Points (GSSPs) proposed at sites such as Mont Crussol and Canjuers in southeastern France, and Contrada Fornazzo in Sicily, Italy.^[4] Its top boundary marks the transition to the Cretaceous Period at the base of the Berriasian Stage, a correlation point still under international discussion involving integrated biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, and radioisotopic dating, currently placed at 143.1 ± 0.6 Ma as of 2024.^[5] The stage is subdivided into substages including the Lower (Hybonoticeras hybonotum Zone), Middle (Semiformiceras darbouxi Zone), and Upper (Micracanthoceras micranthum Zone) Tithonian in the standard Tethyan scheme, though regional variations exist, such as the Boreal Volgian equivalent.^[6] During the Tithonian, global paleogeography featured accelerating rifting of the supercontinent Pangaea, contributing to the early opening of the proto-Atlantic Ocean and elevated sea levels that fostered expansive epicontinental seas.^[7] Biotic highlights include the diversification of calpionellids and rudists in marine settings, alongside the peak abundance of late Jurassic dinosaurs in non-marine environments, setting the stage for the faunal turnover at the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary.^[8] Paleoclimatic evidence points to a warm, humid greenhouse world with episodic anoxic events in oceans, influencing organic-rich sediment accumulation.^[9]

Geological Context

Definition and Etymology

The Tithonian is the uppermost stage of the Upper Jurassic Series, representing the final age of the Late Jurassic Epoch in the geologic timescale. It encompasses a chronostratigraphic unit characterized primarily by distinctive ammonite faunas that enable global correlation of Late Jurassic rocks. The term "Tithonian" was introduced by German paleontologist Albert Oppel in 1865, derived from Tithonus (Latinized as Tithon), a figure in Greek mythology who was the son of King Laomedon of Troy and the brother of Priam, king during the Trojan War. Oppel chose this mythological name to denote the stage's position between the underlying Kimmeridgian and the overlying Cretaceous Neocomian layers, diverging from the convention of naming stages after geographic localities. He initially defined the Tithonian based on ammonite assemblages observed in outcrops across southern Germany (particularly Swabia), southeastern France, and other Central European sites, without a precise boundary definition but emphasizing faunal transitions.^[10]^[11] Throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries, the Tithonian underwent refinements amid debates over Jurassic-Cretaceous boundaries. Early critics like Édouard Hébert (1869) rejected Oppel's broad concept, while Jules Toucas (1890) subdivided it into lower, middle (Ardescian), and upper (proto-Berriasian) parts based on French sections. In the 20th century, Leonard Spath (1923, 1950) further contested its extent, but international colloquia in 1962 and 1967 affirmed its use for Tethyan realms, with Joachim Wiedmann (1967) advocating a return to Oppel's original ammonite-based framework, placing the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary at the base of the Valanginian. These developments solidified the Tithonian's role as marking the close of the Jurassic Period, directly preceding the Berriasian Stage of the Lower Cretaceous Series.^[12]

Temporal Extent and Boundaries

The Tithonian stage spans approximately 4.2 million years, from a base dated at 149.2 ± 0.7 Ma to a top at 145.0 ± 0.8 Ma (as of the 2024 International Chronostratigraphic Chart, v2024/12).^[1] This duration reflects refinements from earlier estimates, integrating high-precision radiometric dating with cyclostratigraphic tuning of sedimentary cycles to orbital forcings. For example, U-Pb zircon dating of ash beds in the early Tithonian of the Neuquén Basin, Argentina, provides an age of 147.112 ± 0.078 Ma near the base of the Virgatosphinctes andesensis ammonite zone, anchoring the stage's onset.^[5] Cyclostratigraphic studies of the Vaca Muerta Formation constrain a minimum duration of 5.67 million years for the interval spanning magnetozones M26 to M22, though this represents only part of the stage.^[13] The lower boundary is provisionally defined by the first appearance of the ammonite Hybonoticeras hybonotum, establishing the base of the H. hybonotum biozone and distinguishing the Tithonian from the underlying Kimmeridgian. This marker event is identifiable in Tethyan carbonate platforms and correlated via proxy biohorizons, such as the lowest occurrence of the ammonite genus Gravesia, which serves as an equivalent in Boreal successions. The upper boundary aligns with the Jurassic-Cretaceous system boundary, recognized by the last occurrences of endemic Tethyan ammonites (e.g., in the Microdoceras hystricosum zone) and the shift from calpionellid assemblages dominated by Tintinnopsella to those with Calpionella alpina. Faunal provincialism between Tethyan and Boreal realms—where the latter features a prolonged Volgian stage with distinct ammonite faunas—continues to fuel debates on exact boundary placement and global synchronization, despite auxiliary constraints from magnetostratigraphy and nannofossil events.

Stratigraphy

Global Stratotype Section and Point

The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Tithonian stage has not yet been officially ratified by the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS). Candidate sections have been proposed by the International Subcommission on Jurassic Stratigraphy (ISJS) to define the lower boundary, which is placed near the base of the Hybonoticeras hybonotum ammonite zone, coinciding with the lowest occurrence of the ammonite genus Gravesia and the base of magnetic polarity chronozone M22An.^[4]^[14] Among the candidates, the Contrada Fornazzo section on the northwestern slope of Monte Inici, western Sicily, Italy (coordinates approximately UTM UC10730955), has been formally proposed as a potential GSSP. A formal proposal for this site was submitted to the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) in September 2025. It exposes a 27 m thick succession in the upper member of the Rosso Ammonitico Formation, characterized by nodular-calcareous lithofacies indicative of hemipelagic deposition. The section offers a continuous marine record with well-preserved ammonite assemblages, calcareous nannofossils, and a reliable paleomagnetic profile, despite some stratigraphic condensation and minor hiatuses below biochronological resolution. The proposed boundary level is at the base of Bed 110, marked by the first occurrence of Hybonoticeras gr. hybonotum and Haploceras staszycii. Its selection rationale emphasizes the integration of multiple stratigraphic tools—biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, and chemostratigraphy—for high-precision global correlations, accessibility, and compliance with ICS criteria for protection and documentation.^[15] Additional candidates include sections at Mount Crussol and Canjuers in southeastern France, which feature thick pelagic limestone successions spanning the Kimmeridgian-Tithonian transition. These sites provide detailed ammonite biostratigraphy and sedimentary records reflecting open-marine environments, supporting the same boundary markers as the Sicilian proposal, and are favored for their historical significance in Jurassic studies and potential for international correlation.^[4]^[16] The ISJS continues to evaluate these options, including a candidate in Swabia, Germany, with the Tithonian Working Group led by Federico Olóriz Sáez, aiming for ratification to standardize the stage's base at approximately 149.2 ± 0.7 Ma.^[14]^[17]^[1]

Subdivisions and Zonation

The Tithonian stage is divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper substages in the standard Tethyan scheme. The Lower-Middle substage boundary is placed near the top of the Semiformiceras semiforme Zone, marking a transition in ammonite faunas and approximately corresponding to 147.5 Ma. The Lower Tithonian encompasses the basal Hybonoticeras hybonotum Zone through the Semiformiceras semiforme Zone, including the Gravesia gravesiana Zone. The Middle Tithonian includes the Aulacosphinctes eugenei (or Burckhardticeras peroni) and Pseudowaagenia beckeri zones. The Upper Tithonian spans from the Sutnerites sutneri Zone to the Durangites Zone, from approximately 146 Ma to the stage top. In the Boreal Realm, the equivalent interval is termed the Volgian stage, subdivided into Lower, Middle, and Upper substages with distinct ammonite assemblages, such as those of the Dorsoplanites panderi and Craspedites subditus zones, reflecting regional faunal endemism.^[18]^[1]^[19] The primary global correlation relies on 10–12 ammonite biozones in the Tethyan Realm, defined by index species from perisphinctoid genera including Hybonoticeras (basal zone), Gravesia (early lower), Semiformiceras (late lower), Aulacosphinctes (early middle), Sutnerites (upper middle), and Durangites (topmost). These zones, from base to top, typically include: Hybonoticeras hybonotum, Gravesia gravesiana, Semiformiceras semiforme, Burckhardticeras peroni (or Aulacosphinctes eugenei), Sutnerites sutneri, Micracanthoceras micranthum, and Durangites. Auxiliary zonations enhance resolution, with calpionellid biozones (e.g., Chitinoidella and Praetintinnopsella zones in the lower to middle Tithonian) useful for marine microfossil correlation in platform carbonates, and nannofossil zones (e.g., NJ18–NJ20) providing supplementary markers in deeper marine settings.^[1]^[20]^[21] Faunal provincialism between the Tethyan and Boreal realms poses significant correlation challenges, as ammonite taxa rarely overlap, necessitating auxiliary methods like magnetostratigraphy (spanning polarity chrons M22 to M20n) and chemostratigraphy (e.g., negative carbon isotope excursions in the upper Tithonian). These integrate with the Tithonian's global stratotype at the base of the Hybonoticeras hybonotum Zone to enable cross-realm matching. Historically, Albert Oppel's 19th-century work established the foundational zonal concepts for the Upper Jurassic, but modern ICS-standardized schemes, refined through international workshops since the 1990s, incorporate integrated biostratigraphy, radiometric dating, and geophysical data for higher precision.^[19]^[20]^[22]

Paleoenvironments

Paleogeography

During the Tithonian stage of the Late Jurassic, the supercontinent Pangea was in its advanced phase of disassembly, with the northern landmass of Laurasia—comprising North America and Eurasia—progressively separating from the southern Gondwana supercontinent, which included South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica. This separation facilitated the widening of the Central Atlantic Ocean through ongoing rifting, while the Tethys Ocean expanded between Laurasia and Gondwana, serving as a major east-west marine corridor. Paleogeographic reconstructions indicate that North America remained positioned adjacent to the eastern margin of Eurasia, with the nascent Atlantic rift zone marking their divergence, and India positioned along the northern margin of Gondwana, proximal to the Tethys but not yet initiating northward drift.^[23] Key paleogeographic features included the continued widening of the proto-Atlantic seaway in the west, contrasting with a gradual narrowing of the eastern Tethys due to convergent tectonics, which restricted marine connectivity between the western Tethys and the Indo-Pacific regions.^[23] The Viking Corridor, a narrow seaway linking the Boreal (Arctic) realm to the Tethyan domain across northern Europe and Greenland, intermittently allowed faunal exchange but also acted as a partial barrier.^[24] These configurations were shaped by the ongoing fragmentation of Pangea, which had begun in the Triassic and accelerated through the Jurassic, leading to increased marine inundation of continental margins.^[25] Tectonic activity during the Tithonian was dominated by extensional rifting in the Central Atlantic, where seafloor spreading had been ongoing since approximately 175-185 Ma, further separating Laurasia from Gondwana.^[26] Along the Tethys margins, continued subduction of oceanic crust drove convergence, fostering the development of volcanic arcs and orogenic belts, particularly in the circum-Tethyan realms.^[27] In the proto-Pacific (Panthalassa) domain, subduction along the western margins of the Americas and eastern Asia promoted the emergence of Andean-type volcanic arcs, contributing to continental margin accretion and the recycling of oceanic lithosphere.^[27] These paleogeographic and tectonic dynamics profoundly influenced biota distribution, promoting faunal provincialism among marine organisms. Ammonite faunas, for instance, exhibited strong endemism, with distinct Boreal and Tethyan assemblages separated by barriers such as the Viking Corridor and the narrowing eastern Tethys, limiting inter-realm migration and fostering regional diversification.^[24] This provincialism is evident in the differentiation of Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean ammonite groups, reflecting the isolating effects of emerging land bridges and restricted seaways.^[24]

Climate and Oceanography

The Tithonian stage was characterized by overall warm, humid greenhouse conditions, with high global sea levels facilitating extensive marine inundation of continental margins early in the period. Oxygen isotope (δ¹⁸O) analyses from well-preserved belemnite and brachiopod calcite indicate tropical sea surface temperatures ranging from approximately 28–30°C, consistent with an ice-free world and elevated atmospheric CO₂ levels.^[28] These conditions supported a humid climate in low to mid-latitudes, as inferred from the distribution of evaporative and carbonate deposits in tropical regions.^[29] Toward the late Tithonian, a gradual cooling trend emerged, potentially driven by decreasing atmospheric CO₂ and enhanced silicate weathering, culminating in cooler sea surface temperatures and drier conditions compared to the preceding Kimmeridgian.^[25] This cooling coincided with a significant sea level fall of up to approximately 100 m, attributed to tectonic uplift associated with the early disassembly of Pangea, which reduced the extent of epicontinental seas.^[30] Pollen and conifer records from continental deposits further suggest the presence of seasonal monsoons, with fluctuations in gymnosperm pollen indicating periodic wet-dry cycles that influenced terrestrial vegetation and sediment flux.^[29] Oceanographically, the Tithonian featured episodic anoxia in epicontinental seas, particularly in restricted basins where oxygen minimum zones expanded due to high organic productivity and sluggish circulation.^[31] The Tethys Ocean functioned as a warm, saline basin with partially restricted circulation, limited by emerging tectonic barriers that promoted evaporative concentration and density stratification.^[8] Upwelling zones along Tethyan margins enhanced primary productivity, as evidenced by phosphate-rich deposits and high organic carbon burial rates, supporting diverse marine ecosystems despite intermittent hypoxic events.^[32] Carbon isotope (δ¹³C) excursions, including positive shifts in the early Tithonian, record perturbations in the global carbon cycle, likely linked to variations in organic matter burial and volcanic inputs.^[33]

Sedimentary Facies

The Tithonian stage is characterized by a variety of marine sedimentary facies, reflecting diverse depositional environments across the Tethyan and proto-Atlantic realms. Hemipelagic limestones, such as those in the Solnhofen Limestone of southern Germany, consist of finely laminated, micritic limestones deposited in restricted, low-energy lagoons or basins with minimal siliciclastic input, leading to exceptional preservation potential. These limestones formed through the settling of fine carbonate mud in oxygen-poor, quiet waters during the early Tithonian. Reefal carbonates were prominent along Tethys margins, including buildups on platforms like the Štramberk Carbonate Platform in the Czech Republic, where microbial and skeletal frameworks supported thick sequences of boundstone and framestone in shallow, tropical settings. Black shales, indicative of widespread anoxic conditions, accumulated in deeper basinal settings, as seen in the Vaca Muerta Formation of the Neuquén Basin, Argentina, where organic-rich, bituminous mudstones and marls up to 1250 m thick record restricted circulation and high organic productivity during the early Tithonian transgression.^[34]^[35]^[36]^[37]^[38]^[39] Terrestrial and marginal marine facies in Tithonian deposits highlight continental influences, particularly in rift basins of western Laurentia and Gondwana. Fluvial sandstones dominate in formations like the Morrison Formation of the western United States, comprising braided river deposits of medium- to coarse-grained sandstones interbedded with mudstones and siltstones, reflecting episodic flooding and sediment transport across floodplains during the late Kimmeridgian to Tithonian. In rift settings of southern Gondwana, such as the Neuquén Basin, marginal evaporites and aeolian sandstones occur alongside fluvial systems, formed in arid coastal plains with periodic marine incursions. Coal-bearing deltas, though less extensive than in earlier Jurassic intervals, are recorded in paralic settings of the Qiangtang Block (eastern Gondwana), where deltaic mudstones and sandstones with thin coal seams accumulated in subsiding basins under humid conditions. These facies exhibit regional variations tied to eustatic sea-level fluctuations, with transgressive pulses promoting marine incursions into marginal zones. Climatic aridization during the Tithonian contributed to reduced siliciclastic input in some carbonate-dominated areas.^[40]^[41]^[42]^[43]^[44]^[45] Notable Tithonian formations underscore these facies patterns. The Morrison Formation represents a classic terrestrial assemblage, with its upper members featuring floodplain mudstones and channel sandstones spanning hundreds of meters in thickness across the Western Interior. In contrast, the Vaca Muerta Formation exemplifies marine basinal deposition, dominated by organic-rich shales that transition laterally into shallower carbonates, reflecting a retrogradational stacking pattern driven by rising sea levels. Diagenetic processes significantly altered these sediments; early cementation by marine cements stabilized reef frameworks in Tethyan platforms, preserving porosity in boundstones while promoting lithification. Bituminous deposits in anoxic shales, such as those in the Vaca Muerta, resulted from rapid burial of organic matter under sulfate-reducing conditions, leading to widespread hydrocarbon source rocks. These features highlight the Tithonian's role in forming economically significant reservoirs through combined depositional and post-depositional processes.^[42]^[39]^[46]^[47]^[48]^[49]^[39]

Biodiversity

Marine Invertebrates

The Tithonian stage witnessed a peak in marine invertebrate diversity, particularly among cephalopods and bivalves, which served as crucial index fossils for biostratigraphy and zonation schemes. Ammonites were especially prominent, exhibiting high generic diversity across Tethyan and adjacent realms, reflecting their role in precise chronostratigraphic correlations.^[50] These nektonic predators dominated open marine environments, preying on smaller organisms in epipelagic zones.^[8] Among ammonites, genera such as Virgatosphinctes were widespread, appearing in Tethyan deposits from Europe to the Indo-Pacific, with species like V. scythicus showing morphological variability that aided in regional zonation.^[51] Belemnites, another key cephalopod group, were abundant in Tethyan settings, exemplified by Belemnopsis species in the Neuquén Basin and Indo-Pacific faunas, where they functioned as active swimmers and predators, their rostra providing evidence for paleotemperature reconstructions via oxygen isotopes.^[52] Bivalves began transitioning toward dominance in reef ecosystems, with rudists emerging as early reef-builders in shallow Tethyan platforms; these heterodonts enabled vertical growth in high-energy settings and foreshadowing their Cretaceous proliferation.^[50] Other invertebrate groups contributed to the Tithonian benthos, though with varying abundances. Brachiopods, including terebratulids, maintained moderate diversity but experienced a decline as rhynchonellids waned, occupying stable, oxygenated substrates in shelf environments.^[8] Echinoids were present in sediment-rich facies, facilitating bioturbation and nutrient cycling, while scleractinian corals reached a diversity peak on low-latitude carbonate platforms before declining due to falling sea levels and cooling, yielding space to rudist assemblages.^[50] Microfossils like calpionellids—protozoans such as those in the Crassicollaria Zone—abounded in pelagic limestones, serving as primary markers for the Tithonian-Berriasian boundary, alongside foraminifera that underwent a global radiation without major boundary disruptions.^[53] Evolutionary trends showed a mid-Tithonian diversity peak for many groups, followed by faunal turnover linked to environmental shifts, including sea-level fluctuations that intensified provincial endemism between Tethyan (warm, equatorial) and Boreal (cooler, high-latitude) realms—evident in ammonite distributions where Tethyan perisphinctids contrasted with Boreal forms.^[54] This provincialism highlighted adaptive radiations in isolated basins, with ammonites and belemnites exemplifying nektonic specialization, while rudists' ecological innovation marked a pivotal shift in benthic community structure.^[50]

Marine Vertebrates

The Tithonian stage of the Late Jurassic hosted a diverse array of marine vertebrates, dominated by reptiles adapted to pelagic and coastal environments, alongside a burgeoning fish fauna. Ichthyosaurs, streamlined marine reptiles resembling modern dolphins, were prominent, with genera such as Stenopterygius representing major radiations of the group.^[55] Fossils from Tithonian deposits, including a new ophthalmosaurid species from the Neuquén Basin in Patagonia, highlight their long, slender rostra and reduced dentition in adults, adaptations for grasping soft-bodied prey in open waters.^[56]^[56] Plesiosaurs, another key reptile clade, included large short-necked forms that served as apex predators in Tithonian seas, preying on fish, cephalopods, and smaller reptiles. In northwestern Patagonia, species of Pliosaurus reached lengths exceeding 10 meters, featuring robust skulls and conical teeth suited for crushing and tearing, positioning them at the top of marine food webs.^[57]^[57] Teleosaurid crocodylomorphs, such as Machimosaurus, complemented this assemblage as semi-aquatic ambush predators in shallower, lagoonal settings, with body lengths up to 8 meters and elongated snouts for capturing fish and invertebrates near coasts.^[58]^[58] Fish diversity expanded notably during the Tithonian, with ray-finned actinopterygians like pycnodonts achieving high abundance in reefal and lagoonal habitats. These deep-bodied fishes, exemplified by Gyrodus from Solnhofen-like deposits, possessed specialized crushing dentition for durophagous feeding on mollusks and crustaceans, reflecting niche partitioning in nearshore ecosystems.^[59]^[60] Chondrichthyans, including sharks and rays, also increased in diversity, with neoselachian forms showing enhanced morphological disparity in dental structures adapted for predation on smaller vertebrates and invertebrates, signaling an evolutionary shift toward more versatile aquatic hunters.^[61]^[61] Evolutionary trends among Tithonian marine vertebrates emphasized adaptations for agility and efficiency in three-dimensional ocean spaces, including streamlined bodies and flipper-like limbs that enhanced maneuverability. The Solnhofen Limestone, a Tithonian lagerstätte in southern Germany, preserves exceptional fossils illustrating interactions between marine and aerial realms, such as pterosaur specimens with fish scales in their stomachs, indicating foraging at the air-sea interface.^[62]^[62] These vertebrates inhabited a range of settings, from expansive open oceans to restricted lagoons, with evidence from phosphate-rich nodules in sedimentary records pointing to nutrient upwelling that supported high productivity and preserved remains through rapid burial.^[63] Periodic anoxic events likely influenced their distribution by creating oxygen-poor zones that concentrated carcasses in deeper basins.^[64]

Terrestrial Life

The terrestrial flora of the Tithonian was dominated by gymnosperms, particularly conifers such as those belonging to the Araucariaceae family, which formed scattered woodlands in semi-arid landscapes.^[65] Understory vegetation included ferns, cycads, and bennettitaleans, with palynological evidence from the Morrison Formation indicating a prevalence of conifer pollen alongside spores from ferns and lycophytes, reflecting a seasonal environment conducive to herbaceous growth.^[66] Ginkgophytes were also common, contributing to the diverse but low-biomass vegetation adapted to periodic droughts.^[65] Terrestrial invertebrates during the Tithonian included diverse insects, with odonatans such as cymatophlebiid dragonflies representing advanced predatory forms in floodplain habitats.^[67] These large dragonflies, preserved in fine-grained deposits, indicate aerial insect populations exploiting wetland margins for reproduction and hunting.^[68] Terrestrial gastropods began to emerge in this stage, with early pulmonate forms appearing in lagoonal and coastal settings, marking the diversification of land snails in humid microenvironments.^[69] Vertebrate faunas were characterized by a high diversity of dinosaurs, including massive sauropods like Diplodocus that browsed on high vegetation in the Morrison Formation's floodplain systems.^[70] Theropod predators such as Allosaurus dominated carnivory, preying on herbivores including stegosaurs like Stegosaurus, whose plated bodies may have served defensive roles in open terrains.^[71] Early avialans, exemplified by Archaeopteryx from the Solnhofen limestones, represented transitional forms with feathered wings for gliding or short flights in forested lagoons.^[72] Small mammals, such as docodonts and eutriconodonts, occupied nocturnal insectivorous niches, while pterosaurs like ctenochasmatids from Solnhofen and Morrison deposits filled aerial piscivorous and insectivorous roles.^[73]^[74] Tithonian terrestrial ecosystems, particularly in the Morrison Formation, featured expansive floodplains with meandering rivers and seasonal wetlands under a semi-arid climate, supporting riparian forests amid arid plains.^[40] Herbivore-carnivore interactions were intense, with evidence of theropod bite marks on sauropod bones indicating scavenging and predation dynamics that structured food webs around large-bodied herbivores.^[70] These settings, influenced by Laurasian continental configurations, fostered coexistence of megafauna through resource partitioning in patchy vegetation.^[75]

Jurassic-Cretaceous Transition

Boundary Definition

The Jurassic-Cretaceous (J/K) boundary, marking the top of the Tithonian stage, lacks a ratified Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP), leaving its precise definition unresolved despite decades of international effort.^[76] The boundary is conventionally placed at the base of the Berriasian stage (lowermost Cretaceous), a position supported by multiple stratigraphic markers but complicated by faunal provincialism and correlative ambiguities.^[77] Proposed criteria for the GSSP include the base of reversed magnetozone M18r or the lower limit of the Calpionella alpina Subzone within the calpionellid standard zonation, both of which offer global potential for correlation due to their diachronous but identifiable signatures in marine sections.^[78]^[79] Correlation across the boundary relies on integrated biostratigraphic and chemostratigraphic tools to bridge regional variations. Key events include the last occurrences of Tethyan ammonites such as Durangites spp., which define the uppermost Tithonian zone and provide a marker near the boundary in low-latitude sections.^[80] Calcareous nannofossil bioevents, such as the first common occurrence of Nannoconus globis or the last occurrence of Stradnerlithus ornamentus, further refine placement, particularly in pelagic carbonates where they align with the onset of Berriasian assemblages.^[81] Chemostratigraphic profiles reveal δ¹³C excursions, including a negative shift in the latest Tithonian followed by a positive anomaly in the early Berriasian, offering an independent geochemical tie-point for global synchronization despite diagenetic overprints in some sections.^[82] Historically, defining the boundary has been contentious due to debates over whether the uppermost Tithonian should be subsumed into the basal Cretaceous (Berriasian), stemming from overlapping ammonite ranges and lithological transitions. Pronounced faunal endemism exacerbates this, with Tethyan standards (e.g., Mediterranean ammonite zonations) conflicting with Boreal equivalents (e.g., Russian Platform sequences), leading to discrepancies of up to several million years in boundary placement across hemispheres.^[83] The International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), through its Subcommission on Cretaceous Stratigraphy, continues to address these challenges via a dedicated Berriasian Working Group established in 2021, which is compiling databases of candidate sections and evaluating proposals.^[84] Ongoing efforts prioritize sites in Italy (e.g., Lombardian Basin sections) and Spain (e.g., Puerto Escaño in the Betic Cordillera) for their complete stratigraphic records, multiproxy data, and potential to ratify a GSSP using the aforementioned markers.^[85]^[86]

Extinction Dynamics

The extinction event at the end of the Tithonian is characterized as a minor, regional turnover rather than a global mass extinction, with approximately 20% of marine genera affected, primarily in low-latitude shallow-shelf environments.^[8] This level of loss falls well below the thresholds of major Phanerozoic mass extinctions, such as the end-Permian event, and is marked by gradual faunal shifts rather than a singular catastrophic pulse.^[87] The event particularly impacted ammonites, where many Tethyan genera failed to cross into the Berriasian, contributing to a notable diversity decline in planktic and nektonic groups. This biodiversity loss occurred during the late Tithonian, spanning the uppermost ammonite zones such as the Microdocidicus and Durangites zones, with evidence of stepwise declines over several million years rather than an abrupt boundary-crossing event.^[8] In the Boreal and Tethyan realms, extinction rates for ammonites and associated marine invertebrates remained comparable to background levels, with no significant spike at the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary itself.^[88] Selectivity was pronounced, affecting primarily planktic forms like calcareous nannoplankton (with extinction rates up to five times background) and nektonic predators such as certain marine reptiles, while benthic taxa like many bivalve genera showed higher survivorship, with over 95% persisting across the boundary in some assemblages.^[8] Fossil evidence from key sections illustrates this turnover, including the Portland Stone Formation in the UK, where shallow-marine deposits reveal the last occurrences of teleosauroid crocodylomorphs and shifts in ammonite faunas, signaling regional endemism and decline in the uppermost Tithonian.^[89] These patterns are debated as part of the broader Jurassic-Cretaceous transition, with correlation challenges arising from provincial faunas, yet they consistently indicate a protracted ecological reconfiguration rather than a discrete extinction horizon.^[8]

Causal Mechanisms

The late Tithonian biotic changes have been attributed to a combination of environmental stressors, with climate cooling emerging as a primary driver based on oxygen isotope (δ¹⁸O) records from belemnites, bivalves, and brachiopods. These data indicate a pronounced "cold snap" toward the end of the stage, with sea surface temperatures dropping by up to 8°C in some regions, though estimates vary by latitude and proxy, often ranging from 2–4°C in subtropical to temperate settings.^[90]^[50] This cooling is linked to a decline in atmospheric CO₂ levels, potentially driven by enhanced continental weathering and increased carbonate precipitation, which drew down greenhouse gases and amplified global temperature reductions. The shift is evident in δ¹⁸O values shifting toward more positive compositions (e.g., from -2‰ to 0‰ in European sections), reflecting cooler seawater conditions that stressed ectothermic marine organisms and altered habitat suitability.^[90] Concurrent with cooling, a major eustatic sea-level fall occurred during the late Tithonian, marking a significant regression that exposed continental shelves and reduced shallow-water habitats. Sequence stratigraphy from Tethyan and Boreal basins reveals third-order cycles with lowstands, including erosional surfaces and condensed sections indicative of a ~50–100 m drop in relative sea level, culminating near the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary.^[50] This regression, corroborated by global charts integrating seismic and outcrop data, led to habitat fragmentation and increased terrigenous input, particularly affecting carbonate platforms and reef systems in low-latitude regions. Extrinsic factors such as volcanism also contributed to these perturbations, with the formation of the Shatsky Rise oceanic plateau around 144 Ma in the northwest Pacific potentially introducing pulses of magmatic gases that influenced conditions at the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary through atmospheric loading.^[50] No confirmed asteroid impact has been directly tied to the observed biotic shifts, despite the Morokweng structure (~146 Ma) occurring within the stage. Potential anoxic events, evidenced by organic-rich shales and positive δ¹³C excursions in Tethyan sections, suggest localized ocean stagnation tied to regression and nutrient influx, further stressing benthic communities. Interpretations of these drivers are complicated by biases in the fossil record, including sampling gaps in terrestrial deposits due to erosion and poor exposure in non-marine settings, which underrepresented continental biotas during the regression.^[50] Taphonomic issues in marine shales, such as selective preservation favoring robust shells over soft-bodied forms and diagenetic alteration of isotopes, further obscure the full extent of turnover.^[50] These biases likely inflate perceived extinction rates in shallow-marine assemblages while underestimating resilience in deeper-water refugia. The interplay of these mechanisms amplified stress on ecosystems, particularly in shallow-water habitats where cooling reduced metabolic rates and regression shrank available space, creating synergistic pressures that favored opportunistic clades over specialized ones.^[50] This combined forcing, without invoking singular cataclysms, aligns with the protracted nature of late Tithonian changes observed in multiple proxies.^[50]

Biotic Impacts

The biotic impacts of the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition were characterized by selective turnovers rather than uniform mass die-offs, with profound differential effects across taxonomic groups that reshaped ecosystems and created opportunities for subsequent radiations. In marine invertebrates, shallow-water faunas experienced significant disruptions due to eustatic sea-level fluctuations, leading to heavy losses among cephalopods. Ammonites underwent a major faunal turnover, with Tethyan groups such as Perisphinctidae largely replaced by Berriasellidae in the Early Cretaceous, resulting in a diversity trough that persisted into the Valanginian. Belemnites similarly faced elevated extinction pressures, contributing to a reconfiguration of nektonic assemblages in epicontinental seas. In contrast, bivalves showed a pronounced decline in generic diversity, particularly among heteroconchs and lucinoids, yet this opened niches for post-boundary recovery. Rudists, meanwhile, capitalized on the collapse of scleractinian coral reefs, transitioning to dominance in shallow carbonate platforms by the Barremian and facilitating new reef-building communities. Among marine vertebrates, the transition marked the end of certain lineages while allowing others to persist and diversify. Ichthyosaurs, particularly ophthalmosaurids, survived the boundary with relatively intact diversity and persisted into the Aptian-Albian, maintaining high ecological disparity as top predators before their later Cenomanian extinction. Plesiosaurs, however, suffered a sharp diversity decline, with microcleidids and rhomaleosaurids going extinct and overall taxonomic richness not recovering until the Hauterivian-Barremian, though elasmosaurids and leptocleidids radiated in the Early Cretaceous. Fish assemblages exhibited stability in actinopterygians overall but with regional shifts, including a decline in marine forms and increased freshwater representation; this turnover paralleled extinction rates seen at the K-Pg boundary and set the stage for teleost dominance in the Cretaceous oceans. Terrestrial vertebrates displayed more muted but taxon-specific impacts, with dinosaurs experiencing a roughly 50% drop in non-avian diversity from the Tithonian to Berriasian. Sauropods were particularly hard-hit, with extinction rates over six times the Jurassic average, reflecting the loss of large-bodied herbivores amid habitat fragmentation. Theropods and ornithischians were less affected, with theropod diversity stable and ornithischians showing moderate declines, enabling selective survival and later diversification of groups like rebbachisaurids and titanosauriforms. Mammals underwent gradual turnover without clade-level extinctions, allowing multituberculates to rise and fill small-mammal niches in the Early Cretaceous. Birds (avialans), including enantiornithines, underwent an explosive radiation in the Barremian-Aptian Jehol Biota, exploiting vacated aerial and arboreal spaces. These differential impacts paved the way for long-term evolutionary shifts, with the marine diversity trough at the boundary—estimated at around 15-20% genus-level loss in shelly faunas—facilitating Cretaceous dominance by teleosts over holosteans and the ascent of angiosperms from the Hauterivian onward, which reshaped terrestrial and coastal ecosystems. Survivors like plesiosaurs and diversified fish groups underscored the opportunistic nature of the recovery, ultimately structuring Mesozoic biotas toward greater ecological specialization.

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