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Home , Bathornis, Burdigalian, Carcharoides, Meiolania, Neogene, Odobenocetops

Neogene Worlds, Life & Norman MacLeod School of Earth Sciences & Engineering, Nanjing University Worlds, Life & Extinctions Objectives

Understand the structure of the Neogene world in terms of timescales, geo- graphy, environments, and organisms. Understand the structure of Neogene events. Understand the major Neogene extinction drivers. Understand the degree to which these putative drivers correlate with Neogene extinction events. Neogene Worlds, Life & Extinctions Presentation Topics

Stratigraphy - chronostrati- graphy & geochronology Geography - tectonics & distribution Climate - circulation, temp- 0°0° erature, weather Biota - protists, inverte- brates, vertebrates, plants Evolution - evolutionary faunas, adaptive radiations, major innovations Significant Events - sea-level changes, volcanic eruptions, marine anoxia events, bolide impacts, extinctions Phanerozoic Durations

80

64

48

32 Duration(myr)

16

0

Sil. Jur. Ord. Dev. Cret. Camb. Perm. Trias. Neog. Quat. Carbon. Paleog. Data from ICS (2020) Durations

24

19.2

14.4

9.6 Duration(myr)

4.8

0

Data from ICS (2020) Neogene Neogene Timescale

System/ Numerical Period Series/Epoch /Age Age (Ma) 2.580 Pliocene 3.600 5.333 7.246 11.63 Serravillian Miocene 13.82

Neogene 15.97 20.44 Aquitainian 23.03

ICS International Chronostrat. Chart 2020/03 Neogene

Tectonic Configuration

Establishment of modern tectonic plate configurations and establishment of modern atmospheric and marine circulation patterns.

Continents continue to drift toward their present positions. Land bridge between and forms during the Pliocene due to sea-level fall. Mountain ranges appear on almost all continents owing to tectonic collisions & subductions. Tectonic collision between and Europe caused Mediterranean Sea to dry up in Messinian.

Map from Scotese PaleoMap Project (2001) Neogene

Tectonic Configuration

Establishment of modern tectonic plate configurations and establishment of modern atmospheric and marine circulation patterns.

Continents continue to drift toward their present positions. Land bridge between North America and South America forms during the Pliocene due to sea-level fall. Mountain ranges appear on almost all continents owing to tectonic collisions & subductions. Tectonic collision between Africa and Europe caused Mediterranean Sea to dry up in Messinian.

Map from Scotese PaleoMap Project (2001) Neogene Marine Circulation

Essentially a modern marine circulation pattern with variations in intensity conditioned on variations in sea level, the latitudinal thermal gradient and global temperature

Five permanent subtropical gyres. Northern gyres rotate clockwise, southern gyres rotate counterclockwise under Coriolis Effect. Boundary currents move water between the major ocean gyres. Vertical circulation controlled by deep-ocean conveyor which was first established in the Neogene.

Map from Scotese PaleoMap Project (2001) Neogene Marine Circulation

Essentially a modern marine circulation pattern with variations in intensity conditioned on variations in sea level, the latitudinal thermal gradient and global temperature

Five permanent subtropical gyres. Northern gyres rotate clockwise, southern gyres rotate counterclockwise under Coriolis Effect. Boundary currents move water between the major ocean gyres. Vertical circulation controlled by deep-ocean conveyor which was first established in the Neogene.

Map from Scotese PaleoMap Project (2001) Neogene Marine Circulation

Tillinger (2011), redrawn from. Broecker (1987) Neogene Marine Circulation

Tillinger (2011), redrawn from. Broecker (1987) Neogene Paleoenvironment

Atmospheric O Atmospheric CO 2 2 35 5000

28 4000

21 3000

14 2000

7 1000 PercentbyVol. Parts PerMillionParts 0 0 Cb. Od. Sl. Dv. Cr. Pm. Tr Jr Ct Pg Ng Cb. Od. Sl. Dv. Cr. Pm. Tr. Jr. Ct Pg Ng

Mean Surface Temperature Sea Level

25 250

20 200

15 150 Present 10 100 Meters Above Meters 5 50

Degrees Celsius Degrees Celsius 0 0 Cb. Od. Sl. Dv. Cb. Pm. Tr. Jr. Ct. Pg Ng Cb. Od. Sl. Dv. Cr. Pm. Tr. Jr. Ct. Pg Ng Neogene

Climate Zones

Comparative Criteria Neogene

O2 Content of 21,5 vo. % Atmosphere (108%)

CO2 Content of 280 ppm Atmosphere (x 1)

Mean Surface 14°C Temperature (0° C)

Sea Level +150 m to - 100 m

Climates remained relatively warm throughout the with a slow cooling trend that ended with two sharp drops in global temperature, one in the (c. 14 mya) and the other in the (c. 8 mya).

Map from Scotese PaleoMap Project (2000) Neogene

Global Temperature Variation Neogene

Global Temperature Variation

Diagram from Hansen et al. (2012) Neogene

Global Temperature Variation

Diagram from Hansen et al. (2012) Neogene

Middle Miocene Vegetation Model

Diagram from Henrot et al. (2017) Neogene

Miocene Sea-Surface Temperature Model

Diagram from Tim Herbert Lab, Brown University (2021) Neogene

Pliocene Land-Surface Temperature Model

Diagram from Salzmann et al. (2008) Neogene

Pliocene Sea-Surface Temperature Model

Diagram from Fedorov et al. (2013) Neogene

Cambrian Evolutionary Fauna

Trilobite Graptolite

Monoplacophora Inarticulata Polychaete Neogene

Paleozoic Evolutionary Fauna

Articulata Crinoid

Tabulate Coral Bryozoan Ammonite Ruose Coral Neogene

Modern Evolutionary Fauna

Bivalve Gastropod Echinoid Bony Fish Neogene Reefs

Pliocene Reef

Widespread reef formation around throughout the Tethys, the proto-Gulf of Mexico, across southeast and around Pacific islands. Quite a hemispherically asymmetrical latitudinal distribution with reefs extending to above 60° latitude, bit more reefs in northern hemisphere reflecting a latitudinally asymmetrical distribution of shallow marine habitats and sea-surface temperatures.

Map from Scotese PaleoMap Project (2000) Neogene

Fish

Ophiodon

Emola

Acanthurus

Hippocampus

Oncorhynchus Fish Neogene

Elasmobranchs

Carcharhinus Megalolamna

Carcharoides

Hemipristis Manta Cretaceous Elasmobranchs Neogene

Terrestrial Environment

Miocene Grassland Biome Neogene

Terrestrial Environment Global climates become more seasonal with a larger latitudinal thermal gradient with a continuation of the cooling and drying trend that began in the Eocene. Ice caps at both poles grow and thicken along with the Greenland ice cap and mountain glaciers worldwide. Alternating massive glacial-interglacial phases begin at the end of the interval.

Plants Arthropods (incl. insects) Amphibians

Plioene Terrestrial Scene Neogene

Trees

Quercus Northofagus Pinus (Oak) (Beech) (Pine)

Magnolia Metasequoia Ginko (Magnolia) (Metasequoia) (Ginko) Neogene

Terrestrial Arthropods

Tumidocarcinus Tityus Maevia (Crab) (Scorpion) (Spider)

Archaeogeryon Luthobiidid Chilopod (Crab) (Centipede) Cretaceous Terrestrial Arthropods Neogene Terrestrial Insects

Acanthognathus Luzomyia (Ant) (Sand Fly) (Ant)

Undescribed Platypodid Coleopteran Hydrophiloid Coleopteran (True Bug) (Beetle) (Beetle) Cretaceous Terrestrial Insects Neogene

Terrestrial Quadrupeds (Amphibians)

Rana (Frog)

Chelotriton (Salamander)

Bufonid Anuran (Toad) Neogene

Terrestrial Quadrupeds (Amphibians)

Chart from Roelants et al. (2005) Neogene

Terrestrial Quadrupeds (Reptiles)

Armandisaurus (Lizard)

Crocodylus (Crocodile)

Meiolania Colubrid Serpentes Rhamphosuchus () (Snake) (Crocodile) Neogene

Terrestrial Quadrupeds (Reptiles) Neogene

Terrestrial Quadrupeds (Birds)

Ostedornis (Seagull Relative) Pelagornis Titanis (Pelican/Stock Relative) (Terror )

Struthio (Ostrich Relative)

Bathornis ( Relative) Neogene

Terrestrial Quadrupeds (Birds) Neogene

Terrestrial Quadrupeds (Mammals) Rhynchotherium

Pliohippus

Aepycamellus

Samotherium

Chalicotherium Neogene

Marine Quadrupeds (Mammals)

Balaenoptera

Livyatan

Pontolis

Brygmophyster Neogene

Terrestrial Quadrupeds (Mammals)

Diagram from Novacek (2001) Neogene

Biodiversity

800

600

400

Modern Fauna

200 Paleozoic Fauna NumberFamiliesof

Cambrian Fauna 0 Cambrian Sil. Carbon. Tri. Cretaceous 500 400 300 200 100 0 Geological Time Data from Sepkoski (1981) Neogene

Extinctions End-Ordovician End-Devonian End-Permian End- End-Cretaceous 80 Palaeozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic Neogene 60

40 PercentExtinction 20

0 Cambrian Ord. Sil. Dev. Carb. Perm. Trias. Jurassic Cretaceous Paleoc. Neo. Paleozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic

Data from Sepkoski (1998) Neogene

Extinctions System/ Numerical Period Series/Epoch Stage/Age Age (Ma) 2.580 Great American Biotic Inter- Piacenzian Change (GABI) Pliocene 3.600 Zanclean 5.333 Messinian 7.246 Tortonian 11.63 Serravillian 13.82 Miocene Local & benthic in- Neogene Langhian vertebrate extinctions 15.97 Mostly local terrestrial Burdigalian extinctions in Europe 20.44 (lizards, alligators, ) Aquitainian 23.03

0 10 20 % Extinction (Genera) Neogene

Miocene Extinctions

Victims Marine Plankton Marine Benthos Foraminifera Marine Nekton Elasmobranchs Terrestrial Ungulates Perissodactyls

Overall, quite low proportions of extinction. Neogene

Pliocene Extinctions

Victims Marine Benthos Bivalves (regional extinctions) Gastropods (regional extinctions

Overall, quite low proportions of extinction. Neogene

Messinian Salinity Crisis Neogene

Great American Biotic Interchange Neogene

Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) 40 mya () - 2.7 mya (Piacenzian)

Caused by continent-continent tectonic collision. Resulted in extinctions in both North and South America owing to competitive exclusion. Resulted in physical and biological divergence of Atlantic and Pacific Ocean basins. Neogene

Sea-Level Changes System/ Numerical Period Series/Epoch Stage/Age Age (Ma) 2.580 Piacenzian Pliocene 3.600 Zanclean 5.333 Messinian 7.246 Tortonian 11.63 Serravillian Miocene 13.82 Neogene Langhian 15.97 Burdigalian 20.44 Aquitainian 23.03

0 10 20 % Extinction (Genera) Neogene

Ocean Anoxia Events System/ Numerical Period Series/Epoch Stage/Age Age (Ma) 2.580 Piacenzian Pliocene 3.600 Zanclean 5.333 Messinian 7.246 Tortonian 11.63 Serravillian Miocene 13.82 Neogene Langhian 15.97 Burdigalian 20.44 Aquitainian 23.03

0 10 20 % Extinction (Genera) Neogene

LIP Eruption Events System/ Numerical Period Series/Epoch Stage/Age Age (Ma) 2.580 Piacenzian Pliocene 3.600 Zanclean 5.333 Messinian 7.246 Tortonian 11.63 Serravillian Miocene 13.82 Neogene Langhian 15.97 Columbia River (2.1 Kkm2) Burdigalian 20.44 Aquitainian 23.03

0 10 20 % Extinction (Genera) Neogene

LIP Eruption Events

Columbia River Igneous Province Age: 17 - 14 mya (most intense interval) Extent: 2.1 Kkm2 Duration: 3 m.y. Location: Northwestern US

Though volcanism has characterized this region for the past 20 m.y., most geologists accept that this LIP was emplaced when the North American Plate moved over what is now called the Yellowstone Hotspot ( = mantle plume). However, this model does not explain the prominent bow or deflection in the plume’s track or the apparent necking that occurred when it migrated to the south. Landsat Photo from NASA, map from Stöffler et al. (2013) Neogene

Bolide Impact Events System/ Numerical Period Series/Epoch Stage/Age Age (Ma) Talemzane (1.8 km), 2.580 Aouellout (0.4 km) Piacenzian Pliocene 3.600 Roten Kamm (2.5 km), El’gygytgyn (18 km) Zanclean Kara-Kul (52 Kkm2), Colonia 5.333 (4 km), Bigach (8 km) Messinian 7.246 Tortonian 11.63 Serravillian Miocene 13.82 Neogene Langhian Ries (24 km), Steinham (3.8 15.97 km) Burdigalian 20.44 Aquitainian 23.03

0 10 20 % Extinction (Genera) Neogene

Bolide Impacts

Ries Impact Crater Age: 14.81 ± 0.0038 mya Diameter: 24 km Location: Bavaria Germany

Ries was one of the first impact craters to be recognized as such by the criteria developed by Eugene Shoemaker and Edward Chao (e.g., coesite, shocked minerals. It’s also one of the few rampant craters (= characterized by a fluid post- impact ejecta flow) known on Earth. The impactor is thought to have had a diameter of c. 1.5 km. Landsat Photo from NASA, map from Stöffler et al. (2013) Neogene

Bolide Impacts

Kara-Kul Impact Crater Age: 5 mya Diameter: 52 km Location: Tadjikistan

This crater is unusual in that its roughly circular aspect was first identified through the study of Landsat images taken from space. Some suspect that this impact may have played a role in Pliocene cooling of the planet and so might have been a factor that contributed to the initiation of the ice ages. Landsat Photo from NASA, map from Stöffler et al. (2013) Neogene

Extinctions: Synthesis (No Large Extinction Events)

Eustatic Sea-Level Regression

Reduced Increased CO2 Shelf Area Albedo Release

Increased Marine Increased Global Global Competition Climate Extremes Cooling Temp. Rise

Altered Terres- Altered Marine trial Habitats Habitats

Extinctions

Continental LIP Eruptions Bolide Impact

CO2 SO2 Shock Wave Thermal Flash Ballistic Ejecta Stratospheric Dust Release Release

Proximate Global Increased Global Acid Rain Extinctions Darkness Albedo Temp. Rise

Global Cooling

Altered Terres- Productivity Altered Marine trial Habitats Collapse Habitats

Extinctions Neogene Worlds, Life & Extinctions Norman MacLeod School of Earth Sciences & Engineering, Nanjing University