Dinoflagellate cysts of the upper Campanian–basal Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) of the Middle Vistula River section (central Poland): stratigraphic succession, correlation potential and taxonomy

Abstract

A dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy for the upper Campanian-basal Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) of the Middle Vistula River section, central Poland, is developed. Two zones, subdivided further into subzones, are proposed. The zonal boundary interval corresponds to a pronounced latest Campanian turnover within the dinoflagellate cyst assemblages. The chronostratigraphic distribution of particular dinoflagellate cyst events, or groups of events, used to define particular zones/subzones in the Middle Vistula River section is shown to correspond well to those in other regions of Europe - including the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary stratotype section - and beyond. Apart from dinoflagellate cyst events previously recognized as significant for the definition of the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary (i. e., the last occurrences of Raetiaedinium evittigratia, R. truncigerum, Samlandia carnarvonensis, and S. mayi), the importance of some other events, such as the last occurrences of Apteodinium deflandrei, Areoligera jeantii, and Xenascus spp., and the first occurrences of Cladopyxidium saeptum, C. velatum, C. verrrucosum, Glaphyrocysta expansa, Florentinia mayi, Pervosphaeridium tubuloaculeatum, and Riculacysta? pala, is ascertained. This study expands the knowledge of dinoflagellate cyst distribution in the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary interval, and contributes to a better understanding of the correlations between the Boreal and Tethyan Realms during this timeframe. The presented results confirm the high potential of dinoflagellate cysts for biostratigraphic correlations on a regional and global scale - at least in the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary interval. The systematic palaeontology of selected taxa, critical for biostratigraphy in the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary interval, is provided. Two species (Callaiosphaeridium bicoronatum sp. nov., and Samlandia paucitabulata sp. nov.) are newly described.