Articles | Volume 45, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-45-219-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-45-219-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
02 Apr 2026
Research article |
| 02 Apr 2026
| 02 Apr 2026
Marine palynology of the Alano di Piave Bartonian–Priabonian Global Stratotype Section and Point, NE Italy
Alexander J. P. Houben
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Geological Survey of the Netherlands TNO, Princetonlaan 6, 3584 CB, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Alina I. Iakovleva
Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pyzhevsky pereulok 7, Moscow, 119017, Russian Federation
Simone Galeotti
Dipartimento di Scienze Pure e Applicate, Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo, Campus Scientifico “E. Mattei”, 61029 Urbino, Italy
Henk Brinkhuis
Department of Ocean Systems research (OCS), NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 1790 AB Den Burg, the Netherlands
Department of Earth Sciences, Marine Palynology and Paleoceanography, Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, the Netherlands
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J. Micropalaeontol., 44, 431–467, https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-44-431-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-44-431-2025, 2025
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We studied a short-lived episode of major warming ~56 million years ago, often seen as a past analogue for modern climate change. We developed a scheme to correlate biological signals from this warming period across six sediment cores from the US East Coast. Based on the occurrences and distribution of organic remains of planktonic microfossils, we can correlate events in time, allowing detailed reconstructions of how climate and environments changed regionally during this extreme warming.
Mustafa Yücel Kaya, Henk Brinkhuis, Chiara Fioroni, Serdar Görkem Atasoy, Alexis Licht, Dirk Nürnberg, and Taylan Vural
Clim. Past, 21, 1405–1429, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-1405-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-1405-2025, 2025
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The Eocene–Oligocene Transition (EOT) marked global cooling and Antarctic glaciation, but its impact on marginal seas is less known. This study analyzes the Karaburun section in the eastern Paratethys, using biostratigraphy and geochemistry to reveal boreal water ingress due to Arctic–Atlantic gateway closure. Findings highlight the interplay of global and regional climate dynamics in shaping marginal marine environments.
Frida S. Hoem, Karlijn van den Broek, Adrián López-Quirós, Suzanna H. A. van de Lagemaat, Steve M. Bohaty, Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand, Robert D. Larter, Tim E. van Peer, Henk Brinkhuis, Francesca Sangiorgi, and Peter K. Bijl
J. Micropalaeontol., 43, 497–517, https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-43-497-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-43-497-2024, 2024
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The timing and impact of onset of Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) on climate and Antarctic ice are unclear. We reconstruct late Eocene to Miocene southern Atlantic surface ocean environment using microfossil remains of dinoflagellates (dinocysts). Our dinocyst records shows the breakdown of subpolar gyres in the late Oligocene and the transition into a modern-like oceanographic regime with ACC flow, established frontal systems, Antarctic proximal cooling, and sea ice by the late Miocene.
Appy Sluijs and Henk Brinkhuis
J. Micropalaeontol., 43, 441–474, https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-43-441-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-43-441-2024, 2024
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We present intrinsic details of dinocyst taxa and assemblages from the sole available central Arctic late Paleocene–early Eocene sedimentary succession recovered at the central Lomonosov Ridge by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 302. We develop a pragmatic taxonomic framework, document critical biostratigraphic events, and propose two new genera and seven new species.
Peter K. Bijl and Henk Brinkhuis
J. Micropalaeontol., 42, 309–314, https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-42-309-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-42-309-2023, 2023
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We developed an online, open-access database for taxonomic descriptions, stratigraphic information and images of organic-walled dinoflagellate cyst species. With this new resource for applied and academic research, teaching and training, we open up organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts for the academic era of open science. We expect that palsys.org represents a starting point to improve taxonomic concepts, and we invite the community to contribute.
Frida S. Hoem, Adrián López-Quirós, Suzanna van de Lagemaat, Johan Etourneau, Marie-Alexandrine Sicre, Carlota Escutia, Henk Brinkhuis, Francien Peterse, Francesca Sangiorgi, and Peter K. Bijl
Clim. Past, 19, 1931–1949, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-19-1931-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-19-1931-2023, 2023
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We present two new sea surface temperature (SST) records in comparison with available SST records to reconstruct South Atlantic paleoceanographic evolution. Our results show a low SST gradient in the Eocene–early Oligocene due to the persistent gyral circulation. A higher SST gradient in the Middle–Late Miocene infers a stronger circumpolar current. The southern South Atlantic was the coldest region in the Southern Ocean and likely the main deep-water formation location in the Middle Miocene.
William Rush, Jean Self-Trail, Yang Zhang, Appy Sluijs, Henk Brinkhuis, James Zachos, James G. Ogg, and Marci Robinson
Clim. Past, 19, 1677–1698, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-19-1677-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-19-1677-2023, 2023
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The Eocene contains several brief warming periods referred to as hyperthermals. Studying these events and how they varied between locations can help provide insight into our future warmer world. This study provides a characterization of two of these events in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA. The records of climate that we measured demonstrate significant changes during this time period, but the type and timing of these changes highlight the complexity of climatic changes.
Frida S. Hoem, Isabel Sauermilch, Suning Hou, Henk Brinkhuis, Francesca Sangiorgi, and Peter K. Bijl
J. Micropalaeontol., 40, 175–193, https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-40-175-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-40-175-2021, 2021
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We use marine microfossil (dinocyst) assemblage data as well as seismic and tectonic investigations to reconstruct the oceanographic history south of Australia 37–20 Ma as the Tasmanian Gateway widens and deepens. Our results show stable conditions with typically warmer dinocysts south of Australia, which contrasts with the colder dinocysts closer to Antarctica, indicating the establishment of modern oceanographic conditions with a strong Southern Ocean temperature gradient and frontal systems.
Frida S. Hoem, Luis Valero, Dimitris Evangelinos, Carlota Escutia, Bella Duncan, Robert M. McKay, Henk Brinkhuis, Francesca Sangiorgi, and Peter K. Bijl
Clim. Past, 17, 1423–1442, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-1423-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-1423-2021, 2021
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We present new offshore palaeoceanographic reconstructions for the Oligocene (33.7–24.4 Ma) in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Our study of dinoflagellate cysts and lipid biomarkers indicates warm-temperate sea surface conditions. We posit that warm surface-ocean conditions near the continental shelf during the Oligocene promoted increased precipitation and heat delivery towards Antarctica that led to dynamic terrestrial ice sheet volumes in the warmer climate state of the Oligocene.
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Short summary
Tiny fossils aged 40 x 106 years from an Italian rock section show that the ancient sea's environment was mostly stable. A global warming event caused wetter periods and river runoff into this sea. The study also provides fossil photos and introduces new types, important for future research.
Tiny fossils aged 40 x 106 years from an Italian rock section show that the ancient sea's...
