Our study investigates how tropical marine ecosystems responded to climate change during the Eocene–Oligocene transition (~34 Ma). Based on microfossil and geochemical data from a Caribbean drill core, we identify enhanced terrigenous input, increased surface productivity, changes in carbonate preservation, and reduced deep-water oxygenation. Likely driven by global cooling and sea-level fall, these shifts offer new insights into low-latitude paleoenvironmental change.

The tectonic setting of the Deşli Caira section that was overlooked by Martyn Golding in his paper on the Olenekian/Anisian conodonts from the Deşli Caira section (Romania) is clarified. The sedimentary succession is faulted, but the offset is very minor and easy to detect. Unfortunately the author did not take the fault into account; therefore, the stratigraphic position of his samples is uncertain. 

The story of Cyprideis pannonica offers a fascinating insight into how environmental change shapes biodiversity. Over 2 million years, this tiny ostracod adapted to habitats that transformed from a sea into a lake. Originally varied in shape and size, Cyprideis diversified into many species during periods of ecological complexity. These findings demonstrate that even small organisms can reveal big evolutionary patterns – linking habitat changes, speciation, and adaptation within a dynamic landscape.

A study on Ordovician chitinozoans from South China was conducted. A total of 13 genera and 31 taxa are recognised, including 3 new taxa. Systematic and biostratigraphic remarks are provided for key or disputed taxa to foster our understanding of their classification and biostratigraphy. Furthermore, network analysis is applied for the first time to assess their palaeoenvironmental significance, yielding positive results that highlight a promising new research direction in chitinozoan studies.

We studied how artificial intelligence can speed up the study of tiny ocean organisms called benthic foraminifera, whose shells help scientists understand past ocean changes. Normally, identifying and counting them under a microscope takes a lot of time and skill. Here, we compared automated image analysis and human counting for 31 samples. The automated method showed promising results for faster and reliable research.

Benthic foraminifera from sediment cores collected in the Gulf of Cadiz were analysed to track ocean changes between 1014 and 761 kyr ago. Our results reveal shifts in species composition throughout the climate cycles. Oxygen loss occurred in the Mediterranean Outflow Water during warmer periods when solar insolation was intensified and productivity was higher. During cold periods, stronger bottom currents were identified by sand content and the abundance of the species Planulina ariminensis.