Collaborative Research: Coring Seymour Island (CSI) Antarctica: Evaluating Causes and Effects of the End Cretaceous Mass Extinction

合作研究：南极洲西摩岛取芯（CSI）：评估白垩纪末期大规模灭绝的原因和影响

• 批准号: 2026648
• 负责人: Thomas Tobin
• 金额: $ 52.77万
• 依托单位: University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-09-01 至 2026-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2026648&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Coring; Seymour; Island

Non-technical description:This 4-year project is evaluating evidence of extinction patterns and depositional conditions from a high southern latitude Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) outcrop section found on Seymore Island, in the Western Antarctic Peninsula. The team is using sediment samples collected below the weathering horizon to evaluate detailed sedimentary structures, geochemistry, and microfossils in targeted stratigraphic intervals. The study will help determine if the K-Pg mass extinction was a single or double phased event and whether Seymour Island region in the geological past was a restricted, suboxic marine environment or an open well-mixed shelf. The award includes an integrated plan for student training at all levels, enhanced by a highlighted partnership with a high school earth sciences teacher working in a school serving underrepresented students. Technical description: The proposed research is applying multiple techniques to address an overarching research question for which recent studies are in disagreement: Is the fossil evidence from a unique outcropping on Seymour Island, Antarctica consistent with a single or double phased extinction? In a two-phased model, the first extinction would affect primarily benthic organisms and would have occurred ~150 kiloyears prior to a separate extinction at the K-Pg boundary. However, this early extinction could plausibly be explained by an unrecognized facies control that is obscured by surficial weathering. This team is using microfossil evidence with detailed sedimentary petrology and geochemistry data to evaluate if the fossil evidence from Seymour Island is consistent with a single or double phased extinction process. The team is using detailed sedimentary petrology and geochemistry methods to test for facies changes across the K-PG interval that would explain the apparent early extinction. Samples of core sedimentary foraminifera, siliceous microfossils, and calcareous nannofossils are being evaluated to provide a high-resolution stratigraphic resolution and to evaluate whether evidence for an early extinction is present. Additionally, the team is using multiple geochemical methods to evaluate whether there is evidence for intermittent anoxia or euxinia and/or physical restriction of the Seymore region basin. Data from this analysis will indicate if this region was a restricted, suboxic marine environment or an open well-mixed shelf.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

非技术描述：这个4年的项目正在评估来自南部南极半岛西摩岛的高南纬度白垩纪 - 白垩纪露头（K-PG）露头部分的灭绝模式和沉积条件的证据。该团队正在使用在风化范围下方收集的沉积物样品来评估目标地层间隔的详细沉积结构，地球化学和微化石。这项研究将有助于确定K-PG质量灭绝是单一或双阶段的事件，以及地质过去的西摩岛地区是受限制的，亚氧化的海洋环境还是开放良好的架子。该奖项包括针对各个级别的学生培训的综合计划，与高中地球科学老师在学校工作，为人数不足的学生提供的高中地球科学老师的强调合作增强。技术描述：拟议的研究正在应用多种技术来解决最新研究的总体研究问题：南极洲西摩岛的独特露头的化石证据是否与单个或双分阶段的灭绝一致？在两步的模型中，第一个灭绝将主要影响底栖生物，并且在K-PG边界的单独灭绝之前，将发生〜150千明。但是，这种早期的灭绝可能会通过未识别的相控制的表面风化来解释。该团队正在使用具有详细沉积岩石学和地球化学数据的微化石证据来评估西摩岛的化石证据是否与单个或双分基的灭绝过程一致。该团队正在使用详细的沉积质学和地球化学方法来测试K-PG间隔中的相变量，这将解释明显的早期灭绝。正在评估核心沉积有孔虫，硅质微化石和钙质内化石的样品，以提供高分辨率的地层分辨率，并评估是否存在早期消灭的证据。此外，该团队正在使用多种地球化学方法来评估是否有间歇性缺氧或Euxinia和/或对西摩地区盆地的物理限制的证据。该分析的数据将表明该地区是否是受限制的海洋环境或开放良好的货架。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并使用基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响审查标准，认为值得通过评估来获得支持。