Western versus eastern Mediterranean paleoceanographic response to astronomical forcing: a high-resolution microplankton study of precession-controlled sedimentary cycles during the Messinian

Planktic foraminifera and stable isotopes were analyzed in samples from four precession-controlled sedimentary cycles from southeastern Spain and the island of Gavdos (Greece) to reconstruct the paleobiologic and paleoceanographic response of the western and eastern Mediterranean to astronomically driven climate variability during the Messinian. Although the lithological succession in the western Mediterranean cycles (sapropel–homogeneous marl–diatomite–homogeneous marl) is different from that in the eastern Mediterranean (sapropel–diatomite–homogeneous marl), the pelagic biological succession is similar. Four stages were recognized in both environments, characterized by the dominance of warm-oligotrophic foraminifera (stage 1), Neogloboquadrinids and Globorotaliids (stage 2), Globigerina bulloides (stage 3) and Globigerinita glutinata (stage 4). The first stage occurs during deposition of the upper part of the sapropels in Spain, and the sapropels and part of the diatomites on Gavdos. This stage is inferred to relate to high summer insolation and strong surface water stratification with winter temperatures not high enough to allow eutrophic foraminifera growth. Stage 2 occurs during the deposition of the lower homogeneous marls in Spain and the middle–upper part of the diatomites in Greece, most likely indicating stratification, with colder winter temperatures and a nutricline above the euphotic layer. The end of surface water stratification is indicated during stage 3 by the replacement of the Neogloboquadrinids by G. bulloides, which occurs at the base of the diatomites in Spain and near the top of the diatomites in Greece. We link this event to the appearance of dryer climates in the Mediterranean at times of relatively low summer insolation in the Northern Hemisphere which would result in higher surface salinities, deep water convection, and deep water ventilation. Stage 4, defined by the dominance of G. glutinata and low concentrations of planktic foraminifera, appears linked to the base of the sapropels both in the western and eastern Mediterranean. The onset of sapropel deposition occurred at a time of relatively high surface water salinities, as suggested by the heavy δ18O in Orbulina universa, and prior to the development of surface water stratification evident in the subsequent increase in warm-oligotrophic foraminifera. Gavdos diatomites were deposited under anoxic conditions, whereas Sorbas diatomites were formed in an oxygenated environment. The difference between western and eastern Mediterranean diatomites would be due to differences in hydrographic conditions between the two studied settings.