DANIAN (SBZ2) LARGER FORAMINIFERA FROM THE BECIRMAN FORMATION (SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY) AS EVIDENCE OF ROTALIIDS DIVERSITY IN LOWER PALEOCENE SHALLOW-WATER ENVIRONMENTS
Abstract
An important shallow marine deposit is described and illustrated with focus on the systematics and
biostratigraphy of larger foraminifera from three stratigraphic sections of the Becirman Formation from the Batman
and Siirt regions (Southeastern Turkey). A quite diverse association, mostly dominated by rotaliids (11 species belonging
to 7 genera) and subordinate porcelaneous and agglutinated taxa, is documented as well. The fossil assemblage,
including Elazigina dienii, Rotospirella conica, Praelockhartia cf. neoakbari, Cuvillierina cf. sireli associated with Mardinella
daviesi and Idalina sinjarica, indicates the late Danian SBZ2.
The abundance of rotaliids is linked, in this time frame, to the recovery of the shallow benthic communities
after the K/Pg extinction including increase of surface water temperatures and oligotrophy. This was possibly due
to the climatic warming recorded at the end of the Danian (Latest Danian Event), thus promoting a rapid adaptative
radiation of rotaliids at genus rank.