Eduardo Koutsoukos

• Ph.D., Priv.-Doz.
• Privat-Dozent at Heidelberg University

A piston core drilled at a water depth of 2809 m off Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, recovered a 1.83-m thick section of unconsolidated muddy sediments, representing a complete stratigraphic succession across the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary. The sediments yielded abundant, strikingly pristine tests of planktic and benthic foraminifera...

Foraminiferal studies have been used in palaeo-environmental reconstructions of the marine Cretaceous succession (upper Aptian to Maastrichtian) of the Sergipe Basin, in northeastern Brazil. The foraminiferal assemblages show broadly three types of response to changes in environment: (1) variations in morphotypes of the taxa present; (2) changes in...

Current research provides insights into the rules of self-organization, complexity, and evolutionary dynamics of natural systems. New theoretical studies that combine evidence drawn from ecology (ecosystem interactions and selective forces) and the geological record (mass extinctions, biotic/ecosystem recovery and phylogenetic/evolutionary patterns...

High-resolution lithostratigraphic and foraminiferal studies of a section spanning the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary at Poty, Pernambuco, in north-eastern Brazil, indicate a possible extraterrestrial bolide impact in the earliest Danian, approximately at the boundary between the Pα and P1a foraminiferal zones (~ 100,000-200,000 years after the...

The break-up of Gondwana in the latest Jurassic and earliest Cretaceous and the subsequent opening and evolution of the South Atlantic Ocean as a new widening seaway linking northern and southern high latitudes, was the single most significant palaeoceanographic event during the Cretaceous with global consequences for the climate and the biotic evo...

Predator–prey dynamics involving ostracod prey across the Cretaceous–Palaeogene (K–Pg) extinction event have not been evaluated rigorously. We studied 3146 Maastrichtian and Danian ostracod specimens from a section in eastern Brazil across the K–Pg boundary. The Maastrichtian assemblage level predation intensity (2.7%) is lower than in the Danian (...

The species Turborotalita nikolasi first appeared immediately after the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary and is considered the progenitor of all Cenozoic normal perforate species. We present δ18O and δ13C isotope signals of T. nikolasi specimens and compare them with those of mixed-layer (Guembelina cretacea), thermocline (Subbotina trivialis a...

The distribution of living (rose Bengal stained) Reophax pyriformis Yamashita, Sousa and Kaminski, n. sp., an agglutinated benthic foraminiferal species, was analyzed in the area of the Campos Basin (southeast-ern Brazilian continental margin). The study is based on 34 oceanographic stations (54 samples), located between 400 m and 3000 m water dept...

The distribution of living (rose Bengal stained) Reophax pyriformis Yamashita, Sousa and Kaminski, n. sp., an agglutinated benthic foraminiferal species, was analyzed in the area of the Campos Basin (southeastern Brazilian continental margin). The study is based on 34 oceanographic stations (54 samples), located between 400 m and 3,000 m water dept...

Foraminifera are eukaryotic unicellular microorganisms inhabiting all marine environments. The study of these protists has huge potential implications and benefits. They are good indicators of global change and are also promising indicators of the environmental health of marine ecosystems. Nevertheless, much remains to be learned about foraminifera...

Foraminifera are eukaryotic unicellular microorganisms inhabiting all marine environments. The study of these protists has huge potential implications and benefits. They are good indicators of global change and are also promising indicators of the environmental health of marine ecosystems. Nevertheless, much remains to be learned about foraminifera...

Foraminifera are eukaryotic unicellular microorganisms inhabiting all marine environments. The study of these protists has huge potential implications and benefits. They are good indicators of global change and are also promising indicators of the environmental health of marine ecosystems. Nevertheless, much remains to be learned about foraminifera...

Living (stained) benthic foraminifera from deep-sea stations in the Campos Basin, southeastern Brazilian continental margin, were investigated to understand their distribution patterns and ecology, as well as the oceanographic processes that control foraminiferal distribution. Sediments were collected from 1050 m to 1950 m of water depth during the...

In the present study, the planktonic foraminiferal distribution in a core section representing an interval between the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary and the end of the Paleocene (Danian/Selandian) from DSDP Site 356 (São Paulo Plateau, South Atlantic) was analyzed. The results point towards a gradual recovery of the marine pelagic ecosystem...

The present paleoenvironmental study uses a spectrum of analytical methods, such as benthic foraminiferal assemblages, total organic carbon (TOC), calcium carbonate (CaCO3) contents and magnetic susceptibility (MS), to monitor variations in primary productivity, bottom-water oxygenation and depositional patterns within the Albian interval recovered...

Visando caracterizar a plataforma continental da Bacia Sedimentar de Campos com base em foraminíferos bentônicos no período seco (ressurgências menos frequentes) de 2008 e chuvoso (ressurgências mais frequentes) de 2009, foram estudadas amostras distribuídas em transectos perpendiculares à costa, provenientes de cinco isóbatas (25, 50, 75, 100 e 15...

Visando caracterizar a plataforma continental da Bacia Sedimentar de Campos com base em foraminíferos bentônicos no período seco (ressurgências menos frequentes) de 2008 e chuvoso (ressurgências mais frequentes) de 2009, foram estudadas amostras distribuídas em transectos perpendiculares à costa, provenientes de cinco isóbatas (25, 50, 75, 100 e 15...

This work presented at the Brazilian congress of geology, presents results referring to the biostratigraphic amplitude of the species Preamurica nikolasi.

Foraminifera (single-celled protists) have a long geological record. They are both numerous and taxonomically diverse in assemblages throughout the Mesozoic and Cenozoic and have been used extensively in the oil industry since Józef Gryzbowski studied the stratigraphy of the Potok Oilfield (southern Poland) in the late 19th century. Both planktic a...

Data on the microbiofaciological zonation of benthic foraminifera were obtained from 82 sub-samples from the subsurface sediments of the continental shelf of Campos Basin, in southeastern Brazil. The abundance and distribution of the 93 species identified during the study were related to depth and temperature of the water, as well as to sediment gr...

We are pleased to report that we have put together a selection of highly downloaded and top-cited papers published in recent issues of Cretaceous Research in a single “virtual issue”, which will be freely available to all until 24 April 2015. You can see the virtual issue in the journal's website at www.journals.elsevier.com/cretaceous-research or...

This work presents a taxonomic, biostratigraphic and paleoecological study of planktic foraminifera recovered from the Aptian–Albian carbonate-dominated succession of Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Site 364, located in the Kwanza Basin (offshore Angola). Twenty-nine planktic foraminiferal species were identified, enabling the identification of la...

The Cretaceous-Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary has been recorded in eastern Brazil in both onshore and offshore sites. In southern Brazil, a 15.7 m-thick core of an oil-well drilled at a water-depth of 145 m in the continental platform of Campos Basin recovered a continuous boundary succession.

The present investigation of the Cenozoic carbonate succession of the Campos Basin, offshore southeastern Brazil, has resulted in a high resolution biostratigraphic profile of the region based on cores and cutting samples. In general, the studied carbonate successions evolved during three depositional stages: 1) In the Oligocene a warm period preva...

Taphonomy focuses on the post-mortem processes of transport and preservation of biotic remains in the sedimentaryrecord, and as such it has important applications for paleoenvironmental reconstructions. The aim of this work is to verifythe degree of dissolution, abrasion, bioerosion and fragmentation in foraminiferal tests recovered from bottom sed...

REPLY to Stinnesbeck W. and Keller G. (1995). The Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in southern low-latitude regions: preliminary study in Permambuco, northeastern Brazil. Comments, Terra Nova, 7.

A Bacia de Dahomey localiza-se na região do Golfo de Guiné, estendendo-se ao sudoeste da margem africana por Gana, República de Togo e Benin e ao leste pela porção sul da Nigéria. Este trabalho apresenta resultados de um estudo bioestratigráfico detalhado de nanofósseis calcáriosda seção de Shagamu, Nigéria. O intervaloinvestigado corresponde ao Pa...

Taphonomy focuses on the post-mortem processes of transport and preservation of biotic remains in the sedimentary record, and as such it has important applications for paleoenvironmental reconstructions. The aim of this work is to verify the degree of dissolution, abrasion, bioerosion and fragmentation in foraminiferal tests recovered from bottom s...

The benthic foraminiferal assemblages recovered from 41 surface sediment samples of the Campos Basin, southeastern Brazilian continental margin, were analyzed in order to understand their distribution patterns and ecological preferences. Living and dead specimens of benthic foraminifera were selected for identification and quantitative analysis fro...

The Poty Quarry, near Recife, Pernambuco, in northeastern Brazil, is presently the best exposed marine Cretaceous-Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary section known in southern low-latitude regions, spanning the uppermost Maastrichtian, Plummerita hantkeninoides Zone, to Danian, Pα, P1a/P1b and P2 zones. It provides evidence for a possible extraterrestrial bo...

The present study was carried out on the continental shelf and slope off the northern coast of Rio Grande do Norte State (northeastern Brazil). The aims of this study were to characterize the area based on the benthic foraminiferal assemblages, and to evaluate their potential use as local bioindicators of environmental quality. Active exploration a...

This study presents the integrated biostratigraphic (calcareous nannofossils and foraminifera), petrographic, geochemical and ichnological analyzes of the Gramame Formation (Maastrichtian) at the CIPASA Quarry section, in the Pernambuco-Paraíba Basin, northeastern Brazil. A high resolution calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphic study has been carr...

Para a realização do estudo foram utilizados dois testemunhos coletados na Baía de Sepetiba, denominados BS-02 e BS-03. Na baía observa-se um fluxo de correntes oceânicas de águas frias e densas, tidas como pertencentes ao sistema Malvinas. Registra-se ainda outros dois, um de águas temperadas e temperadas frias da Subprovíncia Patagônica e outro d...

A taxonomic study was carried out on ostracodes from outcrop and core samples across the Cretaceous–Tertiary boundary in the Poty quarry, Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. Thirty species belonging to 13 genera are described; one genus, Langiella, and eight species— Schizoptocythere potyensis, Paracosta recifeiensis, Protocosta reticulata, Protobunto...

Few, if any, fundamental disciplines in the earth sciences have seen so many dramatic changes and developments as stratigraphy. The discipline has come to be applied progressively, and indispensably, to nearly all branches of the earth sciences, including such endeavors as charting the course and complexities of life evolution through time, underst...

This paper presents an inventory of dinoflagellate cysts found in the K-T boundary strata from the Poty Quarry (Pernambuco-Paraíba Basin, northeast Brazil). The analysed section is characterized by alternating marlstones and shales, and is presently considered to be the best onshore marine sequence comprising the K-T boundary in South America. Two...

The Turonian sedimentary succession of the Cotinguiba Formation in the Sergipe Basin, northeastern Brazil, has a well-defined cyclicity, which is evident in two different facies: thinly laminated (mm-thick ) varve-like beds and limestone/marlstone couplets (1–50cm thick). Both facies show periodic or quasi-periodic patterns associated with orbital-...

SAMC News 17 (ISSN 1413-6813), official newsletter of IGCP Project Nº 381: South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC).

SAMC News 16 (ISSN 1413-6813), official newsletter of IGCP Project Nº 381: South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC).

Results based on taxonomic and biostratigraphic studies of marine Cretaceous ostracods collected from the Potiguar and Sergipe basins on the northeastern continental margin of Brazil are presented. The assemblages comprise more than 100 taxa, ranging in age from late Aptian to Campanian. Many taxa show restricted vertical ranges which make them str...

Many specimens belonging to the benthic foraminiferal families Bolivinidae, Buliminellidae, Gavelinellidae, Siphogenerinoididae and Turrilinidae are commonly recovered from Upper Cretaceous (Coniacian–Maastrichtian) rocks deposited in shelf and upper bathyal settings of low-latitude Atlantic regions. Biogeographic distribution patterns indicate the...

An integrated, multidisciplinary study of the tectonic framework, sedimentation, and petroleum systems in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin was carried out. The methodology was based on regional integration of geologic and geophysical data, particularly seismic reflection and potential field data (gravity and magnetics), results of exploratory drilling, pa...

SAMC News 15 (ISSN 1413-6813), official newsletter of IGCP Project Nº 381: South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC).

Changes in coastline in paralic environments are widespread, and the ecosystems are susceptible to such variations. Their study helps understand the past environmental setting and is a valuable tool for assessing and predicting future changes due to natural or anthropogenic causes. Mangroves are conspicuous ecosystems developing in tropical and sub...

SAMC News 14 (ISSN 1413-6813), official newsletter of IGCP Project Nº 381: South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC).

SAMC News 13 (ISSN 1413-6813), official newsletter of IGCP Project Nº 381: South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC).

SAMC News 12 (ISSN 1413-6813), official newsletter of IGCP Project Nº 381: South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC).

In order to assess the effects of palaeoenvironmental fluctuations on the distributions of calcareous nannofossils and foraminifer species, semiquantitative analyses were carried out on a cored upper Aptian section in the Sergipe Basin, northeastern Brazil. In the lower part of the section, abundance peaks of Watznaueria barnesae, Nannoconus spp.,...

SAMC News 11 (ISSN 1413-6813), official newsletter of IGCP Project Nº 381: South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC).

SAMC News 10 (ISSN 1413-6813), official newsletter of IGCP Project Nº 381: South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC).

By late Coniacian-early Santonian times there occurred a major oceanographic event in the northern South Atlantic. This was brought about by the final structural detachment of the South American and African plates, resulting in the establishment of a deep-oceanic circulation regime. An accentuated submarine topography developed in Sergipe, NE Brazi...

In order to assess the effects of palaeoenvironmental fluctuations on the distributions of calcareous nannofossils and foraminifer species, semiquantitative analyses were carried out on a cored upper Aptian section in the Sergipe Basin, northeastern Brazil. In the lower part of the section, abundance peaks of Watznaueria barnesae, Nannoconus spp.,...

SAMC News 9 (ISSN 1413-6813), official newsletter of IGCP Project Nº 381: South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC).

An integrated, multidisciplinary study of the tectonic framework, sedimentation and petroleum systems in the Sergipe/Alagoas Basin was carried out. The methodology was based on regional integration of geological and geophysical data, particularly seismic reflection and potential field data (gravity and magnetics), results of exploratory drilling, p...

SAMC News 8 (ISSN 1413-6813), official newsletter of IGCP Project Nº 381: South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC).

SAMC News 7 (ISSN 1413-6813), official newsletter of IGCP Project Nº 381: South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC).

SAMC News 6 (ISSN 1413-6813), official newsletter of IGCP Project Nº 381: South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC).

The application of a multidisciplinary approach involving geochemical, sedimentological, geophysical, and microbiostratigraphic research, has greatly enhanced the level of understanding of some of the most representative petroleum systems in the Brazilian South Atlantic Margin. Investigation of the data allowed the characterization in time and spac...

The characterization of a major petroleum system in the Sergipe Basin, NE Brazil, was undertaken using a multidisciplinary approach. The Lura-Muriboca (!) petroleum system, taken as a representative example for the proto-marine evaporitic stage in the South Atlantic margin, comprises the Carmopolis oil field, which is the largest onshore oil field...

SAMC News 5 (ISSN 1413-6813), official newsletter of IGCP Project Nº 381: South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC).

SAMC News 4 (ISSN 1413-6813), newsletter of IGCP Project Nº 381: South Atlantic Mesozoic Correlations (SAMC).

In the aftermath of the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K/T) boundary event it appears that unusual phytoplankton blooms were boosted by the abundant nutrient levels left over from a short-lived ‘Strangelove Ocean’ period, which possibly gave rise to the negative-to-positive δ ¹³ C surface-to-bottom gradient in the Danian. The highly plastic morphology of the...