| Title |
Macrofossil evidence for a rapid and severe Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction in Antarctica
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Nature Communications, May 2016
|
| DOI | 10.1038/ncomms11738 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
James D. Witts, Rowan J. Whittle, Paul B. Wignall, J. Alistair Crame, Jane E. Francis, Robert J. Newton, Vanessa C. Bowman |
| Abstract |
Debate continues about the nature of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction event. An abrupt crisis triggered by a bolide impact contrasts with ideas of a more gradual extinction involving flood volcanism or climatic changes. Evidence from high latitudes has also been used to suggest that the severity of the extinction decreased from low latitudes towards the poles. Here we present a record of the K-Pg extinction based on extensive assemblages of marine macrofossils (primarily new data from benthic molluscs) from a highly expanded Cretaceous-Paleogene succession: the López de Bertodano Formation of Seymour Island, Antarctica. We show that the extinction was rapid and severe in Antarctica, with no significant biotic decline during the latest Cretaceous, contrary to previous studies. These data are consistent with a catastrophic driver for the extinction, such as bolide impact, rather than a significant contribution from Deccan Traps volcanism during the late Maastrichtian. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 87 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 19 | 22% |
| United States | 10 | 11% |
| Japan | 3 | 3% |
| Spain | 2 | 2% |
| Australia | 2 | 2% |
| Colombia | 1 | 1% |
| Argentina | 1 | 1% |
| France | 1 | 1% |
| Germany | 1 | 1% |
| Other | 4 | 5% |
| Unknown | 43 | 49% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 59 | 68% |
| Scientists | 25 | 29% |
| Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 3 | 3% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 127 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 2 | 2% |
| Netherlands | 1 | <1% |
| Chile | 1 | <1% |
| Unknown | 123 | 97% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Bachelor | 26 | 20% |
| Researcher | 24 | 19% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 17 | 13% |
| Student > Master | 11 | 9% |
| Student > Doctoral Student | 9 | 7% |
| Other | 16 | 13% |
| Unknown | 24 | 19% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Earth and Planetary Sciences | 67 | 53% |
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 16 | 13% |
| Environmental Science | 5 | 4% |
| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3 | 2% |
| Business, Management and Accounting | 1 | <1% |
| Other | 5 | 4% |
| Unknown | 30 | 24% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 410. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 07 May 2023.
All research outputs
#73,189
of 25,754,670 outputs
Outputs from Nature Communications
#1,117
of 58,332 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#1,519
of 352,957 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Nature Communications
#20
of 821 outputs
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