Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biotic crises and stages of radiolarian evolution in the Phanerozoic

  • Published:
Paleontological Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The questions of ecology and taphonomy of radiolarians are reviewed and reexamined. In Recent oceans and seas, the major part of the “radiolarian rain” (dead individuals) comes from the layer of the water column which is not deeper than 500 m; therefore, the bottom radiolarian thanatocenoses and taphocenoses are formed in all oceanic zones, including the coastal and central oligotrophic regions of oceans. However, radiolarians should not be regarded as indicators of exclusively deepwater oceanic conditions. The crucial moments in the evolution of radiolarians at the major Phanerozoic boundaries are recognized. A dynamic model of cyclic development of radiolarians in the Phanerozoic is proposed and four phases and nine stages in their evolution are recognized. The absence of an outburst of radiolarian biodiversity in the Holocene is shown. Many great extinctions of radiolarians occurred at the boundaries between seasons of galactic years.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A. Abelmann and M. M. Gowing, “Spatial Distribution of Living Polycystine Radiolarian Taxa—Baseline Study for Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction in the Southern Ocean (Atlantic Sector),” Mar. Micropaleontol., No. 30, 3–28 (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  2. M. S. Afanasieva, “Late Paleozoic Radiolarians from the Karachaganak Field and Their Facial Distribution,” in Stratigraphy and Paleontology of the Paleozoic of the Caspian Depression (VNIGNI, Moscow, 1987), pp. 26–46 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  3. M. S. Afanasieva, Atlas of Paleozoic Radiolaria from the Russian Platform (Nauchnyi Mir, Moscow, 2000) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  4. M. S. Afanasieva, Yu. V. Agarkov, and E. O. Amon, “Stages in the Evolution of Radiolarians (Polycystina) in the Phanerozoic,” Paleontol. Zh., No. 6, 16–32 (2005a) [Paleontol. J. 39 (6), 590–605 (2005a)].

  5. M. S. Afanasieva, E. O. Amon, Yu. V. Agarkov, and D. S. Boltovskoy, “Radiolarians in the Geological Record,” Paleontol. J. 39(Suppl. 3), 135–392 (2005b).

    Google Scholar 

  6. M. S. Afanasieva and E. O. Amon, “A New Classification of the Radiolaria,” Paleontol. Zh., No. 6, 72–86 (2003) [Paleontol. J. 37 (6), 630–645 (2003c)].

  7. M. S. Afanasieva, E. O. Amon, and D. Boltovskoy, “Ecology and Biogeography of Radiolarians: A New Insight in the Problem: 1. Ecology and Taphonomy,” Lithosfera, No. 3, 31–56 (2005c).

  8. Yu. V. Agarkov, “Information System on Radiolarians,” in 6th Zonenshain Conference on Plate Tectonics, Moscow: February 17–20, 1998 (Inst. Oceanolog. Russ. Akad. Nauk, Moscow, 1998), pp. 149–150.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Yu. V. Agarkov, “Information Systems—The Future of Paleontology,” in 45th Session of the Paleontological Society: Paleontology in the System of Sciences: Abstracts (S.-Peterb. Gos. Univ., St. Petersburg, 1999), pp. 3–4 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  10. Yu. V. Agarkov, “New Data on Species Diversity of Mesozoic Radiolarians,” in Radiolariology on the Eve of Millennium: Achievements and Perspectives (Moscow-St. Petersburg, 2000), pp. 9–10 [in Russian].

  11. Yu. V. Agarkov, “Micropaleontological Informational System,” in 4th International Congress on Environmental Micropaleontology, Microbiology and Meiobenthology: Program and Extended Abstracts, Isparta, Turkey, 2004 (Isparta, 2004), p. 19.

  12. A. S. Alekseev, “Global Biotic Crises and Mass Extinctions in the Phanerozoic History of the Earth,” in Biotic Events at the Basic Boundaries of the Phanerozoic (Mosk. Gos. Univ., Moscow, 1989), pp. 22–47 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  13. A. S. Alekseev, “Mass Extinctions in the Phanerozoic,” Doctoral Dissertation in Geology and Mineralogy (Mosk. Gos. Univ., Moscow, 1998).

    Google Scholar 

  14. A. S. Alekseev, V. Yu. Dmitriev, and A. G. Ponomarenko, Evolution of Taxonomic Diversity (GEOS, Moscow, 2001) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  15. O. R. Anderson, Radiolaria (Springer, New York, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  16. O. R. Anderson, P. Bennet, and M. Bryan, “Experimental and Observational Studies of Radiolarian Physiological Ecology: 1. Growth, Abundance, and Opal Productivity of the Spongiose Radiolarian Spongaster tetras tetras,” Mar. Micropaleontol. 14(4), 257–266 (1989).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Anderson O.R., Nigrini N., Boltovskoy D., et al., “Class Polycystinea,” in An Illustrated Guide to the Protozoa, Ed. by J. Lee (Soc. Protozoologists, Lawrence, 2002), pp. 994–1022.

    Google Scholar 

  18. W. H. Berger, “Radiolarian Skeletons: Solution at Depths,” Science 159(3820), 1237–1239 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  19. D. Boltovskoy, “Classification and Distribution of South Atlantic Recent Polycystine Radiolaria,” Paleontologica Electronica 1(2), 1–116 (1998) (http://palaeo-electronica.org/1998_2/boltovskoy/issue2.htm).

    Google Scholar 

  20. D. Boltovskoy, “Radiolaria Polycystina,” in South Atlantic Zooplankton, Ed. by D. Boltovskoy (Backhuys Publ., Leiden, 1999), pp. 149–212.

    Google Scholar 

  21. N. Yu. Bragin, “Triassic Period As a Unique Stage of Radiolarian Evolution,” in Radiolariology on the Eve of Millennium: Achievements and Perspectives (Moscow-St. Petersburg, 2000), pp. 23–24 [in Russian].

  22. N. Yu. Bragin, “Triassic Radiolarians: Zonal Stratigraphy and Paleobiogeographic Zonation,” Doctoral Dissertation in Geology and Mineralogy (Geol. Inst. Russ. Akad. Nauk, Moscow, 2002) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  23. N. Yu. Bragin, V. S. Vishnevskaya, A. I. Zhamoida, and L. I. Kazintsova, Mesozoic Radiolarians: Practical Handbook of Microfauna (Vseross. Geol. Inst., St. Petersburg, 1999), Vol. 6 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  24. L. G. Bragina, “Late Cretaceous Representatives of the Superorder Phaeodaria (Radiolaria),” Paleontol. Zh., No. 1, 10–12 (2003) [Paleontol. J. 37 (1), 8–10 (2003)].

  25. D. A. Caron and N. R. Swanberg, “The Ecology of Planktonic Sarcodines,” Rev. Aquat. Sci. 3, 147–180 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  26. N. M. Chumakov, “Periodicity of the Main Glacial Events and Their Correlation with the Endogenous Activity of the Earth,” Dokl. Akad. Nauk 378(5), 656–659 (2001) [Dokl. Russ. Acad. Sci. 378 (5), 616–619 (2001)].

    Google Scholar 

  27. P. De Wever, P. Dumitrica, J. P. Caulet, et al., Radiolarians in the Sedimentary Record (Gordon and Breach Sci. Publ., 2001).

  28. N. L. Dobretsov, “Correlation of Biological and Geological Events in the History of the Earth and Probable Mechanisms of Biological Evolution,” Paleontol. Zh., No. 6, 4–15 (2003) [Paleontol. J. 37 (6), 579–590 (2003)].

  29. N. L. Dobretsov and N. M. Chumakov, “Global Periodicity in the Evolution of Lithosphere and Biosphere,” in Global Changes in Natural Environment, Ed. by N. L. Dobretsov and V. I. Kovalenko (Geo. Novosibirsk, 2001), pp. 11–27 [in Russian].

  30. E. L. Grossman, P. Bruckschen, Mii Horng-sheng, et al., “Carboniferous Paleoclimate and Global Change: Isotopic Evidence from the Russian Platform,” in Carboniferous Stratigraphy and Paleogeography in Eurasia (Inst. Geol. Geophys. Ural Br. Russ. Acad. Sci., Yekaterinburg, 2002), pp. 61–71.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Mii Horng-sheng, E. L. Grossman, and T. E. Yancey, “Carboniferous Isotope Stratigraphies of North America: Implications for Carboniferous Paleoceanography and Mississippian Glaciation,” GSA Bull. 111(7), 960–973 (1999).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Mii Horng-sheng, E. L. Grossman, T. E. Yancey, et al., “Isotopic Records of Brachiopod Shells from the Russian Platform—Evidence for the Onset of Mid-Carboniferous Glaciation,” Chem. Geol. 175, 133–147 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. K. Iwata, N. V. Sennikov, M. M. Buslov, et al., “Late Cambrian-Early Ordovician Age of the Bazalt-Siliceous-Terrigenous Zasur’ya Formation (Northwestern Area of the Mountain Altai),” Geol. Geofiz. 8(9), 1427–1444 (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  34. A. V. Kanygin, “Ordovician Phenomenon of Explosive Divergence in the Organic World of Earth: Reasons and Evolutionary Consequences for Biosphere,” Geol. Geofiz. 42(4), 631–667 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  35. J. P. Kennett, Marine Geology (Prentice-Hall, New York, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  36. V. E. Khain, The Basic Problems of Modern Geology (Nauchnyi Mir, Moscow, 2003) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  37. I. V. Khvorova, “Carbonate Accumulation,” Tr. Geol. Inst. Akad. Nauk SSSR 369, 82–102.

  38. S. A. Kling, “Radiolaria,” in Introduction to Marine Micropaleontology, Ed. by B. U. Haq and A. Boersma (Elsevier, New York, 1978), pp. 203–244.

    Google Scholar 

  39. S. A. Kling and D. Boltovskoy, “Radiolarian Vertical Distribution Patterns across the Southern California Current,” Deep-Sea Res. 42(2), 191–231 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. S. B. Kruglikova, “Radiolarians As Indicators of Certain Factors of the Paleoenvironment,” in Radiolarians in Biostratigraphy: Collected Works (Ural. Otd. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Sverdlovsk, 1990), pp. 92–106 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  41. S. B. Kruglikova, The Structure of Associations of Polycystine Radiolarians at the Species and Superspecies Levels and Paleoenvironment, in Recent and Extinct Microplankton of the World Ocean (Nauka, Moscow, 1995), pp. 76–89 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  42. S. B. Kruglikova, “Higher Radiolarian Taxa As Indicators of Environmental Conditions,” in Radiolariology on the Eve of Millennium: Achievements and Perspectives (Moscow-St. Petersburg, 2000), pp. 36–37 [in Russian].

  43. S. B. Kruglikova, “Composition (Structure) of the Specific and Supraspecific Assemblages of Polycystina and Environment,” in 10th Meeting of the International Association of Radiolarian Paleontologists, Lausane, Switzerland, September 7–12, 2003 (Univ. Lausanne, Lausanne, 2003), pp. 75–76.

    Google Scholar 

  44. V. V. Kulikova and V. S. Kulikov, Galactic Calendar of Earth History (Karel. Nauchn. Tsentr Ross. Akad. Nauk, Petrozavodsk, 2000) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  45. R. Kh. Lipman, “Zonation of Paleogene Deposits of the USSR Based on Radiolarians,” in Extinct and Extant Radiolarians (Zool. Inst. Akad. Nauk USSR, Leningrad, 1979), pp. 10–33 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  46. A. Molina-Cruz, “Radiolarian Assemblages and Their Relationship to the Oceanography of the Subtropical Southeastern Pacific,” Mar. Micropaleontol., No. 4, 315–352 (1977).

  47. A. S. Monin, History of the Earth (Nauka, Leningrad, 1977) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  48. B. B. Nazarov, “Radiolarians from the Lowermost Horizons of the Batenev Mountain Ridge,” Tr. Inst. Geol. Geofiz. Sib. Otd. Akad. Nauk SSSR 49 (Problems of Paleontology and Biostratigraphy of the Lower Cambrian of Siberia and the Far East), 5–13 (1973).

  49. B. B. Nazarov, “Problematic Siliceous Formations from the Lower Paleozoic of Kazakhstan,” in Biostratigraphy and Paleoecology of the Lower Cambrian of Europe and Northern Asia (Nauka, Moscow, 1974), pp. 110–112 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  50. B. B. Nazarov, “Radiolarians from the Lower and Middle Paleozoic of Kazakhstan: Research Methods, Systematics, and Stratigraphic Significance,” Tr. Geol. Inst. Akad. Nauk SSSR 275, 1–202 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  51. B. B. Nazarov, “Radiolarians of the Paleozoic,” Doctoral Dissertation in Geology and Mineralogy (Geol. Inst. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Moscow, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  52. B. B. Nazarov, Paleozoic Radiolarians: Practical Handbook of the Microfauna of the USSR (Nedra, Leningrad, 1988), Vol. 2 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  53. B. B. Nazarov and A. R. Ormiston, “Evolution of Radiolaria in the Paleozoic and Its Correlation with the Development of Other Marine Fossil Groups,” Senckenberg. Lethaea 66(3/5), 203–215 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  54. B. B. Nazarov and A. R. Ormiston, “Trends in the Development of Paleozoic Radiolaria,” Mar. Micropaleontol., No. 11, 3–32 (1986).

  55. B. B. Nazarov and A. R. Ormiston, “New Biostratigraphically Important Paleozoic Radiolaria of Eurasia and North America,” Micropaleontology 6 (Spec. Pub.: Radiolaria of Giant and Subgiant Fields in Asia), 22–60 (1993).

  56. O. T. Obut and K. Iwata, “Lower Cambrian Radiolaria from the Altai Mountains (Southern West Siberia),” Nov. Paleontol. Stratigr., No. 2–3, 33–38 (2000).

  57. P. P. Parenago, “On the Gravity Potential of the Galaxy,” Astron. Zh. 39(6), 245–287 (1952).

    Google Scholar 

  58. M. G. Petrushevskaya, Radiolarian Analysis (Nauka, Leningrad, 1986) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  59. J. J. Sepkoski, “Patterns of Phanerozoic Extinction: A Perspective from Global Data Bases,” in Global Events and Events Stratigraphy in the Phanerozoic: Results of International Interdisciplinary Cooperation in IGCP Project 216 on the Global Biological Events in Earth History, Ed. by O. H. Walliser (Springer, Berlin-Heidelberg, 1996), pp. 35–52.

    Google Scholar 

  60. S. D. Stepanjants, S. B. Kruglikova, K. R. Bjørklund, and G. Cortese, “The Bipolar Distribution of Marine Organisms with Emphasis on Radiolaria and Cnidarians: A New Stage of Research,” in General Questions of Biogeography: In Memories of the Academician O.G. Kusakina, Ed. by A. I. Kafanov (Dal’nauka, Vladivostok, 2004), pp. 124–178 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  61. V. L. Syvorotkin, Ozone Layer, Earth Degassing, Rift Formation, and Global Catastrophe (Geoinformmark, Moscow, 1994) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  62. P. P. Timofeev and V. N. Kholodov, “Evolution of Sedimentation Basins in the History of the Earth,” Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. Geol., No. 7, 10–34 (1984).

  63. R. D. White, “Cambrian Radiolaria from Utah,” J. Paleontol. 60(3), 778–780 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  64. M.-Z. Won and R. Below, “Cambrian Radiolaria from the Georgian Basin, Queensland, Australia,” Micropaleontology 45(4), 325–363 (1999).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. M.-Z. Won and W.J. Iams, “Late Cambrian Radiolarian Faunas and Biostratigraphy of the Cow Head Group, Western Newfoundland,” J. Paleontol. 76(1), 1–33 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. M.Z. Won, W.J. Iams, and K. Reed, “Earliest Ordovician (Early to Middle Tremadocian) Radiolarian Faunas of the Cow Head Group, Western Newfoundland,” J. Paleontol. 79(3), 433–459 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  67. D. N. Zasko, “Deep-sea Radiolarians of the Northern Atlantic Region,” Candidate’s Dissertation in Geology and Mineralogy (Inst. Oceanol. Ross. Akad. Nauk, Moscow, 2004) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  68. A. I. Zhamoida, “Some Problems of Radiolarian Studies: Stepwise Developmental Pattern, Zonal Stratigraphy, Nomenclature of the Subclass,” in Systematics, Evolution, and Stratigraphic Significance of Radiolarians (Nauka, Moscow, 1981), pp. 5–9 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  69. M. A. Zharkov and N. M. Chumakov, “Humid and Arid States of the Warm Biosphere,” Geol. Geofiz. 42(4), 668–677 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya ul. 123, Moscow, 117997, Russia

    M. S. Afanasieva

  2. Institute of Geology and Geochemistry, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pochtovyi per. 7, Yekaterinburg, 620151, Russia

    E. O. Amon

Authors
  1. M. S. Afanasieva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. O. Amon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Afanasieva, M.S., Amon, E.O. Biotic crises and stages of radiolarian evolution in the Phanerozoic. Paleontol. J. 40, S453–S467 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030106100054

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030106100054

Key words

Search

Navigation