Planktic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy of the Coral Sea, Offshore Queensland

Fifteen planktic foraminiferal biostratigraphic events from the latest Pliocene-Holocene were examined from cores in the Coral Sea. The study proposes a formal zonal scheme, including two new subzones and the description of a new species, Bolliella praeadamsi. The dataset was published via the Australian Ocean Data Network and last updated on 2026-04-28.

Use Cases

• Establishing regional biostratigraphic zonation based on the proposed formal zonal and subzonal scheme.
• Studying faunal stability and dominance of oligotrophic taxa based on the described core assemblages.
• Identifying evolutionary intermediates in foraminiferal lineages based on the description of Bolliella praeadamsi.
• Investigating potential reworking events in sediment cores based on indications of mixed-age faunas.

Strengths

• Examines 15 of 27 potential biostratigraphic events from the latest Pliocene-Holocene.
• Proposes a formal zonal scheme with two new subzones and redefines two existing subzones.
• Describes a new species, Bolliella praeadamsi, identified for its biostratigraphic utility.

Limitations

• Row count and column-level documentation are absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• A hiatus in one core prevented study of most of the early Pleistocene, limiting temporal coverage.
• Data freshness should be verified despite the 2026-04-28 update date.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Examination of planktic foraminiferal events from sediment cores.

Time Range

Latest Pliocene to Holocene

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-28 14:59:15.424104.

Geography

Coral Sea, offshore Queensland, Australia