Nature Communications (May 2016)

Macrofossil evidence for a rapid and severe Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction in Antarctica

  • James D. Witts,
  • Rowan J. Whittle,
  • Paul B. Wignall,
  • J. Alistair Crame,
  • Jane E. Francis,
  • Robert J. Newton,
  • Vanessa C. Bowman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11738
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Debate surrounds the causes, timing, and effects of the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction, 66 Ma. Here, using new collections of marine macrofossils from Seymour Island, Antarctica, the authors show that the extinction was both rapid and severe in the high southern latitudes, contrary to previous studies.