Foraminifera and ostracod biostratigraphy of the English Coniacian – Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) Chalk: New results from Seaford Head and correlation to Eastern Europe

The uppermost Turonian – lower Campanian Chalk succession at Seaford Head, southern England, is described and the placement of stage and substage boundaries are defined. Previous studies of foraminifera and ostracods in the section are reviewed. New data are provided for 99 samples spanning the full exposed section. Samples yielded abundant well-preserved diverse microfossil assemblages. The stratigraphic distributions of 38 selected stratigraphically important foraminifera species of Gavelinella , Stensioeina , Protostensioeina , Bolivina , Bolivinoides , Pyramidina , Pseudouvigerina and planktonic foraminifera ( Contusotruncana, Dicarinella, Globotruncana, Marginotruncana ), and 40 ostracod taxa are presented. A list of taxa with taxonomic notes and descriptions of five new foraminifera species, Gavelinella praestelligera, G. praethalmanni, G. praetumida, Protostensioeina ukrainica and Stensioeina praeexsculpta , and three informal species, Pyramidina sp. A, B and C is included. Evolutionary lineages of foraminifera genera provide the basis for a refined biostratigraphy that is successfully correlated to Salzgitter-Salder, Germany and Dubivtsi, Ukraine. Records are compared to literature data and benthic foraminifera zonations across northern Europe. However, differing taxonomic concepts of authors hamper comparison with literature data, exemplified by critical review of previous work at Seaford Head. This precludes rigorous assessment of diachronism of marker species, although regional stratigraphic differences in the distribution of the first stensioeinids and representatives of the Gavelinella clementiana group in Europe are apparent. The first detailed ostracod records from the English Coniacian – Campanian are presented. Four new ostracod biozones defined by the lowest occurrences of the index taxa are proposed: Neocythere (Physocythere) virginea ; Limburgina senonensis ; Phacorhabdotus lonsdaleianus ; and Pterygocythere laticristata zones. • The Turonian – Campanian Chalk succession at Seaford Head is reviewed • New species of Gavelinella, Protostensioeina and Pyramidina are described • Evolutionary lineages of benthic foraminifera are correlated to Germany and Ukraine • Ostracod records from the English Coniacian – Campanian are presented • Four new ostracod biozones are proposed