Shallow Water Records of the PETM: Novel Insights From NE India (Eastern Tethys)

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is associated with major extinctions in the deep ocean, and significant paleogeographic ecological changes surface ocean terrestrial environments. However, impact of environmental change on shelf biota less well understood. Here, we present a new PETM record low paleolatitude shallow-marine carbonate platform from Meghalaya, NE India (eastern Tethys). biotic assemblage was distinctly different to other Tethyan records dominated by larger benthic foraminifera calcareous algae both Paleocene Eocene. A taxa forms indicating deeper waters concurrent decrease abundance shallow water suggests sea-level rise during onset PETM. lacking corals foraminiferal assemblages Lockhartia dominance, characteristic several sections Tethys. Comparison global circulation model (GCM) indicates high regional temperatures Thanetian which may have excluded region. Furthermore, pattern isolating site wider Paratethys. Our study highlights need for diverse perspective response strength coupling data climate models interpretation.