A multidisciplinary approach for reconstructing the stratigraphic framework of the last 40 ka in a bathyal area of the eastern Tyrrhenian Sea

Abstract A detailed integrated stratigraphic framework for the last 40 ka in the eastern Tyrrhenian Sea (central Mediterranean) was obtained through quantitative analyses of planktonic foraminifera assemblages, tephrostratigraphical studies and δ 18 O measurements on the basinal CET1 cored succession. Relative abundance fluctuations in the planktonic foraminifera assemblages allowed the identification of nine known eco-biozones and several bioevents recognized in the Tyrrhenian area and that are useful for correlations between Mediterranean marine records. Compositional changes in the planktonic foraminifera assemblages together with variations in the oxygen isotope record allowed us to detect the major climatic global fluctuations and some of the minor events that occurred during the investigated time interval. A total of 12 visible tephra layers and cryptotephras have been recognized and correlated with their volcanic sources and/or with known explosive events of Campanian and Sicilian–Aeolian volcanoes. A stratigraphic relationship between foraminiferal and climatic events and tephra layers has been highlighted. For the first time ecostratigraphic and tephrostratigraphic methods were combined to obtain a detailed integrated stratigraphy for the last 40 ka in the Tyrrhenian area. The achieved stratigraphic framework provides a useful stratigraphic reference record for the investigated area.