PALEOGENE CLIMATIC FLUCTUATIONS AND BIOTIC MIGRATIONS IN THE NORTH PACIFIC

Analysis of the Paleogene planktonic foraminifers from the sections of Kamchatka, Koryak Highland, the North Pacific, and Japan revealed sev eral age levels of the occurrences of warm-water (subtropical) assembl ages: late Danian, late Thanetian-early Ypresian, early Lutetian, earl y Bartonian, and early Priabonian. Appearance of these assemblages at high latitudes can be attributed to climatic warmings that led to thei r long-distance (up to 2000 or 2500 km) migrations in the northern dir ection. Some past climatic fluctuations can be correlated with eustati c sea-level oscillations. A high rate of migrations and relatively sho rt duration of warming phases in comparison with cooling phases are re corded.