Benthic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the lower and middle Campanian of the Polish Lowlands and its application for interregional correlation

This paper presents the benthic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the lower and middle Campanian of the Polish Lowlands based on the study of Wierzchowisko, Jeżówka and Rzeżuśnia sections in the Wolbrom-Miechów area (southern Poland) and the Mielnik section (eastern Poland).The ranges of twenty two selected stratigraphically useful taxa of the genera Gavelinella, Bolivinoides, Cibicidoides, Globorotalites and Stensioeina are presented in relation to macrofossil zonation, previously established in the same successions. The evolutionary changes within selected lineages of the studied genera and major foraminiferal bioevents are discussed. The taxa ranges recorded in the Polish Cretaceous are compared with the ranges described from western Europe. Most of the studied events seem to be readily applicable for stratigraphic correlation all over Europe.