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To: PaleoNet
From: N.MacLeod@nhm.ac.uk (N. MacLeod)
Subject: G. Jenkins obituary (cross-posted from micropal by J. Lipps)
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D. Graham Jenkins passed away earlier this year. He was prominent
paleontologist, working particularly in New Zealand and England. Here is
George Scott's New Zealand memorial to him.
Jere Lipps
DAVID GRAHAM JENKINS 1933 - 1995
The death of Graham Jenkins on 6 August 1995 marks the passing
of New Zealand's foremost student of fossil planktonic
foraminifera. He was one of a pioneer elite whose work led to
great advances in global Cenozoic biostratigraphy and
paleogeography.
Graham was Welsh born (1933) and educated (Aberystwyth) and was
quintessentially Welsh in personality and character. Yet, New
Zealand provided the base (BP Shell Todd 1959-62; New Zealand
Geological Survey 1962-66; University of Canterbury 1966-77)
from which he built much of his scientific career and he
contributed substantially to our science until his death. He
was proudly Welsh but supported most things Kiwi, except rugby.
He called himself a New Zealander (Jenkins 1995) and, in turn,
we are proud to claim him as one of us.
Cenozoic microfossil biostratigraphy was at the threshold of
significant redefinition when, in 1956, Jenkins began his post-
graduate research on the planktonic foraminifera of the Lakes
Entrance Miocene sequence, Victoria. The previous three decades
had witnessed the development of regional Cenozoic
biostratigraphies based on an eclectic mix of events,
principally in benthic taxa, but with some in planktonic taxa.
The work of Kleinpell in California, Renz in the Caribbean and
Finlay in New Zealand was in this tradition. Although their
focus was regional, the research indicated the potential of
planktonic events for heightening resolution and for global
correlation. A new paradigm began to emerge and the first
examples of plankton biostratigraphies, developed from northern
hemisphere regional data, appeared in the later nineteen
fifties.
The southern hemisphere pioneer was Graham Jenkins. In
retrospect, the Lakes Entrance assemblages, deposited from
neritic water masses, were far from a felicitous choice for a
neophyte plankton biostratigrapher charting new territory. But
Jenkins was extraordinarily capable. Planktonic foraminifera
taxa are commonly polytypic, sometimes with watermass-specific
features. Many are not readily identified. The approach of
pioneers like Jenkins and Blow was to focus on part of the field
of perceived variation and restrict recognition to specimens
exhibiting certain characters. The approach may not accord with
biological species theory, but it heightens objective
recognition of 'taxa' and provides a basis for biostratigraphy.
Using this approach Jenkins, an acute observer who was able to
apply taxonomic concepts with great consistency, deciphered the
rather atypical Lakes Entrance record, recognized the major
events, and established a Miocene biostratigraphy that served as
a prototype for subsequent southern hemisphere temperate water
classifications. The research (Jenkins 1960) was a notable
attainment and established a methodology that he followed throughout
his career.
Jenkins' secondment (1959) from BP to a consortium exploring for
hydrocarbons in Gisborne district enabled him to test and extend
the classification developed for the Lakes Entrance sequence.
Significantly, the licence areas included much of the Cenozoic
sequence and provided him with his first overview of the
history of southern temperate mid-latitude planktonic
foraminifera. The opportunity, indeed need, for a major
research project on New Zealand Cenozoic planktonic foraminifera
was apparent equally to him and to Norcott Hornibrook, and led to
a 3-year research position for Graham at New Zealand Geological
Survey. This commenced late in 1962. It gave him access to
extensive collections from New Zealand and abroad, and technical
facilities for an in-depth study of Cenozoic planktonic
foraminifera. The arrangement was entirely auspicious and led
to the most productive period of his career (8 papers were
published in 1964). Jenkins was a young, extremely vigorous
scientist with a developed methodology and clearly perceived
goals. He relished the work and enjoyed the research
environment. Colleagues at New Zealand Geological Survey recall
the regularity of his work routine, the carefully organized
laboratory bench, and the clear desk at end of the day. Few
have forgotten his debating skill at tea breaks, the flash and
roll of his eyes, the thump of the table, the delightful mixture
of English and Welsh expletives..iesumawr!
The principal outcome was his monograph <New Zealand Cenozoic
planktonic foraminifera> (Jenkins 1971, completed for
publication January 1966) which documented 163 taxa, charted
their stratigraphic ranges in 40 sections in onshore New
Zealand, and established 21 zones. Globally, there is no
comparable, unified account of regional Cenozoic planktonic
foraminiferal systematics and biostratigraphy. It preceded the
new perspectives provided by the ocean drilling programs and
scanning electron microscopy, and some may quibble with the
methodology, but its value as an encyclopaedic account of
temperate latitude southern hemisphere planktonic foraminifera
remains undiminished. It was a superb achievement.
Students at Canterbury University struggled to comprehend
Graham's departures from the local vernacular but were
fascinated by his mannerisms and character, and impressed with
his zeal for paleontology and biostratigraphy. For Graham
Jenkins remained a dedicated research scientist. The focus
widened at Canterbury to include the Mesozoic and Paleozoic, and
his discoveries included the first records of condonts and
Carboniferous strata in New Zealand. But Cenozoic planktonic
foraminifera remained the love of his life and he extended his
knowledge of the group by shipboard work on Deep Sea Drilling
Project Leg 9 (chief paleontologist) and on Leg 29. He
contributed substantially to the recognition, by Jim Kennett and
others, of the initiation of the circum-Antarctic current at 30-
31 Ma. This was a fundamental paleoceanographic discovery.
The Geological Society of New Zealand was firmly supported by
Graham, and he contributed to its administration as secretary
(1967-68) and as president (1974-75). He was awarded the McKay
Hammer in 1970 and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of
New Zealand in 1977.
Graham moved to the Open University in 1977 and to the National
Museum of Wales in 1990 but a focus on the southern hemisphere
was retained. He was with the shipboard party on Deep Sea
Drilling Project Leg 90 (1983) and contributed major systematic
and biostratigraphic reviews of southern hemisphere Cenozoic
planktonic foraminifera (Jenkins 1985; 1993a; 1993b). Concepts
from his early research in New Zealand were honed and developed
as the database improved. One of his last papers (Hornibrook
and Jenkins 1994) re-interpreted the sequence at Deep Sea
Drilling Project Site 594, Chatham Rise.
This Newsletter was one of the windows through which he
monitored geoscience research in New Zealand. His last
contribution (Jenkins 1995) is typically Jenkinsian in style,
yet helpfully suggests the next step in the resolution of a
paleogeographic problem, and asserts the value of global
perspectives. As a scientist of international stature, his
continued support of our science was invaluable.
The drive and energy of the tyro of 35 years ago never
diminished. What came later was the ability to provide
leadership in science. The IUGS Subcommission on Paleogene
Stratigraphy was revitalized during his terms as secretary
(1984-89) and chairman (1989-). Read the incisive comments of
the chairman in its recent newsletters. Acknowledge too, the
effective editorial and production skills of Judith Jenkins, and
recall with gratitude her unstinting support of Graham
throughout his career.
In their publications, scientists seldom stray far from science.
Jenkins did. In a collection of essays (Jenkins 1989) he allows
us intimate views of his heritage and upbringing, and insights
into his motivation and character. The skilled chronicler of
earth history was an equally acute observer of the human
condition.
The pioneers of Cenozoic planktonic foraminiferal research were
often remarkable men. Jenkins was one of them. Au revoir
Graham, we were privileged to have you with us.
George Scott
References
Hornibrook, N. deB.; Jenkins, D.G. 1994. DSDP Site 594, Chatham
Rise, New Zealand - late Neogene planktonic foraminiferal
biostratigraphy revised. <Journal of Micropalaeontology 13>:93-
101.
Jenkins, D.G. 1960. Planktonic foraminifera from the Lakes
Entrance oil shaft, Victoria, Australia.
<Micropaleontology 6>:345-371.
----------- 1971. New Zealand Cenozoic planktonic foraminifera.
<New Zealand Geological Survey Paleontological Bulletin 42>.
278 p.
----------- 1985. Southern mid-latitude Paleocene to Holocene
planktonic foraminifera. <In>: Bolli, H.M. and Saunders, J.
(eds) <Planktonic microfossil biostratigraphy>, Cambridge
University Press. pp. 263-282.
----------- 1989. In the shadow of Jerwsalem. Alun Books, Port
Talbot. 162 p.
----------- 1993a. Cenozoic southern mid- and high-latitude
biostratigraphy and chronostratigraphy based on planktonic
foraminifera. <In>: The Antarctic paleoenvironment: a
perspective on global change. <Antarctic Research Series,
American Geophysical Union 60>:125-144.
----------- 1993b. The evolution of the Cenozoic southern high-
and mid-latitude planktonic foraminiferal faunas. <In>: The
Antarctic paleoenvironment: a perspective on global change.
<Antarctic Research Series, American Geophysical Union 60>:
175-194.
---------- 1995. Letter to the Editor. <Geological Society of
New Zealand Newsletter 106>:4-5.
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