The uppermost Toarcian-lowermost 8ajocian deposits have been studied in 10 sections located in the western part of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin (northern Spain). The studied 276 successive recorded ammonite assemblages allowed detailed biostratigraphical subdivision and the correlation of the sections at the ammonite zone and subzone scale. The foraminifers were studied in 96 samples and 55 diagenetically screened belemnite rostra were analyzed for C and 0 isotope.Facies and thickness distribution of the Aalenian sediments suggest that deposition took place in a nearly symmetrical sub-basin included into an intra plate shallow platform, developed over continental crust, on which flexure was the main control responsible for subsidence and basin evolution.Noteworthy negative 613Cb�1 excursions, coinciding with seawater temperature changes, were recorded during the Bradfordensis Biochron, around the Concavum-Limitatum biochron boundary, and around the Aalenian-Bajocian boundary. A close relationship between the changes in seawater temperature and the biotic changes observed in the foraminiferal and in the ammonoids assemblages has been evidenced. During the Comptum Biochron, the 6180�1-based palaeotemperature shows a remarkable cooling interval with an average seawater temperature of 15.7 QC. This cooling favoured the immigration of species of foraminifers that thrived in platforms with colder seawater temperatures located north of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin.As a consequence, a strong increase in the diversity of the foraminiferal assemblages (28.5% of first appearances) occurred. This interval also coincides with the highest ammonoid abundance recorded during the Aalenian. A notable increase in temperature with peak values up to 24.3 QC, was measured during the Bradfordensis Biochron. This warming marks the beginning of progressive loss of foraminifer diversity and the decrease in the abundance of ammonoids. However, the increase in the relative abundances of some foraminiferal taxa such as the genus Spirillina during the warming phase is remarkable. Some of the foraminiferal species that had their last occurrence during this interval seem to be immigrants from NW Europe that arrived during the Comptum cooling interval, and that did not survive to rise of the seawater temperature.Another drop in temperature was recorded during the late Gigantea and the early Concavum biochrons.Coinciding with this cooling interval nearly 20% of the foraminiferal species disappeared while the ammonoid abundance increased. A new and significant warming episode occurred during the latest Aalenian (Limitatum Biochron), extending to the earliest Bajocian (Discites Biochron). Biotic response to this new bT of 2.5 QC is remarkable, marking one of the most important crises of the Aalenian. More than 30% of the foraminiferal species disappeared and no new appearances were recorded. Ammonoids show a decrease in the specimen abundance during the Limitatum-Discites warming, preceding a drastic decrease in the species abundance.The rem...