High-resolution trace and minor element compositions in deep-water scleractinian corals (Desmophyllum dianthus) from the Mediterranean Sea and the Great Australian Bight

P. Montagna, Malcolm Mcculloch, M. Taviani, A. Remia, G. Rouse

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference paperChapterpeer-review

    36 Citations (Web of Science)

    Abstract

    Zooxanthellate scleractinian corals have been shown to preserve important archives of seasonal variations of climate variables, such as sea surface temperature, salinity, and productivity. By analogy, the recognition of correlated chemical signals in azooxanthellate deep-water corals may provide an important new approach to help unravel the role of intermediate and deep waters in determining climate variability. A first step to determine the suitability of deep-water scleractinian corals as potential paleoceanographic-paleoclimatic tools requires the demonstration of coherent geochemical signals in their skeletons. With this in mind, trace and minor element ratios Sr/Ca, Mg/Ca, U/Ca, B/Ca, P/Ca, Ba/Ca and Mn/Ca have been measured in two deep-water solitary scleractinian corals (Desmophyllum dianthus) collected from Last Glacial submerged banks in the Mediterranean basin and in the Great Australian Bight. Most elements show distinct, highly correlated patterns of variation. Although preliminary, these results illustrate the potential use of trace and minor element concentrations in the deep-water scleractinian corals to provide new constraints on the composition and evolution of intermediate and deep waters and thus introduce new perspectives in paleoceanography, such as the assessment of changes in both deep-sea nutrient chemistry and ocean circulation.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationCold-Water Corals and Ecosystems
    EditorsA Freiwald, J.M. Roberts
    Place of PublicationGermany
    PublisherSpringer
    Pages1109-1126
    Edition1st
    ISBN (Print)13 978-3-540-24136-2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2005

    Publication series

    NameErlangen Earth Conference Series

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