Shell chemistry of the Boreal Campanian bivalve Rastellum diluvianum (Linnaeus, 1767) reveals temperature seasonality, growth rates and life cycle of an extinct Cretaceous oyster

Abstract. The Campanian age (Late Cretaceous) is characterized by a warm greenhouse climate with limited land ice volume. This makes the Campanian an ideal target for the study of climate dynamics during greenhouse periods, which are essential for predictions of future climate change due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Well-preserved fossil shells from the Campanian age (± 78 Ma) high paleolatitude (50° N) coastal faunas of the Kristianstad Basin (southern Sweden) offer unique snapshot of short-term climate and environmental variability during the Campanian, which complement traditional long-term climate reconstructions. In this study, we apply a combination of high-resolution spatially resolved trace element analyses (µXRF and LA-ICP-MS), stable isotope analyses (IRMS) and growth modelling to study short-term (seasonal) variations recorded in the oyster species Rastellum diluvianum from Ivö Klack. A combination of trace element and stable isotope records of 12 specimens sheds light on the influence of specimen-specific and age-specific effects on the expression of seasonal variations in shell chemistry and allows disentangling vital effects from environmental influences in an effort to refine palaeoseasonality reconstructions of Late Cretaceous greenhouse climates. Growth modelling based on stable isotope records from R. diluvianum further allows to discuss the mode of life, circadian rhythm and reproductive cycle of extinct oysters and sheds light on their ecology. This multi-proxy study reveals that mean annual temperatures in the Campanian high-latitudes were 17 to 19 °C with a maximum extent of seasonality of 14 °C. These results show that the latitudinal gradient in mean annual temperatures during the Late Cretaceous was steeper than expected based on climate models and that the difference in seasonal temperature variability between latitudes was much smaller in the Campanian compared to today. Our results also demonstrate that species-specific differences and uncertainties in the composition of Late Cretaceous seawater prevent trace element proxies (Mg / Ca, Sr / Ca, Mg / Li and Sr / Li) to be used as reliable temperature proxies for fossil oyster shells.

Download Full-text

Shell chemistry of the boreal Campanian bivalve Rastellum diluvianum (Linnaeus, 1767) reveals temperature seasonality, growth rates and life cycle of an extinct Cretaceous oyster

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-17-2897-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (11) ◽

pp. 2897-2922

Author(s):

Niels J. de Winter ◽

Clemens V. Ullmann ◽

Anne M. Sørensen ◽

Nicolas Thibault ◽

Steven Goderis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trace Element ◽

Oxygen Isotope ◽

Late Cretaceous ◽

Seasonal Variations ◽

Isotope Composition ◽

Growth Patterns ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Short Term ◽

Shell Chemistry ◽

Temperature Seasonality

Abstract. The Campanian age (Late Cretaceous) is characterized by a warm greenhouse climate with limited land-ice volume. This makes this period an ideal target for studying climate dynamics during greenhouse periods, which are essential for predictions of future climate change due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Well-preserved fossil shells from the Campanian (±78 Ma) high mid-latitude (50∘ N) coastal faunas of the Kristianstad Basin (southern Sweden) offer a unique snapshot of short-term climate and environmental variability, which complements existing long-term climate reconstructions. In this study, we apply a combination of high-resolution spatially resolved trace element analyses (micro-X-ray fluorescence – µXRF – and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry – LA-ICP-MS), stable isotope analyses (IRMS) and growth modeling to study short-term (seasonal) variations recorded in the oyster species Rastellum diluvianum from the Ivö Klack locality. Geochemical records through 12 specimens shed light on the influence of specimen-specific and ontogenetic effects on the expression of seasonal variations in shell chemistry and allow disentangling vital effects from environmental influences in an effort to refine paleoseasonality reconstructions of Late Cretaceous greenhouse climates. Growth models based on stable oxygen isotope records yield information on the mode of life, circadian rhythm and reproductive cycle of these extinct oysters. This multi-proxy study reveals that mean annual temperatures in the Campanian higher mid-latitudes were 17 to 19 ∘C, with winter minima of ∼13 ∘C and summer maxima of 26 ∘C, assuming a Late Cretaceous seawater oxygen isotope composition of −1 ‰ VSMOW (Vienna standard mean ocean water). These results yield smaller latitudinal differences in temperature seasonality in the Campanian compared to today. Latitudinal temperature gradients were similar to the present, contrasting with previous notions of “equable climate” during the Late Cretaceous. Our results also demonstrate that species-specific differences and uncertainties in the composition of Late Cretaceous seawater prevent trace element proxies (Mg∕Ca, Sr∕Ca, Mg∕Li and Sr∕Li) from being used as reliable temperature proxies for fossil oyster shells. However, trace element profiles can serve as a quick tool for diagenesis screening and investigating seasonal growth patterns in ancient shells.

Download Full-text

Reconstructing seasonality through stable isotope and trace element analysis of the Proserpine stalagmite, Han-sur-Lesse Cave, Belgium: indications for climate-driven changes during the last 400 years

10.5194/cp-2019-78 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Stef Vansteenberge ◽

Niels de Winter ◽

Matthias Sinnesael ◽

Sophie Verheyden ◽

Steven Goderis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotope ◽

Trace Element ◽

Seasonal Variations ◽

Seasonal Variability ◽

Water Discharge ◽

Growth Period ◽

Isotope Ratios ◽

17Th Century ◽

Ice Age ◽

Stable Isotope Ratios

Abstract. Annually laminated speleothems allow the reconstruction of paleoclimate down to a seasonal scale. In this study, an annually laminated stalagmite from the Han-sur-Lesse Cave (Belgium) is used to study the expression of the seasonal cycle in northwestern Europe during the Little Ice Age. More specifically, two historical 12-year-long growth periods (ca. 1593–1605 CE and 1635–1646 CE) and one modern growth period (1960–2010 CE) are analysed on a sub-annual scale for their stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ18O) and trace element (Mg, Sr, Ba, Zn, Y, Pb, U) content. Seasonal variability in the proxies is confirmed with frequency analysis. Zn, Y and Pb show distinct annual peaks in all three investigated periods related to annual flushing of the soil during winter. A strong seasonal in phase relationship between Mg, Sr and Ba in the modern growth period reflects a substantial influence of prior calcite precipitation (PCP). In particular, PCP occurs during summers when recharge of the epikarst is low. This is also evidenced by earlier observations of increased δ13C values during summer. In the 17th century intervals, there is a distinct antiphase relationship between Mg, Sr and Ba, suggesting that varying degrees of incongruent dissolution of dolomite control the observed seasonal variations. The processes controlling seasonal variations in Mg, Sr and Ba in the speleothem appear to change between the 17th century and 1960–2010 CE. The Zn, Y, Pb and U concentration profiles, stable isotope ratios and morphology of the speleothem laminae all point towards increased seasonal amplitude in cave hydrology and higher drip water discharge during the 17th century. These observations reflect an increase in water excess above the cave and recharge of the epikarst, due to a combination of lower summer temperatures and increased winter precipitation during the 17th century. This study indicates that the transfer function controlling Mg, Sr and Ba seasonal variability varies over time. Which process is dominant, either PCP or dolomite dissolution, is clearly climate-driven and can thus be used as a paleoclimate proxy itself.

Download Full-text

Advances in high-resolution paleoclimate reconstructions using growth experiments, age modelling and clumped isotope analyses

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-6120 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Niels de Winter ◽

Rob Witbaard ◽

Inigo Müller ◽

Ilja Kocken ◽

Tobias Agterhuis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Trace Element ◽

Shell Growth ◽

Seasonal Temperature ◽

Human Scale ◽

Temperature Reconstructions ◽

Shell Chemistry ◽

Clumped Isotope ◽

Isotope Analyses ◽

Bivalve Shells

Geochemical records from incremental carbonate archives, such as fossil mollusk shells, contain information on climate and environmental change at the resolution of days to decades (e.g. Sch&#246;ne and Gillikin, 2013; Ivany, 2012). These high-resolution paleoclimate data, providing snapshots of past climate change on a human scale, complement more conventional reconstructions on a geological timescale of thousands to millions of years. Recent innovations in geochemical techniques such as high-resolution trace element and clumped isotope analyses provide the unique potential to improve the accuracy and resolution of these high-resolution climate reconstructions in the near future (see e.g. de Winter et al., 2020a; b; Caldarescu et al., 2021). However, to be able to make the most out of these new techniques requires a more detailed understanding of the timing and mechanisms of mollusk shell growth as well as the relationship between environment and shell chemistry on daily to weekly timescales.The UNBIAS (UNravelling BIvAlve Shell chemistry) project combines investigations on lab-grown modern bivalve shells with reconstructions based on fossil shell material from past greenhouse periods in an attempt to improve our understanding of short-term temperature variability in warm climates. Samples from cultured shells labeled with a novel trace element spiking method are used to calibrate accurate temperature reconstructions from bivalve shells using the state-of-the-art clumped isotope method. As a result, we present a temperature calibration of clumped isotope measurements on aragonitic shell carbonates. New statistical routines are developed to accurately date microsamples within shells relative to the seasonal cycle (ShellChron; de Winter, 2020) and to strategically combine these microsamples for seasonal reconstructions of temperature and salinity from fossil shells (seasonalclumped, de Winter et al., 2020c; de Winter, 2021). We present the first results of this integrated seasonal reconstruction approach on fossil bivalve shells from the Pliocene Warm Period and Late Cretaceous greenhouse of northwestern Europe as well as an outlook on future plans within the UNBIAS project.&#160;ReferencesCaldarescu, D. E. et al. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 294, 174&#8211;191 (2021).de Winter, N. J. ShellChron v0.2.8: Builds Chronologies from Oxygen Isotope Profiles in Shells. (2020).de Winter, N. J. seasonalclumped v0.3.2: Toolbox for Seasonal Temperature Reconstructions using Clumped Isotope Analyses. (2021).de Winter, N. J. et al. Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology 35, e2019PA003723 (2020a).de Winter, N. J. et al. Nature Communications in Earth and Environment (in review; 2020b) doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-39203/v2.de Winter, N., Agterhuis, T. & Ziegler, M. Climate of the Past Discussions 1&#8211;52 (2020c) doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-2020-118.Ivany, L. C. The Paleontological Society Papers 18, 133&#8211;166 (2012).Sch&#246;ne, B. R. & Gillikin, D. P. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 373, 1&#8211;5 (2013).

Download Full-text

Palaeoenvironment of Northwestern India during the late Cretaceous Deccan volcanic episode from trace-element and stable-isotope geochemistry of intertrappean ostracod shells

Global and Planetary Change ◽

10.1016/j.gloplacha.2013.04.011 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 107 ◽

pp. 82-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Sunil Bajpai ◽

Jonathan Holmes ◽

Carys Bennett ◽

Nivedita Mandal ◽

Ashu Khosla

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotope ◽

Trace Element ◽

Late Cretaceous ◽

Isotope Geochemistry ◽

Stable Isotope Geochemistry ◽

Northwestern India

Download Full-text

Characterizing Growing Season Length of Subtropical Coniferous Forests with a Phenological Model

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12010095 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 95

Author(s):

Yuan Gong ◽

Christina L. Staudhammer ◽

Susanne Wiesner ◽

Gregory Starr ◽

Yinlong Zhang

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Soil Water ◽

Prescribed Fire ◽

Water Availability ◽

Longleaf Pine ◽

Growing Season ◽

Soil Water Availability ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Short Term ◽

Phenological Model

Understanding plant phenological change is of great concern in the context of global climate change. Phenological models can aid in understanding and predicting growing season changes and can be parameterized with gross primary production (GPP) estimated using the eddy covariance (EC) technique. This study used nine years of EC-derived GPP data from three mature subtropical longleaf pine forests in the southeastern United States with differing soil water holding capacity in combination with site-specific micrometeorological data to parameterize a photosynthesis-based phenological model. We evaluated how weather conditions and prescribed fire led to variation in the ecosystem phenological processes. The results suggest that soil water availability had an effect on phenology, and greater soil water availability was associated with a longer growing season (LOS). We also observed that prescribed fire, a common forest management activity in the region, had a limited impact on phenological processes. Dormant season fire had no significant effect on phenological processes by site, but we observed differences in the start of the growing season (SOS) between fire and non-fire years. Fire delayed SOS by 10 d ± 5 d (SE), and this effect was greater with higher soil water availability, extending SOS by 18 d on average. Fire was also associated with increased sensitivity of spring phenology to radiation and air temperature. We found that interannual climate change and periodic weather anomalies (flood, short-term drought, and long-term drought), controlled annual ecosystem phenological processes more than prescribed fire. When water availability increased following short-term summer drought, the growing season was extended. With future climate change, subtropical areas of the Southeastern US are expected to experience more frequent short-term droughts, which could shorten the region’s growing season and lead to a reduction in the longleaf pine ecosystem’s carbon sequestration capacity.

Download Full-text

Preliminary evaluation of potential stable isotope and trace element productivity proxies in the oyster Crassostrea gigas

Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology ◽

10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.03.034 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 373 ◽

pp. 88-97 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

David H. Goodwin ◽

David P. Gillikin ◽

Peter D. Roopnarine

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotope ◽

Trace Element ◽

Crassostrea Gigas ◽

Preliminary Evaluation

Download Full-text

Dephytinisation of soyabean protein isolate with low native phytic acid content has limited impact on mineral and trace element absorption in healthy infants

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1079/bjn20031053 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 91 (2) ◽

pp. 287-293 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Lena Davidsson ◽

Ekhard E. Ziegler ◽

Peter Kastenmayer ◽

Peter van Dael ◽

Denis Barclay

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotope ◽

Trace Element ◽

Phytic Acid ◽

Protein Isolate ◽

Soya Protein ◽

Faecal Excretion ◽

Phytic Acid Content ◽

Healthy Infants ◽

Isotope Technique ◽

Stable Isotope Technique

Infant formulas based on soyabean protein isolate are often used as an alternative to cows'-based formulas. However, the presence of phytic acid in soya formulas has raised concern about the absorption of trace elements and minerals from these products. The aim of the present study was to evaluate mineral and trace element absorption from regular and dephytinised soya formula in healthy infants. Soyabean protein isolate with a relatively low native content of phytic acid was used for production of a regular soya formula (300 mg phytic acid/kg liquid formula) and an experimental formula was based on dephytinised soya protein isolate (<6 mg phytic acid/kg liquid formula). Using a crossover study design, apparent mineral and trace element absorptions were measured by a stable isotope technique based on 72 h faecal excretion of non-absorbed stable isotopes (Zn, Fe, Cu and Ca) and by the chemical balance technique (Mn, Zn, Cu and Ca) in nine infants (69–191 d old). Fe absorption was also measured by erythrocyte incorporation 14 d after intake. The results from the present study demonstrated that Zn absorption, measured by a stable isotope technique, was significantly greater after dephytinisation (mean value 16·7 v. 22·6 %; P=0·03). No other statistically significant differences between the two formulas were observed. The nutritional benefit of dephytinisation was marginal in the present study. Based on these results, the use of soyabean protein isolate with low native content of phytic acid should be promoted for production of soya formulas and adequate addition of ascorbic acid to enhance Fe absorption should be ensured in the products.

Download Full-text