scholarly journals Interactive comment on “The influence of Atlantic climate variability on the long-term development of Mediterranean cold-water coral mounds (Alboran Sea, Melilla Mound Field)” by Robin Fentimen et al.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoufel Haddam
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Alborán Sea ◽  
Water Coral

scholarly journals The influence of Atlantic climate variability on the long-term development of Mediterranean cold-water coral mounds (Alboran Sea, Melilla Mound Field)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Fentimen ◽  
Eline Feenstra ◽  
Andres Rüggeberg ◽  
Efraim Hall ◽  
Valentin Rime ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Water Masses ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Mound Formation ◽  
Glacial Periods ◽  
Alborán Sea ◽  
Water Coral

Abstract. This study provides a detailed reconstruction of climatic events affecting a cold-water coral mound located within the East Melilla Coral Province (Southeast Alboran Sea) over the last 300 ky. Based on benthic foraminiferal assemblages, macrofaunal quantification, grain size analysis, sediment geochemistry, and foraminiferal stable isotope compositions, a reconstruction of environmental conditions prevailing in the region is proposed. The variations in planktonic and benthic δ18O values indicate that cold-water coral mound formation follows global climatic variability. Cold-water corals develop during both interglacial and glacial periods, although interglacial conditions would have allowed better proliferation. Environmental conditions during glacial periods, particularly during the Last Glacial Maximum, appear to better suit the ecological requirements of the erect cheilostome bryozoan Buskea dichotoma. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages suggest that high organic carbon flux characterized interglacial periods. Results from this study imply that increased influence of warm and moist Atlantic air masses during interglacial periods led to increased fluvial discharge, providing nutrients for cold-water corals. Important interglacial Atlantic Water mass inflow further promoted strong Alboran Gyres, and thus mixing between surface and intermediate water masses. Increased turbulence and nutrient supply would have hence provided suitable conditions for coral development. In contrast, benthic foraminiferal assemblages and grain size distributions suggest that the benthic environment received less organic matter during glacial periods, whilst bottom flow velocity was reduced in comparison to interglacial periods. During glacial periods, arid continental conditions combined to more stratified water masses caused a dwindling of coral communities in the southeastern Alboran Sea, although aeolian dust input may have allowed these to survive. In contrast to Northeast Atlantic counterparts, coral mound build-up in the southeastern Alboran Sea occurs during glacial as well as during interglacial periods and at very low aggradation rates (between 1 and 9 cm ky−1). We propose that Buskea dichotoma plays an important role in long-term mound formation at the East Melilla Coral Province, noticeably during glacial periods.

scholarly journals Living benthic foraminifera from cold-water coral ecosystems in the eastern Alboran Sea, Western Mediterranean

Heliyon ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. e07880
Author(s):  
Claudio Stalder ◽  
Akram El Kateb ◽  
Jorge E. Spangenberg ◽  
Loubna Terhzaz ◽  
Agostina Vertino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Benthic Foraminifera ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Alborán Sea ◽  
Water Coral

scholarly journals Ecological characterisation of a Mediterranean cold-water coral reef: Cabliers Coral Mound Province (Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean)

2019 ◽  
Vol 175 ◽  
pp. 245-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillem Corbera ◽  
Claudio Lo Iacono ◽  
Eulàlia Gràcia ◽  
Jordi Grinyó ◽  
Martina Pierdomenico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Alborán Sea ◽  
Water Coral

The West Melilla cold water coral mounds, Eastern Alboran Sea: Morphological characterization and environmental context

2014 ◽  
Vol 99 ◽  
pp. 316-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Lo Iacono ◽  
Eulàlia Gràcia ◽  
Cesar R. Ranero ◽  
Mikhail Emelianov ◽  
Veerle A.I. Huvenne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cold Water ◽  
Environmental Context ◽  
Morphological Characterization ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
The West ◽  
Alborán Sea ◽  
Water Coral

scholarly journals SCHACKOINELLA SPINA, A NEW BENTHIC FORAMINIFERAL SPECIES FROM COLD-WATER CORAL ECOSYSTEMS OF THE ALBORAN SEA AND THE GULF OF CÁDIZ

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 344-353
Author(s):  
Claudio Stalder ◽  
Flavius Székely-Szabolcs ◽  
Akram El Kateb ◽  
David Van Rooij ◽  
Silvia Spezzaferri
Keyword(s):  
Cold Water ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Gulf Of Cadiz ◽  
Foraminiferal Species ◽  
Gulf Of Cádiz ◽  
Alborán Sea ◽  
Water Coral

Cold-water coral growth in the Alboran Sea related to high productivity during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene

2013 ◽  
Vol 339 ◽  
pp. 71-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiske G. Fink ◽  
Claudia Wienberg ◽  
Ricardo De Pol-Holz ◽  
Paul Wintersteller ◽  
Dierk Hebbeln
Keyword(s):  
Late Pleistocene ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Coral Growth ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Alborán Sea ◽  
Water Coral

Cold-Water Coral Colonization of Alboran Sea Knolls, Western Mediterranean Sea

2012 ◽  
pp. 819-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben De Mol ◽  
David Amblas ◽  
Antonio Calafat ◽  
Miquel Canals ◽  
Ruth Duran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Alborán Sea ◽  
Water Coral

scholarly journals A 300,000 year record of cold-water coral mound build-up at the East Melilla Coral Province (SE Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean)

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Fentimen ◽  
Eline Feenstra ◽  
Andres Rüggeberg ◽  
Efraim Hall ◽  
Valentin Rime ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Water Masses ◽  
Sediment Geochemistry ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
Alboran Sea ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
Glacial Periods ◽  
Alborán Sea ◽  
Water Coral

Abstract. This study provides a detailed reconstruction of cold-water coral mound build-up within the East Melilla Coral Province (Southeast Alboran Sea) over the last 300 ky. Based on benthic foraminiferal assemblages, macrofaunal quantification, grain size analysis, sediment geochemistry, and foraminiferal stable isotope compositions, a reconstruction of environmental conditions having prevailed in the region is proposed. The variations in planktonic and benthic δ18O values indicate that cold-water coral mound build-up follows and records global climate variability. In contrast to northeast Atlantic counterparts, coral mound build-up in the southeast Alboran Sea occurs during glacial as well as during interglacial periods and at very low aggradation rates (between 1 and 10 cm.ky−1). Environmental conditions during glacial periods, particularly during the Last Glacial Maximum, appear to better suit the ecological requirements of the erect cheilostome bryozoan Buskea dichotoma. We propose that Buskea dichotoma has an important role in the build-up of cold-water coral mounds at the East Melilla Coral Province during glacial periods. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages suggest that important terrestrial input favoured cold-water coral proliferation during interglacial periods. The existence of strong Alboran Gyres during interglacial periods, promoting mixing between surface and intermediate water masses and bottom water turbulence, was possibly beneficial for cold-water coral development. Conversely, benthic foraminiferal assemblages indicate that the seafloor received less organic matter during glacial periods. Overall, the arid continental conditions combined to more stratified water masses resulted in limited coral proliferation during glacial times.

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