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author Zonneveld, Karin A F
author_facet Zonneveld, Karin A F
collection Datos científicos de ciencias marinas y ambientales
contents To investigate the potential use of the stable isotope composition of the vegetative cysts of the photosynthetic dinoflagellate Thoracosphaera heimii for quantitative palaeotemperature reconstructions a method has been developed to purify T. heimii cysts from sediment samples. Stable oxygen and carbon isotopes have been measured on T. heimii cysts from 21 surface sediment samples from the equatorial Atlantic and South Atlantic Oceans. Calculated temperatures based on the palaeotemperature equation for inorganic calcite precipitation generally reflect mean annual temperatures of the upper water column, notably of thermocline depths. Although the present results suggest that the isotopic composition of T. heimii shells might be formed in equilibrium with the seawater in which the shells are being formed, future investigations are required to determine possible effects of metabolic and kinetic processes on the fractionation process. This pilot study therefore forms the basis for future investigations on the development of this tool and the determination of a species-specific palaeotemperature equation. The wide geographic and stratigraphic distribution of T. heimii cysts in sediments, the stable position of T. heimii within the water column and the high resistance of its cysts against calcite dissolution underline its potential for a wide usability in palaeotemperature reconstructions.
format Dataset Open Access
id pangaea_https___doi_org_10_1594_PANGAEA_602235
institution PANGAEA
language en
publishDate 2004
publisher PANGAEA
record_format pangaea
spellingShingle Stable oxygen isotope data of Thoracosphaera heimii in surface sediment samples of the equatorial Atlantic and South Atlantic
Zonneveld, Karin A F
06MT41_3; Amazon Shelf/Fan; Angola Basin; Atlantic Caribbean Margin; Brazil Basin; Ceara Rise; Center for Marine Environmental Sciences; Continental slope off Brazil; Date; DEPTH, sediment/rock; Elevation of event; Event label; GeoB3603-1; GeoB3723-2; GeoB3804-2; GeoB3812-2; GeoB3827-1; GeoB3910-3; GeoB3925-2; GeoB3935-1; GeoB4306-1; GeoB4311-1; GeoB4401-3; GeoB4421-2; GeoB4908-3; GeoB5004-2; GeoB5008-3; GeoB5121-2; GeoB5130-1; GeoB5132-2; GeoB5140-3; GeoB5204-11; Latitude of event; Longitude of event; M34/1; M34/2; M34/3; M34/4; M38/1; M38/2; M41/1; M41/2; M41/3; M41/4; MARUM; Mass spectrometer Finnigan MAT 251; Meteor (1986); Midatlantic Ridge; Mid Atlantic Ridge; Mid-Atlantic Ridge; MUC; MultiCorer; Northeast Brasilian Margin; Northern Brazil Basin; Northern Cape Basin; off Gabun; Southern Cape Basin; Thoracosphaera heimii, δ13C; Thoracosphaera heimii, δ18O
To investigate the potential use of the stable isotope composition of the vegetative cysts of the photosynthetic dinoflagellate Thoracosphaera heimii for quantitative palaeotemperature reconstructions a method has been developed to purify T. heimii cysts from sediment samples. Stable oxygen and carbon isotopes have been measured on T. heimii cysts from 21 surface sediment samples from the equatorial Atlantic and South Atlantic Oceans. Calculated temperatures based on the palaeotemperature equation for inorganic calcite precipitation generally reflect mean annual temperatures of the upper water column, notably of thermocline depths. Although the present results suggest that the isotopic composition of T. heimii shells might be formed in equilibrium with the seawater in which the shells are being formed, future investigations are required to determine possible effects of metabolic and kinetic processes on the fractionation process. This pilot study therefore forms the basis for future investigations on the development of this tool and the determination of a species-specific palaeotemperature equation. The wide geographic and stratigraphic distribution of T. heimii cysts in sediments, the stable position of T. heimii within the water column and the high resistance of its cysts against calcite dissolution underline its potential for a wide usability in palaeotemperature reconstructions.
title Stable oxygen isotope data of Thoracosphaera heimii in surface sediment samples of the equatorial Atlantic and South Atlantic
topic 06MT41_3; Amazon Shelf/Fan; Angola Basin; Atlantic Caribbean Margin; Brazil Basin; Ceara Rise; Center for Marine Environmental Sciences; Continental slope off Brazil; Date; DEPTH, sediment/rock; Elevation of event; Event label; GeoB3603-1; GeoB3723-2; GeoB3804-2; GeoB3812-2; GeoB3827-1; GeoB3910-3; GeoB3925-2; GeoB3935-1; GeoB4306-1; GeoB4311-1; GeoB4401-3; GeoB4421-2; GeoB4908-3; GeoB5004-2; GeoB5008-3; GeoB5121-2; GeoB5130-1; GeoB5132-2; GeoB5140-3; GeoB5204-11; Latitude of event; Longitude of event; M34/1; M34/2; M34/3; M34/4; M38/1; M38/2; M41/1; M41/2; M41/3; M41/4; MARUM; Mass spectrometer Finnigan MAT 251; Meteor (1986); Midatlantic Ridge; Mid Atlantic Ridge; Mid-Atlantic Ridge; MUC; MultiCorer; Northeast Brasilian Margin; Northern Brazil Basin; Northern Cape Basin; off Gabun; Southern Cape Basin; Thoracosphaera heimii, δ13C; Thoracosphaera heimii, δ18O
url https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.602235