A new method for amino acid geochronology of the shell of the bivalve mollusc Arctica islandica
The bivalve mollusc Arctica islandica can live for hundreds of years, and its shell has provided a valuable resource for sclerochronological studies and geochemical analyses for understanding palaeoenvironmental change. Shell specimens recovered from the seabed need to be dated in order to aid sampl...
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2024
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Online Access: | https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/213081/ https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/213081/1/gchron-6-175-2024.pdf https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-6-175-2024 |
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ftleedsuniv:oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:213081 2024-09-15T17:54:28+00:00 A new method for amino acid geochronology of the shell of the bivalve mollusc Arctica islandica Conti, Martina L.G. Butler, Paul G. Reynolds, David J. Trofimova, Tamara Scourse, James D. Penkman, Kirsty E.H. 2024-05-23 text https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/213081/ https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/213081/1/gchron-6-175-2024.pdf https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-6-175-2024 en eng https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/213081/1/gchron-6-175-2024.pdf Conti, Martina L.G., Butler, Paul G., Reynolds, David J. et al. (3 more authors) (2024) A new method for amino acid geochronology of the shell of the bivalve mollusc Arctica islandica. Geochronology. pp. 175-198. ISSN 2628-3719 cc_by Article PeerReviewed 2024 ftleedsuniv https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-6-175-2024 2024-08-06T23:54:05Z The bivalve mollusc Arctica islandica can live for hundreds of years, and its shell has provided a valuable resource for sclerochronological studies and geochemical analyses for understanding palaeoenvironmental change. Shell specimens recovered from the seabed need to be dated in order to aid sample selection, but existing methods using radiocarbon dating or cross-dating are both costly and time-consuming. We have investigated amino acid geochronology (AAG) as a potential alternative means of providing a less costly and more efficient range-finding method. In order to do this, we have investigated the complex microstructure of the shells, as this may influence the application of AAG. Each of the three microstructural layers of A. islandica have been isolated and their protein degradation examined (amino acid concentration, composition, racemization, and peptide bond hydrolysis). The intra-crystalline protein fraction was successfully extracted following oxidation treatment for 48ĝ€¯h, and high-Temperature experiments at 140ĝ€¯°C established coherent breakdown patterns in all three layers, but the inner portion of the outer shell layer (iOSL) was the most appropriate component due to practicalities. Sampling of the iOSL layer in Holocene shells from early and late ontogeny (over 100-400 years) showed that the resolution of AAG is too low in A. islandica for within-shell age resolution. However, analysis of 52 subfossil samples confirmed that this approach could be used to establish a relative geochronology for this biomineral throughout the whole of the Quaternary. In the late Holocene the temporal resolution is g1/41500-2000 years. Relative dating of 160 dredged shells of unknown age was narrowed down using AAG as a range finder, showing that a collection of shells from Iceland and the North Sea covered the middle Holocene, late Holocene, later and post-medieval (1171-1713ĝ€¯CE), and modern day. This study confirms the value of A. islandica as a reliable material for range finding and for dating Quaternary ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctica islandica Iceland White Rose Research Online (Universities of Leeds, Sheffield & York) Geochronology 6 2 175 198 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
White Rose Research Online (Universities of Leeds, Sheffield & York) |
op_collection_id |
ftleedsuniv |
language |
English |
description |
The bivalve mollusc Arctica islandica can live for hundreds of years, and its shell has provided a valuable resource for sclerochronological studies and geochemical analyses for understanding palaeoenvironmental change. Shell specimens recovered from the seabed need to be dated in order to aid sample selection, but existing methods using radiocarbon dating or cross-dating are both costly and time-consuming. We have investigated amino acid geochronology (AAG) as a potential alternative means of providing a less costly and more efficient range-finding method. In order to do this, we have investigated the complex microstructure of the shells, as this may influence the application of AAG. Each of the three microstructural layers of A. islandica have been isolated and their protein degradation examined (amino acid concentration, composition, racemization, and peptide bond hydrolysis). The intra-crystalline protein fraction was successfully extracted following oxidation treatment for 48ĝ€¯h, and high-Temperature experiments at 140ĝ€¯°C established coherent breakdown patterns in all three layers, but the inner portion of the outer shell layer (iOSL) was the most appropriate component due to practicalities. Sampling of the iOSL layer in Holocene shells from early and late ontogeny (over 100-400 years) showed that the resolution of AAG is too low in A. islandica for within-shell age resolution. However, analysis of 52 subfossil samples confirmed that this approach could be used to establish a relative geochronology for this biomineral throughout the whole of the Quaternary. In the late Holocene the temporal resolution is g1/41500-2000 years. Relative dating of 160 dredged shells of unknown age was narrowed down using AAG as a range finder, showing that a collection of shells from Iceland and the North Sea covered the middle Holocene, late Holocene, later and post-medieval (1171-1713ĝ€¯CE), and modern day. This study confirms the value of A. islandica as a reliable material for range finding and for dating Quaternary ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Conti, Martina L.G. Butler, Paul G. Reynolds, David J. Trofimova, Tamara Scourse, James D. Penkman, Kirsty E.H. |
spellingShingle |
Conti, Martina L.G. Butler, Paul G. Reynolds, David J. Trofimova, Tamara Scourse, James D. Penkman, Kirsty E.H. A new method for amino acid geochronology of the shell of the bivalve mollusc Arctica islandica |
author_facet |
Conti, Martina L.G. Butler, Paul G. Reynolds, David J. Trofimova, Tamara Scourse, James D. Penkman, Kirsty E.H. |
author_sort |
Conti, Martina L.G. |
title |
A new method for amino acid geochronology of the shell of the bivalve mollusc Arctica islandica |
title_short |
A new method for amino acid geochronology of the shell of the bivalve mollusc Arctica islandica |
title_full |
A new method for amino acid geochronology of the shell of the bivalve mollusc Arctica islandica |
title_fullStr |
A new method for amino acid geochronology of the shell of the bivalve mollusc Arctica islandica |
title_full_unstemmed |
A new method for amino acid geochronology of the shell of the bivalve mollusc Arctica islandica |
title_sort |
new method for amino acid geochronology of the shell of the bivalve mollusc arctica islandica |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/213081/ https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/213081/1/gchron-6-175-2024.pdf https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-6-175-2024 |
genre |
Arctica islandica Iceland |
genre_facet |
Arctica islandica Iceland |
op_relation |
https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/213081/1/gchron-6-175-2024.pdf Conti, Martina L.G., Butler, Paul G., Reynolds, David J. et al. (3 more authors) (2024) A new method for amino acid geochronology of the shell of the bivalve mollusc Arctica islandica. Geochronology. pp. 175-198. ISSN 2628-3719 |
op_rights |
cc_by |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-6-175-2024 |
container_title |
Geochronology |
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6 |
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2 |
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175 |
op_container_end_page |
198 |
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1810430795512283136 |