High-resolution analysis of trace elements in crustose coralline algae from the North Atlantic and North Pacific by laser ablation ICP-MS

We have investigated the trace elemental composition in the skeleta of two specimens of attached-living coralline algae of the species Clathromorphum compactum from the North Atlantic (Newfoundland) and Clathromorphum nereostratum from the North Pacific/Bering Sea region (Amchitka Island, Aleutians)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
Main Authors: Hetzinger, S., Halfar, J., Zack, T., Gamboa, G., Jacob, D. E., Kunz, B. E., Kronz, A., Adey, W., Lebednik, P. A., Steneck, R. S.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: 2011
Subjects:
Amchitka
Amchitka Island
Bering Sea
Pacific
Newfoundland
North Atlantic
Online Access:https://oro.open.ac.uk/54796/
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2010.06.004
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Summary:We have investigated the trace elemental composition in the skeleta of two specimens of attached-living coralline algae of the species Clathromorphum compactum from the North Atlantic (Newfoundland) and Clathromorphum nereostratum from the North Pacific/Bering Sea region (Amchitka Island, Aleutians). Samples were analyzed using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) yielding for the first time continuous individual trace elemental records of up to 69 years in length. The resulting algal Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, U/Ca, and Ba/Ca ratios are reproducible within individual sample specimens. Algal Mg/Ca ratios were additionally validated by electron microprobe analyses (Amchitka sample). Algal Sr/Ca, U/Ca, and Ba/Ca ratios were compared to algal Mg/Ca ratios, which previously have been shown to reliably record sea surface temperature (SST). Ratios of Sr/Ca from both Clathromorphum species show a strong positive correlation to temperature-dependent Mg/Ca ratios, implying that seawater temperature plays an important role in the incorporation of Sr into algal calcite. Linear Sr/Ca-SST regressions have provided positive, but weaker relationships as compared to Mg/Ca-SST relationships. Both, algal Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca display clear seasonal cycles. Inverse correlations were found between algal Mg/Ca and U/Ca, Ba/Ca, and correlations to SST are weaker than between Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca and SST. This suggests that the incorporation of U and Ba is influenced by other factors aside from temperature.

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