The Mediterranean coral Cladocora caespitosa: a proxy for past climate fluctuations?
Sclerochronology was applied to recent, Holocene and Pleistocene samples of Cladocora caespitosa. Late Pliocene samples were recrystallised and thus unsuitable for sclerochronology. Quaternary samples showed a clear, alternating banding pattern as in the living coral, confirming a marked seasonality...
Gespeichert in:
Veröffentlicht in: | Global and planetary change 2004, Vol.40 (1), p.195-200 |
---|---|
Hauptverfasser: | , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Artikel |
Sprache: | eng |
Schlagworte: | |
Online-Zugang: | Volltext |
Tags: |
Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
|
Zusammenfassung: | Sclerochronology was applied to recent, Holocene and Pleistocene samples of
Cladocora caespitosa. Late Pliocene samples were recrystallised and thus unsuitable for sclerochronology. Quaternary samples showed a clear, alternating banding pattern as in the living coral, confirming a marked seasonality of past climate. The computed mean annual growth rates ranged from 2.1 to 6.9 mm year
−1, with highest growth rates during the warmer phase (isotope stage 5e) of the first climate cycle. It is hypothesised that the largest fossil banks of
C. caespitosa grew in a coastal environment with considerable alluvial inputs and warmer temperatures than today. |
---|---|
ISSN: | 0921-8181 1872-6364 |
DOI: | 10.1016/S0921-8181(03)00110-3 |