Sr/Ca ratios in cold-water corals - a ’low-resolution’ temperature archive?

One of the basic data to understand global change and past global changes is the measurement and the reconstruction of temperature of marine water masses. E.g. seawater temperature controls the density of seawater and in combination with salinity is the major driving force for the oceans circulation system. Geochemical investigations on cold-water corals Lophelia pertusa and Desmophyllum cristagalli indicated the potential of these organisms as high-resolution archives of environmental parameters from intermediate and deeper water masses (Adkins and Boyle 1997). Some studies tried to use cold-water corals as a high-resolution archive of temperature and salinity (Smith et al. 2000, 2002; Blamart et al. 2005; Lutringer et al. 2005). However, the fractionation of stable isotopes (delta18O and delta13C) and element ratios (Sr/Ca, Mg/Ca, U/Ca) are strongly influenced by vital effects (Shirai et al. 2005; Cohen et al. 2006), and difficult to interpret. Nevertheless, ongoing studies indicate the potential of a predominant temperature dependent fractionation of distinct isotopes and elements (e.g. Li/Ca, Montagna et al. 2008; U/Ca, Mg/Ca, delta18O, Lòpez Correa et al. 2008; delta88/86Sr, Rüggeberg et al. 2008).Within the frame of DFG-Project TRISTAN and Paläo-TRISTAN (Du 129/37-2 and 37-3) we investigated live-collected specimens of cold-water coral L. pertusa from all along the European continental margin (Northern and mid Norwegian shelves, Skagerrak, Rockall and Porcupine Bank, Galicia Bank, Gulf of Cadiz, Mediterranean Sea). These coral samples grew in waters characterized by temperatures between 6°C and 14°C. Electron Microprobe investigations along the growth direction of individual coral polyps were applied to determine the relationship between the incorporation of distinct elements (Sr, Ca, Mg, S). Cohen et al. (2006) showed for L.pertusa from the Kosterfjord, Skagerrak, that ~25% of the coral’s Sr/Ca ratio is related to temperature, while 75% are influenced by the calcification rate of the organism. However, the Sr/Ca-temperature relation of our L. pertusa specimens suggest, that mean values are more reliable for temperature reconstruction along a larger temperature range than local high-resolution investigations. Additionally, our results plot on same line of Sr/Ca-temperature relationship like tropical corals indicating a similar behaviour of element incorporation during calcification

COCARDE: A research platform for a new look to ancient mounds

Carbonate mounds are important contributors of life in different settings, from warm-water to cold-water environments, and throughout geological history. Research on modern carbonate mounds over the last years made a major contribution to our overall understanding of these particular sedimentary systems. By looking to the modern carbonate mound community, some fundamental questions could be addressed, until now not yet explored in fossil mound settings.The international network COCARDE (Cold-Water Carbonate Reservoir Systems in Deep Environment) is a platform for exploring new insights in cold- and warm-water carbonate mound research of recent and ancient mound systems (http://www.cocarde.eu). One aim of the COCARDE network is to bring scientific communities together, to study recent carbonate mounds in midslope environments in the present ocean, and to investigate fossil mounds spanning the whole Phanerozoic time.Scientific challenges on modern and ancient carbonate mound systems got already well defined during two dedicated workshops of the COCARDE network: 1) the ESF Magellan COCARDEWorkshop in Fribourg, Switzerland, January 21-24, 2009, and 2) the ESF MiCROSYSTEMS – FWO COCARDE Flanders – ESF CHECREEF Workshop and Field Seminar, Oviedo, Spain, September 16–20, 2009.The wide spectrum of disciplines in geosciences and biology are summarized in the following five topics for the carbonate mound research: i) Palaeoenvironment; ii) The Microbial Filter; iii) Petrophysical Characterization; iv) Connectivity and Compartmentalization – the Fluid System; v) Advancing our Insight in Phanerozoic Reef Systems– the Slope Niche. One of the most important outcomes of these meetings was the identification of the need for combined research efforts on fossil and modern carbonate settings to provide the baseline reference standard for a better understanding of these exceptional systems and their potential as hydrocarbon reservoirs

Varying growth rates in bamboo corals: sclerochronology and radiocarbon dating of a mid-Holocene deep-water gorgonian skeleton (Keratoisis sp.: Octocorallia) from Chatham Rise (New Zealand)

A branched mid-Holocene bamboo coral skeleton of the isidid gorgonian genus Keratoisis (Octocorallia) recovered at southwestern Chatham Rise (New Zealand) from an average water depth of 680 m is described with respect to sclerochronology and age determination. Growth rates of the Mg-calcitic internodal increments were investigated by the counting of colour bands and radiocarbon dating. Growth banding is produced by varying orientations of crystal fan bundles towards the image plane. The skeleton shows three growth interruptions, which are documented in all branches. AMS 14C ages decrease from base to top of the trunk and from the central axes to the margins of the branches, documenting a simultaneous vertical and lateral growth. The data provide a maximum age of 3,975 +/- 35 years BP, and a record spanning 240 +/- 35 years. While calculated longitudinal growth rates amount to an average of 5 mm/year during a 55-year record, average lateral linear extension rates of 0.4 mm/year are an order of magnitude lower, still allowing for a seasonal to annual resolutionof colour bands on a macroscopic scale and for a daily to monthly resolution on microscales of individual crystal generations to fascicle bundles. Hence, the isidid skeleton provides a high-resolution archive of paleoceanographic dynamics in deeper water masses. Concentric incremental accretion around the central axis in the early growth stages changed into a unilaterally asymmetric growth during late-stage evolution, probably triggered by the establishment of a stable system of unidirectional currents and nutrient flux. While colour band counts, related to the AMS 14C ages, support a seasonal to annual accretion of macroscopic growth bands in the inner concentric and complete outer parts of the skeleton, incremental growth rates at the condensed side are highly variable, as documented by hiatuses and unconformities. Thus the specimen proves that growth rates of bamboo corals may vary within individual skeletons and strongly deviate from the annual mode, hence showing implications on paleoceanographic proxy analyses. Keywords: Bamboo coral · Microfabric · Sclerochronology · Incremental growth · Radiocarbon dating · Growth rate