Differences between mono-generic and mixed diatom silicon isotope compositions trace present and past nutrient utilisation off Peru
Langue
en
Article de revue
Ce document a été publié dans
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 2016-03, vol. 177, p. 30-47
Elsevier
Résumé en anglais
In this study we combine for the first time silicon (Si) isotope compositions of small mixed diatom species (d 30 Si bSiO2) and of large handpicked mono-generic (i.e. genus = Coscinodiscus) diatom samples (d 30 Si Coscino) ...Lire la suite >
In this study we combine for the first time silicon (Si) isotope compositions of small mixed diatom species (d 30 Si bSiO2) and of large handpicked mono-generic (i.e. genus = Coscinodiscus) diatom samples (d 30 Si Coscino) with diatom assemblages extracted from marine sediments in the Peruvian upwelling region in order to constrain present and past silicate utilisation. The extension of a previous core-top data set from the Peruvian shelf demonstrates that d 30 Si Coscino values record near-complete Si utilisation, as these are similar to the isotopic composition of the subsurface source waters feeding the upwelling. In contrast, the d 30 Si bSiO2 of small mixed diatom species increase southward along the shelf as well as towards the shore. We attribute highest d 30 Si bSiO2 values partly to transient iron limitation but primarily to the gradual increase of Si isotope frac-tionation within the seasonal diatom succession, which are mainly recorded by small diatom species during intense bloom events. In contrast, lower d 30 Si bSiO2 values are related to initial Si isotope utilisation during periods of weak upwelling, when low Si(OH) 4 concentrations do not permit intense blooms and small diatom species record substantially lower d 30 Si signatures. As such, we propose that the intensity of the upwelling can be deduced from the offset between d 30 Si bSiO2 and d 30 Si Coscino (D 30 Si coscino-bSiO2), which is low for strong upwelling conditions and high for prevailing weak upwelling. We apply the information extracted from surface sediments to generate a record of the present-day main upwelling region covering the past 17,700 years and find that this location has also been characterized by a persistent offset (D 30 Si coscino-bSiO2). By comparison with the diatom assemblages we show that the coastal upwelling system changed markedly between weak and strong upwelling conditions. In addition, our model calculations to quantify species-specific Si isotope fractionation effects based on the diatom assemblages indicate an overall minor influence that cannot explain the high amplitude in the measured d 30 Si bSiO2 record.< Réduire