Enhanced seasonality of precipitation in the Mediterranean during the early part of the Last Interglacial

Geology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 919-922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice M. Milner ◽  
Richard E.L. Collier ◽  
Katherine H. Roucoux ◽  
Ulrich C. Müller ◽  
Jörg Pross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Last Interglacial ◽  
The Mediterranean

Radiocarbon dating of individual foram tests show that alleged Lessepsian species are of Holocene age

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo G. Albano ◽  
Anna Sabbatini ◽  
Jonathan Lattanzio ◽  
Jan Steger ◽  
Sönke Szidat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Red Sea ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Suez Canal ◽  
Tropical Species ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Sediment Depth ◽  
The Mediterranean

<p>The Lessepsian invasion – the largest marine biological invasion – followed the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 (81 years BP). Shortly afterwards, tropical species also distributed in the Red Sea appeared on Mediterranean shores: it was the dawn of what would become the invasion of several hundred tropical species. The time of the Suez Canal opening coincided with an acceleration in natural history exploration and description, but the eastern sectors of the Mediterranean Sea lagged behind and were thoroughly explored only in the second half of the 20<sup>th</sup> century. Many parts are still insufficiently studied today. Baseline information on pre-Lessepsian ecosystem states is thus scarce. This knowledge gap has rarely been considered by invasion scientists: every new finding of species belonging to tropical clades has been assumed to be a Lessepsian invader.</p><p>We here question this assumption by radiocarbon dating seven individual tests of miliolids – imperforated calcareous foraminifera – belonging to five alleged non-indigenous species. Tests were found in two sediment cores collected at 30 and 40 m depth off Ashqelon, on the Mediterranean Israeli shelf. We dated one <em>Cribromiliolinella milletti </em>(core at 40 m, 20 cm sediment depth), three <em>Nodophthalmidium antillarum </em>(core at 40 m, 35 cm sediment depth), one <em>Miliolinella </em>cf. <em>fichteliana </em>(core at 30 m, 110 cm sediment depth), one <em>Articulina alticostata </em>(core at 40 m, 35 cm sediment depth) and one <em>Spiroloculina antillarum </em>(core at 30 m, 110 cm sediment depth). All foraminiferal tests proved to be of Holocene age, with a median calibrated age spanning between 749 and 8285 years BP. Only one test of <em>N. antillarum</em> showed a 2-sigma error overlapping the time of the opening of the Suez Canal, but with a median age of 1123 years BP. Additionally, a thorough literature search resulted in a further record of <em>S. antillarum</em> in a core interval dated 1820–2064 years BP in Turkey.</p><p>Therefore, these foraminiferal species are not introduced, but native species. They are all circumtropical or Indo-Pacific and in the Mediterranean distributed mostly in the eastern sectors (only <em>S. antillarum</em> occurs also in the Adriatic Sea). Two hypotheses can explain our results: these species are Tethyan relicts that survived the Messinian salinity crisis (5.97–5.33 Ma) and the glacial periods of the Pleistocene in the Eastern Mediterranean, which may have never desiccated completely during the Messinian crisis and which may have worked as a warm-water refugium in the Pleistocene; or they entered the Mediterranean Sea from the Red Sea more recently but before the opening of the Suez Canal, for example during the Last Interglacial (MIS5e) high-stand (125,000 years BP) when the flooded Isthmus of Suez enabled exchanges between the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific fauna. The recognition that some alleged Lessepsian invaders are in fact native species influences our understanding of the invasion process, its rates and environmental correlates.</p>

scholarly journals Excursions to C<sub>4</sub> vegetation recorded in the Upper Pleistocene loess of Surduk (Northern Serbia): an organic isotope geochemistry study

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 1001-1014 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Hatté ◽  
C. Gauthier ◽  
D.-D. Rousseau ◽  
P. Antoine ◽  
M. Fuchs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Pattern ◽  
Free Water ◽  
Circulation Pattern ◽  
Water Evaporation ◽  
C3 Plants ◽  
Mean Annual Precipitation ◽  
Glacial Cycle ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
The Balkans ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract. Loess sequences have been intensively studied to characterize past glacial climates of the 40–50° north and south latitude zones. Combining different approaches of sedimentology, magnetism, geochemistry, geochronology and malacology allows the general pattern of the climate and environment of the last interglacial–glacial cycle in Eurasia and America to be characterized. Previous studies performed in Europe have highlighted the predominance (if not the sole occurrence) of C3 vegetation. The presence of C3 plants suggests a regular distribution of precipitation along the year. Therefore, even if the mean annual precipitation remained very low during the most extensive glacial times, free water was available for more than 2 months per year. Contrarily, the δ13C record of Surduk (Serbia) clearly shows the occurrence and dominance of C4 plants during at least 4 episodes of the last glacial times at 28.0–26.0 kyr cal BP, 31.4–30.0 kyr cal BP, 53.4–44.5 kyr cal BP and 86.8–66.1 kyr. The C4 plant development is interpreted as a specific atmospheric circulation pattern that induces short and dry summer conditions. As possible explanation, we propose that during "C4 episodes", the Mediterranean Sea would have been under the combined influence of the following: (i) a strong meridional circulation unfavorable to water evaporation that reduced the Mediterranean precipitation on the Balkans; and (ii) a high positive North Atlantic Western Russian (NA/WR)-like atmospheric pattern that favored northerlies over westerlies and reduced Atlantic precipitation over the Balkans. This configuration would imply very dry summers that did not allow C3 plants to grow, thus supporting C4 development. The intra-"C4 episode" periods would have occurred under less drastic oceanic and atmospheric patterns that made the influence of westerlies on the Balkans possible.

Erosional landforms and biological structures in tectonically stable areas in the Mediterranean basin

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Vaccher ◽  
Stefano Furlani ◽  
Sara Biolchi ◽  
Chiara Boccali ◽  
Alice Busetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Vertical Position ◽  
Structural Constraints ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Biological Structures ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

&lt;p&gt;The Mediterranean basin displays a variety of neotectonics scenarios leading to positive or negative vertical displacement, which change the vertical position of former coastlines. As a result, the best locations to evaluate former sea levels and validate sea-level models are tectonically stable areas. There are a number of coastal areas considered to be stable based on the elevation of paleo sea-level markers, the absence of historical seismicity, and by their position far from major Mediterranean faults. We report here the results of swim surveys carried out at such locations following the Geoswim approach described by Furlani (2020) in nine coastal sectors of the central Mediterranean Sea (Egadi Island - Marettimo, Favignana, Levanzo, Gaeta Promontory, Circeo Promontory, North Sardinia - Razzoli, Budelli, Santa Maria, NW Sardinia &amp;#8211; Capocaccia, Maddalena Archipelago, Tavolara Island, East of Malta - Ahrax Point, Bugibba-Qawra, Delimara, Addura, Palermo, Ansedonia Promontory). All the sites are considered to be tectonically stable, as validated by the elevation of sea-level indicators. In fact, modern and MIS5.5 (last interglacial) m.s.l. altitudes fit well with accepted figures based upon field data and model projections. Starting from precise morphometric parameters such as the size of tidal notches and indicative landforms and biological structures, we have developed a procedure that integrates multiple geomorphological and biological descriptors applicable to the vast spectrum of locally diverse coastal situations occurring in the Mediterranean Sea. We took detailed measurements of features such as modern and MIS5.5 tidal notches at 146 sites in all the areas, the absence of modern tidal notch at Circeo promontory, shore platforms, and MIS5.5 marine terraces at Egadi islands, Malta, and Palermo. Biological structures were also measured. In particular, vermetid platforms at Egadi, Palermo and Malta. The morphometric characteristics of these indicators depend on 1) local geological and structural constraints, 2) local geomorphotypes, 3) climate, sea, and weather conditions that affect geomorphic and biological processes, and 4) the sea level change history.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals FURTHER NOTES ON TYPES AND OTHER SPECIMENS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

1905 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-32
Author(s):  
Henry. H. Lyman
Keyword(s):  
British Museum ◽  
The Mediterranean

Having planned a trip to Europe for the early part of last spring, I was anxious to utlize the opportunity to compare some specimens with types in the British Museum, but as I was sailing to the Mediterranean and going tospend most of my time in Italy, it was impossible to take more than a very few specimens, as I had to carry them everywhere, and did not dare to intrust the box to anyone else to carry for me. I there for restirced myself to cigar-box full, chiefly Gortynas, two of them Appassionata and Harrssii, kindly lent me by Mr. Bird, and the rest from my own collection.

scholarly journals Direct terrestrial–marine correlation demonstrates surprisingly late onset of the last interglacial in central Europe

2011 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Sier ◽  
Wil Roebroeks ◽  
Corrie C. Bakels ◽  
Mark J. Dekkers ◽  
Enrico Brühl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Large Time ◽  
Sedimentary Basin ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Interdisciplinary Study ◽  
Mis 5E

AbstractAn interdisciplinary study of a small sedimentary basin at Neumark Nord 2 (NN2), Germany, has yielded a high-resolution record of the palaeomagnetic Blake Event, which we are able to place at the early part of the last interglacial pollen sequence documented from the same section. We use this data to calculate the duration of this stratigraphically important event at 3400 ± 350 yr. More importantly, the Neumark Nord 2 data enables precise terrestrial–marine correlation for the Eemian stage in central Europe. This shows a remarkably large time lag of ca. 5000 yr between the MIS 5e ‘peak’ in the marine record and the start of the last interglacial in this region.

2. Observations on a New Species of British Gurnard, and on a Species of Sole new to Science

1845 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 157-158
Author(s):  
Richard Parnell
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Lateral Line ◽  
Free Margin ◽  
Pectoral Fins ◽  
Dorsal Fin ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Dark Blue ◽  
A New Species

The author obtained, in the early part of last September, at Brixham, in Devonshire, seven specimens of a species of Gurnard, which has been known for thirty years past to the fishermen there under the name of Finned Captains. This he ascertained to be the Trigla lucerna of Brunner. The species is known as an inhabitant of the Mediterranean, where it was first noticed by Rondeletius, but mistaken by him for the T. cuculus of Linnæus. Since then, Brunner noticed it at Marseilles, Risso at Nice, Leach at Malta, and Cuvier at Naples; but it had not been previously observed by any naturalist on the British coasts. The largest specimen obtained by the author is 10½ inches long. The back is light red, the pectoral fins dark blue, the sides marked by a silvery band from the gill-cover to the tail; the lateral line smooth, and formed by numerous semicircular plates, beautifully radiated at their free margin ; the scales thin, large, and entire; the second ray of the first dorsal fin very long, so as to reach, when folded down, beyond the sixth ray of the second dorsal fin. (See Plate.)

Morphometry and elevation of the last interglacial tidal notches in tectonically stable coasts of the Mediterranean Sea

2018 ◽  
Vol 185 ◽  
pp. 600-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonioli F. ◽  
L. Ferranti ◽  
P. Stocchi ◽  
G. Deiana ◽  
V. Lo Presti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
The Mediterranean

scholarly journals Water column dynamics during the last interglacial anoxic event in the Mediterranean (sapropel S5)

2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. n/a-n/a ◽  
Author(s):  
E. J. Rohling ◽  
E. C. Hopmans ◽  
J. S. Sinninghe Damsté
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
Anoxic Event ◽  
Column Dynamics ◽  
The Mediterranean

Comparison of Holocene and Last Interglacial sapropels in the Gulf of Sirte (eastern Mediterranean)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuyo Tachikawa ◽  
Laurence Vidal ◽  
José N. Pérez-Asensio ◽  
Marta Garcia ◽  
Adnya Pratiwi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermohaline Circulation ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Nile River ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
Last Interglacial ◽  
The North ◽  
Freshwater Forcing ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Freshwater Inputs

&lt;p&gt;The Mediterranean thermohaline circulation is sensitive to ongoing climate change and generally stagnant circulation is expected by the end of the 21&lt;sup&gt;st&lt;/sup&gt; century. In the past, the eastern Mediterranean Sea has experienced slower ventilation as demonstrated by rhythmic occurrence of organic-rich sediments &amp;#8220;sapropels&amp;#8221;. The two sapropels S1 (Holocene) and S5 (Last Interglacial) were formed under conditions of excess fresh water inputs via Nile river in relation to insolation-driven African monsoon intensification and deglacial meltwater inputs from the North Atlantic. In addition to the Nile river discharge, the paleodrainage toward Gulf of Sirte off Libya has been proposed although its contribution could be significantly different between S1 and S5 because of distinct monsoon intensification. Since the response of circulation to freshwater forcing could vary with the region of perturbation, comparison of S1 and S5 deposited in the Gulf of Sirte will provide key information on the Mediterranean ventilation sensitivity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We applied a multi-proxy approach (bulk elemental composition by XRF scanning, redox sensitive elemental concentration, planktonic foraminiferal &amp;#948;&lt;sup&gt;18&lt;/sup&gt;O and benthic foraminiferal faunal assemblages) to core SL95 (32&amp;#186;46.46N, 19&amp;#186;11.46E; 1390 m water depth) from the eastern side of the Gulf of Sirte. Both S1 and S5 are marked by prominent peaks of Ba/Al and Ba/Ti with more pronounced Ba enrichment for S5. Redox sensitive elements such as U and Mo present enrichment prior to the Ba peaks that can be interpreted as reduced ventilation before sapropel deposition. However, expected reduced oxygenation is not synchronous with benthic foraminiferal faunal changes, suggesting possible remobilisation of the trace elements during sapropel interruption and/or post-sapropel oxygenation. Acquisition of high-temporal resolution data of &lt;em&gt;Globigerinoides ruber&lt;/em&gt; &amp;#948;&lt;sup&gt;18&lt;/sup&gt;O and benthic foraminiferal assemblages is in progress. We will discuss potential influence of (partial) ventilation at intermediate water depths during sapropel interruption in association with 8.2 event and possible different freshwater inputs at S1 and S5 depositions.&lt;/p&gt;

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