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Experimental determination of a Viviparus contectus thermometry equation
Melanie J Bugler1, Stephen T Grimes, Melanie J Leng
1School of Earth, Ocean & Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK. melanie.bugler@plymouth.ac.uk
Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry : RCM
|August 15, 2009
Summary
This study developed a new species-specific thermometry equation for the gastropod Viviparus contectus using oxygen isotope fractionation in aragonite shells. The new equation accurately reflects environmental temperatures, showing no significant vital effects for this species.
Area of Science:
- Paleoclimatology
- Geochemistry
- Malacology
Background:
- Oxygen isotope fractionation in biogenic aragonite is a key proxy for reconstructing past environmental conditions.
- Viviparus contectus, a freshwater gastropod, is a potential recorder of hydrological and thermal histories.
- Developing species-specific thermometry equations improves the accuracy of paleoclimate reconstructions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To generate a species-specific thermometry equation for Viviparus contectus based on oxygen isotope fractionation.
- To determine the temperature dependence of the fractionation factor between gastropod aragonite and freshwater.
- To compare the derived equation with existing aragonite thermometry equations to identify potential species-specific vital effects.
Main Methods:
- Experimental measurements of (18)O/(16)O isotope fractionation in Viviparus contectus aragonite under controlled laboratory and field conditions.
- Calculation of the relationship between Deltadelta(18)O (delta(18)O(carb.) - delta(18)O(water)) and temperature (T).
- Application of linear regression analysis to combined laboratory and field datasets to derive a thermometry equation.
Main Results:
- A combined, species-specific thermometry equation for Viviparus contectus was established: T = - 7.43( +/- 1.13)*Deltadelta18O + 22.89(+/- 2.09).
- The derived equation's gradients were consistent across laboratory and field experiments, validating a combined dataset approach.
- Comparisons indicated no significant species-specific vital effects for Viviparus contectus compared to existing aragonite thermometry equations.
Conclusions:
- The developed thermometry equation provides a reliable tool for reconstructing past freshwater temperatures using Viviparus contectus shells.
- The absence of vital effects simplifies paleoclimate interpretations for this species.
- Seasonal shell carbonate profiles showed no influence of size, sex, or reproductive status on delta(18)O(carb.) during secretion.
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