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Northeastern Atlantic cold-water coral reefs and climate.
- Source :
-
Geology . Aug2011, Vol. 39 Issue 8, p743-746. 4p. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- U-series age patterns obtained on reef framework-forming cold-water corals collected over a nearly 6000-km-long continental margin sector, extending from off Mauritania (17°N; northwest Africa) to the southwestern Barents Sea (70°N; northeastern Europe), reveal strong climate influences on the geographical distribution and sustained development of these ecosystems. Over the past three glacial-interglacial cycles, framework-forming cold-water corals (Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata) seem to have predominantly populated reefs, canyons, and patches in the temperate East Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. Above 50°N corals colonize reefs in the northern East Atlantic primarily during warm climate periods with the biogeographic limit advancing from ~50°N to ~70°N. We propose that north-south oscillations of the biogeographic limit of reef developments are paced by ice ages and may occur synchronously with north-south displacement of cold nutrient-rich intermediate waters and surface productivity related to changes of the polar front. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00917613
- Volume :
- 39
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Geology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 65075222
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1130/G31825.1