Assessing vermetid reefs as indicators of past sea levels in the Mediterranean

G. Sisma-Ventura; F. Antonioli; S. Silenzi; S. Devoti; P. Montagna; R. Chemello; A. Shemesh; R. Yam; R. Gehrels; S. Dean; G. Rilov; D. Sivan

doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2020.106313

Assessing vermetid reefs as indicators of past sea levels in the Mediterranean

G. Sisma-Ventura, F. Antonioli, S. Silenzi, S. Devoti, P. Montagna, R. Chemello, A. Shemesh, R. Yam, R. Gehrels, S. Dean, G. Rilov, D. Sivan

Department of Maritime Civilizations

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The endemic Mediterranean reef building vermetid gastropods Dendropoma petraeum complex (Dendropoma spp) and Vermetus triquetrus develop bio-constructions (rims) on rocky shorelines at about Mean Sea Level (MSL) and are therefore commonly used as relative sea-level (RSL) markers. In this study, we use elevations and age data of vermetid reefs to (1) re-assess the vertical uncertainties of these biological RSL indicators, and (2) evaluate the vertical growth rates along a Mediterranean east-west transect, in attempt to explain the differences found in both growth rates and uncertainties. In Israel, Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and laser measurements relative to the local datum show that the reef surfaces mainly occupy the upper intertidal zone with variations in elevation from +0.51 ± 0.07 m to +0.13 ± 0.05 m along the coast. However, in specific sites the vertical uncertainty exceeds the tidal range. In some places the local vermetid species D. anguliferum and V. triquetrus appear to alternate along the vertical rim profiles. This study documents a spatial variability of vertical growth rates, ranging from ~1 mm yr⁻¹ in Israel and Crete, to ~0.1–0.2 mm yr⁻¹ in NW Sicily and Spain. The order of magnitude of the difference in growth rates correlates with the east-west spatial thermal gradient of Sea-Surface Temperature (SST). Preferential skeleton deposition of D. petraeum and V. triquetrus measured by growth axis δ¹⁸O analysis shows that most calcification occurs at SST above the mean annual value. These findings indicate that vermetid reefs are a site-specific RSL indicator, displaying various vertical uncertainties and inner-structure complexities. Local data on the indicative range of vermetids are required when reconstructing relative sea-level changes using fossil vermetids.

Original language	English
Article number	106313
Journal	Marine Geology
Volume	429
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2020.106313
State	Published - Nov 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The current research was carried out by Dr. G. Sisma-Ventura as part of his Post Doc supported by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) grant 923/11 awarded to Professor Dorit Sivan, titled: “Generating a continuous, high resolution decadal to millennial scale sea-level curve for the better understanding of the driving mechanisms of environmental changes”. Platform measurements were funded by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) grant 117/10 awarded to Dr. G. Rilov as well as by the Marie Curie Reintegration Grant under the EU Seventh Framework, grant 247149 awarded to Dr. G. Rilov. We thank Mr. Niv David and other members of the Rilov lab group for the platform measurements and drilling of the cores shown in Fig. 7 . WRG acknowledges radiocarbon dating support from the University of Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (ref. NF/2016/1/16). Dating was also supported by the Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, Australian National University , Australia (Dr. Stewart Fallon). We also like to thank Dr. Or Bialik, L. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel, for modifying Fig. 11 and Ms. Noga Yoselevich, the graphic artist, the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, for the figures design.

Funding Information:
The current research was carried out by Dr. G. Sisma-Ventura as part of his Post Doc supported by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) grant 923/11 awarded to Professor Dorit Sivan, titled: ?Generating a continuous, high resolution decadal to millennial scale sea-level curve for the better understanding of the driving mechanisms of environmental changes?. Platform measurements were funded by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) grant 117/10 awarded to Dr. G. Rilov as well as by the Marie Curie Reintegration Grant under the EU Seventh Framework, grant 247149 awarded to Dr. G. Rilov. We thank Mr. Niv David and other members of the Rilov lab group for the platform measurements and drilling of the cores shown in Fig. 7. WRG acknowledges radiocarbon dating support from the University of Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (ref. NF/2016/1/16). Dating was also supported by the Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, Australian National University, Australia (Dr. Stewart Fallon). We also like to thank Dr. Or Bialik, L. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel, for modifying Fig. 11 and Ms. Noga Yoselevich, the graphic artist, the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, for the figures design.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020

Keywords

Bio-markers
Growth rates
Mediterranean Sea
Past sea-level
Vermetid reefs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oceanography
Geology
Geochemistry and Petrology

Access to Document

10.1016/j.margeo.2020.106313

Cite this

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title = "Assessing vermetid reefs as indicators of past sea levels in the Mediterranean",

abstract = "The endemic Mediterranean reef building vermetid gastropods Dendropoma petraeum complex (Dendropoma spp) and Vermetus triquetrus develop bio-constructions (rims) on rocky shorelines at about Mean Sea Level (MSL) and are therefore commonly used as relative sea-level (RSL) markers. In this study, we use elevations and age data of vermetid reefs to (1) re-assess the vertical uncertainties of these biological RSL indicators, and (2) evaluate the vertical growth rates along a Mediterranean east-west transect, in attempt to explain the differences found in both growth rates and uncertainties. In Israel, Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and laser measurements relative to the local datum show that the reef surfaces mainly occupy the upper intertidal zone with variations in elevation from +0.51 ± 0.07 m to +0.13 ± 0.05 m along the coast. However, in specific sites the vertical uncertainty exceeds the tidal range. In some places the local vermetid species D. anguliferum and V. triquetrus appear to alternate along the vertical rim profiles. This study documents a spatial variability of vertical growth rates, ranging from ~1 mm yr−1 in Israel and Crete, to ~0.1–0.2 mm yr−1 in NW Sicily and Spain. The order of magnitude of the difference in growth rates correlates with the east-west spatial thermal gradient of Sea-Surface Temperature (SST). Preferential skeleton deposition of D. petraeum and V. triquetrus measured by growth axis δ18O analysis shows that most calcification occurs at SST above the mean annual value. These findings indicate that vermetid reefs are a site-specific RSL indicator, displaying various vertical uncertainties and inner-structure complexities. Local data on the indicative range of vermetids are required when reconstructing relative sea-level changes using fossil vermetids.",

keywords = "Bio-markers, Growth rates, Mediterranean Sea, Past sea-level, Vermetid reefs",

author = "G. Sisma-Ventura and F. Antonioli and S. Silenzi and S. Devoti and P. Montagna and R. Chemello and A. Shemesh and R. Yam and R. Gehrels and S. Dean and G. Rilov and D. Sivan",

note = "Funding Information: The current research was carried out by Dr. G. Sisma-Ventura as part of his Post Doc supported by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) grant 923/11 awarded to Professor Dorit Sivan, titled: “Generating a continuous, high resolution decadal to millennial scale sea-level curve for the better understanding of the driving mechanisms of environmental changes”. Platform measurements were funded by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) grant 117/10 awarded to Dr. G. Rilov as well as by the Marie Curie Reintegration Grant under the EU Seventh Framework, grant 247149 awarded to Dr. G. Rilov. We thank Mr. Niv David and other members of the Rilov lab group for the platform measurements and drilling of the cores shown in Fig. 7 . WRG acknowledges radiocarbon dating support from the University of Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (ref. NF/2016/1/16). Dating was also supported by the Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, Australian National University , Australia (Dr. Stewart Fallon). We also like to thank Dr. Or Bialik, L. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel, for modifying Fig. 11 and Ms. Noga Yoselevich, the graphic artist, the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, for the figures design. Funding Information: The current research was carried out by Dr. G. Sisma-Ventura as part of his Post Doc supported by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) grant 923/11 awarded to Professor Dorit Sivan, titled: ?Generating a continuous, high resolution decadal to millennial scale sea-level curve for the better understanding of the driving mechanisms of environmental changes?. Platform measurements were funded by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) grant 117/10 awarded to Dr. G. Rilov as well as by the Marie Curie Reintegration Grant under the EU Seventh Framework, grant 247149 awarded to Dr. G. Rilov. We thank Mr. Niv David and other members of the Rilov lab group for the platform measurements and drilling of the cores shown in Fig. 7. WRG acknowledges radiocarbon dating support from the University of Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (ref. NF/2016/1/16). Dating was also supported by the Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, Australian National University, Australia (Dr. Stewart Fallon). We also like to thank Dr. Or Bialik, L. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel, for modifying Fig. 11 and Ms. Noga Yoselevich, the graphic artist, the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, for the figures design. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020",

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AU - Montagna, P.

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AU - Shemesh, A.

AU - Yam, R.

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AU - Dean, S.

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N2 - The endemic Mediterranean reef building vermetid gastropods Dendropoma petraeum complex (Dendropoma spp) and Vermetus triquetrus develop bio-constructions (rims) on rocky shorelines at about Mean Sea Level (MSL) and are therefore commonly used as relative sea-level (RSL) markers. In this study, we use elevations and age data of vermetid reefs to (1) re-assess the vertical uncertainties of these biological RSL indicators, and (2) evaluate the vertical growth rates along a Mediterranean east-west transect, in attempt to explain the differences found in both growth rates and uncertainties. In Israel, Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and laser measurements relative to the local datum show that the reef surfaces mainly occupy the upper intertidal zone with variations in elevation from +0.51 ± 0.07 m to +0.13 ± 0.05 m along the coast. However, in specific sites the vertical uncertainty exceeds the tidal range. In some places the local vermetid species D. anguliferum and V. triquetrus appear to alternate along the vertical rim profiles. This study documents a spatial variability of vertical growth rates, ranging from ~1 mm yr−1 in Israel and Crete, to ~0.1–0.2 mm yr−1 in NW Sicily and Spain. The order of magnitude of the difference in growth rates correlates with the east-west spatial thermal gradient of Sea-Surface Temperature (SST). Preferential skeleton deposition of D. petraeum and V. triquetrus measured by growth axis δ18O analysis shows that most calcification occurs at SST above the mean annual value. These findings indicate that vermetid reefs are a site-specific RSL indicator, displaying various vertical uncertainties and inner-structure complexities. Local data on the indicative range of vermetids are required when reconstructing relative sea-level changes using fossil vermetids.

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Assessing vermetid reefs as indicators of past sea levels in the Mediterranean

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Bibliographical note

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