Isotopic Variability in the Intertidal Acorn Barnacle Semibalanus balanoides: A Novel Sea-Level Proxy Indicator

Authors

K. F. Craven, University of St. Andrews
M. I. Bird, University of St. Andrews
W. E.N. Austin, University of St. Andrews
Jonathan G. Wynn, University of South FloridaFollow

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

2008

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1144/SP303.12

Abstract

We report variations in the δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values of barnacle skeletal carbonate as well as the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N value of tissue from specimens of the acorn barnacle S. balanoides, as a function of elevation within its living range on the Isle of May, Scotland. Individuals were sampled over a 3.50 m range at 0.25 m intervals (1.00–4.50 m above ordnance datum). Carbonate δ¹⁸O values (2.44±0.13‰ [1σ], n=45) and tissue δ¹⁵N values (8.17±0.42‰, n=15) do not vary systematically with elevation. The δ¹³C value of shell carbonate increases with elevation by c. 1‰ (total range: −0.77‰ to +0.63‰), but the variability between samples at the same elevation suggests that this relationship will be of limited use in constraining palaeo-elevation. By contrast, tissue δ¹³C values show systematic variation with elevation, increasing by c. 8‰ (total range: −19.36‰ to −8.77‰) with increasing elevation.

These results suggest that there is potential to use the tissue δ¹³C values to determine the elevation of a Fixed Biological Indicator (FBI) such as S. balanoides within its living range. If this is also true of the organic matrix of the carbonate skeleton, and if this organic matrix is preserved in Holocene FBIs, then the potential exists to use carbon isotopes to more precisely constrain the palaeo-elevation of FBIs within their living range and hence palaeo sea-level. The small range of carbonate δ¹⁸O values suggests that oxygen isotopes in FBIs can be used to constrain water δ¹⁸O values if an independent estimate of temperature is available, or temperature if an independent estimate of salinity is available.

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Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Geological Society, London, Special Publications, v. 303, p. 173-185

Scholar Commons Citation

Craven, K. F.; Bird, M. I.; Austin, W. E.N.; and Wynn, Jonathan G., "Isotopic Variability in the Intertidal Acorn Barnacle Semibalanus balanoides: A Novel Sea-Level Proxy Indicator" (2008). School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications. 241.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/geo_facpub/241