Grain-size distributions of the terrigenous fraction of two deep-sea sediment cores GeoB3375-1 and MD96-2094

In this study, we present grain-size distributions of the terrigenous fraction of two deep-sea sediment cores from the SE Atlantic (offshore Namibia) and from the SE Pacific (offshore northern Chile), which we 'unmix' into subpopulations and which are interpreted as coarse eolian dust, fine eolian dust, and fluvial mud. The downcore ratios of the proportions of eolian dust and fluvial mud subsequently represent paleocontinental aridity records of southwestern Africa and northern Chile for the last 120,000 yr. The two records show a relatively wet Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) compared to a relatively dry Holocene, but different orbital variability on longer time scales. Generally, the northern Chilean aridity record shows higher-frequency changes, which are closely related to precessional variation in solar insolation, compared to the southwestern African aridity record, which shows a remarkable resemblance to the global ice-volume record. We relate the changes in continental aridity in southwestern Africa and northern Chile to changes in the latitudinal position of the moisture-bearing Southern Westerlies, potentially driven by the sea-ice extent around Antarctica and overprinted by tropical forcing in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

Siliceous fossils in sediments of the Ibero-Moroccan shelf and adjacent deep sea plains

Siliceous skeletons were investigated in two core profiles (9 cores), one off Cap de Sines, Portugal and the other off Cap de Mazagan, Morocco. Total number of skeletons was determined per gram of dried sediment at different core depths of the fraction >21 µ. Results are compared with a core profile from the Arabian Sea. Diatoms are of four groups: (A) marine-planktonic, B) marine-benthic, (C) freshwater and (D) Tertiary species (Trinacria e.g.). Species from groups (B), (C) and (D) are redeposited in all cores taken at a water depth of greater than 100 m. Small numbers of Silicoflagellates and Radiolarians were found throughout the cores from the Ibero-Moroccan shelf. In the Arabian Sea core, Radiolarians were concentrated in distinct horizons in which Tertiary material was redeposited (40-50, 140-150, 250-260 cm). The number of siliceous skeletons per gram of dried sediment decreases more or less rapidly with increasing depth in all cores. Whereas about 2500 skeletons were found in sediments close to the surface, approximately 100 skeletons only were found in deeper (>40 cm) layers. Deeper horizons with more than 100 specimens were interpreted as redeposited material. This sediment contained robust skeletons, resistant against dissolution, as well as benthic and Tertiary material. The decrease of siliceous skeletons relative to core depth depends upon the sedimentation rate. Where the sedimentation rate is high, the opal dissolution zone extends down to 30-60 cm, where the sedimentation rate is low, it is located at 10-30 cm. Below these depths opals disappears. These zones also have approximately the same age (4000 years) everywhere. Siliceous skeletons dissolve differentially, first the Silicoflagellates disappear, second the Diatoms, third the Radiolarians, and fourth the Sponge Spicules. Surface structure of skeletons from near the opal dissolution zones are similar to those of skeletons treated with NaOH. Tertiary diatoms (Trinacria e. g.) and benthic diatoms (Campylodiscus e.g.) dissolve less rapidly than skeletons of modern planktonic diatoms (Coscinodiscus e.g.). The time control of the opal dissolution zones appeared rather independent of various oceanic influences. No evidence was found for effects from upwelling either off Portugal or off Morocco. No difference in dissolution rates was recorded between the abyssal plains lying off these two areas. Likewise, there was no change in solution rates from Pleistocene to Holocene within either one of the abyssal plains. The Mediterranean outflow, which is enriched in dissolved silica, apparently had no effect on dissolution rates of siliceous skeletons in the sediment.

(Table S1) Molecular analyses and morphological comparisons of deep-sea clams

Large vesicomyid clams are common inhabitants of sulphidic deep-sea habitats such as hydrothermal vents, hydrocarbon seeps and whale-falls. Yet, the species- and genus-level taxonomy of these diverse clams has been unstable due to insufficiencies in sampling and absence of detailed taxonomic studies that would consistently compare molecular and morphological characters. To clarify uncertainties about species-level assignments, we examined DNA sequences from mitochondrial cytochrome-c-oxidase subunit I (COI) in conjunction with morphological characters. New and published COI sequences were used to create a molecular database for 44 unique evolutionary lineages corresponding to species. Overall, the congruence between molecular and morphological characters was good. Several discrepancies due to synonymous species designations were recognized, and acceptable species names were rectified with published COI sequences in cases where morphological specimens were available. We identified seven species with trans-Pacific distributions, and two species with Indo-Pacific distributions. Presently, 27 species have only been documented from one region, which might reflect limited ranges, or insufficient geographical sampling. Vesicomyids exhibit the greatest species diversity along the northwest Pacific ridge systems and in the eastern Pacific, along the western America margin, where depth zonation typically results in segregation of closely related species. The broad distributions of several vesicomyid species suggest that their required chemosynthetic habitats might be more common than previously recognized and occur along most continental margins.

Germanium contents, Ge/Si ratios, and Sr isotopic composition in deep-sea cherts

Nineteen chert samples from a continuous core of the DSDP (Leg 17, Hole 167) were analysed for Ge; in addition we analysed five samples from other cores. The ages range between Late Jurassic, and Late Eocene. The concentration of Ge changes with age from 0.87 ppm in the oldest samples to 0.23 ppm in the youngest (equivalent to a Ge/Si decrease from 0.00000072 to 0.00000019). The decrease in Ge/Si is well correlated with the 87Sr/86Sr ratio in sea water of the relevant age. The interpretation of this trend may reflect: (a) different levels of Ge/Si in sea water as a result of a different ratio between hydrothermal and riverine input, (b) a diagenetic trend in siliceous sediments, (c) recording (by radiolaria) a transition between a radiolaria dominated ocean (with relatively high Ge/Si ratios in sea water) and diatom domination or (d) a combination of the above.

Physical properties of deep sea sediments

Erstmals quantitativ bearbeitete Rutschungen aus dem Tiefseebereich des äquatorialen Ostatlantiks liegen auf Hängen von 0,4 Grad und 0,7 Grad - das ist sehr viel flacher als die für statische Rutschungsauslösung benötigte kritische Hangneigung (14 Grad bis 16 Grad ). Im Gegensatz zu Flachwassergebieten kann bei Wassertiefen von über 4000 m natürlich der Einfluß von Wellenwirkung und Tidenhub auf die Hangstabilität vernachlässigt werden. Die Sedimentationsraten sind in diesem Bereich zur Bildung eines Porenwasserüberdruckes vielfach zu niedrig. Nach den Hangstabilitätsanalysen bilden hier Erdbeben den wirksamsten Auslösemechanismus für die Rutschungen. Dies gilt auch für Rutschungen an den Kontinentalrändern von Nordwest- und Westafrika sowie für das europäische Nordmeer und für Rutschungen im nördlichen Fidji-Becken. Das Alter der besonders gut datierten Rutschungen vom nordwestafrikanischen Kontinentalrand und der Tiefsee des äquatorialen Ostatlantiks schwankt zwischen 16,000 J.v.h. und 18,000 J.v.h. sowie etwa 130,000 J.v.h.. Es handelt sich dabei um Phasen des Beginns besonders starker Meeresspiegelschwankungen. Ein Vergleich der Meeresspiegelkurve mit dem Alter älterer Rutschungen zeigt ebenfalls eine Parallele mit Zeiten von Regressionen und Transgressionen. Durch die Meeresspiegelschwankungen werden isostatische Vertikalbewegungen des Tiefseebodens von bis zu 30 m bewirkt, die Spannungen in den Lithosphärenplatten erzeugen. Sie allein sind jedoch nicht groß genug, um Brüche in intakten Plattenbereichen zu verursachen. Entlang alter, ehemals aktiver Transform-Bruchzonen (Fracture Zones) können jedoch die aufgebauten Spannungen eher wieder abgebaut werden. Dabei entstehen kleinere Erdstösse und führen zur Auslösung von Rutschungen. Ein Vergleich der Verbreitung von Transform-Störungen und Rutschungen vor Norwegen, Nordwest- und Westafrika sowie vor dem südlichen Afrika zeigt, daß in diesen Gebieten Rutschmassen tatsächlich besonders häufig entlang und in der Verlängerung von Fracture Zones auftreten. Modellrechnungen, die mit typischen Werten für Hangwinkel (0,5 Grad bis 3 Grad) von Tiefseeböschungen und passive Kontinentalränder sowie für häufig ermittelte Scherfestigkeitsgradienten im Sediment (0,5 kPa/m bis 1,7 kPa/m) durchgeführt wurden, ergaben, daß in Gebieten mit normal konsolidierten Sedimenten (ohne Porenwasserüberdruck) nur Erdbeben Rutschungen ausgelöst haben können.

Response of deep-sea benthic foraminifera to Late Quaternary climate changes, southeast Indian Ocean, offshore Western Australia

The Late Quaternary benthic foraminifera of four deep-sea cores off Western Australia (ODP 122-760A, ODP 122-762B, BMR96GC21 and RC9-150) have been examined for evidence of increased surface productivity to explain the anomalously low sea-surface paleotemperatures inferred by planktic foraminifera for the last and penultimate glaciations. The delta13C trends of Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi, and differences between the delta13C trends of planktics (Globigerinoides sacculifer) and benthics (C. wuellerstorfi) in the four cores indicate that during stage 6 bottom waters were significantly depleted in delta13C, and strong delta13C gradients were established in the water column, while during stage 2 and the Last Glacial Maximum, delta13C trends did not differ greatly from that of the Holocene. Two main assemblages of benthic foraminifera were identified by principal component analyses: one dominated by Uvigerina peregrina, another dominated by U. proboscidea. Abundance of these Uvigerinids, and of taxa preferring an infaunal microhabitat, and of Epistominella exigua and Bulimina aculeata indicate that episodes of high influx of particulate organic matter were established in most sites during glacial episodes, and particularly so during stage 6, while evidence for upwelling during the Last Glacial Maximum is less strong. The Penultimate Glaciation upwellings were established within the areas of low sea-surface paleotemperature indicated by planktic foraminifera. During the Last Interglacial Climax, upwelling appears to have been established in an isolated region offshore from a strengthened Leeuwin Current off North West Cape. Last Glacial Maximum delta13C values of C. wuellerstorfi at waterdepths of less than 2000 m show smaller than global mean glacial-interglacial changes suggesting the development of a deep hydrological front. A similar vertical stratification/bathyal front was also established during the Penultimate Glaciation.