The relative utility of foraminifera and diatoms for reconstructing late Holocene sea-level change in North Carolina, USA

Andrew C. Kemp; Benjamin P. Horton; D. Reide Corbett; Stephen J. Culver; Robin J. Edwards; Orson van de Plassche

doi:10.1016/j.yqres.2008.08.007

The relative utility of foraminifera and diatoms for reconstructing late Holocene sea-level change in North Carolina, USA

Andrew C. Kemp, Benjamin P. Horton, D. Reide Corbett, Stephen J. Culver, Robin J. Edwards, Orson van de Plassche

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

50 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Foraminifera and diatoms preserved in salt-marsh sediments have been used to produce high-resolution records of Holocene relative sea-level (RSL) change. To determine which of these microfossil groups is most appropriate for this purpose we investigated their relative utility from salt marshes in North Carolina, USA. Regional-scale transfer functions were developed using foraminifera, diatoms and a combination of both (multi-proxy) from three salt marshes (Oregon Inlet, Currituck Barrier Island and Pea Island). We evaluated each approach on the basis of transfer-function performance. Foraminifera, diatoms and multi-proxy-based transfer functions all demonstrated a strong relationship between observed and predicted elevations (r²_jack > 0.74 and RMSEP < 0.05 m), suggesting that they have equal utility. Application of the transfer functions to a fossil core from Salvo to reconstruct former sea levels enabled us to consider relative utility in light of 'paleo-performance'. Fossil foraminifera had strong modern analogues, whilst diatoms had poor modern analogues making them unreliable. This result reflects the high diversity and site-specific distribution of modern diatoms. Consequently, we used foraminifera to reconstruct RSL change for the period since ∼ AD 1800 using a ²¹⁰Pb- and ¹⁴C-based chronology, and we were able to reconcile this with tide-gauge records. © 2008 University of Washington.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	9-21
Journal	Quaternary Research
Volume	71
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yqres.2008.08.007
Publication status	Published - Jan 2009
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

Funding

This research is part of NOAA Coastal Ocean Program grant and the North Carolina Coastal Geology Cooperative Program (NCCGC). We thank USGS cooperative agreement award 02ERAG0044 and National Science Foundation award EAR-0717364. This paper is a contribution to IGCP Project 495, “Quaternary Land-Ocean interactions: Driving Mechanisms and Coastal Responses”. Permission to work on Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the Pine Island Hunt Club is acknowledged. AK thanks the financial support of the University of Pennsylvania Summer Stipend in Paleontology and the 2007 Garry Jones Memorial Award (North American Micropaleontology Section, SEPM). Andrea Hawkes, Simon Engelhart, Matthew Wright and Candace Grand-Pre are thanked for their assistance in the field. We also thank R.T. Patterson and R.E. Martin for their review of this manuscript. Jesse Feyen (NOAA) is thanked for his assistance with the VDatum transformations.

Research Keywords

Diatoms
Foraminifera
North Carolina
Sea level
Transfer function

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title = "The relative utility of foraminifera and diatoms for reconstructing late Holocene sea-level change in North Carolina, USA",

abstract = "Foraminifera and diatoms preserved in salt-marsh sediments have been used to produce high-resolution records of Holocene relative sea-level (RSL) change. To determine which of these microfossil groups is most appropriate for this purpose we investigated their relative utility from salt marshes in North Carolina, USA. Regional-scale transfer functions were developed using foraminifera, diatoms and a combination of both (multi-proxy) from three salt marshes (Oregon Inlet, Currituck Barrier Island and Pea Island). We evaluated each approach on the basis of transfer-function performance. Foraminifera, diatoms and multi-proxy-based transfer functions all demonstrated a strong relationship between observed and predicted elevations (r2jack > 0.74 and RMSEP < 0.05 m), suggesting that they have equal utility. Application of the transfer functions to a fossil core from Salvo to reconstruct former sea levels enabled us to consider relative utility in light of 'paleo-performance'. Fossil foraminifera had strong modern analogues, whilst diatoms had poor modern analogues making them unreliable. This result reflects the high diversity and site-specific distribution of modern diatoms. Consequently, we used foraminifera to reconstruct RSL change for the period since ∼ AD 1800 using a 210Pb- and 14C-based chronology, and we were able to reconcile this with tide-gauge records. {\textcopyright} 2008 University of Washington.",

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AU - Culver, Stephen J.

AU - Edwards, Robin J.

AU - van de Plassche, Orson

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AB - Foraminifera and diatoms preserved in salt-marsh sediments have been used to produce high-resolution records of Holocene relative sea-level (RSL) change. To determine which of these microfossil groups is most appropriate for this purpose we investigated their relative utility from salt marshes in North Carolina, USA. Regional-scale transfer functions were developed using foraminifera, diatoms and a combination of both (multi-proxy) from three salt marshes (Oregon Inlet, Currituck Barrier Island and Pea Island). We evaluated each approach on the basis of transfer-function performance. Foraminifera, diatoms and multi-proxy-based transfer functions all demonstrated a strong relationship between observed and predicted elevations (r2jack > 0.74 and RMSEP < 0.05 m), suggesting that they have equal utility. Application of the transfer functions to a fossil core from Salvo to reconstruct former sea levels enabled us to consider relative utility in light of 'paleo-performance'. Fossil foraminifera had strong modern analogues, whilst diatoms had poor modern analogues making them unreliable. This result reflects the high diversity and site-specific distribution of modern diatoms. Consequently, we used foraminifera to reconstruct RSL change for the period since ∼ AD 1800 using a 210Pb- and 14C-based chronology, and we were able to reconcile this with tide-gauge records. © 2008 University of Washington.

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JF - Quaternary Research

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ER -

The relative utility of foraminifera and diatoms for reconstructing late Holocene sea-level change in North Carolina, USA

Abstract

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Research Keywords

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