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The tropical giant clam Hippopus hippopus shell, a new archive of environmental conditions as revealed by sclerochronological and δ18O profiles

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Abstract

The use of the sclerochronology and geochemistry of a New Caledonian (South West Pacific) giant clam Hippopus hippopus shell as markers of environmental changes has been investigated. Growth increment thickness and δ18O ratios were measured on 4 years of shell growth of a modern specimen. During the last year, this giant clam was placed in a tank equipped for high-frequency environmental monitoring. Because shell is secreted in isotopic equilibrium with the seawater, the palaeo-sea surface temperature (SST) equation obtained faithfully reproduces the seasonal SST amplitudes. Growth increment thickness changes are seasonal and, for more than 50%, governed by the SST changes. The transplantation from the in situ site to the tank and reproduction events reduces the strength of growth and SST relationships. Nevertheless, growth increment thickness measurements can give information on average, minimal and maximal past SST in diagenetically altered shells. A peculiar growth event characterized by a short, drastic and significant decrease has been identified and attributed to an intense upwelling event. This study further highlights the use of giant clam shell δ18O as a SST proxy but also demonstrates that H. hippopus growth increment thickness changes provide useful information on past environmental settings and on exceptional events, for example, intense upwellings.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to C. Chilcott (University of Edinburgh; School of Geosciences) for his help to manage the stable isotope analyses. The living specimen and the tank monitoring were acquired in the framework of a Franco-Japanese collaboration. We thank J. Butscher (UMR LOCEAN, former UR Paléotropique, IRD Nouméa) for in situ sampling of the modern specimen and Claire Goiran for her help during the experimentation in tank. We are grateful to Météo France Nouvelle-Calédonie for providing environmental data (wind) and to David Varillon (lab. IRD « IMAGO »), LEGOS laboratory from IRD Nouméa and Zonéco program for providing the Thermosalinograph datasets monitored at Uitoé. Our thanks are extended to M. Lengaigne (IPSL/LOCEAN-UMR 7159) for useful discussion and to M. Elliot (University of Edinburgh; School of Geosciences) for her help in using the instrumental facilities from the Edinburgh University. This work is a contribution of the former Paléotropique team from IRD, now at the IPSL/LOCEAN—UMR 7159.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IPSL/LOCEAN, UPMC/CNRS/IRD/MNHN, Centre IRD France Nord, 32 avenue Henri Varagnat, 93143, Bondy Cedex, France

    A. Aubert, C. E. Lazareth, G. Cabioch & H. Boucher

  2. Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan

    T. Yamada

  3. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan

    Y. Iryu

  4. Aquarium des Lagons, B.P. 8185, Nouméa, 98807, New Caledonia

    R. Farman

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  1. A. Aubert
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  2. C. E. Lazareth
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  3. G. Cabioch
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  4. H. Boucher
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  5. T. Yamada
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Correspondence to C. E. Lazareth.

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Communicated by Geology Editor Dr. Bernhard Riegl

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Aubert, A., Lazareth, C.E., Cabioch, G. et al. The tropical giant clam Hippopus hippopus shell, a new archive of environmental conditions as revealed by sclerochronological and δ18O profiles. Coral Reefs 28, 989–998 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-009-0538-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-009-0538-0

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