Si cycling in transition zones : a study of Si isotopes and biogenic silica accumulation in the Chesapeake Bay through the Holocene
(2019) In Biogeochemistry 146(2). p.145-170- Abstract
Si fluxes from the continents to the ocean are a key element of the global Si cycle. Due to the ability of coastal ecosystems to process and retain Si, the ‘coastal filter’ has the potential to alter Si fluxes at a global scale. Coastal zones are diverse systems, sensitive to local environmental changes, where Si cycling is currently poorly understood. Here, we present the first palaeoenvironmental study of estuarine biogenic silica (BSi) fluxes and silicon isotope ratios in diatoms (δ30Sidiatom) using hand-picked diatom frustules in two sediment cores (CBdist and CBprox) from the Chesapeake Bay covering the last 12000 and 8000 years, respectively. Constrained by the well-understood Holocene... (More)
Si fluxes from the continents to the ocean are a key element of the global Si cycle. Due to the ability of coastal ecosystems to process and retain Si, the ‘coastal filter’ has the potential to alter Si fluxes at a global scale. Coastal zones are diverse systems, sensitive to local environmental changes, where Si cycling is currently poorly understood. Here, we present the first palaeoenvironmental study of estuarine biogenic silica (BSi) fluxes and silicon isotope ratios in diatoms (δ30Sidiatom) using hand-picked diatom frustules in two sediment cores (CBdist and CBprox) from the Chesapeake Bay covering the last 12000 and 8000 years, respectively. Constrained by the well-understood Holocene evolution of the Chesapeake Bay, we interpret variations in Si cycling in the context of local climate, vegetation and land use changes. δ30Sidiatom varies between + 0.8 and + 1.7‰ in both sediment cores. A Si mass balance for the Chesapeake Bay suggests much higher rates of Si retention (~ 90%) within the system than seen in other coastal systems. BSi fluxes for both sediment cores co-vary with periods of sea level rise (between 9500 and 7500 a BP) and enhanced erosion due to deforestation (between 250 and 50 a BP). However, differences in δ30Sidiatom and BSi flux between the sites emphasize the importance of the seawater/freshwater mixing ratios and locally variable Si inputs from the catchment. Further, we interpret variations in δ30Sidiatom and the increase in BSi fluxes observed since European settlement (~ 250 a BP) to reflect a growing human influence on the Si cycle in the Chesapeake Bay. Thereby, land use change, especially deforestation, in the catchment is likely the major mechanism.
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- author
- Nantke, Carla K.M. LU ; Frings, Patrick J. LU ; Stadmark, Johanna LU ; Czymzik, Markus LU and Conley, Daniel J. LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2019-11-25
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Diatoms, Estuarine sediments, Human impact, Si isotopes
- in
- Biogeochemistry
- volume
- 146
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 145 - 170
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85074584267
- ISSN
- 0168-2563
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10533-019-00613-1
- project
- Reconstructing Si cycling in transition zones during the Holocene using terrestrial and aquatic records
- Reconstructing Si cycling in transition zones during the Holocene using terrestrial and aquatic records
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 1697fe72-1427-4ae4-95cc-126395809c7a
- date added to LUP
- 2019-11-25 12:19:07
- date last changed
- 2022-05-11 23:00:10
@article{1697fe72-1427-4ae4-95cc-126395809c7a,
abstract = {{<p>Si fluxes from the continents to the ocean are a key element of the global Si cycle. Due to the ability of coastal ecosystems to process and retain Si, the ‘coastal filter’ has the potential to alter Si fluxes at a global scale. Coastal zones are diverse systems, sensitive to local environmental changes, where Si cycling is currently poorly understood. Here, we present the first palaeoenvironmental study of estuarine biogenic silica (BSi) fluxes and silicon isotope ratios in diatoms (δ<sup>30</sup>Si<sub>diatom</sub>) using hand-picked diatom frustules in two sediment cores (CB<sub>dist</sub> and CB<sub>prox</sub>) from the Chesapeake Bay covering the last 12000 and 8000 years, respectively. Constrained by the well-understood Holocene evolution of the Chesapeake Bay, we interpret variations in Si cycling in the context of local climate, vegetation and land use changes. δ<sup>30</sup>Si<sub>diatom</sub> varies between + 0.8 and + 1.7‰ in both sediment cores. A Si mass balance for the Chesapeake Bay suggests much higher rates of Si retention (~ 90%) within the system than seen in other coastal systems. BSi fluxes for both sediment cores co-vary with periods of sea level rise (between 9500 and 7500 a BP) and enhanced erosion due to deforestation (between 250 and 50 a BP). However, differences in δ<sup>30</sup>Si<sub>diatom</sub> and BSi flux between the sites emphasize the importance of the seawater/freshwater mixing ratios and locally variable Si inputs from the catchment. Further, we interpret variations in δ<sup>30</sup>Si<sub>diatom</sub> and the increase in BSi fluxes observed since European settlement (~ 250 a BP) to reflect a growing human influence on the Si cycle in the Chesapeake Bay. Thereby, land use change, especially deforestation, in the catchment is likely the major mechanism.</p>}},
author = {{Nantke, Carla K.M. and Frings, Patrick J. and Stadmark, Johanna and Czymzik, Markus and Conley, Daniel J.}},
issn = {{0168-2563}},
keywords = {{Diatoms; Estuarine sediments; Human impact; Si isotopes}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{11}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{145--170}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{Biogeochemistry}},
title = {{Si cycling in transition zones : a study of Si isotopes and biogenic silica accumulation in the Chesapeake Bay through the Holocene}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10533-019-00613-1}},
doi = {{10.1007/s10533-019-00613-1}},
volume = {{146}},
year = {{2019}},
}