Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T09:45:43.831Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Freshwater Diatom Influx in Intertropical Atlantic: Relationships with Continental Records from Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Françoise Gasse ,
Bjørg Stabell ,
Elizabeth Fourtanier  and
Yolanda van Iperen
Françoise Gasse
Affiliation:
Laboratoire d'Hydrologie et de Géochimie Isotopique, Bâtiment 504, Université Paris-Sud, 91405, Orsay Cedex, France
Bjørg Stabell
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Oslo University, P.O. Box 1047, Blindern, N-0316 Oslo 3, Norway Geological-Paleontological Institute, University of Kiel, Olshausenstrasse 40, D-2300 Kiel, West Germany
Elizabeth Fourtanier
Affiliation:
Laboratoire d'Hydrologie et de Géochimie Isotopique, Bâtiment 504, Université Paris-Sud, 91405, Orsay Cedex, France
Yolanda van Iperen
Affiliation:
Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Postbox 59, 1790 Ab Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Diatom assemblages from modern West African rivers and from lacustrine sediments subjected to deflation represent the present-day sources of continental diatoms to the sea. Diatom productivity in large rivers is high, especially for the genus Melosira. Windblown diatoms derive mainly from the central and northern Sahara (summer dust plume) where saline chloride-water assemblages are widespread, or from the southern edge of the Sahara (winter dust plume) where Melosira-rich assemblages of dilute water predominate. Freshwater diatom peaks in Atlantic cores may reflect (1) phases of increased river influx, correlated with humid episodes on the continent or (2) phases of enhanced deflation and wind transport during arid episodes (the single hypothesis for fine sediments from mid-ocean sites). Genus Melosira dominates the freshwater assemblages of many modern and fossil marine samples, whatever the transport agent is. Therefore, it is not an accurate paleoclimate indicator by itself, but associated taxa may provide information on the environmental and geographical origin of the displaced diatoms. This tentative approach shows that freshwater diatoms in Atlantic cores may be a good tool for reconstructing paleoclimates and for establishing continent-ocean correlations if species analyses are made and if the continental distribution of the taxa encountered is considered.

Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 32 , Issue 2 , September 1989 , pp. 229 - 243
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barde, M.F., (1981). Les diatomées des sédiments actuels et du Pléistocène supérieur de l'Atlantique nord-oriental: Intérêt hydrologique et climatique Bulletin Institut de Géologie du Bassin d'Aquitaine 29, 85–111 Google Scholar
Baudrimont, R., (1974). Recherches sur les diatomées des eaux continentales d'Algérie Mémoire de la Société d'Histoire Naturelle d'Afrique du Nord 12,Google Scholar
Benzecri, J.P. Benzecri, F., (1984). L'analyse des données Dunod Paris Google Scholar
Causse, C. Conrad, G. Fontes, J.Ch. Gasse, F. Gibert, E. Kassir, A., (1988). Le dernier “humide” pléistocène du Sahara nord-occidental daterait de 80–100000 ans Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences, Paris 306, 1459–1464 Google Scholar
Causse, C. Csque, R. Fontes, J.C. Gasse, F. Gibert, E. Ben Ouezdou, H. Zouari, K., (1989). Two high levels of continental waters in southern Tunisia chotts at 100 and 150 ka Geology in press Google Scholar
Cornet, C. Gasse, F., (1988). Late Quaternary diatom assemblages from central and northern Niger, a sector intermediate between the Sahara and the Sahel Xth International Symposium on Diatoms 27-08–02-09 1988, Huhmari, Finland 24 Abstract Google Scholar
Darwin, C., (1846). An account of the fine dust which often falls on vessels in the Atlantic Ocean The Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London 2, Longman London 1 Proceedings of the Geological Society CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delibrias, G. Giresse, P. Lanfranchi, R. Le Cocq, A., (1983). Datations des dépôts holorganiques quaternaires sur la bordure occidentale de la cuvette congolaise (R. P. du Congo); corrélations avec les sédiments marins voisins Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences, Paris 296, 463–466 Google Scholar
Ehrenberg, C.G., (1847). Passatstaub und Blutregen Abhandlungen K. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften 269–460 Google Scholar
Foged, N., (1966). Freshwater diatoms from Ghana Biologiske Skrifter-Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab 15, 1 1–169 Google Scholar
Folger, D.W., (1970). Wind transport of land-derived mineral, biogenic, and industrial matter over the North Atlantic Deep-Sea Research 17, 337–352 Google Scholar
Folger, D.W. Burkle, L.B. Heezen, B.C., (1967). Opal Phytoliths in a North Atlantic dust fall Science 155, 1243–1244 Google Scholar
Fontes, J.Ch. Gasse, F., (1987). et al. Programme Palhydaf. Etat d'avancement, janvier 1987 Géodynamique 2, 2 139–142 Google Scholar
Fourtanier, E., (1987). Diatomées néogènes d'Afrique. Approche biostratigraphique en milieux marin (Sud-Ouest africain) et continental Unpubl. Thesis Université P. and M. Curie Paris Google Scholar
Fourtanier, E. Gasse, F., (1988). First records on lacustrine diatom biostratigraphy and evolution since 11 millions years Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences, Paris 306, 1401–1406 Google Scholar
Gasse, F., (1980). Les diatomées lacustres pliopléistocènes du Gadeb (Ethiopie). Systématique, paléoécologie, biostratigraphie Revue Algologique 3, Mémoire H.S. Google Scholar
Gasse, F. Diatoms from East Africa: Taxonomy, Ecological Distribution Vol. 11, (1986.. Cramer Stuttgart Bibliotheca Diatomologica Google Scholar
Gasse, F., (1987). Diatoms for reconstructing palaeoenvironments and palaeohydrology in tropical semiarid zones: Example of some lakes from Niger since 12,000 BP Hydrobiologia 154, 127–163 Google Scholar
Gasse, F. Fontes, J.Ch. Plaziat, J.C. Carbonel, P. Kaczmarska, I. De Deckker, P. Soulié-Marsche, I. Callot, Y. Dupeuble, P.A., (1987). Biological remains, geochemistry and stable isotopes for the reconstruction of environmental and hydrological changes in the Holocene lakes from North Sahara Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 60, 1–46 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gasse, F. Talling, J.F. Kilham, P., (1983). Diatom assemblages in East Africa: Classification, distribution and ecology Revue d'Hydrobiologie Tropicale 16, 3–34 Google Scholar
Gaven, C. Hillaire-Marcel, C. Petit-Maire, N., (1981). A Pleistocene lacustrine episode in southeastern Libya Nature (London) 290, 131–133 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Giresse, P. Bongo-Passi, G. Delibrias, G. Duplessy, J.C., (1982). La lithostratigraphie des sédiments hémipélagiques du delta profond du fleuve Congo et ses indications sur les paléoclimats de la fin du Quaternaire Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France (7) 24, 4 803–815 Google Scholar
Hugot, G., (1977). Un secteur du quaternaire lacustre mauritanien: Tichitt (Aouker) Mémoires de l'Institut Mauritanien de la Recherche Scientifique Imprimeries réunies de Chambéry, Chambéry Google Scholar
Jansen, J.H.F. van Weering, T.C.E. Gieles, R. van Iperen, J., (1984). Middle and late Quaternary oceanography and climatology of the Zaire-Congo fan and adjacent eastern Angola basin Netherlands Journal of Sea Research 17, 2–4 201–249 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kalu, A.E., (1979). The African dust plume: Its characteristics and propagation across West Africa in winter Morales, C. Saharan Dust, Mobilization, Transport, Deposition Wiley Chichester 95–118 Google Scholar
Kinga-Mouezou, Transport particulaire actuel du fleuve Congo et de quelques affluents, enregistrement quaternaire dans l'éventail détritique profond (sédimentologie, minéralogie et géochimie) Unpubl. thesis (1986). University of Perpignan Google Scholar
Kolbe, R.W., (1955). Sediment cores from the North Atlantic Ocean Reports of Swedish Deep-Sea Expendition, 1947–1948 7, 151–184 Google Scholar
Kuipjers, A. Troelstra, S.R. Verbeek, J.W. Wensink, H. De Wolf, H., (1984). Paleoceanic conditions in the Canary Basin, Eastern North Atlantic, since 1.4 M.A. B.P.: Evidence from the deep-water sedimentary record Mededelingen Rijks Geologishe Dienst 38, 2 215–230 Google Scholar
Kutzbach, J.E. Street-Perrott, F.A., (1985). Milankovitch forcing of fluctuations in the level of tropical lakes from 18 to 0 kyr B.P. Nature (London) 317, 130–134 Google Scholar
Legendre, L. Legendre, P., (1984). Ecologie numérique Masson Paris Google Scholar
Maley, J., (1987). Fragmentation de la forêt dense humide africaine et extension des biotopes montagnards au Quaternaire récent: Nouvelles données polliniques et chronologiques. Implications paléoclimatiques et biogéographiques Palaeoecology of Africa 18, 307–334 Google Scholar
Maynard, N.C., (1976). Relationship between diatoms in surface sediments of the Atlantic Ocean and the biological and physical oceanography of overlying waters Paleobiology 2, 99–121 Google Scholar
Melia, M.B., (1984). The distribution and relationship between palynomorphs in aerosols and deep-sea sediments off the coast of Northwest Africa Marine Geology 58, 345–371 Google Scholar
Mikkelsen, N., (1984). Diatoms in the Zaïre deep-sea fan and Pleistocene palaeoclimatic trends in the Angola basin and West Equatorial Africa Netherlands Journal of Sea Research 17, 2–4 280–292 Google Scholar
Moguedet, G. Bongo-Passi, G. Giresse, P. Schwartz, M. Corrélations entre sédiments quaternaires continentaux et marins au Congo Revue de Géologie Dynamique et de Géographie Physique 27, 2 (1986.). 131–140 Google Scholar
Nicholson, S.E., (1982). Pleistocene and Holocene climates in Africa Nature (London) 296, 779–780 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parmenter, C. Folger, D.W., (1984). Eolian biogenic detritus in deep sea sediments: A possible index of equatorial Ice Age aridity Science 185, 695–698 Google Scholar
Pastouret, L. Chamley, H. Delibrias, G. Duplessy, J.C. Thiede, J., (1978). Late Quaternary climatic changes in Western Tropical Africa deduced from deep-sea sedimentation off the Niger delta Oceanologica Acta 1, 2 217–232 Google Scholar
Petit-Maire, N. Riser, J., (1983). Sahara ou Sahel? Lamy Marseille Google Scholar
Pokras, E.M., (1987). Diatom record of Late Quaternary climatic changes in the eastern equatorial Atlantic and tropical Africa Paleoceanography 2, 3 273–286 Google Scholar
Pokras, E.M. Mix, A.C., (1985). Eolian evidence for spatial variability of late quaternary climates in Tropical Africa Quaternary Research 24, 137–149 Google Scholar
Prospero, J.M., (1981). Arid regions as sources for mineral aerosols in the marine environment Desert Dust: Origin, Characteristics, and Effect of Man Péwé, T.L. Geological Society of America Special Paper 186, 71–86 Google Scholar
Sarthein, M. Erlenkeuser, H. Zahn, R., (1982). Termination I: The response of continental climate in the subtropics as recorded in deep-sea sediments Bulletin Institut Géologique du Bassin d'Aquitaine 31, 393–407 Google Scholar
Sarthein, M. Tetzlaff, G. Koopman, B. Wolter, K. Pflaumann, U., (1981). Glacial and interglacial wind regimes over the eastern subtropical Atlantic and north-west Africa Nature (London) 293, 193–196 Google Scholar
Schrader, H.-J., (1977). Diatoms in DSDP Leg 41 Sites Lancelot, Y. Seybold, E. et al. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project Vol. 41, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, DC 791–812 Google Scholar
Servant-Vildary, S., (1978). Etudes des diatomées et paléolimnologie du bassin Tchadien au Cénozoique supérieur Travaux et Documents de l'O.R.S.T.O.M. 84, O.R.S.T.O.M Paris 2 vols,Google Scholar
Seyve, C. Fourtanier, E., (1985). Microfloristic content of a modern aeolian sediment Bulletin Centres Recherches Exploration-Production. Elf-Aquitaine 9, 1 137–154 Google Scholar
Sinada, F. Abdel Karim, A.G., (1984). A quantitative study of the phytoplankton in the Blue and White Niles at Khartoum Hydrobiologia 110, 47–55 Google Scholar
Stabell, B. Variations of diatom flux in the eastern equatorial Atlantic during the last 400,000 years (“Meteor” cores 13519 and 13521) Marine Geology 72, (1986.). 305–323 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Street-Perrott, F.A. Harrison, S.P., (1985). Lake levels and climate reconstruction Hecht, A.D. Paleoclimate and Modeling Wiley New York 290–340 Google Scholar
Street-Perrott, F.A. Roberts, N., (1983). Fluctuations in closed-basin lakes as an indicator of past atmospheric circulation pattern Street-Perrott, F.A. Beran, M. Ratcliffe, R.A.S. Variations in the Global Water Budget Reidel Dordrecht 331–345 Google Scholar
Talbot, M.R. Kelts, K. Primary and diagenetic carbonates in the anoxic sediments of Lake Bosumtwi, Ghana Geology 14, 11 (1986.). 912–916 Google Scholar
Talling, J.F., (1980). Some problems of aquatic environments in Egypt from a general viewpoint of Nile ecology Water Supply and Management 4, 13–20 Google Scholar
van Iperen, J.M. Van Weering, T.C.E. Jansen, J.H.F. van Bennekom, A.J., (1987). Diatoms in surface sediments of the Zaire Deep-Sea Fan (SE Atlantic Ocean) and their relation to overlying water masses Netherlands Journal of Sea Research 21, 3 203–217 Google Scholar