Distributions of salt-marsh foraminifera along the coast of SW California, USA: Implications for sea-level reconstructions

Abstract

Abstract Salt-marsh foraminifera are frequently used around the world as proxies in paleoenvironmental studies of sea-level change. Quantitative reconstructions of sea-level change use transfer functions which are based on the vertical zonation of salt-marsh foraminifera with respect to the tidal frame. This paper explores for the first time the environmental factors that control the foraminiferal assemblages in Southern California marshes using modern surface samples (1 cm thick) from two marshes Seal Beach and Tijuana Estuary. The dead foraminiferal assemblages demonstrate distinct zonation across the salt-marsh surfaces which is primarily related to elevation. Other variables less important than elevation such as O2, temperature, salinity and pH additionally control the distribution pattern of these assemblages. The tidal flat and low marshes are characterized by high abundances of Miliammina fusca and calcareous species. The middle marsh is dominated by Jadammina macrescens and Trochammina inflata, while the high marsh zone is dominated by Trochamminita irregularis, Miliammina petila, J. macrescens and T. inflata. Regression modelling was used for the development of a sea-level transfer function based on a combined training set of surface samples from the two study sites. The performance of the Weighted Average – Partial Least Squares (WA-PLS) transfer function suggests a robust relationship between the observed and estimated elevations (r2Jack = 0.72), and is capable of predicting former sea levels to a precision of ± 0.09 m. Our results can be used for future paleoenvironmental reconstructions along the Southern California coast, an area that has experienced changes in sea level in the past and will be affected by future sea-level rise coupled with climate and anthropogenic changes, resulting in wide impacts on the natural coastal habitats in this region.