Response of ostracods to abrupt climate changes in the Western Mediterranean (Gulf of Lions) during the last 30kyr

Abstract

Abstract Global climate changes attract the attention of researchers working with paleoceanographic proxies for reconstructing past ocean circulation changes and the physico-chemical parameters that control environmental conditions. Moreover, recent studies highlight the importance of climate change on deep sea benthic biodiversity. Deep sea benthic fauna are not isolated from atmospheric processes and climate changes controlling surface ocean biota, for benthic assemblages respond to changing climatic conditions as well. Substrate and physico-chemical characteristics of bottom waters have particularly strong influence on ostracod species distribution in all marine settings, making them excellent environmental indicators. This paper focuses on changes in ostracod assemblages at MD99-2348 site, located on the continental slope of the Gulf of Lions to determine the relationship between climatic-driven oceanographic changes and ostracod diversity and abundance. High abundances of Henryhowella asperrima and Echinocythereis echinata during Heinrich events (HE1 and HE2) may result from increased oxygenation of the bottom water and a more pulsed supply of nutrients (organic matter). Formation of surface cold water that increases the oxygen content in deep layers in the water column is linked to the intensification of northerly wind (Tramontane and Mistral) in northwestern Mediterranean during the acme of HEs, when high latitudes bodies of cold air (Mobile Polar Highs) reach the Mediterranean area. Moreover, the concomitant high abundance of Krithe pernoides , which proved to be very sensitive to variable oxygen levels, probably records even shorter (millennial to centennial scale) climate oscillations. Changes in environmental conditions are illustrated by the shift of C . testudo–Loxoconcha spp. vs. Pseudocythere sp.– Macrocypris sp. that indicates detrital input, primary productivity and the possible impact of sea level oscillation on benthic assemblages since the LGM.