Memorial University DAI: Geochemistry, microstructure and growth banding in Stylaster campylecus parageus and Primnoa pacifica : implications for commonly observed deep sea corals as paleoceanographic archives

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Title	Geochemistry, microstructure and growth banding in Stylaster campylecus parageus and Primnoa pacifica : implications for commonly observed deep sea corals as paleoceanographic archives
Author	Aranha, Renita
Description	Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2010. Earth Sciences
Date	2010
Pagination	xix, [237] leaves : ill., maps (some col.) +1 CD-ROM (4 3/4 in)
Subject	Zooxanthellate corals--Northeast Pacific Ocean; Paleoceanography--Northeast Pacific Ocean; Sclerochronology--Northeast Pacific Ocean; Deep sea corals--Habitat--Northeast Pacific Ocean; Deep sea corals--Effect of environment on--Northeast Pacific Ocean
Degree	M.Sc.
Degree Grantor	Memorial University of Newfoundland. Dept. of Earth Sciences
Discipline	Earth Sciences
Language	Eng
Spatial Coverage	Pacific Ocean
Notes	Includes bibliographical references.
Abstract	A sclerochronological study of two common cold-water corals from the Northeast Pacific, Stylaster campylecus parageus and Primnoa pacifica, was performed on specimens collected in 2008 from Dixon Entrance, BC, and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Washington State. SEM imaging of S. campylecus revealed the presence of growth banding and extensive skeletal remineralization. Profiles of Na/Ca, Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca could, however, be obtained with Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry. Sr/Ca values were observed to display two maxima over distances covering approximately 12 growth bands, with corresponding minima in Mg/Ca and Na/Ca. These cyclical co-variations were interpreted to be primarily influenced by surface water productivity. This cyclicity in the trace element profiles, in the context of a documented biannual increase in productivity, suggested that the growth bands are monthly. -- The average radial growth rate of S. campylecus was 1.4 ± 0.1 mm.yr-1, and the average axial growth rate was 17.3 ± 1.1 mm.yr-1. Temperature changes cannot account for the variation in Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca in either S. campylecus or P. pacifica. These variations appear instead to be modulated by surface water productivity. The annual radial growth rate of P. pacifica varied between 0.23 and 0.58 mm.yr-1 in the samples studied - considerably higher than growth rates of a similar species in the North Atlantic. Geographic variation in growth rates is likely influenced by primary productivity.
Type	Text
Resource Type	Electronic thesis or dissertation
Format	Image/jpeg; Application/pdf
Source	Paper copy kept in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies, Memorial University Libraries
Accompanying Files	http://collections.mun.ca/theses_extras/Aranha_Renita.zip
Rights	The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission.
Collection	Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Scanning Status	Completed
PDF File	(19.60 MB) -- http://collections.mun.ca/PDFs/theses/Aranha_Renita.pdf
CONTENTdm file name	38851.cpd