Abstract
THE eastern equatorial Pacific upwelling region is responsible for up to 50% of global 'new' production1 and is regarded as a barometer of ocean change. Here we report evidence, from several sediment cores in the region, for repeated episodes of increased equatorial primary production between 15 and 4.4 million years ago, on a scale that is undocumented in the modern ocean. Mats of the diatom Thalassiothrix were rapidly deposited as successive laminations at rates exceeding 10cm per thousand years; mat deposits can be correlated for distances of more than 2,000 km. It is surprising that the laminations were preserved at all: conventional models suggest that bioturbation caused by the benthic sediment community will disrupt such laminations unless there is insufficient oxygen in the water to support the biological activity. In this case, however, the strength of the mats and the scale of their deposition may have overwhelmed the benthos, so that the laminations were preserved by physical means. These remarkable deposits provide a unique window into the Neogene tropical ocean–climate system, and should enable quantification of ancient deep-sea fluxes and the study of short-term (sub-Milankovitch) variability in the ocean.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chavez, F. P. & Barber, R. T. Deep-Sea Res. 34, 1229–1243 (1987).
Wyrtki, K. J. phys. Oceanogr. 11, 1205–1214 (1981).
Chavez, F. P., Buck, K. R. & Barber, R. T. Deep-Sea Res. 37, 1733–1752 (1990)
Mayer, L. & Theyer, F. Init. Rep. DSDP Leg 85 (1985).
Mayer, L., Pisias, N. P. & Janecek, T. R. Init. Repts. ODP 138 (1992).
Sancetta, C. Init. Repts DSDP 68, 301–309 (1982).
Sancetta, C. Init. Repts DSDP 69, 311–320 (1983).
Hendy, N. I. Discovery Repts 16 151–364 (1937).
Smayda, T. J. Oikos 9, 158–191 (1958).
Hasle, G. R. & Semina, H. J. Diatom Res. 2, 175–192 (1987).
Hallegraef, G. M. Diatom Res. 1, 57–80 (1986).
Clemons, M. J. & Miller, C. B. Deep-Sea Res. 31, 85–95 (1984).
Martinez, L., Silver, M. W., King, J. & Alldredge, A. L. Science 221, 152–154 (1983).
Sancetta, C., Villareal, T. & Falkowski, P. Limnol. Oceanogr. 36, 1452–1457 (1991).
Barber, R. T. US JGOFS News 4(1), 1–6 (1992).
Mayer, L. Nature 352, 148–150 (1991).
Mayer, L. A., Shipley, T. H. & Winterer, F. I. Science 233, 761–764 (1986).
Hay, B. J. Paleoceanography 3, 491–508 (1988).
Thorton, S. E. Spec. Publ. geol. soc. Lond. 15, 377–394 (1984).
Kemp, A. E. S. Proc. ODP Sci. Res. 112, 43–58 (1991).
Calvert, S. E. J Geol. 74, 546–565 (1966).
King, S., Kemp, A. E. S. & Murray, J. W. Proc. ODP Sci. Res. 138 (submitted).
Gardner, J. V. & Burckle, L. H. Micropaleontology 21, 236–242 (1975).
Gombos, A. M. Init. Rep. DSDP Leg. 73, 487–494 (1984).
Muller, D. W., Hodell, D. A. & Ciesielski, P. F. Proc. ODP Sci. Res. 114, 43–58 (1991).
Schrader, H. & Matherne, A. Micropaleontology 27, 191–203 (1981).
Farrell, J. W. & Prell, W. L. Paleoceanography 4, 447–466 (1989).
Baldauf, J. G. & Barron J. A. in Geological History of the Polar Oceans: Arctic versus Antarctic (eds Bliel. U. & Thiede, J.) 575–607 (Kluwer, Dordrecht, 1990).
Barron, J. A. & Baldauf, J. G. in Pacific Neogene Events: Their Timing, Nature and Interrelationship (ed. Tsuchi, R.) 43–63 (Univ. Tokyo Press, 1990).
Woodruff, F. & Savin, S. M. Paleoceanography 3, 87–140 (1989).
Leinen, M. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. I 90, 801–803 (1979).
Brewster, N. A. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. I 91, 337–347 (1980).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kemp, A., Baldauf, J. Vast Neogene laminated diatom mat deposits from the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. Nature 362, 141–144 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/362141a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/362141a0
This article is cited by
-
Southern Ocean biogenic blooms freezing-in Oligocene colder climates
Nature Communications (2022)
-
Species-specific responses of late Miocene Discoaster spp. to enhanced biosilica productivity conditions in the equatorial Pacific and the Mediterranean
Geo-Marine Letters (2013)
-
Vast laminated diatom mat deposits from the west low-latitude Pacific Ocean in the last glacial period
Science Bulletin (2009)
-
Microfabric analysis of laminated diatom ooze (Holocene) from the eastern Bransfield Strait, Antarctic Peninsula
Geosciences Journal (2003)
-
Origin of laminated diatom ooze in King George Basin sediments from Bransfield Strait, Antarctica
Geosciences Journal (2001)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.