Productivity evolution in the southeastern Bay of Bengal since the last glaciation: Insight from biogenic silica records

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2022.1.15

Abstract

Abstract:

Based on the biogenic silica (BSi) records, combined with the calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and siliceous radiolarian data, the evolution of productivity and climatic response in the southeastern Bay of Bengal (SEBoB) since the last glaciation is revealed. The productivity evolution in the study area is roughly divided into three stages: relatively low productivity during the last glaciation (~56-18 ka), rapid productivity increase during the last deglaciation (~18-10 ka), and ultra high productivity during the Holocene. Radiolarian species in the sediments of the last glaciation were dominated (~60%) by highly silicified Zygocircus/Amphispyris with the sagittal ring structure, whereas slender shaped ones with low degree of silicification were few. We speculated that the shell structure of siliceous organisms in the glacial sediments were affected by dissolution. Nevertheless, the calcium carbonate content (~20%), BSi content (3.5%-4.4%), and radiolarian abundance (1000-6000 inds·g^-1) in the last glaciation indicated that productivity in the SEBoB had been relatively high, since the last glaciation with abundant nutrients and biomass. This conclusion was supported by the relatively high abundance of nassellarians (>50%)—an indicator of rich nutrients. In addition, the periodic fluctuation of Bsi contents in the last deglaciation might be controlled by millennium scale climate events. During the Heinrich Stadial 1 intervals (HS1) and Younger Dryas (YD), the climate cooled, enhanced northeast monsoon carried more terrigenous organic matter into the upper water, and the invasion of antarctic intermediate water enhanced intermediate water ventilation while biomass and productivity peaked.

Key words: biogenic silica, palaeoproductivity, last glaciation, millennial events, northeastern Indian Ocean

CLC Number:

ZHANG Lanlan, QIU Zhuoya, XIANG Rong, YANG Yiping, CHENG Muhong. Productivity evolution in the southeastern Bay of Bengal since the last glaciation: Insight from biogenic silica records[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2022, 29(4): 136-143.

Figures/Tables 5

Fig.1 Geographical locations of cores YDY05 (this study), BOB-56 (after [1]) and MD77-176 (after [16)], and currents in the study area (adapted from [14,15]). NMC—Northeast monsoon current; SMC—Southwest monsoon current.

Table 1 AMS14C ages and converted calendar ages for core YDY05. Adapted from [3,17].

样本序号	孔深/cm	测年材料	AMS¹⁴C年龄/(a BP)	日历年龄/(a BP)	2σ校正年龄/(a BP)
391109	7	混合浮游有孔虫种	5 190±30	5 440	5 280~5 570
391110	25	混合浮游有孔虫种	9 490±40	10 200	10 100~10 365
391111	53~54	混合浮游有孔虫种	13 730±50	15 855	15 660~16 070
408429	94~95	混合浮游有孔虫种	20 510±70	24 590	24 460~24 960
391112	122~123	混合浮游有孔虫种	23 350±100	27 210	27 000~27 380
408430	175	混合浮游有孔虫种	35 590±280	40 195	39 605~40 840
391113	237	混合浮游有孔虫种	>43 500

Fig.2 From left: Variability of sedimentation rate, calcium carbonate content, biogenic silica content, biogenic silica accumulation rate, and radiolarian abundance and accumulation rate in core YDY05. EHCO—Early Holocene Climate Optimum; YD—Younger Dryas; HS1—Heinrich Stadial 1 intervals.

Fig.3 From left: Age-depth curve, radiolarian diversity index and relative abundances of spumellarian, nassellarian and Zygocircus/Amphispyris in core YDY05, and relative sea level change since the last glaciation (adapted from [28]).

Fig.4 Comparisons of biogenic silica content and accumulation rate between cores YDY05 (this study) and BOB-56 (after [1]). YD—Younger Dryas; HS1—Heinrich Stadial 1 intervals.

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