Abstract
Diatoms are valuable indicators of palaeosedimentary environments in coastal wetlands. In this paper, the utilization of diatoms in coastal reconstructions will be demonstrated in a case study, the Poortvliet boring (southwest Netherlands). Diatoms supply valuable information about palaeosalinity gradients and palaeotide levels in addition to the existing geological data set, obtained from sediment cores.
The ecological data of taxa are usually gathered from diatom studies in recent coastal environments. The study of the Poortvliet boring shows that information can also be obtained from the past (‘the past as key to the past’) by comparing the trends of the relative abundances of species of which the ecology is ‘well-known’ to those of which the ecology is ‘unknown’. It is argued both on recent and fossil data that Cymatosira belgica and Rhaphoneis minutissima have a tychoplanktonic life form.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, N. J. & P. C. Vos, 1992. Learning from the past: diatoms as palaeoecological indicators of changes in marine environments. Neth. J. of Aq. Ecol. 26(1): 19–30.
Beets, D. J., L. van der Valk & M. J. F. Stive, 1992. Holocene evolution of the coast of Holland. Mar. Geol. 103: 423–443.
Brockmann, C., 1940. Diatomeen als Leitfossilien in Küstenablagerungen. Westküste 2 (2/3): 150–181.
De Jonge, V. N., 1985. The occurrence of ‘Epipsammic’ diatom populations: A result of interaction between physical sorting of sediments and certain properties of diatom species. Estuar. Coast. shelf Sci. 21: 607–622.
De Jonge, V. N. & J. van den Bergs, 1987. Experiments on the resuspension of estuarine sediments containing benthic diatoms. Estuar. Coast. shelf Sci. 24: 725–740.
Denys, L., 1991. A check-list of the diatoms in the Holocene deposits of the Western Belgian coastal plain with a survey of their apparent ecological requirements. I. Introduction, ecological code and complete list. Belgische Geologische Dienst, Professional Paper 1991/2 - No 246, 41 pp.
Denys L. & C. Verbruggen, 1989. A case of drowning — the end of Subatlantic peat growth and related palaeoenvironmental changes in the lower Scheldt Basin (Belgium) based on diatom and pollen analysis. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. 59: 7–36.
Flower, R. J., 1993. Diatom preservation: experiments and observations on dissolution and breakage in modern and fossil material. Hydrobiologia 269/270: 473–484.
Hasle, G. R., H. A. von Stosch & E. E. Syvertsen, 1983. Cymatosiraceae, a new diatom family. Bacillaria 6: 9–156.
Jelgersma, S., 1979. Sea-level changes in the North Sea basin. In: E. Oele, R. T. E. Schüttenhelm & A. J. Wiggers (eds), The Quaternary history of the North Sea. Acta Univ. Ups. Symp. Univ. Ups. Annum Quingentesium Celebrantis 2: 233–248.
Juggins, S., 1992. Diatoms in the Thames estuary, England: ecology, paleoecology and salinity transfer function. Bibl. Diatomol. 25: 1–216.
Leewis, R. J., 1985. Phytoplankton off the Dutch coast. Diss. Univ. Nijmegen. 147 pp.
Miller, U., 1982. Shore displacement and coastal dwelling in the Stockholm region during the past 5000 years. Ann. Acad. Sci. Fennicae, A. III. 134: 185–211.
Palmer, A. J. M. & J. J. Clague, 1991. Diatom assemblage analysis and sea level change, Serpentine River, British Columbia. Curr. Res., Part E; Geol. Surv. Canada, 91–1E: 109–116.
Pankow, H., 1976. Algenflora der Ostsee. 2. Plankton einschl. bentischer Kieselalgen). Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, 493 pp.
Pienitz, R., G. Lortie & M. Allard, 1991. Isolation of lacustrine basins and marine regression in the Kuujjuaq area, Northern Quebec, as inferred from diatom analysis. Géogr. phys. Quatern., 45: 155–174.
Sabbe, K. & W. Vyverman, 1991. Distribution of benthic diatom assemblages in the Westerschelde (Zeeland, The Netherlands). Belg. J. Bot. 124: 91–101.
Shaffer, G. P. & M. J. Sullivan, 1988. Water column productivity attributable to displaced benthic diatoms in wellmixed shallow estuaries. J. Phycol. 24: 132–140.
Simonsen, R., 1962. Untersuchungen zur Systematik and Okologie der Bodendiatomeen der westlichen Ostsee. Int. Rev. ges. Hydrobiol., Syst. Beih. 1: 94–97.
Stabell, B., 1982. The response of diatom floras during Late Quaternary shore line displacement in Southern and Western Norway. Thesis, Department of Geology, University of Oslo, 323 pp.
Stabell, B., 1985. The development and succession of taxa within the diatom genus Fragilaria Lyngbye as a response to basin isolation from the sea. Boreas 14: 273–286.
Van den Hoek, C., W. Admiraal, F. Colijn & V. N. de Jonge, 1979. The role of algae and seagrasses in the ecosystem of the Wadden Sea: A review. In: W. J. Wolff (ed.), Flora and vegetation of the Wadden Sea. Report 3, Stichting Veth tot Steun aan Waddenonderzoek, Leiden, 118 pp.
Van de Plassche, O., 1982. Sea-level change and water-level movements in the Netherlands during the Holocene. Meded. Rijks Geol. Dienst 36 (1): 1–93.
Van der Spek, A. J. F. & D. J. Beets, 1992. Evolution of the Holocene tidal basins of Holland as a model for tidal basin development during possible future sea-level rise. Sediment. Geol. 80: 185–197.
Van Rummelen, F. F. F. M, 1965. Toelichting bij de geologische kaart van Nederland, 1:50000, blad Zeeuws-Vlaanderen West en Oost. Rijks Geologische Dienst, Haarlem, 79 pp.
Van Rummelen, F. F. F. M, 1970. Toelichting bij de geologische kaart van Nederland, 1:50000, blad Schouwen-Duiveland. Rijks Geologische Dienst, Haarlem, 116 pp.
Van Rummelen, F. F. F. M, 1972. Toelichting bij de geologische kaart van Nederland, 1:50000, blad Walcheren. Rijks Geologische Dienst, Haarlem, 120 pp.
Van Rummelen, F. F. F. M, 1978. Toelichting bij de geologische kaart van Nederland, 1: 50000, blad Beveland. Rijks Geologische Dienst, Haarlem, 138 pp.
Vos, P. C., 1986. De sediment stabiliserende werking van benthische diatomeeën in bet intergetijde gebied van de Oosterschelde. GEOMOR-nota 86–03, Rijkswaterstaat, Dienst Getijdewateren, Middelburg, 156 pp.
Vos, P. C. & H. de Wolf, 1988. Paleo-ecologisch diatomeeenonderzoek in de Noordzee en de provincie Noord-Holland in bet kader van het Kustgenese Project, Taakgroep 5000. Rapport 500. Geological Survey of The Netherlands, Diatom Department, 144 pp.
Vos, P. C. & H. de Wolf, 1993. Diatoms as a tool for reconstructing sedimentary environments in coastal wetlands; methodological aspects. Hydrobiologia 269/270: 285–296.
Vos, P. C., P. L. de Boer & R. Misdorp, 1988. Sediment stabilization by benthic diatoms in intertidal sandy shoals. In: P. L. de Boer, A. van Gelder & S. D. Nio (eds), Tide-influenced sedimentary environments and facies. D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht: 511–526.
Wilderom, M. H., 1964. Tussen Afsluitdammen en Deltadijken, Deel II, Noord Zeeland. M. H. Wilderom, Vlissingen, 567 pp.
Zagwijn, W. H., 1986. Nederland in bet Holoceen. Geologic van Nederland, 1. Geological Survey of The Netherlands, Haarlem, 46 pp.
Zagwijn, W. H. & C. J. van Staalduinen, 1975. Toelichting bij geologische overzichtskaarten van Nederland. Rijks Geologische Dienst, Haarlem, 134 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vos, P.C., de Wolf, H. Reconstruction of sedimentary environments in Holocene coastal deposits of the southwest Netherlands; the Poortvliet boring, a case study of palaeoenvironmental diatom research. Hydrobiologia 269, 297–306 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028028
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028028