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High resolution stable isotope records of sclreractinian corals near Ishigaki Island: Their implication as a potential paleoclimatic recorder in middle latitude regions

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Abstract

We propose skeletal δ18O of Platygyra, a hermatypic reef building massive coral, as a potential paleo-SST proxy in midlatitude regions, where the commonly used massive Porites corals are rare. Skeletal δ18O ratio (δ18Oc) of a Platygyra and Porites corals collected from Ishigaki Island, Japan, shows a clear seasonality corresponding to SST variation. The temperature dependence of the Platygyra coral was estimated, for the first time with appropriate sampling resolution, at −0.219‰/°C (T = −4.57δ18Oc + 2.65, r2=0.96). Massive Platygyra colonies show a wide distribution from the tropics to mid-latitudes further northwards than Porites. Platygyra’s adaptation to colder water temperatures and strong temperature dependence of δ18Oc suggest its application as a potential paleo-SST proxy for mid-latitude regions, where high resolution SST proxies are not available, as well as in tropical to subtropical regions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Resources Research Department, Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, Ansan, P.O.Box 29, Seoul, 425-600, Korea

    Michiyo Shimamura, Kiseong Hyeong & Chan Min Yoo

  2. Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, N10W8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan

    Tsuyoshi Watanabe

  3. Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, N10W5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan

    Tomohisa Irino

  4. Marine Environment Research Department, Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute, Ansan, P.O.Box 29, Seoul, 425-600, Korea

    Hoi-Soo Jung

Authors
  1. Michiyo Shimamura
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  2. Kiseong Hyeong
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  3. Chan Min Yoo
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  4. Tsuyoshi Watanabe
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  5. Tomohisa Irino
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  6. Hoi-Soo Jung
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Correspondence to Kiseong Hyeong.

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Shimamura, M., Hyeong, K., Yoo, C.M. et al. High resolution stable isotope records of sclreractinian corals near Ishigaki Island: Their implication as a potential paleoclimatic recorder in middle latitude regions. Geosci J 12, 25–31 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-008-0004-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-008-0004-y

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