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Actualistic Taphonomy in South America pp 89–109Cite as

Actualistic Taphonomy of Freshwater Diatoms: Implications for the Interpretation of the Holocene Record in Pampean Shallow Lakes

Part of the Topics in Geobiology book series (TGBI,volume 48)

Abstract

Recent findings of noticeable changes in diatom preservation in the Holocene record of Pampean shallow lakes evidenced the need for carrying out actualistic studies to decipher the environmental significance of taphonomic signatures. In this chapter, we review a series of field and experimental studies recently conducted, focusing on the effect of contemporary environmental gradients on the dissolution and fragmentation of diatom valves. Field studies signaled salinity, carbonates, and bicarbonates as the main drivers of dissolution of the target taxon Cyclotella meneghiniana in shallow lakes covering wide environmental gradients. Laboratory controlled experiments demonstrated a negative effect of NaCl and HCO3Na on valve preservation, evidenced by an increase in dissolved silica and by the occurrence of valves showing advanced stages of dissolution. Detailed analysis of taphonomic attributes and their relationship with live/dead agreement at a freshwater lake showed that within-lake taphofacies are useful to discriminate between diatom sub-environments. The joint analysis of compositional and taphonomic variations in the recent sedimentary record of the lake demonstrated the usefulness of taphonomic analyses to uncover subtle paleoenvironmental variations, which could be overlooked if only traditional compositional analyses were performed. The strong link between compositional and taphonomic patterns at different working scales highlighted the usefulness of including taphonomic analyses when conducting diatom-based paleoenvironmental studies in environmentally heterogeneous shallow lakes.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support for this research was granted by the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICT 2727/2013), the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (PIP 0063/2010), and the Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (EXA 775/16). Special thanks to Pedro Urrutia (Estancia Nahuel Rucá), Santiago González Aguilar (Las Mostazas), Nicolás Bustamante (Camping Ruca Lauquen), and Héctor Sanabria (Los Carpinchos), for permission to access private land where the lakes are located. We also thank Gustava Bernava for performing the chemical analyses. D. Navarro, S. Stutz and M. Tonello helped at some stage of the research. Experimental studies are part of the Doctoral Thesis of M.C. Díaz at the University of Mar del Plata. G. Hassan and C.G. De Francesco are members of the Scientific Research Career of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), CONICET, UNMdP, CC 1260 Correo Central, Mar del Plata, B7600WAG, Argentina

    Gabriela S. Hassan, Claudio G. De Francesco & Marisel C. Díaz

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  1. Gabriela S. Hassan
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  2. Claudio G. De Francesco
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  3. Marisel C. Díaz
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Correspondence to Gabriela S. Hassan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Sergio Martínez

  2. Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Alejandra Rojas

  3. Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Fernanda Cabrera

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Hassan, G.S., De Francesco, C.G., Díaz, M.C. (2020). Actualistic Taphonomy of Freshwater Diatoms: Implications for the Interpretation of the Holocene Record in Pampean Shallow Lakes. In: Martínez, S., Rojas, A., Cabrera, F. (eds) Actualistic Taphonomy in South America. Topics in Geobiology, vol 48. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20625-3_6

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