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The stable isotope composition of organic and inorganic fossils in lake sediment records: current understanding, challenges, and future directions

van Hardenbroek, M; Chakraborty, A; Davies, AL; Harding, P; Heiri, O; Henderson, ACG; Holmes, JA; ... Wooller, MJ; + view all (2018) The stable isotope composition of organic and inorganic fossils in lake sediment records: current understanding, challenges, and future directions. Quaternary Science Reviews , 196 pp. 154-176. 10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.08.003. Green open access

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Abstract

This paper provides an overview of stable isotope analysis (H, C, N, O, Si) of the macro- and microscopic remains from aquatic organisms found in lake sediment records and their application in (palaeo)environmental science. Aquatic organisms, including diatoms, macrophytes, invertebrates, and fish, can produce sufficiently robust remains that preserve well as fossils and can be identified in lake sediment records. Stable isotope analyses of these remains can then provide valuable insights into habitat-specific biogeochemistry, feeding ecology, but also on climatic and hydrological changes in and around lakes. Since these analyses focus on the remains of known and identified organisms, they can provide more specific and detailed information on past ecosystem, food web and environmental changes affecting different compartments of lake ecosystems than analyses on bulk sedimentary organic matter or carbonate samples. We review applications of these types of analyses in palaeoclimatology, palaeohydrology, and palaeoecology. Interpretation of the environmental ‘signal’ provided by taxon-specific stable isotope analysis requires a thorough understanding of the ecology and phenology of the organism groups involved. Growth, metabolism, diet, feeding strategy, migration, taphonomy and several other processes can lead to isotope fractionation or otherwise influence the stable isotope signatures of the remains from aquatic organisms. This paper includes a review of the (modern) calibration, culturing and modelling studies used to quantify the extent to which these factors influence stable isotope values and provides an outlook for future research and methodological developments for the different examined fossil groups.

Type: Article
Title: The stable isotope composition of organic and inorganic fossils in lake sediment records: current understanding, challenges, and future directions
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.08.003
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2018.08.003
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Stable isotopes, Lake sediment, Organic remains, Inorganic remains, Diatoms, Invertebrates, Ostracods
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Dept of Geography
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10054129
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