EAPSI: Development of paired uranium-thorium and radiocarbon ocean ventilation records using deep-sea corals

深海珊瑚生态系统的生态学和生物学研究力度不断加大，部分原因是人类活动造成的影响，包括捕鱼活动。由于人们越来越意识到深海珊瑚是商业和非商业鱼类的栖息地形成生物，它们的寿命极长，并且它们具有作为气候档案的潜力，因此深海珊瑚保护工作的重要性已经扩大。开发独立的方法来确定深海珊瑚的寿命和生长速度，对于评估它们在自然和人为干扰下的脆弱性和恢复速度非常重要。同样重要的是开发深海珊瑚档案的高分辨率年龄模型。该项目旨在与澳大利亚堪培拉澳大利亚国立大学的Steward Fallon博士合作，通过在深海珊瑚的蛋白质和碳酸盐骨骼中开发代用物来研究深海珊瑚的古生态。进入澳大利亚国立大学提供的实验室、设备和测年方法，将为扩大对深海珊瑚的认识和理解创造机会。在重建海洋通风率方面，深海珊瑚古海洋学代用测量的发展已经超出了可能的范围。海洋通风的记录被用来确定海洋化学在整个地质时期是如何变化的，有助于预测未来的气候变化。该项目将采用一种新的铀钍（U/Th）测年方法与放射性碳测年相结合，以建立黑珊瑚（Leiopathes sp.）和杯珊瑚（Desmophyllum sp.）的年龄和生长速度记录。将独立的计时器（如U/Th测年与放射性碳测年）相结合，可以重建可追溯到末次冰期极大期（~20,000年）的海洋通风率。该项目将采用多代理方式；配对U/Th、放射性碳和钕同位素测量，重建水面、中间和深水环流模式的变化。NSF EAPSI奖是与澳大利亚科学院合作资助的。

The ecology and biology of deep-sea coral ecosystems has seen increased research efforts in part because of human-induced impacts, including fishing activities. The importance of conservation efforts of deep-sea corals has amplified due to increased awareness of deep-sea corals as habitat-forming organisms for commercial and noncommercial fish species, their extremely long lifespans, and their potential as a climate archive. Developing independent means of determining the life-span and growth rate of deep-sea corals is important to assess their vulnerability and recovery rates from natural and human-induced disturbances. Equally important is the development of high-resolution age models of deep-sea coral archives. This project aims to examine the paleo-ecology of deep-sea corals by developing proxies in both the proteinaceous and carbonate skeletons of deep-sea corals in collaboration with Dr. Steward Fallon at the Australia National University in Canberra, Australia. Access to the laboratory, equipment, and dating methods provided at ANU, will create an opportunity to expand knowledge and understanding of deep-sea corals.Development of paleoceanographic proxy measurements in deep-sea corals has moved beyond the range of potential promise in terms of reconstructing ocean ventilation rates. Records of ocean ventilation are used to determine how ocean chemistry has changed throughout geologic time, helping predict future climate change. This project will apply a novel uranium-thorium (U/Th) dating method paired with radiocarbon dates to develop age and growth rate records of black corals, Leiopathes sp. and cup corals, Desmophyllum sp. Pairing independent chronometers, such as U/Th dating with radiocarbon dating, allows for the reconstruction of ocean ventilation rates dating back to the Last Glacial Maximum (~20,000 years). The project will take a multiple proxy approach; pairing U/Th, radiocarbon, and neodymium isotopic measurement to reconstruct changes in surface, intermediate, and deep-water circulation patterns. This NSF EAPSI award is funded in collaboration with the Australian Academy of Science.