Impact of gateway closure on carbonate ecosytems diversifications

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The theme focuses on the development of the present-day carbonate ecosystems at the Pacific coast of Panama, which is related to the Miocene/Pliocene closure of the Panama gateway. The final gateway closure around 2.73 Ma led to formation of the West Atlantic warm pool in the Caribbean while upwelling conditions driven by the west-bound trade winds regionally developed along the Pacific coast of Panama. In the Gulf of Panama, the present-day carbonate producing benthic ecosystem has adapted itself to this new situation governed by increased nutrient supply through upwelling. In contrast, roal reefs in the Gulf of Chiriquí represent a relict reef ecosystem that is presumably was occurred widespread in the Caribbean before the closure of the isthmus. The present-day southwestern coast of Panama is influenced by the West Atlantic climate system and the tropical Pacific climate (El Nino) and thus hold a key position connecting both systems. The sedimentological comparison between carbonate factories that occur under upwelling and non-upwelling conditions will expand our knowledge on the interaction between the ocean environment, facies patterns, and evolution of biota resulting from the Panama closure. Stable isotope/trace element signals found in corals, bryozoans, and molluscs are used to reconstruct oceanographik and climatic variations (seasonal, El Nino, trade wind intensity triggered by NAO) and their impact on tropical carbonate production.