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Oldest isotopically characterized fish otoliths provide insight to Jurassic continental climate of Europe

¹ Department of Earth Sciences, Syracuse University, 204 Heroy Geology Laboratory, Syracuse, New York 13244-1070, USA

Large, shallow, epeiric seas and adjacent lagoons such as those described herein likely played a significant role in moderating Jurassic coastal and continental climate. Jurassic (Bathonian) ocean surface temperatures in Scotland have been calculated from ¹⁸O_(CaCO3) values of a suite of the oldest well-preserved fish otoliths analyzed to date. Otolith ¹⁸O values range from –4.7 to –1.9 (Vienna Peedee belemnite, VPDB), while ¹³C_(CaCO3) values vary from –5.4 to +1.5 (VPDB), representing the oldest stable isotopic record of paleodiet, paleoecology, and fish migration to date. Using a global ocean ¹⁸O_(H2O) value of –1.0 (Vienna standard mean ocean water, VSMOW) for an ice-free Jurassic, fish species that migrated from estuarine to open marine water record time-averaged temperatures of 23 °C. Estuarine fish, assuming a similar temperature, record variation in ¹⁸O_(H2O) values from –3.7 to –2.0 (VSMOW). That significant mixing of fresh water and seawater occurred in the Jurassic in Scotland is in general agreement with data presented by others (molluscan fauna, lithostratigraphy, paleogeography, and paleocirculation models). The ¹⁸O values and temperatures derived in this study correspond to the meteorologic and hydrologic parameters of a mid-latitude maritime climate with low seasonality, a mean temperature of 23 °C, and abundant precipitation and humidity. The ¹⁸O_(H2O) values calculated from estuarine fish indicate that rainfall must have a ¹⁸O_(H2O) value lower than –3.7 (VSMOW). Values of ¹⁸O and ¹³C suggest an environment hydrologically similar to that observed in the Everglades of south Florida or the estuaries of south Texas, both notable fish nurseries today. However, sea-surface temperatures were lower than those of modern Florida or Texas as evidenced by reduced evaporative enrichment of ¹⁸O_(H2O) values.

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