Temporal diagenetic alternations in Adélie penguin eggshells throughout the late holocene of Antarctica
- UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Edward J. Cavallerano (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )
- Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/
- Advisor
- Robert Roer
Abstract: Data from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray
(EDX) analysis of late Holocene Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) eggshell fragments were
used to investigate the role of diagenesis on paleoecological reconstructions using stable
isotopes. The results of this study demonstrate that clear diagenetic alterations occur in eggshell
carbonate following burial in ornithogenic, or bird formed, soils. Diagenesis progresses from
blocky calcium carbonate (CaCO3) rhombs in the modern eggshells to botryoidal fluorapatite
crystals (Ca5(PO4)3F), as indicated by the increased weight percentages of phosphorus and
fluorine with sampling depth. Carbon weight percent was found to decrease, with statistical
significance, in relation to phosphorus, indicating that carbon is preferentially removed from the
eggshell through time. Diagenesis in the fossils is predictable, with early stage alterations
occurring along the outer margins of the eggshells first, and slowly progressing inward towards
the center. Despite these trends, the inclusion of unaltered CO3
2- from the original eggshell
material allows for the fossil’s use in isotopic reconstructions.
Temporal diagenetic alternations in Adélie penguin eggshells throughout the late holocene of Antarctica
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Created on 1/1/2009
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science
- Language: English
- Date: 2009
- Keywords
- Adélie penguin--Antarctica, Adélie penguin--Eggs, Carbonic anhydrase, Diagenesis
- Subjects
- Adélie penguin -- Eggs
- Adélie penguin -- Antarctica
- Diagenesis
- Carbonic anhydrase