Stable carbon isotopes as potential sea-level indicators in salt marshes, North Carolina, USA

Kemp, Andrew C.; Vane, Christopher H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8150-3640; Horton, Benjamin P.; Culver, Stephen J.. 2010 Stable carbon isotopes as potential sea-level indicators in salt marshes, North Carolina, USA. The Holocene, 20 (4). 623-636. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683609354302

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Abstract/Summary

We compared the use of δ13C values and C:N ratios from salt-marsh sediments to reconstruct relative sea level (RSL) with an established approach using foraminifera. Analysis of bulk-organic sediment and plant samples collected along transects at two sites in North Carolina, USA demonstrates that sediment δ13C values can be used to distinguish between Spartina alterniflora-dominated low marsh (C photosynthetic pathway, δ13C values from —17.6‰ to 16.1‰) and Juncus roemerianus-dominated high marsh (C 3 photosynthetic pathway, δ13C values from —28.2‰ to —21.8‰) environments. Juncus roemerianus plants undergo little decompositional change in δ13C (average 0.8‰), although there is a clear difference between Spartina alterniflora tissue and bulk-organic sediments (approximately 4‰). C:N ratios on bulk-organic sediment from freshwater upland and salt-marsh environments converge during early diagenesis, rendering them of little use in reconstructing RSL. The utility of δ13C values as a sea-level indicator is limited by the elevational range of C4 plants, making it difficult to recognize salt-marsh subenvironments and improve the precision of RSL reconstructions. Furthermore, Juncus roemerianus-dominated high marsh and freshwater upland sediments cannot be adequately distinguished with δ13C values.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683609354302
Programmes:	BGS Programmes 2010 > Land Use, Planning and Development
ISSN:	0959-6836
Additional Keywords:	Salt marshes, North Carolina, Carbon isotopes, Climate change
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences
Date made live:	20 Jul 2010 13:36 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/10280

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683609354302

Programmes:

BGS Programmes 2010 > Land Use, Planning and Development

ISSN:

0959-6836

Additional Keywords:

Salt marshes, North Carolina, Carbon isotopes, Climate change

NORA Subject Terms:

Earth Sciences