Ostracods in the sediments of the Arctic shelf seas of Eurasia (stratigraphy and paleoreconstruction)

Abstract

We present data on ostracod assemblage analysis from the Laptev, Kara and White Seas in the Arctic Ocean. We established the relationship between modern ostracod distribution and environmental parameters and applied this knowledge to interpret fossil Quaternary ostracod assemblages. Data on distribution and ecological parameters for different modern Arctic and Boreal species give us an opportunity to interpret even taxonomically poor samples. Late Pleistocene-Holocene ostracod assemblages from the eastern Arctic shelves and their stratigraphic succession in the studied cores reflect the environmental transition during the gradual deepening of the sites and distance increase from the coastline during the Postglacial sea-level rise. Variations in fossil ostracod assemblages at the continental slope location suggest temporal increases in modified Atlantic water inflow, as well as point to periods of glacier meltwater and freshwater input. Late Saalian-Eemian assemblages from the White Sea area contain typical Arctic representatives as well as taxa inhabiting boreal and more southern locations and the majority of species present are known to tolerate decreased salinities. Assemblage changes reflect the transition from the initial stage of inundation, with active hydrodynamics, to stable marine conditions with subsequent warming and shallowing of the basin.