The pteropod species Heliconoides inflatus as an archive of late Pleistocene to Holocene environmental conditions on the Northwest Shelf of Australia

Abstract

There is growing interest in the use of pteropods as potential archives of past changes in ocean chemistry. However, pteropods have rarely been used in studies of millennial-scale sedimentary records, especially in shallow-marine environments. This study obtained core data for the last 16 kyr from the Northwest Shelf of Australia (NWS). Changes in the carbonate saturation state were assessed based on the carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C) of shells and the Limacina dissolution index (LDX) measured on the planktonic pteropod species Heliconoides inflatus. In addition, the calcification depth of the pteropods was estimated based on oxygen isotope values (δ¹⁸O) of pteropod shells and seawater. Our findings indicate that H. inflatus calcifies at a depth of 95–140 m. This confirms that H. inflatus records a shallow-marine signal on the NWS. The δ¹³C values of the pteropods record a notable decrease in carbonate ion concentrations after 8.5 ka. This decrease is associated with the post-glacial onset of humid conditions on the NWS. The studied pteropod shells are pristine throughout the 16 kyr section and have low LDX values. Therefore, the LDX proxy appears to lack the sensitivity to be applicable in this highly supersaturated, shallow-marine environment. Until this study, proxies derived from H. inflatus have been exclusively utilized in open-marine settings. Our results indicate that the δ¹³C values of H. inflatus also represent a useful proxy for carbonate ion concentrations in shallow-marine environments.

1 Introduction

Ocean water chemistry parameters, such as carbonate ion concentrations and the saturation states of carbonate minerals, have an important role in the production of carbonates in low-latitude shallow-marine environments. This includes the (inorganic) precipitation of aragonite mud (Shinn et al. 1989; Robbins and Blackwelder 1992; Purkis et al. 2017) and the formation of non-skeletal grains (Li et al. 2015; Trower et al. 2017; Harris et al. 2019), both of which are dependent on elevated carbonate saturation states. In addition, carbonate saturation is a controlling factor on the calcification rates and fitness of calcifying organisms (Manno et al. 2017).

On the Northwest Shelf of Australia (NWS), cyclical changes in carbonate sedimentation have been linked to climate-related changes in carbonate saturation states (Hallenberger et al. 2019, 2021). Low fluvial runoff (Ishiwa et al. 2019; Courtillat et al. 2020) and high rates of evaporation have been proposed to have resulted in elevated ocean water carbonate saturation during comparatively dry glacial stages (Hallenberger et al. 2019). This led to the formation of extensive platform systems consisting of ooids (Gallagher et al. 2014, 2018; Hallenberger et al. 2021), as well as the deposition of large volumes of aragonite needle mud (Dix et al. 2005; Hallenberger et al. 2021). In comparison, the interglacial stages were defined by a more humid climate, and the deposition was dominated by skeletal calcite grains (Hallenberger et al. 2019, 2021). However, glacial to interglacial proxy records for changes in ocean water chemistry on the NWS, thereby impeding the significance of previous interpretations linking climate and cyclical sedimentation. In this paper, we address this issue by utilizing proxy data derived from the aragonitic shells of the cosmopolitan euthecosomatous pteropod (i.e., pelagic gastropod) Heliconoides inflatus (d’Orbigny 1843), also known as Limacina inflata (Janssen 2012). Aragonitic pteropods are particularly useful in predicting the carbonate saturation state of shallow ocean waters due to their sensitivity to changes in ocean acidification and abundance in shallow water depths (Bé and Gilmer 1977; Bednaršek et al. 2012; Keul et al. 2017). In addition, H. inflatus is characterized by a 1-yr life cycle and diel migration (Wormuth, 1981; Almogi-Labin et al., 1988). Therefore, carbonate ion concentrations derived from the shells of H. inflatus represent an integrated proxy record, making this species a promising target for the reconstruction of past ocean water conditions on shallow shelf areas (Juranek et al. 2003; Keul et al. 2017; Oakes et al. 2021). More commonly, carbonate ion concentrations have been determined based on different proxies derived from foraminiferal shells, including boron-to-calcium ratios (Yu and Elderfield 2007; Yu et al. 2010), uranium-to-calcium ratios (Raitzsch et al. 2011; Keul et al. 2013), and boron isotopic compositions (δ¹¹B values; Yu and Elderfield 2007). While these proxies have been proven to yield robust constraints on carbonate ion concentrations (Yu et al. 2010), these proxies are of limited use in a shallow-marine setting, where temporal variations in oceanic and climatic conditions combined with the ≤ 1 yr lifespan can result in a strong seasonal bias.

To constrain the changes in ocean water chemistry over the last deglacial transition, we studied sediment core records covering the last 16 kyr from the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Sites U1461 and U1463 (Fig. 1). Changes in carbonate ion concentrations were determined based on the stable carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C values) of H. inflatus shells (Keul et al. 2017). The H. inflatus shells were further screened for their preservation state (Limacina dissolution index [LDX] values), which is a parameter that is directly linked to the aragonite saturation state of the ambient seawater (Gerhardt and Henrich 2001; Wall-Palmer et al. 2013, 2014).

Fig. 1

Modern distribution of water temperature on the NWS. (a, b) Maps of the present-day sea surface temperatures (SSTs), as well as the location of important sites offshore of northwestern Australia and in the Timor Sea. Temperature data were acquired from the CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere database, representing snapshots of the austral summer (February 2015, a) and austral winter (July 2015, b) SST distribution (Hobart 2017). The approximate position of the 150 m isobath (black line) delineates the onshore region and shelf break

The interpretation of H. inflatus-based proxy data is complicated by the limited knowledge of its calcification depth. Heliconoides inflatus inhabits a large range of depths from the sea surface down to 1000 m (Wormuth 1981; Juranek et al. 2003; Bednaršek et al. 2012; Keul et al. 2017). Heliconoides inflatus undergoes diel vertical migration, with the highest population densities at < 75 m depth during the night and at > 200 m depth during the day (Wormuth 1981). The main driver for this day–night cycle, which can reach a vertical migration depth range of > 250 m (Chen and Bé 1964; Wormuth 1981), is food availability and the presence of predatory species (Wormuth 1981; Almogi-Labin et al. 1988; Juranek et al. 2003; Oakes and Sessa 2020). Heliconoides inflatus also displays ontogenetical migration patterns, with juveniles staying near the sea surface, and adults found in deeper water (Almogi-Labin et al. 1988).

To determine the depth range recorded by the pteropods, oxygen isotope data for H. inflatus were compared with the present-day conditions on the NWS, as well as more established proxy data, including for benthic (Uvigerina spp.) and planktonic (Globorotalia menardii) foraminifera.

2 Modern oceanographic setting

The climate and oceanography of the NWS are influenced by strong seasonal changes between the austral summer (December–March) and austral winter (June–August) (Sudmeyer 2016). In general, the NWS is characterized by subtropical arid conditions, with an annual rainfall of ~ 320 mm (Sudmeyer 2016). Most (~ 60%) of the precipitation in northwestern Australia occurs seasonally during the Australian Summer Monsoon (Lough 1998; Hesse et al. 2004). In addition, strong cyclones occur during austral summer months, resulting in torrential rainfall, flash floods, and rapid discharge of fluvial sediments (Fandry and Steedman 1994; Condie et al. 2003). Surface air temperatures are highest during the austral summer months, with average values > 30 °C. In comparison, air temperatures drop to an average of 20 °C during the austral winter (Sudmeyer 2016).

Water temperatures on the NWS vary significantly depending on the season, water depth, and distance from shore (Fig. 1 and Additional file 1: Fig. S1A). During the austral winter, the coastal region is characterized by cold water, which follows a sharp frontal gradient, starting with the lowest temperatures inshore (~ 23 °C) and shifting toward higher temperatures offshore (25–27 °C; Fig. 1B). The elevated density of this narrow band of cold and saline (salinity = 35) water leads to a cross-shelf density gradient that results in the offshore transport of coastal water along the ocean floor (James et al. 2004; Mahjabin et al. 2020). This so-called denser shelf water cascade presently extends down to a depth of 150 m, transporting cold coastal waters over distances of > 50 km offshore (Mahjabin et al. 2020). During the austral summer months, strong solar heating results in high sea surface temperatures (SSTs; > 30 °C) in the nearshore area, which gradually become lower further offshore (28–30 °C; Fig. 1A). The lateral and depth gradients of water temperature are less pronounced as compared with the austral winter months (Fig. 1B and Additional file 1: Fig. S1B). In addition, depth profiles display seawater salinities that are ~ 0.1 higher at the sea surface (< 40 m depth) as opposed to deeper waters during the austral summer (Additional file 1: Fig. S1C). This is opposite to the case in the austral winter months, when salinity increases steadily from 34.85 to 35.00 between the sea surface and 150 m depth (Additional file 1: Fig. S1C).

The water masses are mainly sourced by the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF), which originates in the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool and transports warm and oligotrophic seawater to the NWS. These waters form the Holloway Current, which feed into the Leeuwin Current around Cape Range (northwestern Australia; Pattiaratchi 2006; D’Adamo et al. 2009). Interannually, the oceanography of the NWS is modified by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). During El Niño events, the ITF and Holloway Current strengths are weakened due to modulations in the equatorial western Pacific wind stress (Feng et al. 2013). The weakened current system results in negative SST anomalies along the northwestern to western coast of Australia (Feng et al. 2004, 2013). In turn, La Niña events have been shown to trigger strong heatwaves in northwestern Australia, with water temperatures rising by several degrees (Feng et al. 2013; Tozuka et al. 2014; Zinke et al. 2015).

3 Materials and methods

This study is based on core material retrieved from IODP Sites U1461 (20°12.863′ S, 115°3.950′ E) and U1463 (18°57.918′ S, 117°37.422′ E). Site U1461 is located in the westernmost part of the NWS, 100 km northwest of Barrow Island at a water depth of 127 m (Fig. 1). Site U1463 is situated ~ 300 km northeast of Site U1461 in a slightly deeper water depth of 147 m (Fig. 1).

At Site U1461, samples were taken from the upper 10 m of holes U1461B and U1461C. The sediments are unlithified, olive to dark gray, skeletal wackestones to packstones, which were described in detail by Hallenberger et al. (2019). Samples from Site U1463 were collected from the upper 11.5 m of holes U1463B and U1463C. This section is broadly equivalent to Unit 1 as described in the IODP shipboard report (Gallagher et al., 2017a, b). Sediments in this section are creamy gray to light greenish gray, unlithified, wackestones to packstones, which were deposited in a neritic to hemipelagic environment. The calcium carbonate content is high (~ 87 wt%), with the microfossil assemblage consisting predominantly of pteropods and a variety of planktonic and miliolid benthic foraminifers (Gallagher et al. 2017a, b). Bioturbation is moderate and only slight drilling disturbance occurs throughout the studied interval (Gallagher et al. 2017a, b). Measured total organic carbon (TOC) contents vary between 0.5 and 1.0 wt% at Site U1461 (Gallagher et al. 2017a, b) and 0.9–1.0 wt% at Site U1463 (Gallagher et al. 2017a, b). The depths of all samples are given as core composite depth below seafloor (CCSF) to account for differences in the individual depth scales of single holes. A total of 52 sample wedges filled with soft sediment (20 cm³) were collected from Site U1461 (n = 14) and Site U1463 (n = 38). Each sample was subsequently wet sieved to separate the fine (< 63 µm) and coarse (> 63 µm) fraction. From the coarse fraction, pteropod shells of H. inflatus, benthic foraminiferal tests of the genus Uvigerina (Uvigerina spp.), and different planktic foraminiferal tests were handpicked.

3.1 Accelerator mass spectrometry ¹⁴C dating

For Site U1461, a previously published age model was utilized to convert core depth into time before present (Hallenberger et al. 2019; Ishiwa et al. 2019). The chronology of Site U1463 is based on 10 accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon (¹⁴C) dates. Radiocarbon dating of a mixture of different planktic foraminifer species was performed by the Single Stage Accelerator Mass Spectrometer at the Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Japan (Yokoyama et al., 2019). Calibration to calendar years was undertaken with a Bayesian age modeling approach (Ramsey 2009) using the Marine20 database (Heaton et al. 2020). Utilizing the marine reservoir database (http://calib.org/marine/; Reimer and Reimer 2001), 10 known reservoir ages were averaged in a 1000 km radius (Bowman 1985; O'Connor et al. 2010). The resulting reservoir age is small (ΔR 57 ± 27), and thus, the local correction was set to zero. A continuous age model was calculated with Bchron, which is an age–depth modeling package implemented in “R” software (version 4.1.2) (Team 2018), using the algorithm of Haslett and Parnell (2008).

3.2 Limacina dissolution index

Pteropod shells were examined according to the Limacina dissolution index (LDX) (Gerhardt et al. 2000; Gerhardt and Henrich 2001). The LDX methodology involves the analysis of the surface of single H. inflatus shells. Depending on the preservation, each specimen is evaluated on a scale of 0–5, with 0 being a shell that is transparent and lustrous, with a perfect outer aragonite layer, and 5 being a shell that is opaque white in color, totally lusterless, and perforated, with extensive corrosion of the outer aragonite layer (Gerhardt and Henrich, 2001). For each sample, at least 10 shells of adult H. inflatus of a size of ≥ 300 μm were assigned a preservation value based on optical microscopy observations. The LDX value for each sample was then calculated according to the following equation (Gerhardt et al. 2000; Gerhardt and Henrich 2001):

$${\text{LDX}} = { }\sum (n_{p} \times p)/\sum n_{p}$$

(1)

where n_p is equal to the number of tests per preservation stage p (0–5) with the sum of n_p being at least 10. Dissolution along the shell surface was further evaluated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM; Keyence, VE 8800).

3.3 Stable carbon and oxygen isotopes

Stable carbon (δ¹³C) and oxygen (δ¹⁸O) isotopic compositions were determined for all the collected H. inflatus and Uvigerina spp. samples. Prior to measurement, each sample was cleaned in an ultrasonic bath to remove contamination. This process was repeated once with methanol and twice with ultra-pure deionized water. The quality of the cleaning process was subsequently evaluated by optical microscopy. In addition, a random subset of tests was checked for cementation by optical microscopy and with a SEM. A total of 10 specimens were pooled and crushed for subsequent measurement of δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values. Measurements of the carbonate powders were conducted with a Thermo Fisher Scientific DeltaV Advantage mass spectrometer coupled to a ThermoQuest Kiel-III automated carbonate device at the Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Tohoku University, Japan. The samples (~ 0.1 mg per sample) were reacted with 100% phosphoric acid at ~ 72 °C. A value of 1.01025 was used as the factor to account for the δ¹⁸O fractionation occurring during phosphoric acid digestion (Sharma and Clayton 1965). All results are reported in the δ notation in per mil (‰) calibrated to the NBS-19 international standard relative to the Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite (VPDB). The mean external error and reproducibility (1σ) were assessed by replicate measurements of an in-house carbonate standard (JCp-1; δ¹³C = − 1.63‰ ± 0.03‰; δ¹⁸O = − 4.71‰ ± 0.03‰) (Okai et al. 2004; Nakayama et al. 2008) and was determined to be low for both δ¹³C (± 0.03‰) and δ¹⁸O (± 0.05‰) values. Isotopic values determined on a control sample of 10 pteropods will deviate from the parent population of all pteropods in a single sediment sample. To estimate the uncertainty created by the selection of a subset of pteropods, we undertook repeat sampling and measurement of 10 pteropods from each parent population (i.e., coarse fraction of a sediment sample). The averaged measured deviations between both pteropod subsets were 0.12‰ for δ¹⁸O and 0.07‰ for δ¹³C.

3.4 Calcification depth of H. inflatus

Euthecosomatous pteropods have been found to precipitate aragonite close to oxygen isotope equilibrium (δ¹⁸O_eq) with ambient seawater (Grossman et al. 1986, Almogi‐Labin et al. 1991, Fabry and Deuser 1992, Juranek et al. 2003, Keul et al. 2017). For H. inflatus, differences between the calculated δ¹⁸O_eq and δ¹⁸O values measured in shells have been shown to be minor, ranging from 0 to 0.1‰ (Fabry and Deuser 1992). Based on this observation, the depth of calcification of H. inflatus can be determined by comparing the δ¹⁸O measured in H. inflatus with δ¹⁸O_eq depth profiles of the ambient seawater (Grossman et al. 1986; Wall-Palmer et al. 2018). δ¹⁸O_eq profiles were approximated as a function of water temperature and the oxygen isotopic composition of seawater (δ¹⁸O_sw; Grossman and Ku 1986, Juranek et al. 2003, Keul et al. 2017), where δ¹⁸O_sw was determined based on a regional correlation between δ¹⁸O_sw and seawater salinity (S; Pei et al. 2021a, b):

$$\updelta ^{18} {\text{O}}_{{{\text{sw}}}} = - 11.66 + 0.34 \times {\text{S}}.$$

(2)

Seasonal profiles of water temperature and salinity at Sites U1461 (Station 273179) and U1463 (Station 278667) were derived from the World Ocean Atlas 2018 (Locarnini et al. 2018). δ¹⁸O_eq was then calculated based on a linear regression devised for generic aragonitic marine organisms, which calcify in equilibrium with δ¹⁸O_sw (Böhm et al. 2000):

$$T\left( {^{^\circ } {\text{C}}} \right) = 20 - 4.42 \times \left( {\updelta ^{18} {\text{O}}_{{{\text{eq}}}} -\updelta ^{18} {\text{O}}_{{{\text{sw}}}} } \right).$$

(3)

The temperature–δ¹⁸O relationship devised by Böhm et al. (2000) combines several sources of biogenic and synthetic aragonite data (Tarutani et al. 1969; Grossman and Ku 1986; Rahimpour-Bonab et al. 1997; Böhm et al. 2000), which thus extends the temperature window and reduces the overall error present in previous studies (Böhm et al. 2000). It has been successfully applied to calculate water temperatures from H. inflatus shells and was therefore favored over other calibrations in the literature (Oakes et al. 2021). This correlation was also preferred over the only existing species-specific correlation for H. inflatus (Keul et al. 2017), as it includes the high water temperatures typical of the NWS (Böhm et al. 2000).

3.5 Conversion of ice volume-corrected oxygen isotope data to temperature

The regression of Böhm et al. (2000) was further used to estimate past changes in water temperature by replacing the δ¹⁸O_eq values with the δ¹⁸O values measured in the H. inflatus shells using Eq. (3). Since there are no data on the past δ¹⁸O_sw or salinity values available for the NWS, δ¹⁸O_sw was approximated based on modern values (Additional file 1: Fig. S1D). Calculated δ¹⁸O_sw values range from 0.15 to 0.25‰, with limited fluctuations with depth or season (Additional file 1: Fig. S1D). Based on this distribution, we set the δ¹⁸O_sw value used in the temperature calculations to be equivalent to the overall mean observed at both sites (mean = 0.21‰).

Past seafloor water temperatures recorded at Site U1463 were reconstructed based on the δ¹⁸O values of the benthic foraminifera Uvigerina spp. using the regression of Marchitto et al. (2014):

$$T\left( {^{^\circ } {\text{C}}} \right) = { }\frac{{0.245{ } - { }\sqrt {0.045461{ } + { }0.0044\left( {\updelta ^{18} {\text{O}} - { }\updelta ^{18} {\text{O}}_{{\text{sw }}} { } - 0.47} \right)} }}{0.0022}.$$

(4)

To account for the δ¹⁸O offset caused by changing ice volume, measured values for H. inflatus and Uvigerina spp. were adjusted by − 0.1‰ for each 10 m of sea-level fall (Shackleton and Opdyke, 1973), following the global Quaternary sea-level curve of Lambeck et al. (2014).

3.6 Conversion of carbon isotope data to carbonate ion concentrations

The δ¹³C values of pteropods are inversely correlated with the carbonate ion concentration ([CO₃^2–]) of seawater (Juranek et al. 2003; Keul et al. 2017). In this study, [CO₃^2–] was calculated based on the δ¹³C values of H. inflatus using the species-specific correlation presented by Keul et al. (2017):

$${\text{carbonate}}\,{\text{ion}}\,{\text{concentration}} = \frac{{\updelta ^{13} {\text{C}} - { }3.067}}{ - 0.01}.$$

(5)

4 Results

4.1 Age model for site U1463

Radiocarbon ages acquired for Site U1463 are provided in Table 1 and Fig. 2. The chronological profile suggests that the upper 12 m of core corresponds to the last 16 kyr (Fig. 2). Between 16 and 7 ka, sedimentation rates were comparatively low (30–90 cm/kyr). After 7 ka, the sedimentation rate exhibited a substantial increase (60–230 cm/kyr), with a marked peak observed between 7 and 5 ka (230 cm/kyr). Subsequently, relatively low sedimentation rates characterized the uppermost part of the studied core, where only 2 cm of sediment represents the last 600 yr (3 cm/kyr). This may be the result of a technical issue that is typical of IODP drilling operations, whereby the uppermost sediment in a core is often lost.

Table 1 Age results of Site U1463

Fig. 2

Age–depth relationships at (a) Site U1463 and (b) Site U1461, including the sedimentation rate and confidence interval (2σ). The age model for Site U1461 was previously published by Hallenberger et al. (2019)

4.2 Limacina dissolution index

Pteropod data for Sites U1461 and U1463 are shown in Fig. 3 and listed in Additional file 1: Tables S1–S2. Pteropod preservation at both sites ranged between pristine (LDX = 0) and excellent (LDX = 1), with LDX values never exceeding 1 (Fig. 3). At Site U1461, the pteropods were pristine (LDX = 0) throughout the studied core section, without any notable trends or changes (Fig. 3). At Site U1463, the pteropods were mostly pristine, with little to no evidence of dissolution (Fig. 4A). An exception was found in an interval deposited between 8 and 6 ka, where the average preservation state of the pteropods was slightly deteriorated (LDX = 1; Fig. 3). Shells occurring within this interval were often partially opaque white or slightly cloudy, indicating initial dissolution of the shell surface (Fig. 4B). In part, this dissolution removed the outer layer of the pteropod shells, exposing the underlying rod-like internal structure (Fig. 4C–D).

Fig. 3

Isotope values and Limacina dissolution index (LDX) data for IODP Sites U1461 and U1463. (a) δ¹⁸O values of pteropods (H. inflatus) from Sites U1461 and U1463. (b) δ¹⁸O values of the benthic foraminifera Uvigerina spp. from Site U1463. (c) δ¹³C values of pteropods (H. inflatus) from Sites U1461 and U1463. (d) LDX values of pteropods from Sites U1461 and U1463

Fig. 4

Optical microscopy and SEM images of selected H. inflatus samples. (a) Most pteropods in the studied core material are very well preserved (LDX = 0), including lustrous and transparent shells (Site U1463; 12 ka). (b) The preservation of some shells from Site U1463 (6–8 ka) exhibits slight deterioration (LDX = 0–1). Single shells partly have an opaque milky white color or a cloudy appearance (white arrow) (Site U1463; 7 ka). (c) SEM image of a slightly corroded pteropod. The black square indicates the location of (d) (Site U1463; 7 ka). (d) Dissolution of a pteropod as evidenced by the rough surface of part of the shell (white arrow) (Site U1463; 7 ka)

4.3 Oxygen isotopes and water temperatures

Measured δ¹⁸O values are shown in Fig. 3 and listed in Additional file 1: Tables S1–S2. Pteropod δ¹⁸O values displayed a clear trend over time at Site U1463 (Fig. 3). Prior to 10 ka, the δ¹⁸O values were elevated as compared with the rest of the section, with δ¹⁸O = 0.2–0.8‰ (mean = 0.4‰). At ca. 10 ka, the δ¹⁸O values decreased rapidly from 0.2‰ to − 0.4‰ (Fig. 3). Pteropods of younger age have consistently low δ¹⁸O values of − 0.6‰ to − 0.2‰ (mean = − 0.3‰). The δ¹⁸O values for H. inflatus from Site U1461 are largely the same as those from Site U1463 within the selected age segment, with values varying between − 0.7‰ and − 0.2‰ (mean = − 0.4‰).

Water temperatures calculated from pteropods at both sites fluctuate between 21.5 and 24.2 °C, with an average temperature of 22.8 °C (Fig. 5B; Additional file 1: Tables S3–S4). As opposed to the δ¹⁸O profiles, there were no discernable trends or systematic changes in water temperature over time or between the two sites (Fig. 5B).

Fig. 5

Water temperature proxies at Sites U1461 and U1463 as compared with regional data. The gray band indicates a precipitation maximum on the NWS (Hallenberger et al. 2019; Ishiwa et al. 2019). (a) Paleo-water depth at both studied sites based on the sea-level curve of Lambeck et al. (2014). The relative sea level at Sites U1461 and U1463 was not corrected for isostatic deformation. (b) Water temperature based on the δ¹⁸O values of H. inflatus. (c) Water temperature calculated from δ¹⁸O data for Uvigerina spp. at Site U1463. (d) δ¹⁸O data for the planktic foraminifera G. menardii (Courtillat et al. 2020) used to calculate past changes in upper thermocline water temperatures at Site U1461. (e) Past variations in thermocline water temperatures based on the Mg/Ca ratio of P. obliquiloculata at Site MD01-2378 (Xu et al. 2008). (f) Water temperature record from the North West Cape of Australia (MD-2361) at 100 and 150 m depth based on the modern analogue technique (Spooner et al. 2011). (g) Sea surface temperature changes based on the Mg/Ca ratios of G. ruber in the Timor Sea (Site SO257-18548) and offshore of northwestern Australia (Site SO257-18571; Pei et al., 2021b)

δ¹⁸O values of Uvigerina spp. from Site U1463 vary between − 0.9‰ and 0.0‰ (mean = − 0.6‰) without any discernible trends over time (Fig. 3; Additional file 1: Table S2). Calculated temperatures were highest (26.7 °C) for the oldest measured sample at 16 ka, and decreased steadily until the present-day, when water temperatures at Site U1463 were ~ 18 °C (Fig. 5C).

4.4 Carbon isotopes and carbonate ion concentrations

δ¹³C values of pteropods from Sites U1461 and U1463 are listed in Additional file 1: Tables S1 and S2 and shown in Fig. 3. In general, the δ¹³C values of H. inflatus vary between 0.8 and 1.5‰ (mean = 1.2‰). A direct comparison between values obtained from equivalent age ranges at both sites revealed a statistically significant (student t-test; p < 0.05) higher mean for Site U1461 (mean = 1.3‰) as compared with Site U1463 (mean = 1.1‰). δ¹³C values of pteropods from Site U1461 exhibit no clear trends over time, with δ¹³C ratios ranging between 1.2 and 1.5‰ (mean = 1.3‰). At Site U1463, the δ¹³C values vary from 0.8 to 1.4‰ (mean = 1.1‰), with the values increasing significantly (p < 0.05) after 8.5 ka (Fig. 3). Prior to 8.5 ka, the δ¹³C values were comparatively low (0.8–1.0‰; Fig. 3). At ca. 8.5 ka, δ¹³C values display an abrupt increase from 0.9 to 1.2‰ between two data points (Fig. 3). Thereafter, the δ¹³C values remain high (1.0–1.4‰).

Calculated [CO₃^2–] for Sites U1461 and U1463 are listed in Additional file 1: Tables S3 and S4, respectively. The [CO₃^2–] profile displays an inverse trend over time as compared with the measured δ¹³C profiles (Fig. 6A). Prior to 8.5 ka, calculated values for Site U1463 are consistently high, with [CO₃^2–] of 200–230 µmol/kg of seawater (sw) (Fig. 6A). At ca. 8.5 ka, [CO₃^2–] decreased notably by almost 40 µmol/kg sw (Fig. 6A). Following this decrease, [CO₃^2–] fluctuated but remained at lower levels as compared with pre-8.5 ka, with values of 160–200 µmol/kg sw (Fig. 6A). At Site U1461, calculated [CO₃^2–] were consistently slightly lower (p < 0.05) as compared with those at Site U1463, with values of 160–190 µmol/kg sw (Fig. 6A).

Fig. 6

Selected downcore records of regional and global proxies compared with data from IODP Sites U1461 and U1463. The gray band indicates a regional precipitation maximum on the NWS (Hallenberger et al. 2019; Ishiwa et al. 2019). (a) Carbonate ion concentration calculated from δ¹³C values of pteropods. (b) Atmospheric CO₂ concentration determined from the Dome Concordia (Antarctica) ice core (Monnin et al. 2001). (c) Limacina dissolution index (LDX) for pteropods from Sites U1461 and U1463. (d) The log ratio of Ti/Ca, which is a proxy for arid (low values) and humid (high values) conditions in northwestern Australia. Site U1461 (Hallenberger et al. 2019) records the onset of humid conditions after ca. 10 ka

5 Discussion

5.1 Calcification depth of H. inflatus

A comparison between the δ¹⁸O_eq profiles and δ¹⁸O values measured in H. inflatus reveals that the annual average calcification depths were 95–140 m (Fig. 7). Seasonal changes in δ¹⁸O_eq are minor, with shallower calcification depths for the summer months (85–130 m) as compared with the winter months (115–155 m; Fig. 7). These results are indicative of slightly deeper calcification as compared with most open marine H. inflatus records, which have estimated calcification depths to be 50–100 m (Fabry and Deuser 1992; Jasper and Deuser 1993; Keul et al. 2017; Oakes et al. 2021). Notably, the calcification depths are at the shallow end of the range proposed by Juranek et al. (2003) for H. inflatus from the Sargasso Sea (50–650 m).

Fig. 7

Seasonal and annual profiles of the theoretical aragonite δ¹⁸O equilibrium values for Site U1463. A direct comparison with the values measured for H. inflatus (gray bands) indicates calcification depths between 80 and 155 m, with annual averages of 95–140 m

Past seawater temperatures calculated from the δ¹⁸O values of H. inflatus range between 21.5 and 24.2 °C, with little apparent change from 16 ka onward (Fig. 5). This is inconsistent with regional records from northwestern Australia (Spooner et al. 2011; De Deckker et al. 2014; Pei et al. 2021a, b) and the Timor Sea (Xu et al. 2008; Sarnthein et al. 2011; Pei et al. 2021a, b), which indicate an increase in SSTs ranging between 2 and 4 °C from 16 ka to the present. However, records from water depths of > 100 m or from the thermocline level indicate there was no notable increase in temperature during the same period (Fig. 5F–G). This is consistent with the estimated calcification depths being below 100 m (Fig. 7).

Temperatures at a depth equivalent to the seafloor, as recorded by the benthic foraminifera Uvigerina spp., display a clear trend over time, with values decreasing considerably from 16 ka (27 °C) to 8.6 ka (20 °C; Fig. 5C). After 8.6 ka, the seafloor temperatures are largely stable, with values equivalent to those measured at the present-day at Site U1463 (Additional file 1: Fig. S1). The post-glacial decrease in seawater temperature was likely the result of a progressive rise in sea level (Fig. 5A). Site U1463 is presently situated at a water depth of 147 m and was characterized by shallow-marine inner ramp conditions (< 40 m) prior to the post-glacial transgression (Fig. 5A). The shelf surrounding Site U1463 was likely affected by the strong seasonality in seawater temperatures on the coastal NWS (Fig. 1A, B). This is particularly relevant for Uvigerina spp., because it can display a seasonal bias based on the availability of nutrients (Ohga and Kitazato 1997; Fontanier et al. 2003; Scourse et al. 2004). On the NWS, nutrient availability is largest during the austral summer months (Hallegraeff and Jeffrey 1984; Rochford 1988; James et al. 2004), implying a spike in Uvigerina spp. abundance during the austral summer months. As such, the δ¹⁸O values of Uvigerina spp. likely record high, nearshore, austral summer water temperatures during lowstand conditions (Fig. 1A). During the post-glacial rise in sea level, Site U1463 became progressively more distal and was thus less affected by the strong seasonal fluctuations in nearshore water temperatures (Fig. 1A, B). This is clearly reflected by the present-day conditions, which indicate comparatively stable water temperatures at Site U1463 on the seafloor throughout the year (Additional file 1: Fig. S1A).

In comparison, H. inflatus calcified at considerably lower temperatures than Uvigerina spp. from 16 to 10 ka (Fig. 5B, C). This temperature difference decreased steadily until 10 ka, after which the pteropods display a constant 2 °C offset toward higher temperatures as compared with Uvigerina-based seafloor temperatures (Fig. 5B, C). This can be interpreted to be the result of a post-glacial rise in sea level. While the calcification depth of benthic Uvigerina spp. increased, H. inflatus appeared to calcify at constant temperatures regardless of the sea level (Fig. 5B). Given that depth is the main control on seawater temperature across the shelf, it may be concluded that until ca. 10 ka H. inflatus calcified at greater depths as compared to the Site U1463 seafloor and were thus sourced from further offshore. This interpretation is supported by the comparatively small amount of pteropods present in this section of the core (Gallagher et al. 2017a, b). After 10 ka, the pteropods calcified in warmer and shallower water as compared with the seafloor of Site U1463 (Fig. 5).

At Site U1461, an existing δ¹⁸O record for the planktic foraminifera Globorotalia menardii (Courtillat et al. 2020) was converted into water temperatures using the regression presented by Spero et al. (2003). The resulting temperatures are 22.6–26 °C, with no discernible trend over time (Fig. 5D). Globorotalia menardii calcifies primarily at the upper thermocline level (Sautter and Thunell 1991; Ravelo and Fairbanks 1992; Niebler et al. 1999; Spero et al. 2003; Wejnert et al. 2010), with a limited seasonal flux in tropical and subtropical waters (Jonkers and Kučera 2015; Venancio et al. 2017). On the present-day NWS, the depth of the thermocline can be approximated from the vertically and seasonally resolved World Ocean Atlas seawater temperature database (Locarnini et al. 2018). The thermocline is defined here as the zone of highest depth-dependent gradient in seawater temperature, which is at its shallowest between December–May (40–100 m; Additional file 1: Fig. S1B). In comparison, the thermocline is only weakly developed between June–November, where substantial increases in the temperature gradient only become evident below 100 m depth (Additional file 1: Fig. S1B). This observation is consistent with previous studies, which suggested that the water column is well-stratified during the austral summer and strongly mixed during the austral winter (Hallegraeff and Jeffrey 1984; James et al. 2004). On average, G. menardii records significantly (p < 0.05) higher (+ 1.6 °C) seawater temperatures as compared with H. inflatus (Fig. 5). The constant offset in temperatures between both archives indicates that H. inflatus calcifies in deeper waters as compared with the upper thermocline dwelling G. menardii. The lack of variability of G. menardii δ¹⁸O values further supports the assumption that the water temperatures at the thermocline level remained largely unaffected by post-glacial increases in temperature.

5.2 Development of shallow-marine aragonite saturation on the NWS

δ¹³C values of the pteropods from Site U1463 record a clear trend over time, with values increasing markedly after 8.5 ka (Fig. 3). This increase is broadly coeval with a fundamental change in shallow-marine carbonate sedimentation on the NWS (Hallenberger et al. 2019). After 10 ka, the dominant mode of carbonate production across large parts of the NWS changed from inorganic aragonite to skeletal calcite (James et al. 2004; Dix et al. 2005; Hallenberger et al. 2019). This change was proposed to be the result of a more humid climate caused by the onset of the Australian Summer Monsoon, which in turn led to a decrease in the saturation state of aragonite (Hallenberger et al. 2019; Ishiwa et al. 2019). The saturation state of aragonite (Ω_arag) is closely linked to the [CO₃^2–], which in turn is inversely correlated with the δ¹³C values of H. inflatus (Juranek et al. 2003; Keul et al. 2017). As such, both the δ¹³C values of the pteropods and sedimentary composition indicate there was a change in seawater Ω_arag at a similar time on the NWS.

In addition, the δ¹³C values of pteropod shells can be influenced by several factors, which can obscure any potential signal caused by variations in [CO₃^2–]. To avoid any misinterpretation, possible alternative factors influencing the δ¹³C values are now briefly discussed.

Fluctuations in riverine influx can substantially alter the chemical and isotopic composition of tropical coastal waters (Zeebe and Wolf-Gladrow 2001; Moyer and Grottoli 2011; Utami et al. 2021). A previous study suggested an abrupt increase in riverine influx across the NWS after 10 ka (Hallenberger et al. 2019). This is not reflected by the δ¹³C values measured at Sites U1461 and U1463. In particular, at Site U1463, the δ¹³C values were higher rather than lower after 10 ka, and therefore opposite to what would be expected from a potential riverine influx (Fig. 6).

Enhanced productivity can result in higher δ¹³C values of dissolved inorganic carbon (δ¹³C_DIC), which could affect the δ¹³C values of the pteropods shells (Lazar and Erez 1992). However, published data for offshore northwestern Australia suggest that productivity remained largely unaffected during the last glacial to interglacial transition (Martı́nez et al. 1999, Spooner et al. 2011), with uniformly oligotrophic conditions present during the last glacial as well as in the Holocene (Murgese and De Deckker 2007). This is consistent with limited sampling of TOC at Site U1463, which did not reveal an increase during the last glacial period as compared with the present-day interglacial (Gallagher et al., 2017a, b).

Finally, there were global shifts to lower δ¹³C_DIC values of ocean waters during glacial stages as compared with interglacial stages caused by differences in the terrestrial storage capacity of ¹³C (Curry et al. 1988; Duplessy et al. 1988; Peterson et al. 2014). This mechanism is proposed to modify the δ¹³C_DIC values of the entire ocean by up to 0.5‰ (Curry et al. 1988; Duplessy et al. 1988; Peterson et al. 2014). However, in shallow tropical oceans (< 500 m depth), glacial to interglacial changes are more limited, with cited values averaging out at 0.0‰ (McGee et al. 2007; Broecker and McGee 2013).

After 8.5 ka, the [CO₃^2–] derived from the δ¹³C values of H. inflatus display no significant changes and thus likely reflect the modern conditions on the NWS. Both deep water and shelf records of climate display a slight increase in aridity following ~ 6 ka (Kuhnt et al., 2015; Ishiwa et al., 2019; Hallenberger et al., 2019). This trend is not reflected in [CO₃^2–] values (Fig. 6), indicating a potential lack in sensitivity of H. inflatus proxy data. Values for present-day [CO₃^2–] on the NWS have been estimated using the python toolbox PyCO2SYS (Humphreys et al. 2020) and were compared with those determined from H. inflatus. PyCO2SYS solves the carbonate system for all major components, including [CO₃^2–], if two out of nine defining parameters as well as temperature and salinity are available (Humphreys et al. 2020). In this study, the carbonate system was resolved by utilizing a combination of alkalinity (GLODAP Station 36379; Key et al. 2004), pH (GLODAP Station 36379; Key et al. 2004), salinity (WOA Station 278667; Zweng et al. 2019), and H. inflatus based-seawater temperatures (Fig. 5; Additional file 1: Tables S3–S4). The upper and lower boundaries of the water depth for which the [CO₃^2–] was calculated are defined by the estimated calcification depths of H. inflatus (95–140 m). Using these constraints, we calculated a modern [CO₃^2–] of 158 and 211 µmol/kg sw for 140 and 95 m water depth, respectively. In comparison, [CO₃^2–] determined from H. inflatus at ≤ 8.5 ka are 160–200 µmol/kg sw, with an average of 185 µmol/kg sw (Fig. 6; Additional file 1: Tables S3–S4). Therefore, the calculated present-day [CO₃^2–] are the same as those determined from the H. inflatus data.

5.3 Limacina dissolution index as a shallow-marine proxy

The LDX was originally utilized to track the location and past variations of the aragonite lysocline (Gerhardt et al. 2000; Gerhardt and Henrich 2001). Based on its depth, pteropods undergo strong corrosion at the sediment–water interface (Gerhardt and Henrich 2001). Recent research has expanded the application of the LDX to glacial to interglacial changes in Ω_arag of ocean waters caused by fluctuations in atmospheric CO₂ (Wall-Palmer et al. 2013, 2014; Sreevidya et al. 2019) or changes in water mass properties (Klöcker et al. 2006). Better preservation typically characterizes glacial stages, when lower atmospheric CO₂ results in higher Ω_arag (Wall-Palmer et al. 2013, 2014). Unlike its original application, dissolution is proposed to occur “in-life” due to the pteropods interacting with surrounding ocean water (Wall-Palmer et al. 2013, 2014). Comparable features have been reported for modern pteropods, where in-life shell dissolution has been linked to anthropogenic changes in atmospheric CO₂ (Orr et al. 2005; Roger et al. 2012).

For shelf sediments offshore of northwestern Australia, LDX values remain low regardless of the post-glacial increase in global atmospheric CO₂ (Fig. 6). The pristine condition of most pteropods implies a near absence of in-life dissolution or dissolution at the sediment–water interface. LDX values have also been used to track the intensity of aragonite dissolution in marine porewaters during shallow burial (Reuning et al. 2022). They have shown that dissolution of relatively Sr-rich aragonite, as indicated by increased LDX values, leads to a concomitant increase in Sr ion concentrations in the porewater. The slight increase of LDX values at ca. 8–6 ka (Fig. 3) was not associated with an excess Sr concentration in a porewater sample from this interval (Gallagher et al., 2017a, b). As such, there is no evidence for aragonite dissolution during burial in the studied section. Instead, the overall excellent pteropod preservation (Fig. 6) indicates that the shallow-marine environment of the NWS was characterized by protracted elevated Ω_arag. This is supported by the strong aragonite supersaturation on the modern NWS (Ω_arag ≈ 4) (Roger et al. 2012). In the past, reduced amounts of atmospheric CO₂ (Monnin et al. 2001), as well as elevated regional aridity (Hallenberger et al. 2019; Ishiwa et al. 2019), are likely to have resulted in even higher levels of supersaturation.

An exception was recorded for the period between 8 and 6 ka, when the preservation of pteropods was slightly deteriorated at Site U1463 (Fig. 6). This was broadly coeval with the recorded decrease in carbonate ion concentrations (ca. 8.5 ka), implying that the lower [CO₃^2–] may have affected shell preservation (Fig. 6). The duration of this period matches a phase of elevated humidity reported for the NWS and Western Australia (Van der Kaars et al. 2006; Hallenberger et al. 2019; Ishiwa et al. 2019; Pei et al. 2021a, b). It is possible that the associated increase in riverine influx and precipitation led to a decrease of the Ω_arag in the shelf waters, resulting in the slight corrosion of the pteropods formed in this period. After ca. 6 ka, the climate proxies record a gradual return to more arid conditions in northwestern Australia (Kuhnt et al. 2015; Hallenberger et al. 2019; Ishiwa et al. 2019). Consequently, pteropod preservation again became pristine. However, such interpretations should be made with caution as there are no similar trends recorded for pteropods at Site U1461 (Fig. 6).

6 Conclusions

A 16-kyr-long sedimentary record from the NWS was studied to determine past ocean water conditions, based on different proxy records from H. inflatus. δ¹⁸O-based calcification depths indicate that H. inflatus records a shallow-marine shelf signal, with comparable conditions between 95 and 140 m depth on the modern NWS. A direct comparison with different archives further revealed that H. inflatus calcified at lower temperatures than the upper thermocline dwelling Globorotalia menardii, but at higher temperatures (post-10 ka) than benthic foraminifera of the genus Uvigerina. This places lower (Site U1463 seafloor; 147 m depth) and upper (upper thermocline) boundaries on the calcification depth of H. inflatus. Based on these conditions, a preferential calcification in the nutrient-rich thermocline is proposed for the NWS. This conclusion is supported by an overall lack of temperature changes since 16 ka, which is analogous to regional foraminifera-based thermocline records.

Past variations in shallow-marine [CO₃^2–] and the saturation state of aragonite were tracked using the LDX and δ¹³C values of H. inflatus. LDX values indicate limited changes during the last 16 kyr, irrespective of the coeval global increase in atmospheric CO₂ and/or regional fluctuations in the hydrological cycle. As such, it is likely that the sensitivity of the LDX proxy is not sufficient to record glacial to interglacial changes in the saturation state of aragonite (Ω_arag) in a highly supersaturated shallow-marine environment, such as the NWS. In comparison, the δ¹³C values of H. inflatus showed a post-glacial decrease in [CO₃^2–] at ca. 8.5 ka. This can be linked to the proposed onset of monsoonal rainfall and humid conditions on the NWS. It further coincides with the previously recorded shelf-wide cessation of inorganic aragonite production. Our study supports the hypothesis that climate-related changes in aragonite saturation states were responsible for the cyclical change in carbonate facies deposition across the extensive ramp system.