Clumped isotope thermometry (Δ47) measurements in marine gastropods suggest equilibrium precipitation

The clumped isotope paleothermometer (Δ 47 ) has been used to reconstruct temperatures from various biogenic carbonate archives. Calibration studies demonstrate that some biogenic carbonates precipitate in Δ 47 equilibrium and record growth temperatures accurately (e.g., many bivalve mollusks), while others appear to exhibit disequilibrium, or ‘vital’, effects and yield isotopically reconstructed temperatures that are biased (e.g., shallow-water corals). These studies have largely excluded marine gastropods, so it is not known whether they tend to precipitate their shells in or out of isotopic equilibrium. In this study, we present seasonal-scale δ 18 O and seasonally targeted Δ 47 and Δ 48 measurements from modern marine gastropods representing 8 genera and 10 species, reconstructing apparent growth temperatures and screening for equilibrium precipitation. We find that most marine gastropods appear to precipitate in Δ 47 and Δ 48 equilibrium and faithfully record environmental temperatures, making them suitable for Δ 47 -paleothermometry. A few gastropods ( Caviturritella/Turritella sp., Campanile symbolicum , Megastraea undosa ) appear to precipitate out of Δ 47 equilibrium, though these disequilibrium signatures may partially be explained by differences between actual growth temperatures and instrumental calibration temperatures ( Caviturritella/Turritella sp., M. undosa ) or differences between inner and outer layer precipitation ( C. symbolicum ). We present new Δ 47 -temperature data for 2 Middle Eocene Campanile giganteum fossils collected from the Paris Basin and discuss how to interpret the results in the context of our modern samples. Finally, in conducting this calibration we demonstrate paired Δ 47 /Δ 48 as an effective tool to screen for disequilibrium precipitation in marine gastropods.

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Journal
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Published
2025-10-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2025.10.023
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.21
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article

Clumped isotope thermometry (Δ47) measurements in marine gastropods suggest equilibrium precipitation

Johan Vellekoop, Niels J. de Winter, Alex Quizon, Sierra Petersen
2 citations
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
2.21
article

Clumped isotope thermometry (Δ47) measurements in marine gastropods suggest equilibrium precipitation

Johan Vellekoop, Niels J. de Winter, Alex Quizon, Sierra Petersen
article en
2 citations

Abstract

The clumped isotope paleothermometer (Δ 47 ) has been used to reconstruct temperatures from various biogenic carbonate archives. Calibration studies demonstrate that some biogenic carbonates precipitate in Δ 47 equilibrium and record growth temperatures accurately (e.g., many bivalve mollusks), while others appear to exhibit disequilibrium, or ‘vital’, effects and yield isotopically reconstructed temperatures that are biased (e.g., shallow-water corals). These studies have largely excluded marine gastropods, so it is not known whether they tend to precipitate their shells in or out of isotopic equilibrium. In this study, we present seasonal-scale δ 18 O and seasonally targeted Δ 47 and Δ 48 measurements from modern marine gastropods representing 8 genera and 10 species, reconstructing apparent growth temperatures and screening for equilibrium precipitation. We find that most marine gastropods appear to precipitate in Δ 47 and Δ 48 equilibrium and faithfully record environmental temperatures, making them suitable for Δ 47 -paleothermometry. A few gastropods ( Caviturritella/Turritella sp., Campanile symbolicum , Megastraea undosa ) appear to precipitate out of Δ 47 equilibrium, though these disequilibrium signatures may partially be explained by differences between actual growth temperatures and instrumental calibration temperatures ( Caviturritella/Turritella sp., M. undosa ) or differences between inner and outer layer precipitation ( C. symbolicum ). We present new Δ 47 -temperature data for 2 Middle Eocene Campanile giganteum fossils collected from the Paris Basin and discuss how to interpret the results in the context of our modern samples. Finally, in conducting this calibration we demonstrate paired Δ 47 /Δ 48 as an effective tool to screen for disequilibrium precipitation in marine gastropods.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica ActaVol. 410
University of Michigan (US), Institute of Natural Sciences (BE), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL), KU Leuven (BE)
Openalex Percentile: Top 11%
Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
2.21
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