Abstract
The sediments in core YS01 recovered from the South Yellow Sea mud deposit zone contain abundant benthic foraminifera, particularly shallow continental shelf species, but rare of planktonic foraminifera. The benthic foraminifera are dominated by stenohaline cold shallow-water species and euryhaline brackish-water species. In this paper, the palaeoenvironmental changes were discussed based on the grain-size compositions and benthic foraminiferal assemblages. Six different benthic foraminiferal assemblages were discriminated by species analysis from the foraminiferal fauna. According to AMS14C dating data in core YS01, we identified four main stages of marine environmental changes since the last deglaciation: a near-shore depositional stage (13.1–9.5 kyr B.P.), a transitional stage from near-shore deposition to shallow-sea deposition (9.5–5.6kyrB.P.), a high sea level stage with shallow-sea deposition (5.6–2.9kyrB.P.), and a stable shallow-sea depositional stage (2.9kyr B.P. to the present).
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Angulo, R. J., Giannini, P. C. F., Suguio, K., and Pessenda L. C. R., 1999. Relative sea-level changes in the last 5500 years in southern Brazil (Laguna-Imbituba region, Santa Catarina State) based on vermetid 14C ages. Marine Geology, 159 (1–4): 323–339.
Baker, R., and Haworth, R., 2000. Smooth or oscillating late Holocene sea-level curve? Evidence from the palaeo-zoology of fixed biological indicators in east Australia and beyond. Marine Geology, 163 (1–4): 367–386.
Beardsley, R. C., Limeburner, R., Yu, H., and Cannon, G. A., 1985. Discharge of Changjiang (Yangtze River) into the East China Sea. Continental Shelf Research, 4 (1–2): 57–76.
Berdin, R. D., Siringan, F. P., and Maeda, Y., 2004. Holocene sea-level high stand and its implications for the vertical stability of Panglao Island, southwest Bohol, Philippines. Quaternary International, 115: 27–37.
Chough, S. K., Lee, H. J., Chun, S. S., and Shinn, Y. J., 2004. Depositional processes of late Quaternary sediments in the Yellow Sea: A review. Geosciences Journal, 8: 211–264.
Demaster, D. J., Mckee, B. A., Nittrouer, C. A., Qian, J. C., and Cheng, G. D., 1985. Rates of sediment accumulation and particle reworking based on radiochemical measurements from continental-shelf deposits in the East China Sea. Continental Shelf Research, 4: 143–158.
Greiner, G. O., 1970. Distribution of major benthonic foraminaferal groups on the Gulf of Mexico continental shelf. Micropaleontology, 1970: 83–101.
Grootes, P. M., Stuiver, M., White, J. W. C., Johnsen, S., and Jouzel, J., 1993. Comparison of oxygen isotope records from the GLSP2 and GRIP Greenland ice cores. Nature, 366: 552–554.
Hall, B. L., Baroni, C., and Denton, G. H., 2004. Holocene relative sea-level history of the southern Victoria Land Coast, Antarctica. Global and Planetary Change, 42 (1–4): 241–263.
Hao, Y. C., Qiu, S. Y., Lin, J. X., and Zeng, X. L., 1980. Foraminifera. Science Press, Beijing, 12–13 (in Chinese).
Henderson, G. M., 2006. Caving in to new chronologies. Science, 313: 620–622.
Hongo, C., and Kayanne, H., 2010. Holocene sea-level record from corals: Reliability of paleodepth indicators at Ishigaki Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 287 (1–4): 143–151.
Hu, D. X., Ding, Z., and Xiong, Q., 1984. Preliminary study of a summer cyclonic eddy in the northern East China Sea. Studia Marina Sinica, 21: 87–98 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Kim, J. M., and Kennett, J. P., 1998. Paleoenvironmental changes associated with the Holocene marine transgression, Yellow Sea (Hwanghae). Marine Micropaleontology, 34: 71–89.
Kim, J. M., and Kucera, M., 2000. Benthic foraminifer record of environmental changes in the Yellow Sea (Hwanghae) during the last 15,000 years. Quaternary Science Reviews, 19: 1067–1085.
Lambeck, K., 2002. Sea-level change from mid-Holocene to recent time: An Australian example with global implications. Ice Sheets, Sea Level and the Dynamic Earth, 29: 33–50.
Lei, Y., and Li, T., 2016. Atlas of Benthic Foraminifera from China Seas: The Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea. Springer-Verlag GmbH, Germany and Science Press, Beijing, 1–399.
Li, B. H., Kong, X. M., Wang, X. Y., and Long, J. P., 2010. Foraminifera in surface sediments of the Tonkin Gulf, northern South China Sea. Acta Micropalaeontologica Sinica, 27 (2): 99–108 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Li, G., Li, P., Liu, Y., Qiao, L., Ma, Y., Xu, J., and Yang, Z., 2014. Sedimentary system response to the global sea level change in the East China Seas since the last glacial maximum. Earth-Science Reviews, 139: 390–405.
Li, S. Q., Liu, J., Wang, S. J., and Yang, Z. G., 1997. Sedimentary characters in the eastern South Yellow Sea during the postglacial transgression. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 17 (4): 1–12 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Li, T. G., Jiang, B., Sun, R. T., Zhang, D. Y., Liu, Z. X., and Li, Q., 2007. Evolution pattern of warm current system of the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea since the last deglaciation. Quaternary Science, 27 (6): 945–954 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Li, T. G., Li, S. Q., Cang, S. X., Liu, J., and Jeong, H. C., 2000. Paleo-hydrological reconstruction of the southern Yellow Sea inferred from foraminiferal fauna in core YSDP102. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 31 (6): 588–595.
Li, X. Y., Zhao, Q. H., Yao, Z. Q., Wang, Q., Jian, Z. M., and Shi, X. F., 2015. Transgressive records of last million years in the Bohai Sea, China: Evidence from foraminifera and ostracoda of core BH08. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 35 (6): 93–108 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Liu, J., Li, S. Q., Wang, S. J., Yang, Z. G., Ge, Z. S., and Chang, J. H., 1999. Sea level changes of the Yellow Sea and formation of the Yellow Sea Warm Current since the last deglaciation. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 19 (1): 13–24 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Liu, J. P., Millimam, J. D., Gao, S., and Cheng, P., 2004. Holocene development of the Yellow River’s subaqueous delta, North Yellow Sea. Marine Geology, 209: 45–67.
Loeblich Jr., A. R., and Tappan, H., 1994. Foraminifera of the Sahul Shelf and Timor Sea. Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research Special Publication, 31: 661.
Meng, G. L., Han, Y. S., and Wang, S. Q., 1998. Paleoclimate events and environment evolution of the shelf area in the South Yellow Sea during the past 15 ka. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 29 (3): 297–305 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Murray, J. W., 1971. An Atlas of British Recent Foraminiferids. Heinemann Educational Books, London, 1–244.
Murray, J. W., 2006. Ecology and Applications of Benthic Foraminifera. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1–426.
Petersen, J., Riedel, B., Barras, C., Pays, O., Guihéneuf, A., Mabilleau, G., Schweizer, M., Meysman, F. J. R., and Jorissen, F. J., 2016. Improved methodology for measuring pore patterns in the benthic foraminiferal genus Ammonia. Marine Micropaleontology, 128: 1–13.
Shen, S., Chen, L., Gao, L., and Li, A., 1993. Discovery of Holocene cyclonic eddy sediment and pathway sediment in the southern Yellow Sea. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, 24 (6): 463–570 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Stuiver, M., Grootes, P. M., and Braziunas, T. F., 1995. The GISP2 δ18O climate record of the past 16,500 years and the role of the sun, ocean, and volcanoes. Quaternary Research, 44 (3): 341–354.
Stuiver, M., Reimer, P. J., Bard, E., Beck, J. W., Burr, G. S., Hughen, K. A., Kromer, B., Mc Cormac, G., Plicht, J. V. D., and Spurk, M., 1998. INTCAL98 Radiocarbon age calibration 24,0000 cal BP. Radiocarbon, 40: 1041–1083.
Su, J. L., 1998. Circulation dynamics of the China seas north of 18°N coastal segment. In: The Sea. Robinson, A. R., and Brink, K. H., eds., John Wiley & Sons Inc, New York, 483–505.
Sun, R. T., Chang, F. M., Nan, Q. Y., Liu, X., and Jiang, H. Y., 2014. Benthic foraminiferal distributions and quantitative transfer functions for the southern Yellow Sea inner shelf. Acta Micropalaeontologica Sinica, 31 (2): 118–129 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Wang, F. F., Gao, M. S., Liu, J., Pei, S. F., Li, C. F., Mei, X., and Yang, S. X., 2016. Distribution and environmental significance of live and dead benthic foraminiferal assemblages in surface sediments of Laizhou Bay, Bohai Sea. Marine Micropaleontology, 123: 1–14.
Wang, F. F., Liu, J., Qiu, J. D., Liu, X. G., and Mei, X., 2014a. Thickness variation and provenance of mid-Holocene mud sediments in the central and western South Yellow Sea. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 34 (5): 1–11 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Wang, F. F., Zhang, Y., Qiu, J. D., Liu, J., and Liu, X. G., 2014b. Late Quaternary distribution characters of foraminifera and ostracoda in the offshore area of southern Shandong Peninsula and paleoenvironmental evolution. Acta Micropalaeontologica Sinica, 31 (2): 130–146 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Wang, H. Y., 2017. Characteristics and environmental significance of benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the South Yellow Sea mud area since MIS 3. PhD thesis. Ocean University of China.
Wang, L. B., Yang, Z. S., Zhao, X. H., Xing, L., Zhao, M. X., Saito, Y., and Fan, D. J., 2009. Sedimentary characteristics of core YE-2 from the central mud area in the South Yellow Sea during last 8400 years and its interspace coarse layers. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 29 (5): 1–11 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Wang, P. X., 1985. Marine Micropaleontology of China. China Ocean Press, Beijing, 1–370.
Wang, P. X., Min, Q. B., and Bian, Y. H., 1980. Distribution of foraminifera and ostracoda in bottom sediments of the northwestern part of the southern Yellow Sea and its geological significance. In: Papers on Marine Micropaleontology. Wang, P. X., et al., eds., China Ocean Press, Beijing, 61–83 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Wang, P. X., Zhang, J., Zhao, Q., Min, Q., Bian, Y., Zheng, L., Cheng, X., and Chen, R., 1988. Foraminifera and Ostracoda in Bottom Sediments of the East China Sea. China Ocean Press, Beijing, 1–438.
Wang, Y., Cheng, H., Edwards, R., He, Y., Kong, X., An, Z., Wu, J., Kelly, M., Dykoski, C., and Li, X., 2005. The Holocene Asian Monsoon: Links to solar changes and North Atlantic climate. Science, 308 (5723): 854–857.
Wang, Y. H., Li, G. X., Zhang, W. G., and Dong, P., 2014. Sedimentary environment and formation mechanism of the mud deposit in the central South Yellow Sea during the past 40kyr. Marine Geology, 347: 123–135.
Wu, J., Liu, C., Fürsich, F. T., Yang, T., and Yin, J., 2015. Foraminifera as environmental indicators and quantitative salinity reconstructions in the Pearl River Estuary, southern China. The Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 45 (3): 205–219.
Xiang, R., Yang, Z. S., Saito, Y., Fan, D. J., Chen, M. H., Guo, Z. G., and Chen, Z., 2008. Paleoenvironmental changes during the last 8400 years in the southern Yellow Sea: Benthic foraminiferal and stable isotopic evidence. Marine Micropaleontology, 67 (1–2): 104–119.
Ybert, J. P., Bissa, W. M., and Catharino, E. L. M., 2003. Environmental and sea-level variations on the southeastern Brazilian coast during the late Holocene with comments on prehistoric human occupation. Palaeogeography, Paleoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 189 (1–2): 11–24.
Yu, K. F., Zhao, J. X., Done, T., and Chen, T. G., 2009. Microatoll record for large century-scale sea-level fluctuations in the mid-Holocene. Quaternary Research, 71 (3): 354–360.
Zheng, S. Y., 1988. The Agglutinated and Porcelaneous Foraminifera of the East China Sea. Science Press, Beijing, 1–337.
Zheng, G. Y., 1988. Quaternary stratigraphic division of the hole QC2 in the southern Huanghai Sea. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 8 (4): 1–9 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Zheng, Z. Z., Zheng, S. Y., and Fu, Z. X., 1979. Preliminary faunal analysis of the benthic foraminifera of the East China Sea. Chinese Science Bulletin, 19: 903–906.
Zhuang, L. H., Chang, F. M., Li, T. G., and Yan, J., 2002. Fo-raminiferal faunas and Holocene sedimentation rates of core EY02-2 in the South Yellow Sea. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 22 (4): 7–14 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Zong, Y. Q., 2004. Mid-Holocene sea-level highstand along the southeast Coast of China. Quaternary International, 117: 55–67.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the China Geological Survey Project (Nos. 121201005000150004 and GZH20110 0202), and by the Taishan Scholar Project.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, H., Li, G., Zhang, Y. et al. Evolution of Palaeoenvironment of the South Yellow Sea Since the Last Deglaciation. J. Ocean Univ. China 19, 827–836 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-020-4213-y
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-020-4213-y