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Land-sea correlations in the Pleistocene based on isoleucine epimerization in non-marine molluscs

Nature volume 340, pages 49–51 (1989)Cite this article

Abstract

THE correlation between the oxygen isotope stratigraphy of the oceans and continental stratigraphic records is one of the main challenges for Quaternary research. Most continental classifications, however, are based on techniques and hypotheses that predate recent advances. Nevertheless, the deep-sea oxygen isotope global stratigraphic framework has been extended to the continents by means of some long sequences1; but these are exceptional and regional geology is unsatisfactorily classified for correlation with the oxygen isotope signal. Because successive geological events produced similar evidence (homotaxis), geochronometric dating is essential for correlation, but available methods are highly site-, regional- or sample-specific. Fortunately non-marine molluscs are ubiquitous in time and space, and here we use the time-dependent epimerization of L-isoleucine in these fossils to subdivide the Pleistocene of the British Isles, and to identify more events than recognized by the existing classification2. By calibrating the relative aminostratigraphic scale with independent dating methods we have set up a geochronology which is the basis for land—sea correlations back to oxygen isotope stage 15.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Earth Studies, The University College of Wales,University of Wales, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DB, UK

    D. Q. Bowen & S. Hughes

  2. Department of Geography, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX, UK

    G. A. Sykes

  3. Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 80809, USA

    G. H. Miller

Authors
  1. D. Q. Bowen
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  2. S. Hughes
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  3. G. A. Sykes
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  4. G. H. Miller
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Bowen, D., Hughes, S., Sykes, G. et al. Land-sea correlations in the Pleistocene based on isoleucine epimerization in non-marine molluscs. Nature 340, 49–51 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/340049a0

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