Fish scales in sediments from off Callao, central Peru

• Published in: Deep-sea research. Part II, Topical studies in oceanography Topical studies in oceanography, 2009-07, Vol.56 (16), p.1124-1135
• Main Authors: Díaz-Ochoa, J.A., Lange, C.B., Pantoja, S., De Lange, G.J., Gutiérrez, D., Muñoz, P., Salamanca, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Callao; Clupeoid fish; Engraulis ringens; Merluccius; Molybdenum; Oxygen minimum zone; Peru; Redox-sensitive trace elements
• ISSN: 0967-0645; 1879-0100
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dsr2.2008.09.015

We study fish scales as a proxy of fish abundance and preservation biases together with phosphorus from fish remains (P fish) in a sediment core retrieved off Callao, Peru (12°1′S, 77°42′W; water depth=179 m; core length=52 cm). We interpret our results as a function of changing redox conditions based on ratios of redox-sensitive trace elements (Cu/Al, Mo/Al, Ni/Al, Zn/Al, V/Al), terrigenous indicators (Fe in clays, Ti, Al), and biogenic proxies (CaCO 3, biogenic opal, total nitrogen, organic carbon, barite Ba). The core covers roughly 700 years of deposition, based on 210Pb activities extrapolated downcore and 14C dating at selected intervals. Our fish-scale record is dominated by anchovy ( Engraulis ringens) scales followed by hake ( Merluccius gayii) scales. The core presented an abrupt lithological change at 17 cm (corresponding to the early 19th century). Above that depth, it was laminated and was more organic-rich (10–15% organic carbon) than below, where the core was partly laminated and less organic-rich (