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Biogenic stalactites in submarine caves at the Cape of Otranto (SE Italy): dating and hypothesis on their formation
Author(s) -
Belmonte Genuario,
Ingrosso Gianmarco,
Poto Marco,
Quarta Gianluca,
D’Elia Marisa,
Onorato Raffaele,
Calcagnile Lucio
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
marine ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.668
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1439-0485
pISSN - 0173-9565
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0485.2008.00279.x
Subject(s) - cave , paleontology , submarine , geology , cape , period (music) , calcareous , archaeology , oceanography , geography , art , aesthetics
Submarine caves at the Cape of Otranto (SE, Italy) host pseudostalactites. Only recently have they been recognised as originating mainly from the marine tube worm Protula tubularia (Serpulidae, Polychaeta). Their formation depends on the adaptability, life history and behaviour of that species in the cave habitat. The dating of calcareous tubes in the pseudostalactite core represents the first attempt to describe the formation of such bio‐construction, and the gregarious behaviour of the species. Calcareous tubes along the core axis of three pseudostalactites removed from the cave lu Lampiùne (Otranto, South East Italy) have been dated using the 14 C method. Measures established ages from 2600 to 5000 years for the three structures. This extremely long period (when compared with the life span of each worm) suggests that each tube aggregation is the result of punctuated growth periods alternated with long standstill phases. At the end of a growth period, each tube aggregation was covered with a brownish concretion, completing the pseudostalactite.