Diatoms of North AmericaDescription: We explore the modern relationship between coastal benthic diatoms and elevation as an analog for reconstructing past relative sea-level (RSL). Diatom species preferences for salinity can be used to reconstruct past RSL because changes in salinity across the intertidal zone are reflected as shifts in diatom assemblages with elevation. This relationship can be used to develop a transfer function that can be applied to fossil diatoms preserved in coastal wetland sediments to understand how past RSL has changed through time.
Target audience: This talk is aimed at those interested in coastal wetland diatom taxonomy, ecology, and specifically, the development and application of diatom transfer functions for reconstructing past relative sea-level.
