A daily paleo-data is obtained from clams using an ultra-high-resolution age model.

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Source: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems

The study of the mollusk Tridacna, or giant clam, through geochemical techniques can reveal information about past climates. To determine the time period of these data, age chronologies are used, which are typically based on the regular patterns of growth bands in the shell observed through optical methods. However, these bands may be challenging to identify in fossil specimens.

In 2023, Arndt and colleagues introduce a novel method utilizing a Python script to gather paleoenvironmental data from preserved Tridacna clams on a daily basis. The periodic fluctuations in the clams’ shell composition allow for accurate tracking of daily changes in growth rates and elemental makeup. This technique has the potential to significantly enhance our understanding of the connection between short-term weather patterns and long-term climate changes.

Reference: Arndt, I., Coenen, D., Evans, D., Renema, W., & Müller, W. (2023). Measuring changes in growth rate over short periods of time in fossil giant clams through wavelet analysis of daily Mg/Ca cycles. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 24, e2023GC010992. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GC010992

—Branwen Williams, Editor, G-Cubed

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