Modern and Ancient Animal Traces in the Extreme Environments of Lake Magadi and Nasikie Engida, Kenya Rift Valley

Jennifer J. Scott*, Robin W. Renaut, Luis A. Buatois, R Bernhart Owen, Emma P. Mcnulty, Mona Stockhecke, Kennie Leet, Tim K. Lowenstein, M. Gabriela Mángano

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    Abstract

    Modern Lake Magadi and Nasikie Engida in the inner southern Kenya Rift exemplify the extreme conditions in some continental rift settings, with abundant inflow from hot springs and magmatic CO2, producing high-carbonate-bicarbonate, high-sodium waters with little calcium in a semi-arid closed lake basin. Hypersalinity, hyperalkalinity, and hydrothermal conditions characterize the modern lake and lake margins, and also contributed to the environmental conditions represented by the Pleistocene to Holocene sedimentary record of the basin. Micro- and macro-organisms are restricted in diversity and distribution in the modern lake basin. This study documents modern animal traces present in lake-margin sites around Lake Magadi and Nasikie Engida, and those preserved in Pleistocene and Holocene sediment outcrops in the Magadi Basin. These findings are then applied to the interpretation of examples preserved in drill-cores (HSPDP-MAG14) that span the Pleistocene to recent sedimentary record of Lake Magadi. Observed associations among animal traces, substrates, and environmental conditions in the modern sedimentary lake-margin environments help to interpret ancient lacustrine sediments in the geologic record.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationLimnogeology: Progress, Challenges and Opportunities
    Subtitle of host publicationA Tribute to Elizabeth Gierlowski-Kordesch
    EditorsMichael R. Rosen, David B. Finkelstein, Lisa Park Boush, Sila Pla-Pueyo
    PublisherSpringer Cham
    Pages19-66
    Number of pages48
    Edition1st
    ISBN (Electronic)9783030665760
    ISBN (Print)9783030665753, 9783030665784
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 25 Apr 2021

    Publication series

    NameSyntheses in Limnogeology
    PublisherSpringer
    ISSN (Print)2211-2731
    ISSN (Electronic)2211-274X

    User-Defined Keywords

    • Lake Magadi
    • Nasikie Engida
    • Vertebrate
    • Invertebrate
    • Ichnology
    • Chert
    • Trona
    • Hot springs
    • Hypersaline
    • Hyperalkaline
    • Alkaline
    • Hydrothermal
    • Lacustrine

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