estuarine evolution

[Helmut Zibrowius]

On Thu, 14 Dec 1995 18:51:40 -0800, David W Kirtley Ph.D. wrote:
>.......
>This statement needs to be clarified a bit, I believe, before it 
>becomes /// generally and uncritically accepted, embedded, and perfused 
>through the literature ///.

   Well and pertinently formulated again!
   As for the arguments concerning the non-absence of Californian 
estuaries in former ages, we have a somewhat similar situation in our 
area (NW Mediterranean). Even though the submarine caves we presently 
know (among many others: paleolithic Cosquer cave with entrance at now
-37m; cave with the carnivorous sponge Asbestopluma and hexactinellid 
Oopsacas at ca -20m -- you may have heard about these through TV and 
Nature) had been totally immerged during low stands of the sea level, there 
still remained other (deeper) caves submerged since karstic lime stone 
formations extend into much deeper water, as has been documented by 
submersible dives. At least in that case evidence can be seen even now. 
Submarine caves here are NOT new Holocene biota either.

  ----------------------------------- 
  Helmut ZIBROWIUS
  (Centre d'Oceanologie de Marseille)
  Station Marine d'Endoume
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