TY - JOUR
T1 - Environmental DNA signatures distinguish between tsunami and storm deposition in overwash sand
AU - Yap, Wenshu
AU - Switzer, Adam D.
AU - Gouramanis, Chris
AU - Marzinelli, Ezequiel
AU - Wijaya, Winona
AU - Yan, Yu Ting
AU - Dominey-Howes, Dale
AU - Labbate, Maurizio
AU - Srinivasalu, Seshachalam
AU - Jankaew, Kruawun
AU - Lauro, Federico M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - Sandy onshore deposits from tsunamis are difficult to distinguish from storm deposits, which makes it difficult to assess coastal hazards from the geological record. Here we analyse environmental DNA from microbial communities preserved in known tsunami and storm-deposited sediments and intercalating soils and non-marine sediments near Cuddalore, India, and Phra Thong Island, Thailand. Both sites were impacted by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and a subsequent storm flooding event (2011 Cyclone Thane at Cuddalore and a 2007 storm at Phra Thong Island). We show that the microbial communities in the overwash deposits are significantly different from soil and sediments that are not derived by overwash processes at both locations. Our method also successfully discriminates between modern tsunami deposits and storm deposits. We suggest molecular techniques have the potential to accurately discriminate overwash deposits from catastrophic natural events.
AB - Sandy onshore deposits from tsunamis are difficult to distinguish from storm deposits, which makes it difficult to assess coastal hazards from the geological record. Here we analyse environmental DNA from microbial communities preserved in known tsunami and storm-deposited sediments and intercalating soils and non-marine sediments near Cuddalore, India, and Phra Thong Island, Thailand. Both sites were impacted by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and a subsequent storm flooding event (2011 Cyclone Thane at Cuddalore and a 2007 storm at Phra Thong Island). We show that the microbial communities in the overwash deposits are significantly different from soil and sediments that are not derived by overwash processes at both locations. Our method also successfully discriminates between modern tsunami deposits and storm deposits. We suggest molecular techniques have the potential to accurately discriminate overwash deposits from catastrophic natural events.
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U2 - 10.1038/s43247-021-00199-3
DO - 10.1038/s43247-021-00199-3
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85124674368
SN - 2662-4435
VL - 2
JO - Communications Earth and Environment
JF - Communications Earth and Environment
IS - 1
M1 - 129
ER -
