Sediments deposited in the Loch of Stenness (Orkney Islands, Scotland) during the Holocene transgression, previously dated to between ~5939–5612 bp, were analysed for molecular fossils – lipids and chlorophyll pigments from primary producers – that complement conventional microfossil and lithological approaches for studying past sea‐level change. While microfossil and lithological studies identified a transgression between 102 and 81 cm core depth, key molecular fossils fluctuate in occurrence and concentration between 118 and 85 cm, suggesting an earlier start to the transgression. Terrestrial lipid concentrations decreased and algal‐derived, short‐chain, n‐alkanoic acid concentrations increased at 118 cm, indicating a disruption of the freshwater lake conditions associated with the early stages of the marine transgression. The lipid and pigment analyses provided information that complements and extends that from microfossil analysis, presenting a more complete record of Holocene sea‐level changes and local vegetation changes in the Loch of Stenness. The isostatic stability of Stenness during the Holocene points towards other factors to explain the transgression, such as regional factors and/or melting of the Antarctic ice sheet (which occurred up to 3 ka).

中文翻译：

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分子化石作为追踪奥克尼山脉尼斯湖全新世海平面变化的工具

全新世海侵期间沉积在Stenness湖（苏格兰奥克尼群岛）中的沉积物（以前约在5939–5612 bp之间） 进行了分子化石分析（主要生产者的脂质和叶绿素色素），以补充传统的微化石和岩性方法研究过去的海平面变化。虽然微化石和岩性学研究确定了在102-81 cm核心深度之间的海侵，但关键的分子化石的发生和浓度在118-85 cm之间波动，这表明海侵开始的时间更早。陆地脂质浓度降低且源自藻类，短链，n链烷酸的浓度在118 cm处增加，这表明与海侵早期有关的淡水湖泊状况受到破坏。脂质和色素分析提供的信息是对微化石分析的补充和扩展，提供了更完整的记录，记录了尼斯湖全新世海平面变化和局部植被变化。全新世期间Stenness的等静压稳定性指出了其他解释海侵的因素，例如区域因素和/或南极冰盖融化（发生时间长达3 ka）。