Glacio-eustatic variations and sapropel events as main controls on the Middle Pleistocene-Holocene evolution of the Cabliers Coral Mound Province (W Mediterranean)

Cold-water coral mounds are key hot-spots of deep ocean biodiversity and also important archives past climatic conditions. Nonetheless, the paleo-oceanographic setting in which developed Mediterranean Sea during last 500 ka still needs to be properly understood. This study describes deposits corresponding ages two on-mound gravity cores acquired from opposite sectors newly discovered Cabliers Coral Mound Province (CMP, Alboran Sea, W Mediterranean). U–Th data revealed Pleistocene-aged corals covering mound formation periods >389 9.3 BP 13.7 0.3 southern northern respectively. The coral-rich were mainly dominated by Desmophyllum pertusum, although some sections concurrent with Middle Pleistocene Holocene, other such as Dendrophyllia cornigera Madrepora oculata appeared dominating species. stages generally occurred deglacials temperate interstadial (3.5–4.1 δ18O‰) periods, whereas interglacials (<3.5 only shallower mound. We interpret this indicate that shoaling interface between Atlantic (AW) Levantine Intermediate Waters (LIW) interglacial prevented CMP acquiring sufficient food supply, thus causing stagnation. Similarly, interruption LIW throughout sapropel events coincides stagnation phases. suggests sapropel-derived processes, originated eastern Mediterranean, likely affected entire basin further supports role a conveyor belt facilitating cold-water growth Sea. Overall, we show these yield insights into how local changes oceanographic conditions can influence development.