Intertidal Upper Pleistocene algal build-ups (Trottoir) of NW Sardinia (Italy): a tool for past sea level reconstruction

Biological sea level indicators such as intertidal coralline red algal build-ups (Lithohyllum rim or Trottoir)
are a powerful tool for precise sea level reconstruction.
Several patches of relict intertidal Lithophyllum Trottoir crop out along the north-west Sardinia coasts (Mediterranean
Sea, Italy). Based on the strathigraphic correlations and preliminary luminescence ages (avg 120±8 ka) these algal bindstones
are associated with the Marine Isotope Stage 5e (MIS 5e, 135-115 ka). A Sedimentological/stratigraphic approach performed
on relict Mediterranean Algae Trottoir led us to developed an evolution model and precisely estimate the relative sea level
elevation during MIS 5e along the NW coast of Sardinia. Moreover, coastal feature plays a vital role for “Lithophyllum
incipient Trottoir” development which under a stable sea condition may growth up to the mature tabular Trottoir aspect.
The mean elevation of the studied MIS 5e Lithophyllum bioconstructions is 4.9
±
0.5 m above the present sea level, which
is in good agreement with both the global and the regional data