Response to Comment on "Otolith S18O Record of Mid-Holocene Sea Surface Temperatures in Peru"
We find arguments of Bearez et al. unconvincing. We did not contend that Galeichtys peruvianus is a topical species. Rather, G. peruvianus was selected for its wide temperature tolerance and was captured during both El Nino and La Nina events in Huanchaco, Peru (1, 2). The northern range boundary Bearez et al cite (6°S) is incorrect. In a prior publication (3) Bearez stated that this species is native to Ecuador, an observation corroborated by other authors (4), which undermines the cool climate suggestion. Our sea surface temperature (SST) conclusions rely on S18O data, not the presence or absence of species [although presence-absence data show predominantly tropical fauna at Ostra and Siched (5,6)].
SREL Reprint #2744
Andrus, C. F. T., D. E. Crowe, D. H. Sandweiss, E. J. Reitz and C. S. Romanek. 2003. Response to comment on "Otolith d18O record of mid-holocene sea surface temperatures in Peru". Science 299:203b.
