Foraminiferal population dynamics, stable isotopes and paleo-environment in the Red Sea and the North Atlantic


Contact
jbijma [ at ] awi-bremerhaven.de

Abstract

Reconstructions of paleo-environments are frequently based on stable isotope measurements. General assumptions are that a foraminifer has a stable life habitat throughout ontogeny and that the d13C of the TCO2 is constant in the mixed layer. However, because most planktic foraminifera, if not all, change their life horizon during ontogeny and because the d13C of the TCO2 is not necessarily constant in the mixed layer, the isotopic composition of the foraminiferal shells is not only dependent on water-mass properties (e.g. oligotrophic vs. eutrophic) and the geographic and climatic setting (e.g. upwelling, monsoon etc.) but to an important extent on the life history of the foraminifer. Consequently, the disequilibrium precipitation reported in the literature must be explained in terms of ontogenetic migration and so called vital effects in addition to phytoplankton growth dynamics.Modelling the effect of ontogenetic migration patterns and metabolic effects show a discrepancy with measured isotope data that needs further attention. Without the understanding of the mechanism controlling the carbon isotope signal, paleo-environmental reconstruction on the basis of carbon isotopes is not legitimate.



Item Type
Inbook
Authors
Divisions
Programs
Publication Status
Published
Eprint ID
1274
Cite as
Hemleben, C. and Bijma, J. (1994): Foraminiferal population dynamics, stable isotopes and paleo-environment in the Red Sea and the North Atlantic , Carbon cycling in the glacial ocean Constraints on the ocean's role in global change (R Zahn, M Kaminski, L Labeyrie, T Pedersen, eds ) NATO ASI Series I 17 .


Download
[thumbnail of Fulltext]
Preview
PDF (Fulltext)
Hem1994a.pdf

Download (3MB) | Preview
Cite this document as:

Share
Add to AnyAdd to TwitterAdd to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to PinterestAdd to Email

Research Platforms
N/A

Campaigns
N/A


Actions
Edit Item Edit Item