scholarly journals Assessing behavioural traits of benthic foraminifera: implications for sediment mixing

2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. 21-31
Author(s):  
N Deldicq ◽  
L Seuront ◽  
D Langlet ◽  
VMP Bouchet

The assessment of behavioural traits of marine organisms is increasingly recognized as a key issue to understanding their role in ecosystem processes such as bioturbation and nutrient cycling. The movement ability of intertidal foraminifera suggest that they may have a role, yet to be quantified, in benthic-pelagic coupling through their movement on the sediment surface, at the sediment-water interface and within the sediment. In this context, we investigated the behavioural traits of 5 benthic foraminiferal species typical of European temperate mudflats under standardized trophic light and temperature conditions. Behavioural traits related to motion of Ammonia tepida, Haynesina germanica, Cribroelphidium williamsoni, Miliammina fusca and Quinqueloculina seminula were assessed through their travelled distance, velocity, tortuosity of the path, position in the sediment and activity index. By analogy with macrofauna bioturbation functional groups, we describe the studied foraminifera as biodiffusor species with 3 sub-groups defined according to their vertical position in the sediment. C. williamsoni belongs to the epifaunal-biodiffusors, A. tepida and H. germanica belong to the surficial-biodiffusors, and Q. seminula and M. fusca are considered gallery-biodiffusors. Our results further suggest that features such as velocity, activity and tortuosity may mediate sediment-mixing intensity. Therefore, Q. seminula, H. germanica and C. williamsoni, which are the most active species, would have a larger effect on particle reworking rates than the less active A. tepida and M. fusca. Our results suggest that benthic foraminifera may play an underestimated role in bioturbation processes.

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1817) ◽  
pp. 20152025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elias Broman ◽  
Martin Brüsin ◽  
Mark Dopson ◽  
Samuel Hylander

Many coastal marine systems have extensive areas with anoxic sediments and it is not well known how these conditions affect the benthic–pelagic coupling. Zooplankton lay their eggs in the pelagic zone, and some sink and lie dormant in the sediment, before hatched zooplankton return to the water column. In this study, we investigated how oxygenation of long-term anoxic sediments affects the hatching frequency of dormant zooplankton eggs. Anoxic sediments from the brackish Baltic Sea were sampled and incubated for 26 days with constant aeration whereby, the sediment surface and the overlying water were turned oxic. Newly hatched rotifers and copepod nauplii (juveniles) were observed after 5 and 8 days, respectively. Approximately 1.5 × 10 5 nauplii m −2 emerged from sediment turned oxic compared with 0.02 × 10 5 m −2 from controls maintained anoxic. This study demonstrated that re-oxygenation of anoxic sediments activated a large pool of buried zooplankton eggs, strengthening the benthic–pelagic coupling of the system. Modelling of the studied anoxic zone suggested that a substantial part of the pelagic copepod population can derive from hatching of dormant eggs. We suggest that this process should be included in future studies to understand population dynamics and carbon flows in marine pelagic systems.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lennart J. de Nooijer ◽  
Anieke Brombacher ◽  
Antje Mewes ◽  
Gerald Langer ◽  
Gernot Nehrke ◽  
...  

Abstract. Barium (Ba) incorporated in the calcite of many foraminiferal species is proportional to the concentration of Ba in seawater. Since the open ocean concentration of Ba closely follows seawater alkalinity, foraminiferal Ba/Ca can be used to reconstruct the latter. Alternatively, Ba/Ca from foraminiferal shells can also be used to reconstruct salinity in coastal settings where seawater Ba concentration corresponds to salinity as rivers contain much more Ba than seawater. Incorporation of a number of minor and trace elements is known to vary (greatly) between foraminiferal species and application of element/Ca ratios thus requires the use of species-specific calibrations. Here we show that calcite Ba/Ca correlates positively and linearly with seawater Ba/Ca in cultured specimens of two species of benthic foraminifera, Heterostegina depressa and Amphistegina lessonii. The slopes of the regression, however, vary 2–3 fold between these two species (0.33 and 0.78, respectively). This difference in Ba-partitioning resembles the difference in partitioning of other elements (Mg, Sr, B, Li and Na) in these foraminiferal taxa. A general trend across element partitioning for different species is described, which may help developing new applications of trace elements in foraminiferal calcite in reconstructing past seawater chemistry.


2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 11635-11670 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Glock ◽  
V. Liebetrau ◽  
A. Eisenhauer

Abstract. In this study we explore the correlation of I/Ca ratios in three calcitic and one aragonitic foraminiferal species. I/Ca ratios are evaluated as possible proxies for changes in ambient redox conditions across the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone to the ambient oxygen concentrations in the habitat of the foraminiferal species studied. We test cleaning and measurement methods to determine I/Ca ratios in benthic foraminifera from the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone. All species show a positive trend in their I/Ca ratios as a function of higher oxygen concentrations and these trends are all statistically significant except for the aragonitic species Hoeglundina elegans. The most promising species appears to be Uvigerina striata which shows a highly statistically significant correlation between I/Ca ratios and bottom water (BW) oxygenation (I/Ca = 0.032(± 0.004)[O2]BW + 0.29(± 0.03), R2 = 0.61, F = 75, P < 0.0001). Although I/Ca ratios in benthic foraminifera might prove to be a valuable proxy for changing redox-conditions the iodine volatility in acidic solutions, the species dependency ofI/Ca–[O2]BW correlations, and the individual variability of single tests severely interfere with the observed I/Ca–[O2]BW relationship.


Taxonomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 438-447
Author(s):  
Somin Lee ◽  
Fabrizio Frontalini ◽  
Wonchoel Lee

The present study describes five newly recorded modern benthic foraminiferal species from the subtidal zone near Jeju Island and East China Sea (Korea). The newly recorded species (Karrerulina conversa, Rotaliammina trumbulli, Vertebralina striata, Pegidia dubia and Amphistegina radiata) belong to five families (Prolixoplectidae, Trochamminidae, Fischerinidae, Pegidiidae and Amphisteginidae), three orders (Lituolida, Miliolida and Rotaliida) and two classes (Globothalamea and Tubothalamea). All these five genera (Karrerulina, Rotaliammina, Vertebralina, Pegidia and Amphistegina) were also reported for the first time from Korean waters. Most of the examined specimens were highly consistent morphologically with previous records from southern China and Japan. Additionally, Amphistegina is one of the symbiont-bearing larger benthic foraminifera, known to be mainly distributed in tropical to warm subtropical waters. This study contributes to the expansion of data on the recent foraminiferal species diversity in Korean waters.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 239
Author(s):  
Vijaya Isnaniawardhani ◽  
Faizal Muhamadsyah ◽  
Adjat Sudrajat

Mud eruptions that rise claystone to sandstone-size fragments, liquid, gas, and heat to the surface have been identified in Ciuyah, Ciniru District, Kuningan. Field observation and sampling were conducted on host rock as well as mud in Ciuyah. Forty-two planktic and forty-two benthic foraminiferal species were identified in rock samples; while 89.28% of them are recorded in mud samples. Foraminifera contained in claystone and sandstone of Pemali and Halang Formations reveals the age of Middle to Late Miocene. Based on their stratigraphic ranges, planktic foraminifera assemblages in mud represent four age-marker groups, there are: older than Zone N.10 / Middle Miocene (indicated by the appearance of Globorotalia archeomenardii), ranges of Zone N.11 – N.12 / Middle Miocene (marked by the appearance of Globorotalia fohsi lobata and Globorotalia praemenardii), ranges of Zone N.13–N.14 / Middle Miocene (Globorotalia siakensis and Globorotalia mayeri), and ranges of Zone N.15–N.17 / Late Miocene (Globorotalia acostaensis acostaensis and Neogloboquadrina dutertrei dutertrei). Benthic foraminifera can be grouped into outer neritic and bathyal typical assemblages. That several age-marker planktic foraminifera groups mixing and deep marine typical benthic occurrence in mud samples is produced by reworking process during turbidity sedimentation, as well as erosion and elution of base- and side-rock composed by Pemali and Halang Formations.Semburan lumpur yang membawa fragmen-fragmen berukuran batulempung hingga batupasir, cairan, gas dan panas ke permukaan telah teridentifikasi di Ciuyah, Kecamatan Ciniru, Kuningan. Observasi  lapangan dan pengambilan sampel dilakukan terhadap batuan induk serta lumpur di Ciuyah dan sekitarnya. Empat puluh dua spesies foraminifera planktik dan empat puluh dua spesies bentik teridentifikasi dalam sampel batuan; dengan 89,28% di antaranya terekam dalam sampel lumpur. Foraminifera yang terkandung dalam batulempung dan batupasir Formasi Pemali dan Halang menunjukkan umur Miosen Tengah hingga Akhir. Berdasarkan rentang stratigrafinya, kumpulan foraminifera planktik dalam lumpur menunjukkan empat kelompok penanda umur, yaitu: lebih tua dari Zona N.10 / Miosen Tengah (ditunjukkan oleh kehadiran Globorotalia archeomenardii), rentang Zona N.11 - N.12 / Miosen Tengah (ditandai oleh kehadiran Globorotalia fohsi lobata dan Globorotalia praemenardii), rentang Zona N.13 -N.14 / Miosen Tengah (Globorotalia siakensis dan Globorotalia mayeri), dan rentang Zona N.15 - N.17 / Miosen Akhir (Globorotalia acostaensis acostaensis dan Neogloboquadrina dutertrei dutertrei). Foraminifera bentik dapat dikelompokkan dalam kumpulan neritik luar dan batial. Beberapa kelompok penanda umur foraminifera planktik dan kehadiran bentik laut dalam pada lumpur dihasilkan oleh pengerjaan ulang selama sedimentasi turbidit, serta erosi dan elusi batuan dasar dan batuan samping yang tersusun oleh Formasi Pemali dan Halang.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 341-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Glock ◽  
A. Eisenhauer ◽  
V. Liebetrau ◽  
M. Wiedenbeck ◽  
C. Hensen ◽  
...  

Abstract. In this study we present an initial dataset of Mn/Ca and Fe/Ca ratios in tests of benthic foraminifera from the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) determined with SIMS. These results are a contribution to a better understanding of the proxy potential of these elemental ratios for ambient redox conditions. Foraminiferal tests are often contaminated by diagenetic coatings, like Mn rich carbonate- or Fe and Mn rich (oxyhydr)oxide coatings. Thus, it is substantial to assure that the cleaning protocols are efficient or that spots chosen for microanalyses are free of contaminants. Prior to the determination of the element/Ca ratios, the distributions of several elements (Ca, Mn, Fe, Mg, Ba, Al, Si, P and S) in tests of the shallow infaunal species Uvigerina peregrina and Bolivina spissa were mapped with an electron microprobe (EMP). To visualize the effects of cleaning protocols uncleaned and cleaned specimens were compared. The cleaning protocol included an oxidative cleaning step. An Fe rich phase was found on the inner test surface of uncleaned U. peregrina specimens. This phase was also enriched in Al, Si, P and S. A similar Fe rich phase was found at the inner test surface of B. spissa. Specimens of both species treated with oxidative cleaning show the absence of this phase. Neither in B. spissa nor in U. peregrina were any hints found for diagenetic (oxyhydr)oxide or carbonate coatings. Mn/Ca and Fe/Ca ratios of single specimens of B. spissa from different locations have been determined by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Bulk analyses using solution ICP-MS of several samples were compared to the SIMS data. The difference between SIMS analyses and ICP-MS bulk analyses from the same sampling sites was 14.0–134.8 μmol mol−1 for the Fe/Ca and 1.68(±0.41) μmol mol−1 for the Mn/Ca ratios. This is in the same order of magnitude as the variability inside single specimens determined with SIMS at these sampling sites (1σ[Mn/Ca] = 0.35–2.07 μmol mol−1; 1σ[Fe/Ca] = 93.9–188.4 μmol mol−1). The Mn/Ca ratios in the calcite were generally relatively low (2.21–9.93 μmol mol−1) but in the same magnitude and proportional to the surrounding pore waters (1.37–6.67 μmol mol−1). However, the Fe/Ca ratios in B. spissa show a negative correlation to the concentrations in the surrounding pore waters. Lowest foraminiferal Fe/Ca ratios (87.0–101.0 μmol mol−1) were found at 465 m water depth, a location with a strong sharp Fe peak in the pore water next to the sediment surface and respectively, high Fe concentrations in the surrounding pore waters. Previous studies found no living specimens of B. spissa at this location. All these facts hint that the analysed specimens already were dead before the Fe flux started and the sampling site just recently turned anoxic due to fluctuations of the lower boundary of the OMZ near the sampling site (465 m water depth). Summarized Mn/Ca and Fe/Ca ratios are potential proxies for redox conditions, if cleaning protocols are carefully applied. The data presented here may be rated as base for the still pending detailed calibration.


Author(s):  
L. Harini ◽  
R. Venkatachalapathy

To study the foraminiferal assemblage from the Karai shale, one hundred and nineteen surface sediment samples were collected systematically. The collected samples were processed using standard micropaleontological techniques. Ninety- eight species of well - preserved foraminifera were obtained from the samples. Of the ninety-eight species, eighty-nine were benthic foraminifera and nine were planktic foraminifera. The specific identification of the foraminifera was done after comparing them with those described and illustrated by various workers from the Cretaceous of Southern India. The age of the samples was assigned as Albian based on the presence of planktic foraminiferal species viz. Hedbergella delrioensis, Hedbergella planispira, Praeglobotruncana delrioensis, Praeglobotruncana stephani, Planomalina buxtorfi and Thalmanninella balernaensis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sachin Kumar Tripathi ◽  
Resmi S. ◽  
Satyendra Baraik ◽  
Debasis Sengupta ◽  
Amitava Lahiri

Study area is situated 8 km south of the Bakkhali Island, West Bengal of India and its subaqueous environment influenced by the fluvial processes such as Hooghly River in west and its distributary like Muri Ganga in the centre and Saptamukhi River in the east. To understand the submarine behavior of these channels and associated meiobenthos, total of 28 sediment samples have been studied in detail. The study reveal that a total of fifteen species of recent benthic foraminifera belonging to 13 genera under 11 families were present and their distribution mainly controlled by channel morphology and sediment character. Based on the distribution of these benthic foraminiferal species, two assemblages have been identified. First assemblage, observed within the Hooghly and Muri Ganga channel, where salinity is comparatively low and sediment is mainly dominated by silt and clay. The most dominating benthic foraminifers of this assemblage are Ammobaculites agglutinans, Cribrostomoides jeffreysii and Asterorotalia trispinosa. Whereas, second assemblage mainly comprise of A. trispinosa, Ammonia beccarii, Asterorotalia spp., Elphidium excavatum, Elphidium crispum and Ammonia tepida noticed over the sand bars and adjoining shallow area. Keywords: channel morphology, Muri Ganga, Hooghly, sand bar


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