Forams 2010 - Universität Bonn

Abstracts Volume with Program

FORAMS 2010

International Symposium on Foraminifera

Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn September 5-10, 2010

Germany

International Symposium on Foraminifera, Bonn

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Scientific Committee Ahuva Almogi-Labin Alexander Altenbach Samuel Bowser Joan Bernhard Esmeralda Caus Tom Dignes Susan Goldstein David Haig Pamela Hallock Bruce Hayward Shirley E. van Heck

Johann Hohenegger Lukas Hottinger Brian Huber Frans Jorissen Hiroshi Kitazato Eduardo Koutsoukos Michal Kucera Wolfgang Kuhnt Martin Langer

Jere Lipps Paul Loubere Andreas Mackensen Jan Pawlowski Gerhard Schmiedl Joachim Schönfeld Robert Speijer Ellen Thomas Jessica Zamagni

Core Organizing Committee Martin Langer, Chair FORAMS 2010 Anna Weinmann, Beate Söntgerath, Peter Göddertz, Georg Heumann Staff: Christian Haller, Lydia Calvo-Marcilese, Walid Makled, Gloria Mouanga, Franziska Schunke, Thomas Ronge, Jens Thissen, Marcus Scheske, Patrick Schneider, Nassir Abu-Tair, Ursula Leppig, Nicole Klein, Dorothea Kranz, Michael Kunert, Meena Förderer, Devran Ekinci, Vera Klinger, Nadine Pickarski, Sashima Laebe, Marga Busse, Beate Mühlens-Scaramuzza. Benjamin Englich

Many Thanks to our generous sponsors:

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Cushman Foundation Universität Bonn Alexander von Humboldt Foundation The Grzybowski Foundation RWE-Dea

Celka Fema Springer Stadt Bonn The Micropaleontological Society UCMP

Copyright and scientific content of the contributions are the responsibility of the individual authors Printed by Bayleydruck GmbH, Bonn Cover: Dorothea Kranz, Steinmann Institut, Universität Bonn Editor: Organizing Committee in Bonn


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International Symposium on Foraminifera, September 5-10, 2010 - Bonn

Dear friends and colleagues, On behalf of the entire organizing committee in Bonn, let me bid you a hearty Willkommen in Deutschland! This is the first FORAMS conference in Germany, and we are delighted that the world's micropaleontologists and foraminiferologists will be coming together in our fair city of Bonn. The International Symposium on Foraminifera FORAMS 2010 continues the tradition of the highly successful meetings previously held in Halifax (Benthos'75), Pau (Benthos'81), Geneva (Benthos'86), Sendai (Benthos'90), Berkeley (Forams'94), Monterrey (Forams'98), Perth (Forams 2002) and Natal (Forams, 2006). During the last Forams 2006 in Brazil, the general assembly decided to hold the next meeting, Forams 2010, in Bonn, Germany. We see it as a lively and productive scientific conference, an integrative and interactive meeting where cutting‐edge ideas and results are exchanged, discussed and analyzed, as well as a historical event. For the past 18 months, I have had the privilege and pleasure of collaborating with micropaleontologists from all corners of the globe in preparation for this congress. These leading scientists work on such a wealth and breadth of research that I am dazzled and amazed every time I take a look into the symposium program. Altogether, almost 200 oral and 200 poster contributions will be presented by about 350 participants from more than 40 countries. The various presentations of FORAMS 2010 will cover aspects of foraminiferal biology, paleontology, stratigraphy, biogeography, molecular biology and ecology, industrial and applied micropaleontology, oceanography and paleoceanography, paleoclimatology, systematics, and evolutionary studies. The program also includes plenary lectures, and technical and workshop sessions. Altogether the diverse program and multidisciplinary presentations of FORAMS 2010 demonstrate the wide range of current applications of the foraminiferal studies to the fields of earth and life sciences. While foraminiferology has become more biological and evolutionary, micropaleontology has become increasingly interdisciplinary as well, by gaining more precise and better predictive power on issues of climate, environment, diversity, energy reservoirs, and global change. The plethora of data accumulated over the last decades and the models they generate assume even greater significance in the face of global change and its consequences on the present‐day world. And while these developments seem to mean that the focus, methodology, and significance of foraminiferology and micropaleontology are growing farther and farther apart, in reality, we still have today – maybe even more than ever – a lot to say to each other, as well as a lot to learn from one another. We are in the midst of very exciting and dynamic times in micropaleontology and foraminiferology and we wish all congress participants a stimulating, fruitful, and enjoyable stay in Bonn. Martin Langer

Chair of FORAMS 2010


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FORAMS 2010 - Session Plan Session Title Convenor Time

LectureRoom

A-1 Biogeochemical Cycles and Foraminifera: proxy incorporation and interpretation

Paul Loubere, Jennifer Fehrenbacher

Monday 09:00– 12:00 9

A-2 Sea level reconstructions based on foraminifers

Gerhard Schmiedl, Yvonne Milker

Monday 09:00– 14:20 8

A-3

Experimental approaches in foraminiferal research: towards better understanding of both their biological features and sensitive proxy developments

Hiroshi Kitazato, Emmanuelle Geslin, Jelle Bijma, Petra Heinz, Joan Bernhard

Monday 09:00– 14:20 10

A-4 Stratigaphy and ecology of Cenozoic larger foraminifera

Willem Renema, Antonio Briguglio, Cesare Papazzoni, Györgi Less

Tuesday 09:00– 14:20 8

A-5 WoRMS Lukas Hottinger,

Bruce Hayward Monday

15:00– 17:30 10

A-6 Applied and Industrial Micropaleontology & Biostratigraphy

Gitte Laursen Monday 13:20– 15:00 9

B-1 Foraminifera as bio-indicators of anthropogenetic impact

Frans Jorissen, Elisabeth Alve, Sergey Korsun

Tuesday 09:00– 16:00 10

B-2 Foraminifera as indicators for paleoenvironmental, oceanographic and climatic changes within the Pleistocene and Holocene

Karen-Luise Knudsen, William E.N. Austin Tuesday

09:00– 16:00 9

B-3 Ontogenetic, taphonomic and diagenetic shell features: What stories can they tell?

Pamela Hallock, Michael Martinez-Colon

Wednesday 09:00– 12:00 8

B-4 Modern and fossil seep Foraminifera Joan Bernhard,

Anthony Rathburn, Giuliana Panieri

Wednesday 13:20– 15:40 8

C-1 Molecular, morphological and database approaches to Foram Phylogeny

Samuel Bowser, Jan Pawlowski, Jere Lipps, Steve Culver

Wednesday 09:00– 12:00 10

C-2 Planktic foraminiferal biogeochemistry, population dynamics and modeling in paleoceanography

Ralf Schiebel, Oliver Friedrich, Michal Kucera

Wednesday 09:00– 14:00 9

C-3 Biozonation by means of larger benthic foraminifera

Lukas Hottinger, Esmeralda Caus

Wednesday 13:20– 16:40 10

C-4 Denitrification, bacterial symbionts, and biochemical challenges to survive under hypoxia in sulfidic environments.

Thomas Cedhagen, Alexander Altenbach Wednesday

15:20– 16:40 9

C-5 Ecology, evolution & paleoenvironments of Foraminifera

Joachim Schönfeld Friday 09:00– 12:00 7

D-1 Ocean acidification & foraminifera: altered ecology & physiology in a high CO2 world

Joan Bernhard, Lennart de Nooijer

Friday 13:20– 14:40 7

D-2 Studies on Mesozoic and Paleozoic Foraminifera

Oliver Friedrich, Holger Forke

Friday 09:00– 15:00 8

D-3 Biogeography of Foraminifera Martin Langer, Susan Goldstein

Friday 09:00– 15:00 9

D-4 Mesozoic & Cenozoic planktonic foraminiferal evolutionary history and paleobiology: New insights and interpretations

Brian Huber, Maria Rose Petrizzo, Mark Leckie

Friday 09:00– 14:20 10


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General Timetable

Sunday, September 5, 2010 12:00 – 18:00 Registration and pick-up of registration materials 13:00 – 17:30 Uploading of Powerpoint presentations for Monday

18:00 Opening Ceremony in the Main Auditorium • Welcome from the Chair of FORAMS 2010, Martin Langer • Welcome from the Mayor of the City of Bonn, Angelica

Maria Kappel • Welcome from the University of Bonn

19:00 – 21:30 Icebreaker Party to be held directly following the Opening Ceremony

in the Main Auditorium (Aula) Monday, September 6, 2010

08:30 – 09:00 Keynote Lecture: Lennart de Nooijer Lecture Room 10 Foraminiferal biomineralization – new insights, new questions

Session A-1 Lecture Room 9 Session A-6

Lecture Room 9

Session A-2

Lecture Room 8

Session A-3

Lecture Room 10 09:00 – 17:30

Session A-5 Lecture Room 10

17:30 – 19:00 Poster Presentations in the Main Auditorium (Aula)

08:00 – 16:00 Registration and pick-up of registration materials 10:00 – 16:00 Uploading of Powerpoint presentations for Tuesday Tuesday, September 7, 2010

08:30 – 09:00 Keynote Lecture: David Haig Lecture Room 10 Untangling an Orogeny: Foraminiferal Calibration of Neogene Phases of Timor Collision

09:00 – 17:30 Session A-4

Lecture Room 8 Session B-1

Lecture Room 10 Session B-2

Lecture Room 9 17:30 – 19:00 Poster Presentations in the Main Auditorium (Aula) 19:00 – 21:30 Reception Sponsored by the Cushman Foundation

08:00 – 16:00 Registration and pick-up of registration materials 10:00 – 16:00 Uploading of Powerpoint presentations for Wednesday and Friday Wednesday, September 8, 2010

08:30 – 09:00 Keynote Lecture: Kate Darling and Mark Leckie: Bridging the benthic/planktic divide

Session B-3 Lecture Room 8

Session C-1 Lecture Room 10

Session C-2 Lecture Room 9

09:00 – 17:30 Session B-4

Lecture Room 8 Session C-3

Lecture Room 10 Session C-4

Lecture Room 9 17:30 – 19:00 Poster Presentations in the Main Auditorium (Aula)

08:00 – 16:00 Registration and pick-up of registration materials 10:00 – 16:00 Uploading of Powerpoint presentations for Friday


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Thursday, September 9, 2010

07:30 – 16:30

Field Trips and Guided City Tours

17:30 – 22:00

Rhine River Cruise and Congress Dinner

Friday, September 10, 2010

08:30 – 09:00 Keynote Lecture: Frans Jorissen Lecture Room 10 Foraminifera and pollution monitoring - Room for improvement Session C-5

Lecture Room 7 Session D-2



Lecture Room 10 Poster Presentations in the Main Auditorium (Aula) 09:00 – 15:00

Session D-1 Lecture Room 7




15:30 – 17:30 Best Poster Awards Voting for Next FORAMS Congress Lecture Room 10 Closing Ceremony

Group Meetings - Workshops Group

Meeting Title Room Convenors

M-1 Meeting of the Working Group on Oligocene Planktonic Foraminifera September 3 – 5, 2010 10:30 – 16:00

Goldfuss Museum

Paleontology Building

Bridget Wade Michal Kucera

M-2 Cult FADE Meeting: Culturing of Foraminifera to Avoid Duplication of Effort September 7, 2010 15:20 – 16:30

Lecture Room 7

Joan Bernhard Helena Filipsson Lennart de Nooijer

M-3 Working Group on Foraminiferal Classification September 8, 2010 15:20 – 16:30

Lecture Room 7

Michael Kaminski

M4 Mesozoic Planktonic Foraminiferal Working Group Meeting September 11-12, 2010 10:30 – 16:00

Goldfuss Museum

Paleontology Building

Maria Rose Petrizzo Brian Huber Mark Leckie

For location and rooms see attached maps


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Departure Times for the Pre- and Mid-Congress Field trips Departure point for all field trips is the bus parking lot at the SW corner of the Hofgarten (the campus lawn outside the Main University Bulding, see attached map). Meeting Point for the Guided City Tours through Bonn and Cologne (Field Trip No. 7 and 8) is the Main Entrance to the conference building (see attached map).

Pre-Conference Field Trips Departure

Time Field

Trip No. Field Trip

Sept. 4. 2010 7:30am 1

Evolution of a Cretaceous epicontinental sea: from lacustrine via pelagic to turbiditic environments (2 days, Sept. 4 - 5, 2010)

Field Trip leaders: Jörg Mutterlose and Martin Hiss

Sept. 3. 2010 7:30am 2

North Sea Intertidal Environments (3 days, Sept. 3 - 5, 2010) Field Trip leader: Dr. Joachim Schönfeld (IFM Geomar)

Mid-Conference Field Trips Departure

Time Field

Trip No. Field Trip

Sept. 9. 2010 7:00am 3 Maastricht type locality quarry and Geulhemmerberg caves

Field Trip leaders: John Jagt and Rudy Dortangs Sept. 9. 2010

8:30am

4 Hambach open-cast mine: The Neogene and Pleistocene of the

Lower Rhine Basin Field Trip leader: Georg Heumann

Sept. 9. 2010 7:30am

5 The famous Eocene Messel Quarry, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Field Trip leaders: Thorsten Wappler and Sonja Wegmann

Sept. 9. 2010 7:30am 6

The evolution of the Cenozoic Rhine Graben Rift System: Micropaleontological evidence

Field Trip leader: Jörg Pross

Sept. 9. 2010 10:00am 7

Cultural sights and highlights of the City of Bonn (Beethoven House etc.)

City Tour Guide:

Sept. 9. 2010 8:30am 8

Cultural sights and highlights of the City of Cologne (Cathedral of Cologne and a visit of a beer brewery)

City Tour Guide:


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City Map of Bonn

City Map of Bonn with meeting points for Field Trips, the Rhine River cruise and location of the Goldfuß Museum of Paleontology in the Steinmann Institut.


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Notes


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Program and Schedule


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Monday, September 6, 2010 Lecture Room 9

Session A1: Biogeochemical cycles and foraminifera: proxy incorporation and interpretation

Convenors: Paul Loubere, Jennifer Fehrenbacher

09:00 Aurelie Goineau, Christophe Fontanier, Frans J. Jorissen, Roselyne Buscail, Philippe Kerhervé, Audrey Pruski, Cécile Cathalot, Christophe Rabouille: Temporal dynamics of live (stained) benthic foraminiferal faunas in a river-dominated shelf: assessing the impact of the Rhône River in the prodelta (Gulf of Lions, NW Mediterranean)

09:20 Paul Loubere, Dorthe Klitgaard-Kristensen, Patrycja Jernas, Katrine Husum: The seabed habitat mosaic: Setting the benthic foraminiferal paleogeochemical record

09:40 Margarita Marchant, Humberto E. González, Nathalie Gajardo, Dharma Reyes: Planktic foraminifera during the Lohafex Iron-Fertilization experiment in the S-W Antarctic Circumpolar Current

10:00 – 10:20 Coffee break

10:20 Nina Keul, Lennart de Nooijer, Gerald Langer, Jelle Bijma: Vesicle Dynamics In Foraminifera

10:40 Elisabeth Michel, H. Howa, T. Kuhnt, F. Lombard, F. Dewilde, S. Schmidt, S. Retailleau, R. Schiebel, E. Cortijo, L. Labeyrie: Foraminifera from the Bay of Biscay: δ18O variations in sediment trap and surface sediments

11:00 Marcus Regenberg, Anke Dürkop, Dieter Garbe-Schönberg: Mg/Ca ratios of planktonic foraminifera as a proxy for calcite-saturation states of bottom waters

11.20 Stephen J. Gallagher, Malcolm W. Wallace, Li Qianyu, Giulina Villa, Russell Drysdale: Southern high latitude foraminiferal and facies evidence for Oligocene glacial events

11.40 Heather Birch, Helen Coxall, Paul Pearson, Daniela Schmidt: Planktonic foraminifera ecology and carbon system recovery after the end Cretaceous mass extinction

12:00 – 13:20 Lunch Break


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Monday, September 6, 2010 Main Auditorium (Aula)

Poster Presentations (Session A1) Posters for this session will be presented from Sunday, September 5, to Tuesday, September 7. Numbers refer to poster board numbers.

1 Regina Lucia Bruno, Altair Jesus Machado, Tânia Fonseca Araújo: Foraminiferal distribution in the Platform of Ilheus, Bahia, Brazil, based on measurement of the rates of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and organic matter

2 Pauline Duros, Christophe Fontanier, Edouard Metzger, Frans Jorissen, Antonio Pusceddu, Florian Cesbron, Roberto Danovaro, Henko de Stigter: Live benthic foraminifera in the Whittard Canyon (NE Atlantic)

3 Patrycja Jernas, Dorthe Klitgaard-Kristensen, Nalan Koc, Vigdis Tverber: Response of recent Arctic benthic foraminifera to inflow of warm Atlantic water; evidence from annual sampling in a glacial fjord, Svalbard

4 Alessandra Asioli, Leonardo Langone: “Living” (CTG vs Rose Bengal) benthic foraminifera distribution in Western Ross Sea (Antarctica)

5 Jorge Cardich, Dimitri Gutiérrez, María Morales, Edgardo Enríquez, Luis Quipuzcoa, Juana Solís, Robert Marquina, Abdelfettah Sifeddine: Spatial variation of living benthic foraminifera from the shelf off Callao (12 ºS), Peru

6 Anupam Gosh, Pratul Kumar Saraswati, Kanchan Pande, L. S. Mombasawala: Magnesium and strontium composition of benthic foraminifera Ammonia and Haynesina: relationship with temperature and salinity of sea-Water

7 Antje Funcke, Lennart de Nooijer, Nina Keul, Jelle Bijma: Impact of Mg/Ca ratios on the calcification of the benthic Foraminifer Ammonia tepida

8 Gerald Langer, Nina Keul, Lennart J. De Nooijer, Gert-Jan Reichart, Jelle Bijma: Strontium partitioning in Ammonia tepida

9 Anna Sabbatini, Franck Bassinot, Soumaya Bousseta, Hélène Rebaubier, Caterina Morigi, Alessandra Negri: Planktonic foraminiferal Mg/Ca-thermometry in the Mediterranean Sea: Assessing the influence of salinity and diagenetic Mg-rich calcite

10 Nikolaus Gussone, Helena L. Filipsson, Henning Kuhnert: Ca-isotopes in benthic foraminifers: environmental controls and influences of test-mineralogy

11 Carine M. Almeida, Cátia F. Barbosa, Renato C. Cordiero, José Carlos S. Seoane, Gerson M. Fermino, Patricia O. Silva, Nina M. Bilton, Bruno J. Turcq: Benthic foraminifera and paleoecological evolution of the carbonate shelf of Abrolhos, Brazil

12 Carine M. Almeida, Nina M. Bilton, Jorge C. Cardich, Maria C. Morales, Catia F. Barbosa, Renato Salvatteci, Dimitri Gutierrez, Abdelfettah Sifeddine: Paleoredox conditions during the last 500 years inferred by benthic foraminifera in Laminated Sediments from the Central Peruvian Continental Slope


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Poster Presentations (Session A1) (continued) Posters for this session will be presented from Sunday, September 5, to Tuesday, September 7. Numbers refer to poster board numbers.

13 David B. Scott, Trecia Schell, Guillaume St-Onge, Andre Rochon, Steve Blasco: Foraminiferal assemblage changes over the last 15,000 years on the Beaufort Shelf: Implications for past sea ice conditions

14 Antje H. L. Voelker, Pamela Martin, Susana M. Lebreiro: Mediterranean outflow water activity on the Western Iberian Margin: evidence from a benthic foraminifer trace element study

15 Claudius Pirkenseer, Etienne Steurbaut, Robert Speijer: The evolution of Early Ypresian microfossil assemblages and stable isotopes during a distinct plankton peak in the Corbières (Aude, France) continental margin record

16 Thomas Westerhold, Ursula Röhl, Barbara Donner, Heather McCarren, James Zachos: A complete high-resolution Paleocene benthic stable isotope record for the Central Pacific (ODP Site 1209)

17 Emília Salgueiro, Pamela Martin, Antje Voelker, C. N. Prabhu, Fátima Abrantes: MIS 11c and Holocene temperature on the Portuguese Margin as revealed by Mg/Ca and oxygen stable isotopes


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Session A2: Sea level reconstructions based on foraminifera

Convenors: Gerhard Schmiedl, Yvonne Milker

09:00 Ane García-Artola, Alejandro Cearreta, Eduardo Leorri: Recent sea-Level changes in the southern Bay of Biscay (N Spain): Application of a foraminifera-based transfer function to the saltmarsh sedimentary record

09:20 Hugh R Grenfell, Bruce W. Hayward, Ashwaq Sabaa, Jon Kay: A dissolution-based foraminiferal proxy for low tide

09:40 Yvonne Milker, Gerhard Schmiedl, Christian Betzler: Sea-level change in the western Mediterranean Sea during the past 12.4 kyr: Quantitative reconstructions based on foraminiferal transfer functions


10:20 Nina V. Joseph, Jürgen Titschack, Gerhard Schmiedl, André Freiwald: Bathymetric reconstruction of a Middle Pleistocene section on Rhodes (Greece)

10:40 Oliver Friedrich, Clara T. Bolton, Christopher Beer, Paul A. Wilson, Ralf Schiebel: Millennial-Scale changes in ice volume, sea level and North Atlantic SST during MIS 100 (Latest Pliocene)

11:00 Ulrich Kotthoff, Miriam E. Katz, Francine M. G. McCarthy: Foraminifer- and palynology-based reconstructions of site-shoreline distance, sea-level, and ecosystems: New data from the New Jersey Shallow Shelf (IODP Expedition 313)

11:20 José Noel Pérez Asensio, Julio Aguirre, Jorge Civis, Gerhard Schmiedl: Sea-Level reconstruction based on foraminifera: A case study from the Late Neogene in the Guadalquivir Basin (SW Spain)

11:40 Flavia Fiorini: Foraminifera and thecamoebians from Miocene mangrove environment of Colombia


13:20 Aristóteles M. Rios-Netto, Isabella L. Antunes, David Bentes, Carlos J. Abreu: Foraminiferal analyses, sea-level fluctuations and depositional dynamics of a modern deep-water lobe complex in Campos Basin

13:40 F. Kechid-Benkherouf: Preliminary data on the events of the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary in Atlasic and Tellian Domains (Algeria) from a comparative study on foraminifera assemblages

14.00 Missoum Herkat: Application of correspondence analysis to the palaeobathymetric reconstruction of Pliocene series of the Sahel (North Algeria)



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18 Eric Armynot du Châtelet, Philippe Recourt, Alain Trentesaux: Foraminifera and testate amoebae, micropalaeontological tools for past reconstruction; application on a 15th century wreck history reconstruction

19 Regina Lucia Bruno, Claudia Gutterres Vilela, José Antônio Baptista-Neto: Benthic foraminiferal assemblage in sediment facies in cores drilled at the Maricá Lagoon

20 Letizia Di Bella, Piero Bellotti: Late Pleistocene-Holocene sea level changes as recorded by foraminiferal assemblages in the Tyrrhenian continental shelf off the Tiber delta (Central Italy).

21 Sibelle Trevisan Disaró, Leonardo Zagonel Serafini, Rodrigo Aluizio: Vertical and horizontal distribution of foraminifera at Pereque Mangrove (Parana, Brazil)

22 Zofia Dubicka, Danuta Peryt: Foraminiferal biostratigraphy and sea level curve for the Maastrichtian strata of the Lublin Lviv Syncline (SE Poland and West Ukraine)

23 Kazuhiko Fujita, Akitoshi Omori, Yusuke Yokoyama, Saburo Sakai, Yasufumi Iryu: Sea-level rise during Termination II inferred from large benthic foraminifers: IODP Expedition 310, Tahiti Sea Level

24 Bruce Jaffe, Mary McGann, Mark Buckley, Steven Watt, Brian Atwater, Uri ten Brink: Possible paleo-tsunami deposits in Northwestern Puerto Rico

25 Christopher Lowery, Mark R. Leckie, Emily Browning, Cedric John: Revised biostratigraphy for ODP Leg 194, Marion Plateau, NE Australia: Dating and timing of sea level events

26 Blanca Martínez García, Ana Pascual, Julio Rodríguez-Lázaro: Benthic foraminifers indicative of Quaternary water masses in the Basque Shelf (S Bay of Biscay)

27 Durdica Pezelj, Oleg Mandic, Jasenka Sremac: Paleoenvironmental dynamics in Southern Pannonian Basin during Middle Miocene marine flooding

28 Mathieu Richaud: Foraminiferal paleobathymetry and biofacies analysis at the Pleistocene-Pliocene boundary, Canterbury Basin continental shelf, New Zealand. Preliminary results from IODP Exp. 317

29 David B. Scott, Jere H. Lipps, Thomas E. Duffett: Catching an earthquake in progress: the January 9, 2010, 6.5 earthquake in Northern California

30 Robert P. Speijer, Tanja J. Kouwenhoven, Thi Minh Phuong Nguyen: Opportunities and pitfalls of the use of planktic/benthic ratios in paleodepth reconstructions

31 Donata Violanti, Elisa Bernardi, Francesca Lozar, Francesco Dela Pierre, Pierangelo Clari: Foraminiferal assemblages and paleoenvironmental reconstruction in the Messinian of Tertiary Piedmont Basin (Northwestern Italy)


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Session A3: Experimental approaches in foraminiferal research: towards better understanding both their biological features and sensitive proxy developments

Convenors: Hiroshi Kitazato, Emmanuelle Geslin, Jelle Bijma, Petra Heinz, Joan Bernhard

09.00 Annekatrin J. Enge, Hidetaka Nomaki, Nanako O. Ogawa, Ursula Witte, Markus M. Moeseneder, Gaute Lavik, Naohiko Ohkuchi, Hiroshi Kitazato, Petra Heinz, Michal Kucera: Diversity and short-term processing of phytodetritus by benthic foraminifera in the abyssal NE Pacific

09:20 Hidetaka Nomaki, Takashi Toyofuku, Lennart J. de Nooijer, Hisami Suga, Hiroshi Kitazato: Onboard and in situ incubation experiments for understanding deep-sea benthic foraminiferal ecologies

09:40 Tim Haarmann, Ed C. Hathorne, Jeroen Groeneveld, Mahyar Mohtadi, Torsten Bickert: Seasonality of surface and thermocline seawater recorded by Mg/ca in single specimens of planktonic foraminifera


10:20 Helena L. Filipsson, Joan M Bernhard, Sara A. Lincoln, Daniel C. McCorkle: δ18O and Mg/Ca results from a multi-temperature culture study of benthic foraminifera

10:40 Takashi Toyofuku, Lennart de Nooijer, Hidetaka Nomaki, Masashi Tsuchiya, Hiroshi Kitazato: 2-D pH observation on foraminiferal cell under stable environmental condition

11:00 Jutta Wollenburg, Ralf Tiedemann: Novel autoclave aquaria facilitates high-pressure culture experiments on deep-sea benthic foraminifera

11:20 Emmanuelle Geslin, Nils Risgaard-Petersen, Fabien Lombard, Dewi Langlet, Edouard Metzger, Frans Jorissen: Oxygen respiration rates of benthic foraminifera measured under laboratory conditions using oxygen microelectrodes

11:40 Christiane Schmidt, Nikolas Vogel, Michal Kucera, Petra Heinz, Sven Uthicke: Physiological effects of temperature stress on selected larger benthic Foraminifera

12:00 – 13:20 Lunch break

13:20 Jarosław Tyszka, Samuel S. Bowser, Jeffray L. Travis, Paweł Topa: Self-organization of foraminiferal morphogenesis

13:40 Thi Minh Phuong Nguyen, Maria Rose Petrizzo, Peter Stassen, Robert Pieter Speijer: Experiments on differential dissolution susceptibility of Paleocene-Eocene planktic foraminifera from the North Pacific Ocean (Allison Guyot, ODP Site 865 and Shatsky Rise, ODP Sites 1209, 1210 and 1212)

14.00 Nicoletta Mancin, Elena Basso, Camilla Pirini: Multi-proxy analysis on Neogene specimens of Colominella Popescu, 1998 (Agglutinated Foraminifera): Shell architecture, wall microstructure and test chemical-mineralogical characterization


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32 Adriana Borcic, Danijela Bogner, Sinisa Popadic: Using artificial neural networks (ANN) and Self Organizing Maps (SOM) for better understanding of recent benthic foraminifera distribution

33 Chiara Borrelli, Anna Sabbatini, Gian Marco Luna, Roberto Danovaro, Alessandra Negri: Determination of the metabolically active fraction of benthic foraminifera by means of Fluorescent in situ Hybridization (FISH)

34 Carles Ferràndez-Cañadell: Multispiral growth in Nummulites

35 Roman A. Marten, Linshy Valiyparambil Nanappan, Timo Haap, Emmanuelle Geslin, Heinz R. Köhler, Petra Heinz: Total protein and 70 kD stress protein (Hsp70) analysis in living shallow-water benthic foraminifera

36 Hiroshi Kitazato, Hidetaka Nomaki, Takashi Toyofuku: Feeding strategies among deep-sea benthic foraminifera: Evidences from TEM observations and in-situ experiments for modern deep-sea foraminifera

37 Azumi Kuroyanagi, Regine E. da Rocha, Jelle Bijma, Howard Spero, Ann D. Russell, Stephen Eggins, Steve Doo, Hodaka Kawahata: Effect of dissolved oxygen concentration on planktonic foraminifera: Results from laboratory experiments

38 Nicoletta Mancin, Iacopo Trattenero: Deep-sea benthic foraminiferal response to Pleistocene climate changes in the SW Pacific (New Zealand): controlling factors revealed by multivariate analysis

39 Marianna Musco, Angela Cuttitta, Sergio Bonomo, Antonio Mazzola, Salvatrice Vizzini, Luca Saporito, Enza Quinci, Salvo Mazzola: Morphometric analysis of the shells of the genus Bolivina of the Gulf of Gela (Sicilian Channel, Italy): a valid classification instrument?

40 Maria P. Nardelli, Anna Sabbatini, Alessandra Negri: How do heavy metals influence Foraminifera biology? Evidences from experimental contamination

41 Loic Pillet, Jan Pawlowski: Molecular characterization of kleptoplastidy in foraminifera

42 Stefanie Schumacher, Frans J. Jorissen, Andreas Mackensen, Andrew J. Gooday: Ontogenetic effects on stable isotopes in tests of live (Rose Bengal stained) benthic foraminifera from the Pakistan continental margin

43 Laura Wegener Parfrey: Genome dynamics are influenced by food source in Allogromia laticollaris strain CSH (foraminifera)


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Tuesday, September 7, 2010 Lecture Room 8

Session A4: Stratigraphy and Ecology of Cenozoic larger benthic foraminifera

Convenors: Willem Renema, Antonio Briguglio, Cesare Papazzoni, Györgi Less

09:00 Elena Yurievna Zakrevskaya: New data about nummulitids and orthophragmines in Black Sea Lowland and Platformian Ukraine

09:20 Less, György, Ercan Özcan: Larger foraminferal biostratigraphy of the Paleogene of the Thrace Basin (NW Turkey)

09:40 Marcelle BouDagher-Fadel: Evolution and paleogeographic distribution of the Lepidocyclinids


10:20 Laura J. Cotton, Paul N. Pearson, Paul Wright: Nummulite safari: Extinction of larger benthic foraminifera across the Eocene-Oligocene transition, Kilwa district, Tanzania.

10:40 Ercan Özcan, György Less: Late Rupelian To Burdigalian Larger Foraminifera In Turkey: The Appraisal Of New Taxonomic, Biometric And Biostratigraphic Data

11:00 Willem Renema: The dynamic past of biodiversity: the foraminiferal genus Cycloclypeus as an example

11:20 Vlasta Ćosović, Alan Moro, Katica Drobne, Jelena Vidović: Borings in the Eocene Orthophragminids, Stratigraphic and/or paleocologic features?

11:40 Cesare A. Papazzoni: Taphonomic index and transportation in nummulite banks and in nummulitic limestones


13:20 Mona Seddighi, Cesare A. Papazzoni: Preliminary quantitative data on a Middle Eocene Nummulites lyelli-dominated bank from Pederiva di Grancona (Veneto, Northern Italy): implications for the paleoenvironmental reconstruction

13.40 Dalila Zaghbib-Turki, Lamia Zili: P/E warming impact on the benthic foraminifera in the Tethyan and north-eastern Atlantic realms

14:00 Pratul Kumar Saraswati: Stable Isotopic composition of modern larger foraminifera and its connotation as palaebiological proxy

cancelledcancelled


10

Tuesday, September 7, 2010 Main Auditorium (Aula)


44 Antonino Briguglio, Johann Hohenegger: The shape entropy parameter: A geometric tool to approach larger foraminifera accumulation.

45 Kourosh Haddadi Moghadam, Mahmoud Tavakolo, Zabiholah Pajand: Study of food composition of persian sturgeons (Acipenser Persicus Bordin,1987) in southern part of Caspian Sea(Iranian Water) under 10 m depth

46 Stefan Hoentzsch, Christian Scheibner, Jochen Kuss: Larger benthic foraminifera in the Early Eocene hothouse and their impact to tectonic and climatic perturbations – a case study from Egypt

47 György Less, Ercan Özcan: Late Paleogene larger foraminiferal events in the Western Tethys

48 Giovanni Accordi, Federico Carbone, Massimo Di Carlo, Ruggero Matteucci, Johannes Pignatti, Antonio Russo: Biostratigraphy and facies analysis of the Jatibungkus olistolith (Central Java)

49 D. Evans, W. Müller, Willem Renema: Evaluating intratest compositional variability in Nummulites: Palaeoceanic proxies and seasonality from the Eocene

50 Guillem Mateu-Vicens, Lluís Pomar, Carles Ferràndez-Cañadell: Internal waves as a mechanism to produce nummulitic banks. An example from the Upper Lutetian of the Ainsa Basin (South Central Pyrenean Zone)


11


A5 Session WoRMS: FORAMS in the Internet

Convenors: Lukas Hottinger and Bruce Hayward

15:00 Kenneth L. Finger: Galapagos Islands — an Enigmatic Hotspot of Foraminiferal Diversity?

15:20 Jere H. Lipps, Kenneth L. Finger: How many foraminifera are there?

15:40 Johannes Pignatti, Andrea Benedetti, Massimo Di Carlo, Giovanni Gerbasi, Maria Cristina Succi: Fathoming the diversity of foraminifers: How many species are there?

16:00 WoRMS: Introductory Remarks by Bruce Hayward and Lukas Hottinger

16:20 – 17:30 Open Discussion Main Auditorium (Aula)


51 Michael Hesemann: Concept for a foraminiferal database


12


Session A6: Applied and Industrial Micropaleontology/Biostratigraphy

Convenors: Gitte Laursen

13:20 Geraint Wyn Hughes, Saleh Enezy, Samir Rashid: Using foraminifera to biosteer the Upper Permian Khuff reservoirs in Saudi Arabia

13:40 Robert Wynn Jones: Functional morphology of agglutinating foraminifera – 25 years of progress

14:00 Walid A. Makled, Martin R. Langer: Micropaleontological and palynological analysis of Neogene to Quaternary sediments from the Nile Delta, Egypt

14:20 Jahanbakhsh Daneshian, Hakimeh Khalaj: Foraminiferal biostratigaphy of the Qom Formation at Kuh - E - Bichareh Section in Central Iran Basin, Iran

New 14:40 Vlasta Premec Fucek, Paul N. Pearson, Morana Hernitz Kucenjak: The biostratigraphy

and stable isotope paleoecology of the late Middle Eocene planktonic foraminifera (North Adriatic Sea, Croatia)

Main Auditorium (Aula)


52 Michael A. Kaminski, Claudia G. Cetean: A catalogue of agglutinated foraminiferal genera.

53 Rodrigo Portilho Ramos, Cátia Fernandes Barbosa: Late Neogene bioestratigraphy of Southwestern Atlantic based on planktonic foraminifera

54 Andrew Fraass, Mark Leckie: Revised Oligocene Planktic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and Taxonomy of Hole 803D (Ontong Java Plateau) and Hole 628A (Little Bahama Bank).

55 Thomas A. Ronge, Jens Thissen, Martin R. Langer: Biostratigraphic challenges in offshore wells from the Dunlin Group, North Sea

56 Khalid Mahmood Ismael Sharbazheri, Polla Azad Khanaqa, Kamal Haji Karim: Biostratigraphy of bluish marl succession (Maastrichtian) in Sulaimanyia, Area, Kurdistan Region NE- Iraq

57 Jens M. Thissen, Thomas Ronge, Martin R. Langer: Long-term quality, preservation and artefacts in microfaunal samples from the North Sea Gullfaks field

58 Ghanem, H., Mouty, M. & J. Kuss: Chemo- and biostratigraphic studies of the uppermost Aptian to Late Cenomanian strata of the Southern Palmyrids

59 Geraint Wyn Hughes, Saleh Enezy, Samir Rashid: Using foraminifera to biosteer the Upper Permian Khuff reservoirs in Saudi Arabia

60 Vahid Ahmadi, Asma Motaharian: Biostratigraphy sequence of Asmari Formation in South-East Shiraz (Iran)

61 Claudia G. Cetean, Michael A. Kaminski: The Southern Atlantic – a refuge for Paleocene-Eocene cosmopolitan deep-water agglutinated foraminifera? The highly diverse agglutinated assemblages from the Oligocene of the Congo Submarine Fan, offshore Angola


13


Session B1: Foraminifera as bioindicators of anthropogenic impact

Convenors: Frans Jorissen, Elisabeth Alve, Sergei Korsun

09.00 Ruthie Nina Arieli, Ahuva Almogi-Labin, Sigal Abramovich, Barak Herut: The impact of thermal pollution on benthic foraminifera in the SE Mediterranean shore (Israel)

09.20 Elisabeth Alve, Jane K.L. Dolven: Defining “reference” conditions: monitoring inner Oslofjord, Norway

09:40 Maria Virginia A. Martins, Eduardo Ferreira da Silva, Cintia Yamashita, Silvia Sousa, João Manuel Alveirinho Dias, Rubens Figueira, Michel Mahiques: Assessment of metal contamination on benthic foraminifera assemblages of Ria de Aveiro (N Portugal)


10:20 Eric Armynot du Châtelet, Kristina Gebhardt, Martin R. Langer: Coastal pollution monitoring: Foraminifera as tracers of environmental perturbation in the harbor of Boulogne-sur-Mer

10:40 Melissa Lobegeier, Eric Coburn, Marjorie Gombert, Matt Young, Holly Baker, Jessica Tonish: The effectiveness of foraminiferal assemblages as water quality indicators near pulp and paper mills in coastal Florida

11:00 Christine Barras, Emmanuelle Geslin, Frans Jorissen, Bruno Andral, Pierre Boissery: Benthic foraminifera as bio-indicators of coastal water quality in the Mediterranean Sea in relation to the implementation of the water framework directive

11.20 Marie-Thérèse Vénec-Peyré, Jere H. Lipps, Michele Weber, Annachiara Bartolini: Amoco Cadiz Oil Spill and Foraminifera Thirty Years Later

11:40 Vincent M.P. Bouchet, Elisabeth Alve, Brage Rygg, Richard J. Telford, Nina Reuss: Determining ecological quality status of coastal waters using benthic foraminifera: Calibration with benthic macrofauna


13:20 Kazuhiko Fujita, Yoko Osawa, Yu Umezawa, Hajime Kayanne, Yoichi Ide, Tishihiro Miyajima, Hiroya Yamano: Human impacts on large benthic foraminifers near a densely populated area of Pacific atoll islands

13:40 Silvia Hess, Elisabeth Alve, Brage Rygg, Richard J. Telford: Monitoring Benthic Community Recovery In The Oslofjord: Responses To Capping And Re-Oxygenation

14:00 Mary McGann: 1998 Sediment contamination and foraminiferal study, Southern California, USA

14:20 Saad A. Mohamed, David B. Scott: Using prehistoric foraminiferal assemblages to assess remediation of Halifax Harbour after 250 years of degradation


14


Session B1: Foraminifera as bioindicators of anthropogenic impact (continued)

14:40 Claire Reymond, George Roff, Sven Uthicke, Jian-xin Zhao, John Pandolfi: Historical ecology and modern biology of benthic foraminiferal communities from the inshore central Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia


15:20 Silvia Spezzaferri, Giordana Gennari, Stephan Margreth, Claudio Stalder, Gregory Pignat, Daniela Basso, Annalisa Caragnano, Loic Pillet: Human-Induced Euthrophication In The Tourism-Free Island Of Magoodhoo, Nilhande Atoll, Republic Of Maldives: Benthic Foraminiferal Evidence

15.40 Ramadan H. Abu-Zied, Rashad A. Bantan: Recent variability of benthic foraminifera in unpolluted sediments from the Shuaiba Lagoon, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia


15


Poster Presentations (Session B1) Posters for this session will be presented from Sunday, September 5, to Tuesday, September 7. Numbers refer to poster board numbers:

62 Erica Bicchi, Christine Barras, Mariéva Denoyelle, Meryem Mojtahid, Jacques Miné, Frans Jorissen: The impact of offshore drilling activities monitored by recent and subfossil assemblages of benthic foraminifera

63 Carla Buosi, Eric Armynot du Châtelet, Antonietta Cherchi: Distribution of recent benthic foraminifera in high energy environment from the Strait Of Bonifacio, Sardinia (Italy)

64 Carla Buosi, Anna Maria Porcu, Stefania Da Pelo, Antonietta Cherchi, Myriam Del Rio, Davide Mana, Felicina Trebini, Manuela Biondo: Benthic foraminiferal assemblages from three polluted areas in Southern Sardinia (Italy): A review.

65 Mariéva Denoyelle, Emmanuelle Geslin, François Galgani, Jacques Miné, Frans Jorissen: Innovative use of foraminifera in ecotoxicology: testing potential toxicity

66 Noortje Dijkstra, Juho Junttila, JoLynn Carroll, Morten Hald, Katrine Husum, Dorthe Klitgaard-Kristensen, Sergei Korsun: Benthic foraminiferal assemblages as indicators of anthropogenic activity in the SW Barents Sea

67 Elena Golikova, Sergei Korsun: Arctic benthic foraminiferal assemblages as a potential indicator of anthropogenic environmental impact

68 Jennifer V Lasseigne, Nancy N Rabalais, Barun K Sen Gupta: Documenting the response of living benthic Foraminifera of the inner Louisiana continental shelf to seasonal changes in dissolved oxygen concentrations

69 Shai Oron, Gily Markado, Sigal Abramovich, Dror Angel, Beverly Goodman: Monitoring the benthic foraminiferal response to the removal of aquaculture fishcages in the Gulf of Aqaba-Eilat

70 André Rosch Rodrigues, Teresa Lima Díaz, Beatriz Beck Eichler, Vivian Pellizari: Recent benthic foraminifera in a Brazilian subtropical coastal environment (Flamengo Inlet, Ubatuba, sp)

71 Luisa Bergamin, Elena Romano, Maria Cristina Succi, Giancarlo Pierfranceschi, Maria Gabriella Carboni: Benthic foraminifera to detect recent environmental changes and reference conditions in polluted marine sites: The case study of Taranto (southern Italy)

72 Silvia Hess, Elisabeth Alve, Hilde Cecilie Trannum: Effects of water-based drill cuttings vs physical burial on benthic foraminifera and macrofauna: a mesocosm experiment


16


Session B2: Foraminifera as indicators for paleoenvironmental, oceano-graphic and climatic changes within the Pleistocene and Holocene

Convenors: Karen-Luise Knudsen, William E.N. Austin

09:00 Sev Kender, Katrine Husum, Carlos Alvarez-Zarikian, Michael A. Kaminski: IODP Expedition 323 initial results: Bering Sea foraminiferal records of the past 4 Ma and implications for changes to deep and surface ocean palaeoecology

09:20 Martin P. Crundwell, George H. Scott, Lionel Carter, Timothy Naish: Competing polar and tropical influences on ocean climate: A Southwest Pacific perspective

09:40 Peter W. Hoiles, Stephen J. Gallagher, Akihisa Kitamura: Pleistocene to recent changes in the Indo-Pacific warm pool and its associated currents using selected benthic foraminiferal species as biogeographic markers


10:20 Evgenia Kandiano, Henning Bauch, Kirsten Fahl, Jan Helmke: Persistent seesaw SST-patterns between the Nordic seas and the adjacent North Atlantic during pronounced interglaciations

10:40 Emília Salgueiro, Lúcia De Abreu, Antje Voelker, C.N. Prabhu, Sandra Vaqueiro, Fátima Abrantes, Josette Duprat, Jean-Louis Turon: Temperature and productivity gradients within the Western Iberian upwelling system in response to glacial and Heinrich-Event climate forcing

11:00 Justin Parker, Eberhard Gischler: Biodiversity and assemblage changes of foraminifera from coral reef terraces, Late Pleistocene to Holocene, South Sinai

11:20 Zahra Karimi Mossadegh, Eberhard Gischler, Justin Parker, Wolfgang Oschmann: Modelling coral reef growth and extinction during the Late Pleistocene using foraminifera as palaeoenvironmental indicators

11:40 Wojciech Majewski: Holocene foraminiferal record from Firth of Tay, viewed from across the Antarctic Peninsula


13:20 Irina Polovodova, Kjell Nordberg, Helena Filipsson: High resolution foraminiferal stratigraphy and climatic variations over the last 2500 years: evidence from Gullmar Fjord and the Skagerrak-Kattegat Area of the North Sea.

13:40 William E. N. Austin, Alix G. Cage: Benthic foraminifera as palaeoenvironmental indicators of the last millennium

14:00 Claudia J. Schröder-Adams, Ron Boyd: Influence of sediment transport dynamics and ocean floor morphology on benthic foraminifera, offshore Fraser Island, Australia


17


Session B2: Foraminifera as indicators for paleoenvironmental, oceano-graphic and climatic changes within the Pleistocene and Holocene

(continued)

14:20 Jelena Vidović, Vlasta Ćosović, Mladen Juračić: Biotopes patterns based on distribution of recent benthic foraminifera in the eastern Adriatic Sea

14.40 Ulrike Fallet, Isla Castaneda, Craig Grove, Jens Zinke, Stefan Schouten, Geert-Jan Brummer: Paired 18O – Mg/Ca records from G. ruber, G. trilobus and N. dutertrei δ indicate a rapid recent warming of the Mozambique Channel, upstream of the Agulhas Current


15:20 Margit Simon, Petra Heinz, Hartmut Schulz, Marit Solveig Seidenkrantz, Michal Kucera: Diversity and ecology of deep-sea benthic foraminifera in the southern Baffin Bay

15:40 Clement Poirier, Evelyne Goubert, Eric Chaumillon: Foraminiferal record of climate and land use changes during the last centuries in Marennes-Oléron Bay (Atlantic Coast Of France)


18


Poster Presentations (Session B2) Posters for this session will be presented from Sunday, September 5, to Tuesday, September 7. Numbers refer to poster board numbers:

73 Geise S. Anjos-Zerfass, Francisco J. Sierro Sánchez, José A. Flores, Joan O. Grimalt: Biostratigraphy and climatic oscillations in the Late Quaternary of the Guyana Basin based on planktonic foraminifera

74 Jerome Bonnin, Pierre-Arnaud Desiage, Aurélie Penaud, Frédérique Eynaud: Reconstruction of paleoproductivity off the Moroccan margin across Termination I using benthic foraminiferal assemblages

75 Natalia Bubenshchikova, Dirk Nürnberg, Ralf Tiedemann, Lester Lembke-Jene: Intensity of the Okhotsk Sea oxygen minimum zone during the present and last interglacial periods inferred from benthic foraminifera

76 Sarita Camacho da Encarnação, Tomasz Bosko, Delminda Moura, Laura Pereira: Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Arade Estuary (south-western Portugal) based on different Foraminifera Categories of Marine Influence

77 Edmondo Camillo Jr., Felipe A. L. Toledo, Karen B. Costa, Juliana P. Quadros: Evidences of past oceanographic changes In the Western tropical South Atlantic based on planktonic foraminifera from Pernambuco-Para

78 Dorthe R. Erbs-Hansen, Karen Luise Knudsen: Holocene palaeoenvironment in the Skagerrak, Eastern North Atlantic: a study of foraminiferal abundance, stable isotopes and Mg/Ca ratios

79 Maria A. Godoi, M.A. Kaminski, R. Kilian, T. Hromic, L. Quezada: Some insights into the Holocene palaeoenvironmental changes in the region of the western entrance of the Strait of Magellan, Chile (53ºS)

80 Malcolm B. Hart, Deborah Wall-Palmer, Jodie K. Fisher, Christopher W. Smart: Recovery patterns of benthic foraminifera in environments subject to volcanoclastic sedimentation

81 Bruce W Hayward, Hugh Grenfell, Ashwaq T. Sabaa, Helen Neil, Martin A. Buzas: Recent New Zealand Deep-Water Benthic Foraminifera – A New Monograph

82 Scott Ishman, Eugene Domack, Amy Leventer, Stefanie Brachfeld: A Holocene paleoclimatic record from the Northern Antarctic Peninsula margin; Vega Drift, Antarctica

83 Liza Khomenko, Evgeny Gusev, Fedor Maksimov, Snezhana Levchenko: Benthic foraminifers from Central Arctic ocean bottom sediments

84 Karen-Luise Knudsen, Jón Eiríksson, Helga Bára Bartels-Jónsdóttir: Benthic and planktonic foraminifera used for the reconstruction of water mass changes through the last 1000 years off North Iceland

85 Frauke Kubischta, Karen-Luise Knudsen, Veli-Pekka Salonen, Antti E.K. Ojala: Late Quaternary foraminiferal assemblages as a tool to reconstruct the past arctic environments of Murchisonfjorden, Nordaustlandet, Svalbard


19


Poster Presentations (Session B2) (continued) Posters for this session will be presented from Sunday, September 5, to Tuesday, September 7. Numbers refer to poster board numbers:

86 Tanja Kuhnt, Oliver Friedrich, Jens O. Herrle, Gerhard Schmiedl: Relationship between pore-density within benthic foraminifera and oxygen concentration

87 Wojciech Majewski, Jan Pawlowski: Benthic foraminifera from Admiralty Bay, West Antarctica

88 Yvonne Milker, Gerhard Schmiedl, Christian Betzler, Nils Andersen, Marc Theodor: The early Holocene humid phase and its impact on shelf environments off Southwest Mallorca, western Mediterranean Sea

89 Renata H. Nagai, Poliana C. Andrade, Cristiano M. Chiessi, Márcia C. Bícego, Silvia H. M. Sousa, Michel M. Mahiques: Salinity changes on the Southeastern Brazilian shelf during the Holocene: impact of the La Plata River discharge

90 Roshni Narayan, John M. Pandolfi: Benthic foraminifera assemblages as Holocene to Recent environmental indicators in Moreton Bay, South-East Queensland, Australia

91 Yaroslav S. Ovsepyan, Ekaterina Taldenkova, Henning Bauch: Late Saalian–Early Eemian marine environments of the northeastern White Sea region inferred from fossil foraminifers

92 Ekaterina A. Ovsepyan, Elena V. Ivanova, Lars Max, Jan Riethdorf, Ralf Tiedemann, Dirk Nürnberg: Reconstruction of bottom water ventilation and export production based on benthic foraminiferal assemblages from the Shirshov Ridge (Bering Sea) during MIS1-2

93 Kerstin Perner, Matthias Moros, Jerry Lloyd, Marit Solveig Seidenkrantz, Karen Luise Knudsen, Antoon Kuijkers, Jan Harff: Late Holocene oceanographic changes reconstructed from benthic foraminifera in southern Disko Bugt, West Greenland

94 Danuta Peryt: Foraminiferal record of environmental changes preceding the Middle Miocene Badenian salinity crisis in central Paratethys

95 Anna Pint, Peter Frenzel: Occurrences of Holocene Haplophragmoides canariensis (D’ORBIGNY, 1839) (Haplophragmiina, Foraminifera) in Central Germany and its significance for the identification of athalassic sediments

96 Joanna Ewa Przytarska: Paleoenvironmental and paleoecological reconstructions of the marine condition during the last 13 750 cal yr B.P. in the European Arctic (Hornsund, Spitsbergen)

97 Luke Strotz, Briony Mamo, Kate Wilson, Catherine Chague-Goff, James Goff, Dale Dominey-Howes, Bruce Richmond, Mark Buckley, Samuel Etienne: Foraminiferal signature of the September 2009 South Pacific Tsunami

98 Samuel Guillermo Nuñez-Ricardo, Margarita Marchant, Raul Tapia, Bruce Hayward, Dierk Hebbeln: Deep-sea benthic foraminifers off Northern Chile during the last 1 myr


20


Poster Presentations (Session B2) (continued) Posters for this session will be presented from Sunday, September 5, to Tuesday, September 7. Numbers refer to poster board numbers:

99 Samuel Guillermo Nuñez-Ricardo, Margarita Marchant, Raul Tapia, Bruce Hayward, Dierk Hebbeln: Deep-sea benthic foraminifers off Southern Chile during the last 500.000 years

100 Cristina Ventura, Antje H. L. Voelker, Francisco Fatela: Benthic foraminifera assemblages as responses to climate variations during MIS 14 to 9 on the mid-depth Portuguese margin

101 Christopher W. Smart, Claire Waelbroeck, Elisabeth Michel, Alain Mazaud: Benthic foraminiferal abundance and stable isotope changes in the southeastern Indian Ocean during the last 20 kyr: palaeoceanographic implications

102 Maria Virgínia A. Martins, A. Mackensen, J. Alveirinho Dias, E. Ferreira da Silva, D. Rey, B. Rubio, F. Rocha: Sedimentation on the Galicia Bank Area, NW Iberian Atlantic Margin, controlled by climate change since the Late Pleistocene

103 Fabiana K. Almeida, Renata M. Mello, Francisco H. Oliveira Lima, Claudia G. Vilela, Alex C. Bastos: Biofacies of benthic foraminifera and chemostratigraphic parameters: an integrated study in Baía de Vitória, Southeastern Brazil.


21

Wednesday, September 8, 2010 Lecture Room 8

Session B3: Ontogenetic, taphonomic and diagenetic shell features: What stories can they tell?

Convenors: Pamela Hallock, Michael Martinez-Colon

09:00 Annachiara Bartolini, Silvia Gardin, Thierry Adatte, Eric Humler, Sophie Retailleau, Gerta Keller, Sunil Bajpai, Marie-Thérèse Vénec-Peyré: Symptoms of stress in the post K-T coastal ecosystem of Rajahmundry (SE India) in relationship with Deccan giant lava flows

09:20 Antonino Briguglio, Johann Hohenegger: Quantifying forams’ growth with high-resolution x-ray computed tomography: ontogeny, phylogeny and paleoceanographic applications

09:40 Martin Glas, Nina Keul, Lennart de Nooijer: The extra-cellular pH and Ca2+ microenvironment of the benthic foraminifera Ammonia tepida during growth (i.e. chamber formation events)


10:20 Pamela Hallock-Muller: Evidence for environmental stress in Amphistegina shells

10:40 Michael Martinez-Colon, Pamela Hallock: Observations of growth of Ammonia in elevated copper concentrations: Do heavy metals really cause shell deformities?

11.00 Martina de Freitas Prazeres, Samantha Eslava Martins, Adalto Bianchini: Assessment of Amphistegina lessonii on reef rubble habitats from coral communities at Fernando de Noronha (Northeastern Brazil)

11:20 Catia Fernandes Barbosa, Jose Carlos Sicoli Seoane, Beatrice Padovani Ferreira, Patricia Oliveira Silva, Ana Lidia Bertoldi Gaspar: Taphonomy and ecology of Amphistegina spp in coral reef health status

NEW 11:20 Mary McGann, Robert C. Vrijenhoek, Shannon Johnson, Julio Harvey, Charles K. Paull, William Ussler III, Lonny Lundsten: Foraminiferal response to whale falls in the northeastern Pacific Ocean

11:40 Riyad M. Mucadam: Using 3-D X-ray microcomputed tomography (X-ray MCT) to analyze the building blocks, design and probable mechanical function of a foraminiferal shell


cancelledcancelled


22

Wednesday, September 8, 2010 Main Auditorium (Aula)

Poster Presentations (Session B3) Posters for this session will be presented from Wednesday, September 8, to Friday, September 10. Numbers refer to poster board numbers:

104 Martin R. Langer, Walid A. Makled, Stephanie J. Pietsch, Anna Weinmann: Asynchronous calcification in juvenile megaloshperes: An ontogentic window into the life cycle and polymorphism of Peneroplis

105 Susan T. Goldstein: Foraminiferal ectobionts and the occurrence of aberrant Test morphologies

106 Heidi Crevison Souder, Pamela Hallock, Robert Byrne, Bryan McCloskey: Shell anomalies in a population of Archaias angulatus from Florida (USA) Sampled in 1982-83 and 2006-07

107 Katarína Holcová: Interpretation of postmortem transport and reworking of the Middle Miocene Foraminifera from the Carpathian Foredeep (Central Paratethys)

108 Sofie L. C. Jehle, Hartmut Schulz, Ulrich Blaha, Nathani Basavaiah, Petra Heinz, Michal Kucera: Response of benthic foraminifera test morphologies on heavy metal pollution in the harbour area of Mumbai, India

109 Martina de Freitas Prazeres, Samantha Eslava Martins, Adalto Bianchini: Symbiont-bearing foraminifers from Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

110 Anna Pint, Peter Frenzel: Test malformations in Holocene and Recent Foraminifera from athalassic and marginal marine environments

111 Maria Cristina Succi, Elena Romano, Luisa Bergamin, Maria Celia Magno, Maria Gabriella Carboni: Morphological abnormalities in benthic foraminifera from the highly anthropized Orbetello Lagoon (Tuscany, Italy)

112 Christian Haller, Ursula Leppig, Andreas Danilewsky: Selective choice of material in agglutinated foraminifera. Analysis and documentation by means of SEM and EDX of a sample from Mozambique


23


Session B4: Modern and fossil seep foraminifera

Convenors: Joan Bernhard, Anthony Rathburn, Giuliana Panieri

13:20 Subhadra Devi Gadi, Mushthak M.S, Rajashekhar K.P.: Foraminifera of Lakshadweep Archipelago, Arabian Sea

13:40 Ashley M. Burkett, Anthony E. Rathburn, Elena Perez, Lisa A. Levin, Greg W. Rouse, Victoria J. Orphan, Jonathan B. Martin, Brian Wrightsman: Comparisons of vertical distribution patterns of benthic foraminifera at sites of active methane seepage and adjacent non-seep sites off Costa Rica

14:00 Joan M. Bernhard, Jonathan B. Martin, Jason Curtis, Anthony E. Rathburn: Novel method combining carbonate carbon isotopic and cellular ultrastructural analysis of individual benthic foraminifera: assessing controls of apparent disequilibrium in hydrocarbon seeps

14:20 Jutta Wollenburg, Ralf Tiedemann: Initial results on methane seepage-emulating culture experiments on barophilic deep-sea foraminifera

14:40 Anthony E. Rathburn, Jonathan B. Martin, Jason D. Waggoner, Ronald D. Taylor, M. Elena Perez, Joan M. Bernhard: Distribution patterns and isotopic signatures of benthic foraminifera from methane seep clam beds: Using Rose Bengal and Celltracker Green to evaluate stable isotopic disequilibrium


15:20 Giuliana Panieri, Angelo Camerlenghi: Benthic foraminifera as proxy of methane emissions in the marine environment

Main Auditorium (Aula)

Poster Presentations (Session B4) Posters for this session will be presented from Wednesday, September 8, to Friday, September 10. Numbers refer to poster board numbers.

113 Joan M. Bernhard; Darin M. Lang, Zakary Bailey; Jonathan B. Martin; Anthony E. Rathburn: Life positions of foraminifera under hydrocarbon-seep bivalves: Do species exhibit submillimeter-scale stratification?


24


Session C1: Molecular, Morphological and Database Approaches to Foram Phylogeny

Convenors: Samuel Bowser, Jan Pawlowski, Jere Lipps, Steve Culver

9:00 Michal Kucera, Ralf Aurahs, Alexander Auch: Molecular phylogeny of planktonic foraminifera

9:20 Deniz Z. Altin-Ballero, Andrea Habura, Susan T. Goldstein: Phylogeny reconstruction of selected Clade e Allogromiid foraminifera using multiple genetic markers

9:40 Ralf Aurahs, Yvonne Treis, André Wizemann, Michal Kucera: The species concept in planktonic foraminifera in view of molecular genetics: the case of Globigerinoides ruber

10:00 – 10.20 Coffee Break

10:20 Johann Hohenegger: Classification, phylogenetic systematic and molecular genetics, different ways to the natural system of organisms

10:40 Maria Holzmann, Jan Pawlowski, Willem Renema: Symbiosis in larger foraminifera: a molecular approach

11:00 Jan Pawlowski, Béatrice Lecroq, Franck Lejzerowicz: Hidden diversity of early Foraminifera unveiled by environmental DNA surveys

11:20 Robert P. Speijer, Denis Van Loo, Veerle Cnudde, Patric Jacobs: Use of high-resolution X-ray CT in biometric and phylogenetic studies of foraminifera

11:40 Laura Wegener Parfrey, Jessica Grant, Laura A. Katz: Taxon rich approaches to elucidating the evolutionary history of eukaryotes

12:00 -13:20 Lunch Break

Main Auditorium (Aula) Poster Presentations (Session C1) Posters for this session will be presented from Wednesday, September 8, to Friday, September 10. Numbers refer to poster board numbers.

114 Jan Pawlowski, Maria Holzmann: Forams Barcoding Database

115 Roberto M. Sierra, Jan Pawlowski: Annotation of transcripts and comparative EST analysis from different foraminiferan species

116 Balázs Szinger, Emőke Tóth, Ágnes Görög, János Viszkok: Advantages and limits of Micro-CT application in foraminifera studies

117 Agnes K. M. Weiner, Ralf Aurahs, Michal Kucera: Molecular phylogeny of Hastigerina pelagica and Hastigerinella digitata and their phylogeography in the Mediterranean Sea

118 Samuel S. Bowser, Jadranka Loncarek, Susan T. Goldstein, Jeffrey L. Travis: Pseudopodia of Gromia and Allogromia: Sister organelles or long (Long) lost cousins?


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Session C2: Planktic foraminiferal biogeochemistry, population dynamics and modeling in paleoceanography

Convenors: Ralf Schiebel, Oliver Friedrich, Michal Kucera

9:00 Ralf Schiebel, Sophie Retailleau, Dewi Langlet, Hélène Howa: Planktic foraminiferal test size variation as a measure of ecologic conditions along an open offshore-onshore transect

9:20 Frédéric Quillévéré, Raphaël Morard, Colomban de Vargas, Christophe J. Douady, Yurika Ujiié, Thibault de Garidel-Thoron, Gilles Escarguel: Truncorotalia truncatulinoides and the value of direct morpho-genetic comparisons in planktonic foraminifera

09:90 Tanja Kuhnt, Hélène Howa, Ralf Schiebel, Sabine Schmidt, Louis Marie: Planktic foraminifer vertical fluxes versus lateral advection at a hemipelagic site of the inner Bay of Biscay (Northeast Atlantic margin)

10:00 – 10:20 Coffee Break

10:20 Daniela Hanslik: Central Arctic Ocean foraminiferal challenges

10:40 Raphaël Morard, Frédéric Quillévéré, Christophe J. Douady, Gilles Escarguel, Thibault de Garidel-Thoron, Colomban de Vargas: The allopatric distribution of Globoconella inflata cryptic species and its potential used for monitoring past movements of the Antarctic subpolar front

11:00 Els Ufkes, Dick Kroon: Changes in SE Atlantic watermass distribution and upwelling intensity during the last 1.1 Million years

11:20 Bridget Wade, Ann Holbourn, Hiroki Hayashi: Neogene foraminiferal assemblages from the Pacific equatorial age transect: IODP Sites U1337 And U1338

11:40 Anke Dürkop, Birgit Schneider: Modelling CaCO3 calcite dissolution kinetics


13:20 Eduardo A. M. Koutsoukos: Phenotypic plasticity, speciation, and phylogeny in early Danian planktonic foraminifera

13:40 Antje H. L. Voelker, Catarina Caveleiro, Andreia Rebotim, Pamela Martin: Mid-Brunhes surface water changes in the mid-latitude North Atlantic revealed by G. inflata trace element records


26


Poster Presentations (Session C2) Posters for this session will be presented from Wednesday, September 8, to Friday, September 10. Numbers refer to poster board numbers.

119 Oliver Friedrich, Ralf Schiebel, Syee Weldeab, Matthew Cooper, Paul A. Wilson: Effects of test size, water depth, and species ecology on the planktic foraminiferal Mg/Ca paleothermometer: Implications for paleoceanographic studies

120 Holger Gebhardt, Oliver Friedrich, Lyndsey Fox, Malcolm Hart, Bettina Schenk, Michael Wagreich: Paleoceanographic changes inferred from foraminiferal assemblages: The northern Tethyan margin during the Cenomanian-Turonian oceanic anoxic event (OAE-2)

121 Katrine Husum, Morten Hald, Anne Burhol: Fine tuning high latitude sea surface temperature reconstructions: new modern training sets of planktic foraminifera

122 Lea D. Numberger, Michal Kucera, Hartmut Schulz: Eastern Mediterranean planktonic foraminifera assemblage dynamics during MIS 11

123 Maria N. Ovechkina, Marina E. Bylinskaya, Ron Uken: Planktonic Foraminifera in surface sediments from the Thukela Shelf, South Africa

124 Andreia Seia Rebotim, Antje H. Volker, Joanna Waniek: Planktonic foraminifera as indicators of water masses north and south of the Azores Front/Current: Evidence from abundance and stable isotopes data

125 Marcus Regenberg: Glacial-interglacial changes in lysocline depth as revealed by planktonic foraminiferal Mg/Ca ratios

126 Linda Rossignol, Thibaut Caley, Damien Gil, Frédérique Eynaud, Nicolas Caillon, Angéline Ragougneau, Alexandre Torneberg: Biometric analysis on planktonic foraminifera: application to the sediments of the Southern Indian Ocean

127 Sophie Retailleau, Fréderique Eynaud, Hélène Howa, Yannick Mary, Ralf Schiebel: Neritic planktic foraminiferal communities in the SE Bay of Biscay: influence of the Capbreton Canyon and the Adour river plume

128 Michael Siccha, Hélène Howa, Sabine Schmidt, Ralf Schiebel: Day-to-day changes in planktic foraminifer test flux during a phytoplankton spring bloom in the Bay of Biscay

129 Christopher W. Smart, Ellen Thomas: High abundances of biserial planktic foraminifera in the early Miocene of the NE Atlantic Ocean: palaeoceanography and evolution

130 Juliane Steinhardt, Hartmut Schulz, Martin Wiesner, Birgit Gaye, Leopoldo de Silva, Michal Kucera: Seasonal and interannual variability of planktonic foraminifera flux in the southwestern South China Sea

131 Gabriele Trommer, Ulrike Baranowski, Michael Siccha, Eelco J. Rohling, Michal Kucera: Sensitive response of planktonic foraminifera to oceanographic forcing during Marine Isotope Stage 5e in the central Red Sea


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Poster Presentations (Session C2) (continued) Posters for this session will be presented from Wednesday, September 8, to Friday, September 10. Numbers refer to poster board numbers.

132 Els Ufkes, Dick Kroon: History of carbonate dissolution as evidenced in shells of planktonic foraminifera in a Walvis Ridge bore hole during the Pleistocene

133 Brendan P. Lutz: Mid-Pliocene planktonic foraminifer assemblage of the North Atlantic subtropical gyre

134 Annette Bolton, Joel Baker, Gavin B. Dunbar, Lionel Carter: Using Planktonic Foraminifera to Link the Paleo-ecology and Paleo-Ocean Temperature of the Southwest Pacific Ocean

135 Hanako Domitsu, Jun-ichi Uchida, Kaoru Ogane, Tokiyuki Sato, Minoru Ikehara, Hirosh Nishi, Shiro Hasegawa, Motoyosho Oda: Stratigraphic relationships between the last occurrence of Neogloboquadrina inglei and marine isotope stages at site C9001 hole C in the northwest Pacific Ocean

136 Peter Fittkau, Eduard Bauerfeind, Hartmut Schulz, Helmut Erlenkeuser: Habitat preferences and life cycle of the polar planktonic foraminifer Neogloboquadrina pachyderma in sediment traps seasonally ice-covered under the East Greenland Current, 75°N


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Session C3: Biozonation by means of larger benthic foraminifera

Convenors: Lukas Hottinger and Esmeralda Caus

13:20 Fanny Bastide, Annie Arnaud Vanneau, Lucie Bonvallet: Barremian-Lower Aptian zonation of large benthic foraminifera from the urgonian platform of southeastern France (Vercors, Ardèche, Gard)

13:40 Mariano Parente, Alberto Trecalli, Matteo Di Lucia, Gianluca Frijia: Isotope stratigraphy as a tool to improve chronostratigraphic dating of shallow benthic biozones: Integrated bio-chemostratigraphy of Cretaceous platform carbonates of the southern Apennines (italy).

14:00 Vicent Vicedo: The Rhapydioninds as biostratigraphical markers in the Late Cretaceous restricted, shallow carbonate sediments

14:40 Esmeralda Caus, Mariano Parente, Lukas Hottinger: A biozonation (KSBZ) based on shallow benthic, mainly larger foraminifera from the Upper Cretaceous of the Pyrenees


15:20 Lukas C. Hottinger: The Rotaliids of the Lockhartia Sea as indicators of foraminiferal hot spot diversity in the Neotethys during the Eocene

15:40 Qinghai Zhang, Helmut Willems, Lin Ding: The Paleocene-Early Eocene larger foraminiferal biostratigraphy in the Eastern Tethys of Tibet, China

16:00 Mohammad Saeid Shariatzadeh: Biostratigraphy of sedimentary strata relating to the Asmari Fm. down to the sarvak F. in Palangan well


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137 Sergi Albrich, Gianluca Frijia, Mariano Parente, Carme Boix, Vicent Vicedo, Esmeralda Caus: Larger Foraminiferal assemblages and Strontium Isotope Stratigraphy of the Font de les Bagasses Fm (Southern Pyrenees): constraining the position of the Santonian-Campanian boundary in shallow platform facies.

138 Katica Drobne, Vlasta Ćosović: Paleogene conical shells with agglutinated walls in the Tethys realm – Biostratigraphy, palaeoecology

139 Holger C. Forke, Christian Scheibner, Dierk Blomeier: Sequence biostratigraphic correlation and paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Late Carboniferous platform deposits (NE Svalbard, Norway)

140 Christian Scheibner, Holger Forke: Larger Benthic Foraminifers in the Late Paleozoic and Paleogene: intrinsic evolution or profiteers of extreme climates?

141 Vicent Vicedo, Josep Serra-Kiel, Philippe Razin, Cécile Robin: A new Alveolininacean from the Cenomanian of Socotra (Yemen)

142 Carme Boix, Esmeralda Caus, Gianluca Frijia, Mariano Parente, Vicent Vicedo: Larger Foraminifera distribution and Sr-isotope stratigraphy of the La Cova Limestones (Upper Cretaceous, Montsec Mountains, NE Spain)


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Session C4: Denitrification, bacterial symbionts, and biochemical challenges to survive under hypoxia in sulfidic environments.

Convenors: Thomas Cedhagen, Alexander Altenbach

15:20 Joan M. Bernhard, Virginia P. Edgcomb, Karen L. Casciotti, Matthew R. McIlvin, David J. Beaudoin: Is foraminiferal denitrification performed by the eukaryote or by prokaryotic associates?

15:40 Nicolaas Glock, Anton Eisenhauer, Yvonne Milker, Volker Liebetrau, Joachim Schönfeld, Jürgen Mallon, Stefan Sommer, Christian Hensen: Environmental influences on the Pore-Density in Tests of Bolivina spissa

16:00 Karoliina A. Koho, Elisa Piña-Ochoa, Emmanuelle Geslin, Nils Risgaard-Petersen: Denitrification and life strategy of Globobulimina turgida under anoxic conditions: a laboratory study

16.20 Elisa Piña-Ochoa, Sign Høgslund, Emmanuelle Geslin, Thomas Cedhagen, Niels Peter Revsbech, Søren Rysgaard, Magali Schweizer, Nils Risgaard-Petersen: Widespread occurrence of nitrate storage and denitrification among Foraminifera


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Friday, September 10, 2010 Lecture Room 7

Session C5: Ecology, Evolution and Paleoenvironments of Foraminifera

Convenor: Joachim Schönfeld

9:00 Simon D’haenens, André Bornemann, Ursula Röhl, Peter Stassen, Robert P. Speijer: Benthic foraminiferal response during early Eocene hyperthermals at DSDP Site 401, Bay of Biscay, North East Atlantic

9:20 Peter Stassen, Ellen Thomas, Etienne Steuerbaut, Robert Pieter Speijer: Neritic foraminiferal response to a runaway greenhouse during the PETM

09:40 Daniel L. Frederick: Species diversity and recognition in the Genus Lenticulina; toward a clear taxonomy.


10:20 Ana A. Aranda da Silva, Andrew J. Gooday: Benthic foraminifera including soft-shelled species from 3500 m and 4200 m water depth in Nazaré canyon

10:40 Kitty L. Milliken: Agglutinated foraminifers as agents of textural coarsening in muddy sediments

11:00 Liesbeth Van Kerckhoven, Bruce W. Hayward: Drivers of foraminiferal evolution and extinction in the deep sea

11:20 Miroslav Bubík: Paleoecology and biogeography of Cretaceous oceanic red bed foraminifer communities

11:40 Joachim Schönfeld: Distribution of recent benthic foraminifera in the southern Florida straits



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Friday, September 10, 2010 Main Auditorium (Aula)


143 Masoomeh Sohrabi-Mollayousefi, Maryam Sahba: Recent foraminifera from sedimentary beds of Bandar-e-Lenghe coastline, Persian Gulf

144 Silvia Mello Sousa, Leticia Burone, Áurea Ciotti, Thaisa Vicente, Cíntia Yamashita, Michel Mahiques, Eduardo Koutsoukos: Ecological controlling factors for the distribution of living benthic foraminifera in an oligothrophic area

145 Silvia Mello Sousa, Cíntia Yamashita, Vírginia Martins, Thaisa Vicente, Leticia Burone, Michel Mahiques, Eduardo Koutsoukos: The distribution of living deep-sea benthic foraminifera in the Southeastern Brazilian margin: faunal response to eddy-induced upwelling?

146 Anna E. Weinmann, Catia F. Barbosa, Martin R. Langer: A fauna offshore - Reef Foraminifera from Fernando de Noronha and Abrolhos (Brazil)

147 Andrew J. Gooday, Ana A. Aranda da Silva, Jan Pawlowski: Xenophyophores (Rhizaria, Foraminifera) from the Nazaré canyon (Portuguese margin, NE Atlantic)

148 Maria V. Triantaphyllou, Margarita D. Dimiza, Olga Koukousioura, Dimitris Katsis, Pamela Hallock: Life cycle of symbiont-bearing foraminifer Amphistegina lobifera in coastal ecosystems of Aegean Sea (Greece, E. Mediterranean)

149 Sibelle Trevisan Disaró, Silvia Watanabe, Violeta Totah, Rodrigo Aluizio, Elis Regina Ribas, Ana Paula Chiaverini, Ingrid Rodriguez Tellez, Daniel V. Pupo, Carlos E. Silva, Eduardo A. M. Koutsoukos, Ana Paula Falcão: Benthic foraminiferal associations from the continental shelf of Campos Basin, southeastern Brazil

150 Flavia Fiorini: Benthic foraminiferal distribution from the Colombian Caribbean continental slope and shelf

151 Mary McGann, Robert C. Vrijenhoek, Shannon Johnson, Julio Harvey, Charles K. Paull, William Ussler III, Lonny Lundsten: Foraminiferal response to whale falls in the northeastern Pacific Ocean

152 Claudius Pirkenseer, Silvia Spezzaferri: A reevaluation of the lineage development of Pararotalia and Praepararotalia including new material from the Rupelian of the southern Upper Rhine Graben

153 Teresa Lima Díaz, André Rosch Rodrigues, Beatriz Beck Eichler: recent foraminiferal assemblage in an impacted Brazilian estuarine system


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Session D1: Ocean acidification and foraminifera: Altered ecology and physiology in a high CO2 world.

Convenors: Joan Bernhard, Lennart de Nooijer

13:20 Malcolm B. Hart, Bruna B. Dias, Christopher W. Smart, Jason M. Hall-Spencer: Modern seawater acidification: the response of foraminifera to high CO2 conditions in the Mediterranean Sea

13:40 Anna McIntyre-Wessnig, Joan M. Bernhard, Daniel C. McCorkle, Pamela Hallock: Impact of elevated pCO2 on survival and test structure of benthic foraminifera

14:00 Mana Hikami, Kazuhiko Fujita, Atsushi Suzuki, Akira Iguchi, Kazuhiko Sakai, Azumi Kuroyanagi, Hodaka Kawahata: Effects of ocean acidification on calcification of symbiont-bearing reef foraminifers

14:20 Kristin Haynert, Joachim Schönfeld: Responses of the benthic foraminiferal species Ammonia beccarii to a High CO2 Ocean

15:00 – 15:20 Coffee break Main Auditorium (Aula)

Poster Presentations (Session D1) Posters for this session will be presented from Wednesday, September 8, to Friday, September 10. Numbers refer to poster board numbers.

154 Nikki Khanna, William E. N. Austin, David M. Paterson: Biological response of foraminifera to ocean acidification

155 José Kunze, Hartmut Schulz, David Storz, Joanna Wanniek, Michal Kucera: Calcification rates of planktonic foraminifera during a seasonal cycle in the northeast Atlantic Ocean

156 Laura Bordelon, Birgit Schneider: How are Foraminifera effected by ocean acidification?

157 Takahiro Irie, Kazuhiro Bessho, Helen S. Findlay, Piero Calosi: Natural selection under ocean acidification drives phytoplankton to be more heavily calcified


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Session D2: Studies on Mesozoic and Paleozoic Foraminifera

Convenors: Oliver Friedrich and Holger Forke

09:00 Sarit Ashckenazi-Polivoda, Sigal Abramovich, Ahuva Almogi-Labin, Aya Schneider-Mor, Simon Feinstein: Variation in surface water productivity and sea floor oxygenation during the last phase of the southern Tethys Late Cretaceous upwelling system

09:20 Aurelie Bonin, Annie Arnaud-Vanneau, Thierry Adatte, Emmanuelle Vennin, Emmanuelle Pucéat: Upper Valanginian benthic foraminifera evolution during a major carbonate crisis episode: study of a Provencal Platform record (Ollioules section-Southern France)

09:40 Robert J. Campbell: New record of Upper Jurassic planktonic foraminifera from the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico


10:20 Cristina Carapito Krausshar: Toarcian Benthic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and Paleoenvironment of the Maria Pares Section (Lusitanian Basin, Portugal).

10:40 Holger C. Forke, Daniel Bendias, Lisa Walz, Bastian Koehrer, Thomas Aigner, Michael C. Pöppelreiter: Larger Benthic Foraminiferal biostratigraphy of a Lower Khuff outcrop equivalent: Saiq Formation, Al Jabal al-Akhdar, Oman Mountains

11:00 Katarína Holcová: The Early Devonian Morphogroups Of Agglutinated Foraminifers From The Barrandian Area (Czech Republic)

11:20 Geraint Wyn Hughes: Palaeoenvironments Of Upper Permian Foraminifera Of Saudi Arabia

11:40 Christophe Kolodka, Emmanuelle Vennin, Daniel Vachard, Vincent Trocme, Mohammed Goodarzi: Foraminifers As Biological Evidences Of End-Guadalupian Crisis In The Zagros Mountains (kuh-E Gakhum, Iran)


13:20 Tin Tin Latt, Tsutomu Nakazawa, Xiang-dong Wang, Katsumi Ueno: Late Visean To Early Moscovian Foraminifers From The Paleo-Tethyan Seamount-Type Carbonates Of The Changning-Menglian Belt, West Yunnan, Southwest China

13:40 Eiichi Setoyama, Jarosław Tyszka, Michael A. Kaminski, Claudia G. Cetean: Faunal affinity of Late Cretaceous deep-water agglutinated foraminifera of the Barents Sea with the Arctic, Atlantic-Tethyan and Siberian faunas - palaeobiogeographic and palaeoceanographic implications

14:00 Ines Wendler, Brian T. Huber, Kenneth G. MacLeod, Jens E. Wendler: Turonian pristine benthic foraminifera from the Tanzania Drilling Project - stable isotopes and shell carbonate geochemistry

14:20 Narges Khoshkhabar, Masoomeh Sohrabi-Mollayousefi, Ebrahim Ghasemi-Nejad: Pelagic foraminifera from Gurpi formation at Kharame section, southeast of Shiraz, Iran

14:40 Ezzedine Saïdi, Dalila Zaghbib-Turki: Planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and behaviour during the Late Campanian-Early Maastrichtian at the Oued Necham (on) Section (Kalaat Senan, Central Tunisia)


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158 Andrew D. Leighton, Malcolm B. Hart, Christopher W. Smart, Richard Twitchett: Benthic foraminiferal change across the Cretaceous – Palaeogene boundary at Brazos River, Texas

159 Lourdes Omaña, Ruben Lopez-Doncel, Ramon Torres, Gloria Alencaster: Biostratigraphy and Paleoenvironment of the Cenomanian-Turonian Interval based on foraminifera from the West Valles–San Luis Potosí Platform, Mexico

160 Samir Hussain Rashid: Biofacies and palaeoenvironments of the Oxfordian Hanifa Formation, Saudi Arabia

161 Elena Yurievna Zakrevskaya: Late Cretaceous larger foraminifera in Donetsk Basin (South-eastern part of East European Platform, Ukraine, Russia)

162 Mirjam C. Koch, Oliver Friedrich: Benthic foraminiferal assemblages as indicators of Campanian/Maastrichtian deep-water changes


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Session D3: Biogeography of Foraminifera

Convenors: Martin Langer and Susan Goldstein

09:00 Kate Darling, Hartmut Schulz, Christopher Wade: Planktonic Foraminiferal Genotypes Of The Oman Margin And Benguela Upwelling Systems

09:20 Susan T. Goldstein, Joan M. Bernhard, Virginia P. Edgcomb: Propagule Dispersal in Benthic Foraminifera and the Occurrence of “Exotic” Taxa

09:40 Bruce W. Hayward, Ashwaq T. Sabaa, Shungo Kawagata, Hugh Grenfell: Dispersal And Extinction Of Deep-Sea Foraminifera Following The Messinian Crisis In The Mediterranean Sea


10:20 Tatiana Hromic: Benthic Foraminifera in fjords and channels of Southern Chile

10:40 Scott Ishman, Molly Patterson: Cenozoic foraminiferal associations of SMS drill core AND-2A in the Victoria Land Basin margin, Antarctica

11:00 Elena V. Ivanova, Natalia O. Chistyakova, Ekaterina A. Ovsepyan, Bjørg Risebrobakker, Mojib Latif, Vladimir Semenov, Wonsun Park: Biogeography of Foraminifera in the Barents Sea during the last 16 ka: a response to variations in the Atlantic Water input

11:20 Stephan Margreth, Silvia Spezzaferri, Giordana Gennari, Andres Rüggeberg, Claudio Stalder, Gregory Pignat: Biogeography of foraminifera from cold-water coral ecosystems: from active (northern European margin) to buried reefs (Western Mediterranean Sea)

11:40 Isabel P. P. Mendes, João Dias, Joachim Schönfeld, Óscar Ferreira: Live benthic foraminifera distribution in the northern Gulf of Cadiz continental shelf


13:20 James H. Nebelsick, Davide Bassi, Salvatore Cirillo, Lukas Hottinger, Johannes S. Pignatti, Alistair McGowan: Biogeography and Diversity Gradients of Oligocene Larger Foraminiferal Assemblages from the Western Tethys

13:40 Rajashekhar K. Patil, Subhadra Devi Gadi: Inter-tidal Foraminifera of West and East Coasts of India – A Comparative Study

14:00 Mark D. Phipps, Frans J. Jorissen, Henko C. de Stigter, Antonio Pusceddu: Live benthic foraminiferal faunas along a bathymetrical transect (280-4800 m) on Portuguese Margin Open Slope (NE Atlantic)

14:20 Vera M. Podobina, Tatyana G. Kseneva: Paleozoogeography of Western Siberia in the Late Cretaceous (Based on Foraminifera)

14:40 Magali Schweizer, Kate F. Darling, Bill Austin: Phylogeographic and morphological study of North East Atlantic benthic foraminifers


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163 Ursula Leppig, Martin R. Langer: Biogeography and biodiversity of Carboniferous and Permian larger foraminifera

164 Masako Koyanagi, Shiro Hasegawa: Late Quaternary faunal changes of benthic foraminifera in the sediment core Md01-2412 recovered from the SW sea of Okhotsk

165 Muna Al-Salameen, Arafat Ashoeby, Ahmed Dakrory: Distribution of foraminifera in Sea of Oman

166 Briony L. Mamo, Luke Strotz, Glenn Brock: Benthic Foraminifera assemblages from the Capricorn Bunker Group, Great Barrier Reef, Australia: initial results and implications

167 Caterina Morigi, Gaia Vitale, Irene Pancotti, Anna Sabbatini, Roberto Danovaro, Alessandra Negri: Benthic Foraminifera associated with deep-water corals in the Rockall Bank (NE Atlantic): meso and microscale contrasts and comparison of stained and dead assemblages

168 Takeshi Oi, Masao Ushida, Takuya Itaki, Shiro Hasegawa: Oceanographic history on the connection between the southern Japan Sea and the northern East China Sea since the last Glacial

169 Irene Pancotti, Anna Sabbatini, Caterina Morigi, J. Andrew Gooday, Roberto Danovaro, Alessandra Negri: Benthic foraminifera from Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea: who, how many and what differences?

170 Vera M. Podobina: The significance of foraminifera for the Paleogene biostratigraphy of Western Siberia

171 Ivan Voltsky, Sergei Korsun: Elphidiidae of the western White Sea, European Arctic

172 Walid A. Makled, Martin R. Langer: Preferential selection of titanium-bearing minerals in agglutinated foraminifera: Ilmenite (FeTiO3) in Textularia hauerii d'Orbingy from the Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique

173 Lydia Calvo-Marcilese, Martin R. Langer: Breaching biogeographic barriers: The invasion of Haynesina germanica (Foraminifera, Protista) in the Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina

174 Maria Noelia Arce, Igor J. C. Gavriloff: Marine vs. non-marine Miocene sedimentation in the foreland of Central Andes: the presence of foraminifera in lacustrine facies of Northern Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina

175 Sonia Bonatto, Anna Sabbatini, Irene Pancotti, Silvia Bianchelli, Antonio Pusceddu, Caterina Morigi, Alessandra Negri: Relationships between foraminiferal biodiversity and the biochemical composition of sediment organic matter in the Central Adriatic Sea

176 Anna E. Weinmann, Martin R. Langer: Diversity patterns of larger foraminifera within the tropical Western Atlantic Ocean


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Poster Presentations (Session D3) (continued) Posters for this session will be presented from Wednesday, September 8, to Friday, September 10. Numbers refer to poster board numbers.

177 Shiro Hasegawa, Takeshi Oi, Yuumi Masuda: Distribution of living Elphidium batialis and Elphidiella okhotica in the Sea of Okhotsk

178 Olga Koukousioura, Margarita D. Dimiza, Maria V. Triantaphyllou: Expansion of warm-water symbiont-bearing foraminiferal species in coastal ecosystems of the Aegean Sea (Greece, E. Mediterranean): evidence for climatic fluctuations?

179 Nasir K. Abu Tair, Martin R. Langer: Foraminiferal invasions: the effect of Lessepsian migration on the diversity and composition of benthic foraminiferal assemblage around Cyprus (Mediterranean Sea)


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Session D4: Mesozoic and Cenozoic planktonic foraminiferal evolutionary history and paleobiology: New insights and interpretations

Convenors: Brian Huber, Maria Rose Petrizzo, Mark Leckie

09:00 Ágnes Görög, Balázs Szinger, Roland Wernli: Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera from Tata, Gerecse Mts, N-Hungary

09:20 Brian T. Huber, Kenneth G. MacLeod, Maria Rose Petrizzo, Alvaro Jiménez Berrocoso: Mid-Late Cretaceous ‘glassy’ Foraminifera and stable isotope records from the Tanzania Drilling Project

09:40 Maria Rose Petrizzo, Francesca Falzoni, Isabella Premoli Silva: The Globotruncana ventricosa Zone: Comments on reliability and global correlations


10:20 Francesca Falzoni, Maria Rose Petrizzo: Evolution of meridionally arranged ornamentation in Late Cretaceous Planktonic Foraminifera taxa

10:40 Sigal Abramovich, Carmi Rak, Chaim Benjamini, Ahuva Almogi Labin, Zsolt Berner: The depth habitat of Guembelitria (Cushman) in the late Maastrichtian: Isotopic evidence from pristine shells from Brazos River (Texas)

11:00 Andrew Fraass, Shanan Peters, Clay Kelly: Statistical evidence for selectivity in the Planktic Foraminifera

11:20 Aude G. M. Caromel, Daniela N. Schmidt, Jeremy C. Phillips, Emily J. Rayfield: A link between form and function in Planktic Foraminifera?

11.40 Tracy Aze, Paul N. Pearson, Andy Purvis, Thomas H.G. Ezard: Macroevolution of Cenozic macroperforate planktonic foraminifera


13:20 Michael W. Knappertsbusch, Yannick Mary: AMOR helps to decipher morphological evolution in menardiform planktonic foraminifera

13:40 Vlasta Premec Fucek, Paul N. Pearson, Morana Hernitz Kucenjak: The biostratigraphy and stable isotope paleoecology of the late Middle Eocene planktonic foraminifera (North Adriatic Sea, Croatia)

14:00 Njoud Gallala, Dalila Zaghbib-Turki, Mohamed Moncef Turki, Ignacio Arenillas, José Antonio Arz, Eustoquio Molina: Planktic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and correlation across the Cretaceous-Paleogene transition at the Tethys (Tunisia, Spain) and the Atlantic realms (France)

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Poster Presentations (Session D4) Posters for this session will be presented from Wednesday, September 8, to Friday, September 10. Numbers refer to poster board numbers

180 Marina E. Bylinskaya: Taxonomy of the Globorotalia crassaformis subspecies and their use in stratigraphy

181 Martin P. Crundwell, Marina Verducci: The early history of the planktic foraminiferal clade Truncorotalia: A tale of masked identity and climate change

182 Kate Darling, Ellen Thomas, Simone Kasemann, Heidi Seears, Christopher Smart, Christopher Wade: Surviving the K-Pg Mass Extinction by bridging the Benthic/Planktic divide

183 Francesca Falzoni, Maria Rose Petrizzo: Remarks on Globotruncana Insignis types: how the reconstruction of the phyletic lineage can solve taxonomic debates

184 Carlos A. Sánchez-Quiñónez, Laia Alegret, Roque Aguado, Antonio Delgado, Juan C. Larrasoaña, Agustin Martín-Algarra, Luis O´Dogherthy, Eustoquio Molina: Integrated stratigraphy across the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary at the El Chorro section, Southern Spain

185 Morena Hernitz Kucenjak, Vlasta Premec Fucek, Renata Slavkovic: Planktonic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and Paleoecology of the Oligocene in the North Adriatic Sea (Croatia)

186 Njoud Gallala, Dalila Zaghbib-Turki, Mohamed Moncef Turki, Ignacio Arenillas, José Antonio Arz, Eustoquio Molina: Planktic foraminiferal behaviour and stratigraphical ranges below and at the K/Pg boundary at Tethys realm: El Kef GSSP, Ellès, Oued El Melah, Oued Es Smara, Oued Abiod (Tunisia), Agost, Caravaca (Spain) and Atlantic realm: Bidart (France)

187 Xabier Orue-Etxebarria, Estibaliz Apellaniz, Silvia Ortiz, Victoriano Pujalte, Juan I. Baceta, Fernando Caballero: New foraminiferal criteria to pinpoint the newly defined GSSP for the Mid-Paleocene Selandian Stage in the Zumaia Section (Basque Country)

188 Dario M. Soldan, Maria Rose Petrizzo, Isabella Premoli Silva, Andrea Cau: Phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of the Early Paleogene genus Igorina through parsimony analysis

189 Yannick Mary, Michael W. Knappertsbusch: Biogeographic morphological investigations of menardiform globorotalids in a time slice at 3.2 Ma (Late Pliocene)


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Abstracts


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The depth habitat of Guembelitria (Cushman) in the late Maastrichtian: Isotopic evidence from pristine shells from Brazos River Texas

Sigal Abramovich1, Carmi Rak1, Chaim Benjamini1, Ahuva Almogi Labin2, Zsolt Berner3

1Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel 2Geological Survey of Israel, Israel 3Karlsruhe University, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Oxygen and carbon stable isotope analysis is the most direct tool for reconstructing ecological strategies of fossil planktic foraminifera, such as the depth habitats of species. Most of the available stable isotope data on Late Cretaceous species derive from deep-sea cores that typically harbor well-preserved specimens. Less information is available on species from neritic environments with tests often affected by post-depositional diagenetic processes. Late Maastrichtian planktic foraminifera from new cores from Brazos River, Texas, include neritic species present in great numbers, with pristine, unrecrystallized tests. These cores are an extraordinary window into the ecology of Guembelitria (Cushman) a key genus appearing in the K-Pg mass extinction event. Information on the depth distribution of many neritic species in the Late Cretaceous has also been derived from these cores. Stable oxygen and carbon isotope measurements were taken from hundreds of specimens of six planktic species: Guembelitria cretacea (Cushman), Globigerinelloides asper (Ehrenberg), Heterohelix globulosa (Ehrenberg), Paraspiroplecta navarroensis (Loeblich), Pseudoguembelina costulata (Cushman) Rugoglobigerina rugosa (Plummer), and from a few benthic genera. Differences between the d18O values of benthic and planktic foraminifera from Brazos vary between 0.5-1 ‰, indicates that the water column in this environment was thermally stratified but too shallow to support many intermediate and deep water species. There was some habitat partitioning between the planktic species, with G. asper occupied the coldest zone among the planktic species, thriving under cool, high-productivity conditions. Guembelitria cretacea has relatively low d18O values similar to that of P. navarroensis, with distinctively low d13C values (-0.5-0 ‰) that overlap those of the benthic foraminifera. These anomalously low d13C values of Guembelitria may be attributed to a life mode in the uppermost part of the surface waters, where photosynthesis is inhibited by high UV and near absence of nutrients. As these waters are not photosynthetically depleted in 13C, calcification of Guembelitria using carbon directly from these waters would have d13C values consistent with those found. The particularities of living in this environment would have been a preadaptation to successfully overcoming the K-Pg stress conditions.

Foraminiferal invasions: the effect of Lessepsian migration on the diversity and composition of benthic foraminiferal assemblage around Cyprus (Mediterranean Sea)

Nasir K. Abu Tair1,2, Martin R. Langer1

1Steinmann Institut, Universität Bonn, Germany 2Jerusalem, Israel E-mail: [email protected] Several species Red Sea foraminifera have managed to reach the distant parts of the eastern Mediterranean Sea since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Among the lessepsian migrants are e.g. Heterostegina depressa, Amphistegina spp., Coscinospira hemprichii, Borelis sp., Sorites orbiculus, Peneroplis spp., Pseudolachlanella slitella, Cycloforina sp. and Pegidia lacunata (Langer 2008). We have analyzed the impact of invasive Red Sea species on the diversity, composition and carbonate production of benthic foraminifera from the Island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Typical post-Lessepsian foraminiferal assemblages at Cyprus are currently dominated by Amphistegina (70%), Peneroplis (17%), Sorites (8%) and a few other 5% taxa. This contrasts sharply with sample material that has been collected about two decades ago. Specific comparison to previously collected sample material from Cyprus shows that the situation has dramatically shifted. The changes include a pronounced reduction in species diversity and abundances of individual taxa, but is marked by a significantly increased production of calcium carbonate from larger foraminifera (Amphistegina, Sorites, Peneroplis). A comparison of foraminiferal assemblages from Cyprus and the Gulf of Suez reveals that the newly established assemblages from Cyprus differ markedly from their presumed site of origin. This indicates that 1.) the invasive species from the Gulf of Suez have successively adapted to their Mediterranean habitat and 2.) the invasion is coupled with dramatic modifications of original foraminiferal assemblages from Cyprus. It is expected that with future global warming trends additional species of tropical foraminifera will invade the eastern Mediterranean realm and impact the pre-Lessepsian faunal assemblages.

Recent variability of benthic foraminifera in unpolluted sediments from the Shuaiba Lagoon, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

Ramadan H. Abu-Zied1, Rashad A. Bantan1

1King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia E-mail: [email protected] The shallow marine environments along the Jeddah City coast are heavily affected by anthropogenic materials since 1980s. In order to evaluate these shallow environments using benthic foraminifera, it is very useful to study a nearby unpolluted environment to understand their natural variability


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when they occur under polluted conditions. Therefore, from the Shuaiba Lagoon (eastern Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia), a short core sediment (Shua2; 1.5 m long) was recovered from a water depth of 0.3 m. Faunal density is high (~ 1500 specimens/g) in the lower section of the core Shua2 where mud substrates dominate. It decreases rapidly to its lowest values (~ 400 specimens/g) throughout the upper section of the core where sand substrates dominate, indicating a detrimental effect of coarse substrates on the benthic foraminiferal density. On other hand, larger foraminiferal tests (e.g. Peneroplis planatus, Coscinospira hemprichii, Varidentella reussi, Sorites orbiculus, Elphidium discoidalis multiloculum and Murrayinella murrayi) dominate the upper section of the core Shua2, except Spiroloculina communis and Sigmoihauerina bradyi that occur abundantly in the lower section of the core. Species such as Schackoinella sarmatica, Haynesina depressula, Cycloforina stalkeri and Cribroelphidium williamsoni occur mainly in the lower section of the core, dominating its muddy substrates. Although, Quinqueloculina limbata is the dominant species throughout the Shua2, it does not, however, show any significant change. The frequency distributions of the other species (e.g. Triloculina serrulata, Quinqueloculina bosciana, Trochulina dimidiata, Cycloforina carinatastriata and Spiroloculina rugosa) are quite variable with more or less stable conditions throughout the core, indicating their tolerance for environmental change.

Biostratigraphy and facies analysis of the Jatibungkus olistolith (Central Java)

Giovanni Accordi1, Federico Carbone1, Massimo Di Carlo2, Ruggero Matteucci2, Johannes Pignatti2, Antonio Russo3

1IGAG/CNR, Italy 2 La Sapienza University, Italy 3 Modena and Reggio Emilia University, Italy E-mail: [email protected] The Eocene Karangsambung Olistostrome (or mélange) contains numerous blocks of different sedimentary, volcanic and metamorphic rocks, up to several hundreds meters in diameter; among these olistoliths, we investigate the fossil content, sedimentology, facies interpretation and age assignment of the huge Jatibungkus limestone olistolith, which has been subject to contrasting interpretations. Basing on larger foraminifers (Ranikothalia, Miscellanea, rotaliids, and orthophragmines), scleractinians (11 species belonging to 9 genera) and calcareous algae, the Jatibungkus limestone can be broadly considered as Thanetian in age (SBZ3/SBZ4). On the base of thin sections, the taxonomy of the larger foraminifers is discussed in detail, attempting to constrain and extend to this area the Shallow Benthics Zonation. Basing on sedimentological data, the occurrence and growth forms of Distichoplax biserialis, the scleractinian and larger

foraminiferal assemblages allow us to identify three main depositional environments.

Biostratigraphy Sequence of Asmari Formation in South- East of Shiraz (Iran)

Dr. Vahid Ahmadi1, Asma Motaharian2

1Department of Geology, Faculty of Science , Islamic-Azad University, Islamic Republic of Iran 2Islamic Azad University-Shiraz Branch, Young researcher club of Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran E-mail: [email protected] In this research, two stratigraphic sections were chosen from Asmari Formation (zagros zone). These sections include Shamsabad and Runiz plus 280 meters of Chatian to Burdigalian sediments. For this investigation 251 thin-sections were prepeared and 14 samples analysed by XRF. Principally index foraminifers , identified in the studied sections , are listed below : Nummulites fichteli, Nummulites intermedius, Nummulites vascus, Spiroclypeus ranjanae, Rotalia viennott , Pearhapydionina delicata , Austroterillina howchini, Peneroplis evolutus , Peneroplis thomasi, Archaias sp., Pyrgo sp., Archaias krikukensis , Valvulinid sp., Spirolina cylindracea, Triloculina trigonula, Meandropsina iranica, Dendritina rangi, Austroterillina sp., Borelis sp., Meandropsina anahensi, Triloculina tricarinata. Based on aforementioned foraminifers, three biozones have been identified for these sediments which includes: Biozone No. 1- Nummulites fichteli–Nummulites intermedius–Nummulites vascus assemblage – zone (Chatian). Biozone No. 2-Austroterillina howchini–Peneroplis evolutus assemblage–zone (Aquitanian). Biozone No. 3- Borelis melo group – Meandropsina iranica assemblage–zone (Burdigalian). The position of recognized biozones has been analyzed from the kinds of sequence system tract point. According to the position of system tract , parasequence and the results of geochemistry analyses, the changes of biozones faunas, their abundant rate and other factors of paleoecology have been studied. two 3rd order sediment sequence have been identified for these sediments in all)sequence Ι &sequence ΙΙ). Sequence Ι includes Biozone No. 1 & 2 and also TST, early HST and late HST. Sequence ΙΙ includes Biozone No. 3 and also TST, early HST and late HST.


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Larger Foraminiferal assemblages and Strontium Isotope Stratigraphy of the Font de les Bagasses Fm (Southern Pyrenees): constraining the position of the Santonian-Campanian boundary in shallow platform facies.

Sergi Albrich1, Gianluca Frijia2, Mariano Parente3, Carme Boix4, Vicent Vicedo1, Esmeralda Caus5

1Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain 2Universität Postdam, Germany 3Università di Napoli, Spain 4Badley Ashton & Associated, United Kingdom 5Spain Universitat de Barcelona, Spain E-mail: [email protected] The larger foraminifera of the southern Pyrenees and particularly those attributed to the Upper Santonian have been studied since the end of the XIX Century. The pioneer was the Spanish engineer Luís Mariano Vidal, who during the studies for the first geological map of the Lleida province collected abundant material containing larger foraminifera. This material was sent to be studied by the French naturalist M.C. Schlumberger, and the result of this collaboration was the description of various genera and species from the locality of Tragó de Noguera (Marginal Mountains). After Schlumberger’s work, the so-called “Tragó de Noguera fauna” became a reference for the study of the Upper Santonian larger foraminifera, but in the sixties the locality was submerged under the water of the Canelles reservoir. However, the “Tragó de Noguera fauna” is well represented in the middle part of the Font de les Bagasses Fm in the nearby Montsec Mountains, and since that time studies continued there. Some differences exist between the two localities. In the Montsec Mountains the Font de les Bagasses formation has a thickness of almost 300m and is constituted by yellow and/or grey marls alternating with thin-bedded marly limestones, while the fossiliferous levels in the Marginal Mountains are no more than 10m thick and are intercalated in coarse terrigenous deposits. The aim of this work is to illustrate the assemblages of larger foraminifera occurring at different levels of the Font de les Bagasses unit. We used Sr-isotope stratigraphy (SIS) to constrain the chronostratigraphic age of the formation. SIS numerical ages allow precise correlation with standard biozones of planktic foraminifers. Preliminary results suggest that the Santonian-Campanian boundary is contained in the Font de les Bagasses formation and that the top of this unit is not younger than the lower-middle Campanian boundary

Paleoredox conditions during the last 500 years inferred by benthic foraminifera in Laminated Sediments from the Central Peruvian Continental Slope

Carine M. Almeida1, Nina M. Bilton2, Jorge C. Cardich3, Maria C. Morales4, Catia F. Barbosa1, Renato Salvatteci1, Dimitri Gutierrez3, Abdelfettah Sifeddine1

1Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil 2Faculdade Maria Theresa, Brazil 3Instituto del Mar del, Peru 4INGEMMET, Peru E-mail: [email protected] Bottom-water dysoxia, high sedimentation rates, and stable topographical settings of central Peruvian continental margin have favorable conditions to preserve past environmental events with high temporal resolution. Time series from laminated sediments of this system have showing an abrupt centennial-scale biogeochemical regime shift in the early nineteenth century. The purpose of this work was to utilize benthic foraminifera assemblage as a proxy of bottom water oxygen and redox conditions at the sediment/water interface in Oxygen Minimum Zone over the last 500 years. This study was conducted on a box core (B0506-14) collected in front of Pisco, Peru. The results showed that foraminiferal tests were preserved before 1400 AD, disappeared in the sediment accumulated during the LIA (1400 to 1820), and re-appeared after 1820 AD. The lack of foraminifers in the LIA layers was suggested as post depositional dissolution of the tests due to reduced alkalinity. The increase of abundance of Bolivina seminuda specie, which is characterized by having high tolerance to dysoxic condition, was noticed beginning from 1820 toward to recent, indicating a trend towards reduced oxygen levels after LIA. The inferred decrease in oxygen levels was consistent with other proxies records indicating a biogeochemical reorganization in the Peruvian upwelling system on a centennial timescale.

Benthic foraminifera and paleoecological evolution of the carbonate shelf of Abrolhos, Brazil

Carine M. Almeida1, Cátia F. Barbosa1, Renato C. Cordiero1, José Carlos S. Seoane2, Gerson M. Fermino2, Patricia O. Silva1, Nina M. Bilton3, Bruno J. Turcq4

1Universidade Federal Fluminense 2UFRJ, Brazil 3FAMATH, Brazil 4IRD, France

E-mail: [email protected] The Abrolhos Reef Complex located in the State of Bahia, Eastern Brazil, is the most important coral reef ecosystem of the South Atlantic due to its great biodiversity and importance for carbonate and


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biogenic sediment production. In the reef ecosystem, benthic foraminifers that host algal symbionts are one of the main sources of calcium carbonate sediments. The purpose of this work is to study through benthic foraminifera, and physical and geochemical analysis, the palaeoecology and the sedimentary evolution of the reef complex along the late Quaternary. These analyses were conducted on a two-meter-long core collected at twenty-three-meters water depth on a carbonate platform located on the Abrolhos Parcel. Changes in sedimentology and organic matter input resulting from climatic events (such as the Little Ice Age) and oceanographic variations might be reflected in changes of the benthic foraminiferal community within the last five thousand years. The core was transversally sectioned and sub-samples at two-centimeter resolution. Grain size, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), total nitrogen, C/N ratio, and 13C isotopes analyses were conducted. Foraminifera sieved through a 0,063mm mesh were picked, identified, and separated in functional groups. Sediment at the core base was dated at 5.230 years (cal. B.P.). The grain size decreased toward the top of the core, suggesting changing hydrodynamic conditions towards the recent. Organic matter results indicate an increase of TOC and of total Nitrogen, which consequently decreases the C/N ratio and suggests an increase of phytoplankton and/or coral reefs productivity from the nearby goblet shaped structures of the “chapeirões”. The δ13C values ranged from -21‰ to -18‰ in all parts of the studied core, suggesting the non-existence of continental influence on this system for the studied period. Symbiont-bearing foraminifera (Peneroplis and Archaias) diminished toward the top of the core, and heterotrophic (Miliolinella and Cornuspira) and stress-tolerant genera (Bolivina, Elphidium and Ammonia) increased. This could be related to the changes observed in grain size and organic matter, and thus linked to regional variation in wind and climate-related patterns, as well as sea-level oscillations. Here the use of faunal patterns with geochemical and physical analysis of the sediment showed as one paleoecological resolution the Little Ice Age as a baseline of destruction in the evolution of carbonate platform of Parcel dos Abrolhos.

Biofacies of benthic foraminifera and chemo-stratigraphic paramters: an integrated study in Baía de Vitória, Southeastern Brazil.

Fabiana K. Almeida1, Renata M. Mello2, Francisco H. Oliveira Lima2, Claudia G. Vilela3, Alex C. Bastos4

1UNISINOS, Brazil 2CENPES-PETROBRAS, Brazil 3UFRJ, Brazil 4UFES, Brazil E-mail: [email protected] The use of benthic foraminífera biofacies is considered an efficient method in ecological and paleoecological analysis, because these organisms

are sensitive to environmental changes. This is directly reflected in the composition of the assemblage or ornamentation of the tests. Because a biofacies has paleoecological implications, it is essential that its definition is be based on sensitive individuals to changes in environmental factors. The study of microfauna in the estuarine system of Baía de Vitória (Espírito Santo, Brazil), integrated with chemostratigraphic parameters presented in this paper, contribute to understanding the paleoecological evolution of the region studied and similar areas. The distribution of benthic foraminifera, sedimentology, proportions of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Total Sulfur (S) were observed along four cores collected in this bay. Through a Q-mode Cluster Analysis four distinct biofacies were identified, named according to dominant genera and species. In the NP Biofacies, at the base of the core, Nonion depressulus, Nonion spp. and Pseudononion atlanticum are dominant. The species that make up this biofacies are typical of marine shelf environments, and suggest a large open bay with marine influence. The CG Biofacies is mainly composed by species Cribroelphidium gunteri, Cribroelphidium vadescens and Globocassidulina subglobosa, the last one being usually found in marine shelf environments. In AE Biofacies Ammonia parkinsoniana, Ammonia tepida and Elphidium spp. are abundant, which are species characteristic of moderately restricted marine environments. At the top of the sequence occurs AT Biofacies, dominated by Ammotium morenoi and others fragments of Textularides. This biofacies includes common species in environments with an internal bay salt restricted circulation that can dominate in areas of high marginal mangroves. It was observed the predominance of muddy sediments with color ranging from black to gray-green, this last one more compact. The rate of S ranged from 0.53% to 3.85% and TOC from 1.36% to 9.1%, indicating a high rate of preservation of organic matter deposited in the sediment of this bay. There was a tendency of an increase in TOC and S values towards the top of the cores. Chemical parameters follow the changes in the biofacies. The distribution pattern of biofacies along the cores indicates that in Baía de Vitória there was a gradual transition from marine to a restricted marine, even the most recent conditions with the effective deployment of mangroves.

Distribution of foraminifera in Sea of Oman

Muna A. Al-Salameen1, Arafat Ashoeby2, Ahmed M. Dakrory1

1Public Authority of Applied Education and Training (Paaet), Kuwait 2Kuwait University, Kuwait E-mail: [email protected] Benthic foraminifera from 20 bottom samples between 26 m and 104 m in the Sea of Oman has been collected and studied. The quantitative analysis resulted from the identification of 122


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species, most of which are illustrated. The purpose of this paper is illustrating in details the systematic and distribution of recent benthic foraminifera in the Sea of Oman. Cluster analysis of quantitative data used to determine the assemblages, generally corresponding to the geomorphic provinces of the Sea. Assemblage distributed all over the central zone of the Sea of Oman, a deep water assemblage of the sea extending up to the Strait of Hormuz and Oman shallow assemblage. The present result allows us to determine the dominant species, rear species and species with first record in the area.

Phylogeny reconstruction of selected Clade e Allogromiid foraminifera using multiple genetic markers

Deniz Z. Altin-Ballero1, Andrea Habura2, Susan T. Goldstein1

1University of Georgia, United States 2New York State Department of Health, United States E-mail: [email protected] Allogromiid (sensu lato) Foraminifera represent a seemingly inconspicuous taxonomic group because of their limited presence in the fossil record and simplistic gross morphology. Recent studies have shown that allogromiids have significant occurrences in most modern marine environments that span all latitudes. Previous SSU rDNA-based phylogenetic analyses identified a group of generally well-supported allogromiid clades, most of which unite taxa that do not share a common general morphology. Of these, Clade E is particularly abundant along coastal Georgia (USA) salt marshes, mudflats and tidal channels. Representatives of this clade share a molecular affinity in phylogenetic reconstructions based on SSU sequences, however the resolution of Clade E is problematic in that the clade becomes less well-supported as more taxa are added to the analyses. To test whether this apparent clade is, indeed, well-supported, multiple genetic markers were evaluated separately and in tandem with previous SSU based phlogenetic studies. Here we present the first attempt at employing a multi-gene analysis to examine the relationships between Clade E allogromiids. Because evolution operates on entire organisms, their environment, and the complete genome, multiple lines of biological evidence, when available, should lead to a more informed reconstruction of a group’s evolutionary history. Using Bayesian inference, we have created phylogenetic trees from the concatenation of two protein coding genes (β-tubulin, actin) along with SSU rDNA sequences for selected Clade E members common along Georgia (USA) mudlflats and marshes (Psammophaga spp., ‘Fusiform’, ‘Fruitcake’, Niveus flexilis, ‘Chocolate Silver Sac’ and others). It is hypothesized that multiple genetic markers along with an increase in number of taxa improves phylogenetic resolution for Clade E and the multi-gene analysis is a useful tool for examining

evolutionary history of higher order taxonomic levels.

Defining “reference” conditions: monitoring inner Oslofjord, Norway

Elisabeth Alve1, Jane K.L. Dolven1

1University of Oslo, Norway E-mail: [email protected] According to the European Water Framework Directive (WFD), the EU- and associated countries including Norway, are supposed to restore the environment to “natural background” conditions, also termed “reference” conditions, by 2015. The reference conditions are defined as ”…the biological quality elements that exist, or would exist, at high status”. In our opinion, the optimal reference conditions to be used as a baseline for comparison with the present-day ecologic status, must be the local, natural, pre-impacted conditions. For most areas, background information is not available due to lack of conventional biological and instrumental time-series extending back to pre-impacted times. The present study demonstrates how a monitoring strategy combining environmental stratigraphy and indices for ecological status (as used in conventional monitoring) can define “reference conditions” and variations in ecological status beyond time intervals covered by biological time-series. Benthic foraminifera and associated geochemical parameters in dated sediments from inner Oslofjord, Norway, reflect the environmental development from pre-impacted, through impacted to present-day slightly improved conditions. In order to optimise the applicability of the ecological information held by foraminifera and enable characterisation of temporal changes in environmental quality, the Norwegian governmental macrofauna-based classification system is applied on the fossil benthic foraminiferal assemblages. The study shows that the ecological status of the pre-impacted conditions varied locally, i.e., in some instances, the “reference conditions” were suboptimal relative to the criteria set by the WFD. Our data also document anthropogenically forced foraminiferal species loss. We demonstrate that a combination of micropalaeontologically- and geochemically-based stratigraphic analyses of dated cores from sediment accumulation basins represent a powerful tool for defining in situ ecological “reference” conditions. The method makes it possible to evaluate whether or not the ecological status at a site has changed following changes in the environmental conditions. It allows quantification of such changes and the data may serve as a baseline for evaluating to what degree the “reference” conditions are re-established subsequent to environmental remediation.


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Sedimentation on the Galicia Bank Area, NW Iberian Atlantic Margin, controlled by climate change since the Late Pleistocene Maria Virgínia Alves Martins1, A. Mackensen2, J. Alveirinho Dias3, E. Ferreira da Silva1, D. Rey4, B. Rubio4, F. Rocha1

1GeoBioTec Research Centre, Aveiro University, Portugal 2Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Germany 3Algarve University, Faro, Portugal 4Vigo University, Spain E-mail: [email protected] Aiming to investigate the effect of the climatic changing on the sediments supply to the Galicia Bank region during the last 40 ka, the OMEX core KC 024-19 (181 cm; 42°08’98’’N, 10°29´96’’W, and 2765m) was studied. A combination of different methods was used aiming at identify variations in texture, detrital grain contents, concentrations of a wide range of elements, mineralogical composition, oxygen isotope ratios, magnetic susceptibility and planktonic foraminifera assemblages. Eight samples were dated by the radiocarbon method. From the last glaciation to the Holocene the sedimentation rate decreased, sediment granulometry became coarser and the proportion of biogenic component increased dramatically. The layers deposited during the late Pleistocene period (≈36-11 Ka cal BP) have highest detrital content (mostly phyllosilicates, quartz and feldspars). Those layers are also characterized by chemical compositions with the highest concentrations of several elements, such as Ba, Zr, Mg Rb, Th, Al, K, Ti, Cr, Fe, Zn and Li. As a consequence of the predominance of the deposition of lithic materials, low values of Ca and Ca/Al are major geochemical features of these sediments. The most important factor determining the rate of the detrital deposition appears to be the distance to the shore, which is controlled by sea level changes. The general pattern of sedimentation during this period was disturbed by Heinrich Events (HE). These changes are clearly marked by decreasing in values of Ce/Al, La/Al, Y/Al, Th/Al, Nd/Al and U/Al ratios. The REE and the associated elements are commonly incorporated in accessory phases of granitoid rocks, such as monazite. Therefore, the depressed values of those ratios may be related either to weaker erosion of hard rocks from the continental proximal areas or to dilution of REE rich minerals by the materials supplied by melting of icebergs, during the HEs. In addition to the balance between biogenic and terrigenous components, post-depositional (diagenetic) processes induced geochemical variations in some elements (e.g. Mn and P).

Assessment of metal contamination on benthic foraminifera assemblages of Ria de Aveiro (N Portugal)

Maria Virginia Alves Martins1, Eduardo Ferreira da Silva1, Cintia Yamashita2, Silvia Sousa2, João Manuel Alveirinho Dias3, Rubens Figueira2, Michel Mahiques2

1GeoBioTec Research Centre, Aveiro University, Portugal 2Oceanographic Institute, São Paulo University, Brazil 3Algarve University, Portugal E-mail: [email protected] This study was carried out in a coastal ecosystem under strong anthropogenic pressure, Ria de Aveiro (N Portugal). The main aims of this study are to identify heavy metals contamination patches caused by anthropic activities in this lagoon and to evaluate the pollutants and organic enrichment effects on benthic foraminifera communities. This work was based on the study of grab-samples collected in 85 sites in Aveiro lagoon channels, between March and July 2006. At each site some environmental parameters, such as temperature, salinity, pH and Eh, were measured, in water and sediment. Sediment’s split for grain size, geochemical and foraminifer’s analyses were taken at each site. Grain-size measurements were carried out by means of the classical sieve analysis technique. The sedimentary geochemical analysis was preformed by total digestion (with HClO4-HNO3-HCl-HF) of each sample, followed by ICP-MS analysis. These results were the initial approach for measuring pollution through the load pollution index (LPI) for eight metals (Al, As, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the study area. This information was complemented with a metal fractionation technique (sequential chemical extraction) done in the most polluted sites to evaluate the available pollution level of the sediments (for exchangeable cations adsorbed by clay and for elements co-precipitated with carbonates and adsorbed by organic matter). About 90 species of benthic foraminifera were found alive in the area. Canonical analyses was used to estimate the correlation between total and available elemental concentrations (determined by total digestion of the sediment and by sequential chemical extraction), Eh values, the percentage of TOC and mud, and the most frequent living benthic foraminifera species/taxa (>5%): Haynesina germanica, Ammonia tepida, Bolivina ordinaria, B. pseudoplicata, Bulimina elongata/gibba, Elphidium spp. and agglutinated spp. Results suggest that H. germanica and A. tepida can be used as potential bio-indicators of pollution. These species dominate in sites with higher available concentrations of heavy metals whereas bolivinids and buliminids are more correlated with the organic enrichment and lower values of Eh.


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Biostratigraphy and climatic oscillations in the Late Quaternary of the Guyana Basin based on planktonic foraminifera

Geise S. Anjos-Zerfass1, Francisco J. Sierro Sánchez2, José A. Flores2, Joan O. Grimalt3

1PETROBRAS, Brazil 2University of Salamanca, Spain 3University of Barcelona, Spain E-mail: [email protected] The correlation between the short-term climatic oscillations recognized at high latitudes with those observed in tropical regions represents an important aspect of research on Quaternary climate. The Younger Dryas, initially identified in the North Atlantic and Greenland, was subsequently recognized in low latitude regions such as the Cariaco Basin and the Ecuadorian Andes. The purpose of this study is to recognize variations in the composition of planktonic foraminfera assemblages associated to climatic changes in a tropical area. Planktonic foraminifera assemblages from a core collected in the Guyana Basin (Western Tropical Atlantic) were evaluated. Core MD03-2616 was recovered during the cruise PICASSO by the R/V Marion Dufresne at the continental margin of the French Guyana at a water depth of 1237m and consists of olive green clays and silts with abundant foraminifera. This core represents a sedimentary section of 39m from which the uppermost 7m were studied. The analyses were carried out for 175 samples, in the µ150>m size fraction. An average of 400 specimens per sample was counted. A total of 28 species were recognized and it was observed the conspicuous predominance of tropical taxa such as Globigerinoides ruber (white) and G. sacculifer. Cold water species are represented by Neobloboquadrina pachyderma (dextral), Globorotalia inflata and Globigerina quinqueloba reaching the maximum of 2.5% of the total specimens per sample. The distribution of the Globorotalia menardii plexus, Pulleniatina obliquiloculata, Globorotalia inflata, Globorotalia truncatulinoides and Globorotalia crassaformis, allows the identification of biozones Y and Z and the subzones Y2, Y1, Z2 and Z1 (late Pleistocene – Holocene). The distribution of the species shows an increase in the number of specimens of warm water taxa toward the top of the studied section, indicating a progressive warming trend. However, approximately 25 cm below the top of the section, at the base of the subzone Z1, an increment in the abundance of cold water species was observed, indicating a sharp event of cooling. This peak marks an episode of interruption the progressive warming that can be related to the Younger Dryas, demonstrating the potential of planktonic foraminifera assemblages as a proxy for climate changes in the region under consideration.

Benthic foraminifera including soft-shelled species from 3500 m and 4200 m water depth in Nazaré canyon

Ana A. Aranda da Silva1, Andrew J. Gooday2

1CESAM an LNEG, Aveiro University, Portugal 2National Oceanography Centre, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] “Live” (stained) and dead benthic foraminiferal assemblages (> 150 mm fraction) including soft-shelled species in multicore samples (0-5 cm layers) were studies in replicate samples from the middle (3200-3500m) and lower (4400 m) sections of the Nazaré canyon on the Portuguese margin, and at corresponding sites on the adjacent slope. The samples were collected during R.R.S. Discovery cruise 247 (2005) R.R.S. Charles Darwin cruise 179 (2006), within the framework of the HERMES project. The assemblages were analysed in terms of abundance, taxonomic composition, diversity and dominance, vertical distribution patterns within the sediment and live:dead ratios. Soft-shelled monothalamous species were more abundant than calcareous species at both water depths, both in the canyon and on the adjacent slope. The analysis of replicate cores revealed considerable small-scale heterogeneity, emphasising the need to examine more than one sample in order to characterise foraminiferal assemblages and that benthic foraminifera should be analysed alongside metazoan communities using similar methods.

Marine vs. non-marine Miocene sedimentation in the foreland of Central Andes: the presence of foraminifera in lacustrine facies of Northern Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina

Maria Noelia Arce1, Igor J. C. Gavriloff1

1Tucuman National University, Argentina E-mail: [email protected] Along the foreland of Andes in South America, there are several basins that have been assigned as marine during the Miocene, but with considerable controversy, e.g. tidal miocene sediments vs. fluvial miocene sediments in Amazonia basin. In Argentina, the “Paranaense Sea” (middle/upper Miocene) presents a clearly marine gradient from the East to the West into the Chaco-Parana basin. To the West, diverse formations present paranaense’s foraminifera together with groups of brackish or fresh-water macro and microfauna. In this region, the Santa Maria Group (Sierras Pampeanas, Tucuman and Catamarca provinces), includes two formations with thick lacustrine sequences, San Jose Formation (middle Miocene) and Chiquimil Formation (upper Miocene). Since the foraminifera discovery in this group in the ’80 decade, the sedimentary rocks that hold them were in general assigned to the San Jose Formation, even though without a precise stratigraphic control. In this first stage of our research, the goals are: the


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sistematic identification of the foraminifera fauna, the stratigraphic identification into lithostratigraphic units of the layers containing them and the exposure of hypotheses explaining the presence of foraminifera in lacustrine facies. Metodologically we made facial and sistematic field sampling in outcrops of layers assigned as fertile in foramifera, and also have been used samples supplied by YPF company. From a total of 35 samples, 14 were positive containing foraminifera. Four samples correspond to Chiquimil Formation with the following species: Ammonia parkinsoniana (d’Orbigny) and Lippsina demens (Bik), forma santamariana Zabert. In this formation is noteworthy the joint presence of Characids with Ammonia parkinsoniana (d’Orbigny) in the same stratigraphic level. Ten samples of San Jose Formation gave the following species: Ammonia parkinsoniana (d’Orbigny) and Nonion sp. We conclude that both lacustrine formations of Santa Maria Group are carrier of a foraminiferal microfauna. The direct relationship of the lakes with the Paranense Sea or the possible foraminiferal sowing in the lakes by coastal birds migrations, both are the two hypotheses that must be constrated to explain the presence of foraminifera in Santa Maria Group

The impact of thermal pollution on benthic foraminifera in the SE Mediterranean shore (Israel)

Ruthie Nina Arieli1, Ahuva Almogi-Labin2, Sigal Abramovich1, Barak Herut3

1Ben Gurion University, Israel 2Geological Survey of Israel, Israel 3Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Israel E-mail: [email protected] Scientific and public awareness to global warming increased significantly lately. In the Mediterranean Sea the current rate of warming stands at 0.028 °C/year in accordance with global warming forecast. In this study we examined the effects of locally elevated vs. natural SST on benthic foraminifera in a thermal patch originating from Hadera Power Plant off the Israeli coast since it presents a unique small-scale analog for expected future rise in SST. Ten monthly sampling campaigns were performed in 2007 in 4 stations located along a temperature gradient of ~10°C, from the discharge site of heated seawater to 2.5km south. Living benthic foraminifera were collected from shoreface complex of macroalgae and sediments trapped within. SST varied between winter, 25/18 °C and summer, 36/31 °C along the transect. In the natural, unaffected station foraminifera reach maximal abundance in winter and spring. Seasonality was less clear in the thermal polluted stations. A significant negative correlation was found between SST and benthic foraminiferal abundance, species richness and species diversity. Foraminiferal abundance was significantly lower at the thermally polluted stations, especially in

summer, but also throughout the entire year, indicating that thermal pollution has a detrimental effect on benthic foraminifera, irrelevant to the natural cyclic changes in SST. The foraminiferal abundances decrease drastically as SST rises, reaching a minimum when SST rises above 30 °C, indicating that this temperature may be a critical threshold above which foraminiferal growth and reproduction are severely retarded. Species richness reached extremely low values at the thermally polluted stations compared to the natural, unaffected station. This indicates that some species have adapted to the elevated temperatures better than others. The foraminiferal assemblage is composed mostly of epiphytic species with a total of 42 species. Out of the 6 dominant species Rosalina globularis, Tretomphalus bulloides and Textularia agglutinans prefer winter, Lachlanella spp. reach maximum abundances in spring and Pararotalia spinigera in summer. The miliolids, Lachlanella sp. 1 and sp. 2 seem to have high tolerance to the elevated SST and even survived the most extreme summer temperatures at the thermally polluted stations. In this research we show that even a rise, as small as 2 °C, in SST can have serious ramifications on the benthic community characteristics living in the near shore environment.

Coastal pollution monitoring: Foraminifera as tracers of environmental perturbation in the harbor of Boulogne-sur-Mer

Eric Armynot du Châtelet1, Kristina Gebhardt2, Martin R. Langer2

1University Lille 1, France 2Steinmann Institut für Geologie, Mineralogie und Paläontologie, Universität Bonn, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Boulogne-sur-Mer hosts the largest industrial fishing port in France and lies at a strategic junction point for sea, land and rail connections. Its geographic location along the busiest navigation channel in the world and the industrial activities of the ferromanganese plant Comilog (closed in 2003), are key issues of environmental concern affecting the marine habitats off Boulogne-sur-Mer. As part of an ecosystem observation used to monitor environmental evolution within the port basins, we have conducted a comprehensive study to analyze the composition, diversity and distribution of benthic foraminifera. The foraminifera are ubiquitous components of virtually all marine environments and play an important role in the economy and balance of the biosphere. Their abundance, diversity and diagnostic distribution make them particularly useful (bio-)indicators to assess the quality of marine waters and monitor the effects of potential agents of pollution. Two major questions are addressed by this project: (1) which species live in the harbor basin environments of Boulogne-sur-Mer and (2) what are the environmental and geographical ranges of these taxa. Forty sediment samples were selected for the


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analysis of foraminifera and 16 samples were selected for sediment analysis (grain size, concentrations in C, H, N, S, Cu, Cr, Zn and Pb). Four species of foraminifera were identified as key species: Bolivina pseudoplicata and Haynesina germanica are frequent at the inner part of the harbor, and Elphidium excavatum and E. magellanicum are dominant in the outer part of the harbor. The key species and their global diversity are clearly variable throughout the harbor and links between them and natural/anthropogenic parameters were calculated. The confinement of taxa to specific harbor environments are discussed in terms of environmental and anthropogenic perturbations. At least for benthic foraminifera, pollution appears to amplify the natural stress phenomena within the shallow-water harbor area.

Foraminifera and testate amoebae, micro-palaeontological tools for past reconstruction; application on a 15th century wreck history reconstruction

Eric Armynot du Châtelet1, Philippe Recourt1, Alain Trentesaux1

1University Lille 1, France E-mail: [email protected] This study is a contribution for the use of foraminifera and testate amoebae for past environmental reconstructions. The objective of this study is to demonstrate how small organisms such as foraminifera and testate amoebae can explain why a 15th century big wreck sinks in a changing coastal environment. This 15 meter long coastal vessel has been discovered recently in the course of Canche river (North France) at 12 km from its mouth. This river is now not suitable for navigation. Our objective is to constrain the environmental changes that occurred from the 15th century using those organisms. Foraminifera have narrow environmental tolerances allowing reconstruction of micro-habitats such as brackish, estuarine, coastal and littoral. Testate amoebae complete this reconstruction within freshwater and brackish environment. Hence, the microfauna is particularly suitable for past archeological reconstruction in transitional marine-continent environments, especially in complex estuarine environments. These guidelines are verified by sampling 79 surface samples and selecting 13 of them with key positions from the sea mouth up to 1km upstream of the wreck. This first set of sample is used to construct a data base of the extent of the foraminiferal and testate amoebae species distribution and the assemblages from the open sea to the river. Around the wreck, 10 cores have been performed. Forty four layers were selected to analyze the faunal content. This historical record is interpreted on the base of the assemblages defined along the modern river. The study concluded that the boat sailed within an upper estuary composed of several wide channels

largely influence by the open sea. The boat ran aground on a sand bank in a secondary channel. Since that time during the global infilling of the estuary, the main channel moved and incised the modern channel around the wreck.

Variation in Surface Water Productivity and Sea Floor Oxygenation During The Last Phase Of The Southern Tethys Late Cretaceous Upwelling System

Sarit Ashckenazi-Polivoda1, Sigal Abramovich1, Ahuva Almogi-Labin2, Aya Schneider-Mor1, Simon Feinstein1

1Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel 2Geological Survey of Israel, Israel E-mail: [email protected] The Late Cretaceous succession in Israel is part of an extensive high productivity upwelling regime that persisted over ~20 m.y. in the southern margins of the Tethys. The system, characterized by high nutrient levels, is often associated with oxygen deficient bottom water and accumulation of phosphates, porcelanites, cherts and organic rich carbonates (“oil shales”). The deposition of a ~40 m thick oil shale sequence in the Negev, Israel, indicates a major change in the evolution of this high-productivity regime and reorganization of the marine ecosystem. The main objective of this study was to reconstruct changes in surface water productivity and sea floor oxygenation during the deposition of the OSM (Oil Shale Member) and the transition with the underlying Phosphorite unit and overlying Marl Member, by using high-resolution records of planktic and benthic foraminifera and TOC content. Another objective was to establish a biostratigraphic scheme based on the most updated Late Cretaceous planktic foraminiferal zonation. The updated age of the OSM, determined by integrating planktic foraminifera, calcareous nannofossils and inoceramids suggests that the OSM sequence spans maximum of 1.85 m.y. from 71.6 to 69.85 Ma, with sedimentation rate of 2.4 cm/kyr. Five distinct planktic (P-Types) and benthic (B-Type) foraminiferal assemblages were distinguished in the studied section. The upward change from P-Type 5 to 1 correlates with the decrease in TOC (18-0.1 wt%), signifying a strong linkage between foraminiferal assemblages and upper water productivity. This relation indicates that Globigerinelloides spp. (mainly G. asper) are the best tracers for extreme eutrophic surface water, whereas heterohelicids are associated with more mesotrophic conditions. The upward transition from assemblages B-type 5 to 1 mainly reflect a change from the predominance of Praebuliminids and Neobuliminids to more diversified rotaliid-dominating assemblages, indicating an increase in bottom water aeration. The significant positive correlation between B-types, and P-types assemblages and TOC content along the studied sequence implies a strong linkage


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between changes in surface water productivity and bottom water aeration. This indicates a gradual decline in surface water productivity and increase in bottom water aeration from the Phosphorite unit throughout the OSM up to the base of the Marl member.

“Living” (CTG vs Rose Bengal) benthic foraminifera distribution in Western Ross Sea (Antarctica)

Alessandra Asioli1, Leonardo Langone2

1Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Geoscienze e Georisorse- UOS Padova,, Italy 2ISMAR-CNR, Italy E-mail: [email protected] During the XX Antarctic Italian Cruise (austral summer 2004-2005) ten box-cores were collected from surface sediment in the Drygalski Basin, in correspondence of the Terra Nova Polynya (site of High Salinity Shelf Water formation), on the western continental shelf and the adjacent slope, along the pathway of bottom water spreading. The goal was to investigate the modern foraminifera distribution along that bottom water path, integrating with sediment geochemistry (TOC, C and N stable isotopes). CTD profiles were obtained in six sites. To distinguish living and dead foraminifera, the uppermost 4 cm (0-0.5/0.5-1/1-2/2-3/3-4 levels) were treated with CellTrackerGreen following the method suggested by Bernhard et al. (2006). Quantitative vertical distribution of CTG reactive foraminifera within the sediment has been investigated. Moreover, for comparison, after removing the CTG reactive specimens, a quantitative analysis has been carried out on the same samples subsequently treated with Rose Bengal. To integrate seasonal and spatial changes, the dead assemblage has been also studied. CTD parameters indicate that during the sampling High Salinity Shelf Water was present on the shelf and modified Circumpolar Deep Water on the slope, along which no energetic gravity currents were observed. The CTG benthic foraminifera standing stock is generally low and shows strong dominance of calcareous taxa, such as Nonionella spp, in Terra Nova Bay probably in response to the high productivity of the polynya area, accompanied by agglutinated taxa such as Reophax spp, Recurvoides contortus, and Trochammina spp. On the slope, the living assemblage, always poor, is dominated by agglutinated taxa. In general, but not always, Rose Bengal counting result is qualitatively, but not quantitatively, similar to the CTG results, confirming the overestimation of living specimens treated with RB. The thanatocenosis assemblage confirms the general strong carbonate dissolution of this area. In particular, Trochammina multiloculata, present only in the dead assemblage of all the stations, mainly in the slope sites, is interpreted as a species proliferating during a season different from the one of the sampling time. The vertical

distribution into the sediment of CTG reactive foraminifers suggest a shallow infaunal microhabitat for Nonionella spp, an intermediate (shelf sites) to shallow (slope sites) infaunal position for Reophax spp, probably in response to lower oxygen content in the slope bottom water.

The species concept in planktonic foraminifera in view of molecular genetics: the case of Globigerinoides ruber

Ralf Aurahs1, Yvonne Treis1, André Wizemann1, Michal Kucera1

1Eberhard-Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Recent SSU rDNA sequence data of G. ruber show that out of five genetic types so far recognised in individuals assign to G. ruber (white), only half (labelled Type Ia, Type Ib and Type Ib2) is closely related to G. ruber (pink), which is represented by a single genetic type. In contrast, Types IIa1, IIa2 and IIb are closer related to G. conglobatus. A molecular clock approach based on SSU rDNA sequence data for the Globigerinoides clade suggests a recent origin of G. ruber in the late Miocene around 6 Ma. These results indicate that all records of G. ruber prior to the G. ruber “pseudo-extinction” event at 8 Ma refer to the species G. subquadratus. Guided by first observations on differences in gross morphology between individuals of Type IIa and Type Pink from the Eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, we conducted morphometric measurements on (i) pictures of specimens with known genetic identity, (ii) shells from sediment samples, (iii) specimens assigned to G. ruber and G. elongatus from a museum collection and (iv) pictures of G. ruber sensu lato from recent literature. Our results suggest that specimens of Type IIa are morphologically identical to the concept of G. ruber sensu lato in recent literature, and that these morphotypes are consistent with the description of G. elongatus, a species synonymised with G. ruber in the 1960s. Given the degree of divergence among the individual types, the current morphological definition applied for G. ruber thus includes at least three distinct species. The name G. ruber (sensu d’Orbigny) should be reserved for specimens of the pink genotype and chromotype, the name G. elongatus (sensu d’Orbigny) should be reinstated and used for the genetic Type IIa and the morphotype G. ruber s.l.. Specimens of Types Ia, Ib and Ib2 require a new species name, but our data are not sufficient to provide a morphological character separating these specimens from their sister G. ruber pink, other than by their shell colouration. This analysis shows that a combination of morphological and molecular data can help to bring the morphological species concept used in taxonomy closer to a biologically and phylogenetically meaningful unit. It also shows that the probability of separation between “cryptic” genetic types appear to be correlated with their age of divergence.


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Benthic foraminifera as palaeoenvironmental indicators of the last millennium

William E.N. Austin1, Alix G. Cage1 1University of St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] The first decadal-scale reconstruction of British coastal temperature anomalies spanning the last millennium is presented from a sea loch (fjord) basin, Loch Sunart, NW Scotland. Based on modern observation and the results of previous numerical modeling of fjord circulation, benthic foraminiferal oxygen isotope records are interpreted as a record of summer temperature. A significant climate transition, apparently driven by large-scale reorganization of northern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation, occurs in the record around AD 1400. An abrupt, but relatively short-lived climate warming occurs between AD 1540–1610, when the bottom water temperature anomalies are 1.1˚C above the long-term average, which is warmer than most of the 20th century and the late Medieval Warm Period. A long-term cooling occurs throughout the Little Ice Age culminating in the coldest recorded temperature anomalies between the late 1920s and 1940s. The warmest reconstructed temperatures of the past millennium occurred in the last 5 years of the record, which ends in 2006. A replicated post-AD 1900 shift in benthic foraminiferal δ13C of ca -0.6‰ provides evidence of the Oceanic δ13C Suess Effect; this feature provides an independent test of the age model and demonstrates the value of benthic foraminifera as palaeoproxies in the Loch Sunart record. In this paper, we review the role of benthic foraminifera in the generation of this unique palaeoenvironmental record and critically evaluate some of the key aspects of foraminiferal ecology/palaeoecology requiring further research effort. In particular, we focus on the concept of the “seasonal effect” on shell biogeochemistry and the significant uncertainty this introduces to middle- and high-latitude shelf sea palaeoceanography.

Macroevolution of Cenozic macroperforate planktonic foraminifera

Tracy Aze1, Paul N. Pearson1, Andy Purvis2, Thomas H.G. Ezard2

1School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Cardiff, United Kingdom 2Division of Biology, Imperial College London, Ascot, United Kingdom A phylogeny of Cenozoic macroperforate planktonic foraminifer morphospecies has been developed from a large body of work detailing their evolutionary relationships and stratigraphic distributions. As gradual evolution is well documented in this group the initial phylogeny has been transformed into a lineage phylogeny by removing cases of

pseudospeciation and pseudoextinction (the appearance and disappearance of morphospecies by phyletic transformation rather than cladogenesis and true extinction). From this we estimate nearly 40% of morphospecies extinctions within this clade to be pseudoextinctions. Morphospecies have been assigned to morphogroups and ecogroups depending on test morphology and inferred habitat, respectively. Iterated evolution of morphology and ecology is well known in this group. However, mapping the morphogroup and ecogroup transitions onto the phylogenies shows the iterative pattern to be more complicated than initially envisaged. Repeated evolution of morphology and ecology seems to be spread across the clade as a whole, rather than one root stock giving rise to multiple lineages with iterated patterns occurring frequently. The completeness and accuracy of our phylogeny depend on the fossil record being sufficiently complete such that the stratigraphic ranges assigned to morphospecies can be trusted. We used the Neptune database to test the accuracy of our phylogeny by comparing our morphospecies’ stratigraphic ranges with the proportion of their durations as represented in Neptune by at least one recorded fossil occurrence per 1MY. Using this 1MY bin length, the 290 species within our phylogeny represented in Neptune have a mean completeness of 83.3% and 60% have a complete fossil record. Given the limitations of databases such as Neptune, these figures suggest that the species-level fossil record of Cenozoic macroperforate planktonic foraminifera is at least as good as the genus-level records of the best-preserved macroinvertebrate groups.

Taphonomy and Ecology of Amphistegina spp in Coral Reef Health Status

Catia Fernandes Barbosa1, Jose Carlos Sicoli Seoane2, Beatrice Padovani Ferreira3, Patricia Oliveira Silva1, Ana Lidia Bertoldi Gaspar1

1Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil 2Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 3Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil E-mail: [email protected] Evaluation of benthic conditions to support coral reef populations is fundamental in coral reef health analysis. Foraminifera as living sands can be useful in ecological status of coral reef benthic ecosystems, once foraminifera contribute to the carbonate factory. Their functional groups have been used in calculating the FORAM index (FI, Hallock et al., 2003), which can indicate environmental conditions to support other symbiont-bearing populations, thus oligotrophic conditions. The objective of this work was to test the applicability of taphonomy and living counts of Amphistegina spp. in ecological analysis, comparing these with FI (based on total counts), and coral-reef-and-algal coverage. This can potentially help in optimizing time-consuming foraminiferal analysis for


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monitoring programs. Coral reef sediment was sampled from two archipelagos, located 14 degrees of latitude apart, offshore NE Brazil margin on the Southwest Atlantic. These archipelagos harbor important coral reef communities: the Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha (3o51’S / 32o26’W), a group of volcanic oceanic islands with areas of coral communities, but no true coral reefs, and the Abrolhos Archipelago and parcel (17o58’S / 38o42’W) the largest coral reef formation in Brazil, located on the wide carbonate shelf of South Bahia. Foraminifers census was compared with oceanic and sedimentary data, and a short time series (2002-2009) of percentages of area covered by corals and algae. The living counts of Amphistegina spp. plexus, comprising the species A. gibbosa, A. lessonii, and A. papilosa, were used as an ecological approach compared to the FORAM Index, which calibrated the status of health as indicated by the later, showing dead symbiont-bearing occurrence where excellent FI was found. This indication pointed out to the long-term contribution of foraminiferal tests to the sediment where low coral cover occurs, showing a situation of health that no longer exists. Thus, FI results do not converge with coral cover results but living counts of Amphistegina do. However if FI were to consider the living counts it would be more useful to demonstrate the health status. The main stress fronts were visualized in GIS in order to assess and evaluate health status. The observations presented herein can be used as the starting point for the monitoring of two important areas harboring coral reef communities in the Southwestern Atlantic.

Benthic foraminifera as bio-indicators of coastal water quality in the Mediterranean Sea in relation to the implementation of the water framework directive

Christine Barras1, Emamnuelle Geslin1, Frans Jorissen1, Bruno Andral2, Pierre Boissery3 1BIAF, France 2IFREMER, France 3Agence de l’Eau Rhône Méditerranée et Corse, France E-mail: [email protected] In the context of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the Water Agency Rhône Méditerranée – Corse intends to develop a new benthic biotic index based on foraminiferal faunas. Existing benthic indices, mainly based on macrofauna, present significant drawbacks such as the large sediment volume required, the difficulty to establish the initial ecological state of the study area and the lack of specialists for taxonomical identification. Foraminifera are unicellular marine micro-organisms which calcify or aggregate particles to form their tests. Their principal asset is that their tests remain in the sediment after their death. Therefore, the analysis of dead fauna gives an image of the environmental conditions in the past. The study of

foraminiferal faunas presents other advantages: 1) the sediment volume required to obtain statistically significant data is small, 2) their life cycle is short so they react rapidly to environmental changes, and 3) identification of benthic foraminifera to species level is relatively easy compared to macrofauna. In this context, we study benthic foraminiferal faunas from the French Mediterranean coast (mainland and Corsica) to develop a biotic index. For each water body defined by the WFD in our study area, we study the density, diversity and distribution of foraminiferal faunas. The analyses of the dead faunas can inform us about the environmental conditions at these stations in a historical past, prior to the sampling period (March 2009). If successful, this foraminiferal bio-indicator method will be proposed for implementation in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Symptoms of stress in the post K-T coastal ecosystem of Rajahmundry (SE India) in relationship with Deccan giant lava flows

Annachiara Bartolini1, Silvia Gardin2, Thierry Adatte3, Eric Humler4, Sophie Retailleau4, Gerta Keller5, Sunil Bajpai6, Marie-Thérèse Vénec-Peyré1

1Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle CNRS UMR7207, France 2University of Paris VI CNRS UMR7207, France 3University of Lausanne, Switzerland 4University of Nantes, France 5University of Princeton, United States 6Indian Institute of Technology, India E-mail: [email protected] Rajahmundry Trap lavas, near the east coast of peninsular India, are remnants of giant lava flows (~ 1000 km long), derived from the most massive Deccan eruptive phase spanning the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary (Self et al. 2008). Thanks to the presence of marine intertraps sediments, Rajahmundry is a key region to better understand the impact of Deccan volcanism on marine ecosystem. Planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy constrains the age of the Rajahmundry intertraps sediments to the post K-T (earliest Paleocene, zone P1a, Keller et al. 2008). Benthic foraminifers coupled with carbon and oxygen stable isotope data suggest that these sediments were deposited in a coastal-estuarine environment, with alternate salinity fluctuations. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages are typically low species diversity, dominated by Nonionidae, with Nonion kingi Bhalla and Protoelphidium adamsi Bhalla as characteristic species. Relatively high percentages of tests presenting deformations have been observed: 11-13 % for Nonion kingi and 8-15 % for Protoelphidium adamsi. The majority of deformations is represented by a reduced chamber, interrupting the regularity of the coiling. This kind of deformation can be interpreted as breakdown or as “slowdown” of the growth. The very low diversity and the dominance of opportunist Nonion kingi and Protoelphidium adamsi


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in the studied samples are a clear symptom of stress, related to the littoral situation of the deposits.The estuary is a stressful environment due to change in water salinity and temperature, as well as to high turbidity. Nevertheless, the presence of relatively high percentage of deformed tests seems to indicate an additional factor of stress, likely due to volcanic pollution. As matter of fact, the sediments yielding abnormal foraminifers present an enrichment of heavy metals such as V, Cu, Co, Cr. Moreover, Chondrite-normalized rare earth elements (REE) pattern shows a clear Deccan volcanic component for these sediments. The weathering of huge volumes (in the range of 2400-9300 Km3 for each giant lava flow-field) of freshly erupted Deccan basalts might have provoked an enrichment of heavy metals or of some other harmful elements, especially in the surrounding shallow water coastal environments. Rajahmundry Trap lavas, near the east coast of peninsular India, are remnants of giant lava flows (~ 1000 km long), derived from the most massive Deccan eruptive phase spanning the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary (Self et al. 2008). Thanks to the presence of marine intertraps sediments, Rajahmundry is a key region to better understand the impact of Deccan volcanism on marine ecosystem. Planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy constrains the age of the Rajahmundry intertraps sediments to the post K-T (earliest Paleocene, zone P1a, Keller et al. 2008). Benthic foraminifers coupled with carbon and oxygen stable isotope data suggest that these sediments were deposited in a coastal-estuarine environment, with alternate salinity fluctuations. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages are typically low species diversity, dominated by Nonionidae, with Nonion kingi Bhalla and Protoelphidium adamsi Bhalla as characteristic species. Relatively high percentages of tests presenting deformations have been observed: 11-13 % for Nonion kingi and 8-15 % for Protoelphidium adamsi. The majority of deformations is represented by a reduced chamber, interrupting the regularity of the coiling. This kind of deformation can be interpreted as breakdown or as “slowdown” of the growth. The very low diversity and the dominance of opportunist Nonion kingi and Protoelphidium adamsi in the studied samples are a clear symptom of stress, related to the littoral situation of the deposits.The estuary is a stressful environment due to change in water salinity and temperature, as well as to high turbidity. Nevertheless, the presence of relatively high percentage of deformed tests seems to indicate an additional factor of stress, likely due to volcanic pollution. As matter of fact, the sediments yielding abnormal foraminifers present an enrichment of heavy metals such as V, Cu, Co, Cr. Moreover, Chondrite-normalized rare earth elements (REE) pattern shows a clear Deccan volcanic component for these sediments. The weathering of huge volumes (in the range of 2400-9300 Km3 for each giant lava flow-field) of freshly erupted Deccan basalts might have provoked an enrichment of heavy metals or of some other harmful elements, especially in the surrounding shallow water coastal environments.

Barremian-Lower Aptian zonation of large benthic foraminifera from the Urgonian Platform of Southeastern France (Vercors, Ardèche, Gard)

Fanny Bastide1, Annie Arnaud Vanneau2, Lucie Bonvallet1 1TOTAL et Université de Grenoble 2Université de Grenoble et Association Dolomieu, France E-mail:[email protected] The Urgonian carbonate platform surrounding the French Vocontian basin is one of the best exposed carbonate platforms on the planet. The Urgonian limestones were deposited on a shelf-type platform, which developed between the lower Barremian and lower Aptian on the continental margin of Northern Tethys. The Urgonian platform is divided into two formations and is composed of 7 depositional sequences, from BA1 to AP2. The lower Barremian Bioclastic Limestone Formation developed on the platform margin (BA1 and BA2 depositional sequences and BA3 lowstand systems tract); the upper Barremian-lower Aptian Urgonian Limestone Formation developed in an inner-platform setting and is composed of rudistid facies. The Urgonian Limestone Formation can be further subdivided into four members: (i) the lower Urgonian Limestone Member (BA3 transgressive and highstand systems tract, BA4 and BA5 depositional sequences); (ii) the lower Orbitolina Marl Member (AP1 transgressive systems tract), the first step of the Aptian transgression; (iii) the upper Urgonian Limestone Member consisting of inner-platform rudistid and coral facies (AP1 highstand systems tract); and (iv) the upper Orbitolina Marl Member (AP2 depositional sequence), which corresponds to the OAE1a Oceanic Anoxic Event. The basal lower Barremian Bioclastic Limestone Formation (BA1 and BA2 depositional sequences and BA3 lowstand prograding wedge) corresponds to a narrow fringing platform and is characterized by the assemblage of small high conical orbitolinids (Paleodictyoconus cuvillieri, Urgonina alpillensis, Cribellopsis thieuloyi, Orbitolinopsis debelmasi ...). The depositional sequence BA3 (transgressive and highstand systems tracts) shows the occurrence of flat orbitolinids such as Praedictyorbitolina carthusiana, Eopalorbitolina and the first appearance of Palorbitolina. The depositional sequences BA4 and BA5 are characterized by various Paracoskinolina (P. sunnilandensis, P. maynci, P. hispanica, P. reicheli) and Neotrocholina friburgensis; high conical forms and flattened forms are thus found together. The depositional sequences AP1 is characterized by the abundance of Palorbitolina lenticularis (Orbitolina marl) and of Orbitolinopsis (kiliani, cuvillieri, buccifer, pygmaea), as well as the disappearance of large sized Neotrocholina. The highstand of this sequence is marked by the occurrence of a new foraminifer: Massonnatiella. AP2, the last depositional sequence, is dominated by Palorbitolina lenticularis with an arenaceous test.


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Benthic foraminifera to detect recent environ-mental changes and reference conditions in pol-luted marine sites: the case study of Taranto (Southern Italy)

Luisa Bergamin1, Elena Romano1, Maria Cristina Succi2, Giancarlo Pierfranceschi1, Maria Gabriella Carboni2

1ISPRA Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Italy 2Earth Sciences Department, Sapienza University, Italy E-mail: [email protected] The environmental characterization of Italian marine coastal areas subjected to heavy anthropogenic impact (Contaminated Sites of National relevance), in order to plan reclamation action, has been carried out for several years. ISPRA (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) was charged by Ministry of Environment to define characterization strategy for all these areas. In this contest, although not included in the official protocols, the study of benthic foraminifera has been applied in some of these areas, like as Taranto area, as experimental research and it has been recognized as a reliable tool to highlight the environmental degradation by ecological viewpoint. The study of sediment cores including sediments referable to pre-impacted times by means of the analysis of foraminifera, integrated by grain-size and geochemical analyses is useful to reconstruct the environmental evolution through time. This kind of research, which may be defined as ecological characterization because it’s applied for the basic faunal knowledge, may not be carried out by using other macro or meio-faunal benthic groups, differently from bio-monitoring. Taranto coastal area (southern Italy) is a semi-enclosed basin currently affected by heavy impact due to petro-chemical industries, oil refineries and electric power plants and by large harbour activity. One sediment core, collected in front of the harbour piers, was analysed for foraminifera, grain-size, heavy metals, PAHs and PCBs. Analytical results were processed by bivariate and multivariate statistical analysis in order to recognise distinct assemblages, each one referable to a single environment, and to highlight environmental factors determining foraminifera distribution. Additionally, 15 superficial sediment samples collected from the inner and central basin were considered to compare them with faunal changes recorded in the core. Three main foraminiferal zones were recognized along the core, with deep-water Pleistocene assemblage in the basal portion. Recent sedimentation is characterized first by an assemblage with Rosalina bradyi, referable to coastal vegetated bottom, and in the upper part by an assemblage with Eggerelloides scabrus associated to polluted sediments. This faunal shift seems due to anthropogenic environmental deterioration associated to the regression of Posidonia prairie, which presently stands on the side of the harbour.

Is foraminiferal denitrification performed by the eukaryote or by prokaryotic associates?

Joan M. Bernhard1, Virginia P. Edgcomb1, Karen L. Casciotti1, Matthew R. McIlvin1, David J. Beaudoin1

1Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, United States E-mail: [email protected] Until recently, the process of denitrification (conversion of nitrate or nitrite to nitrous oxide and/or nitrogen gas) was thought to be performed exclusively by prokaryotes and some fungi. Recent work suggests complete denitrification in certain foraminifera inhabiting micro-oxic environments. This important finding impacts our understanding of nitrogen losses from the marine environment as well as fundamental concepts of eukaryotic respiration. However, details of this process and the sub-cellular location of these reactions in foraminifera remain unclear. For example, endobionts, rather than the foraminifer proper, could be performing denitrification in some cases. Here we measured intracellular nitrate concentrations and nitrogen isotope ratios (delta15N-NO3

-) in several species of benthic foraminifera recovered from Santa Barbara Basin. Where measurable, intracellular nitrate had elevated delta15N values, suggestive of nitrate consumption within the foraminifera. We also detected genes nirS and nirK, which encode two different forms of dissimilatory nitrite reductase involved in denitrification, in DNA extracted from foraminifera. While we originally hypothesized that Bolivina argentea, which lacks endobionts and sequestered plastids, would be unable to denitrify, the gene nirK was detected in B. argentea DNA. In addition, suboxic and anoxic incubations of B. argentea from laboratory maintenance cultures revealed a decrease in intracellular nitrate concentration and increase in delta15N-NO3

- over time, which is indicative of nitrate respiration, or denitrification. Further results suggest that denitrification occurs in a range of foraminiferal species, including some lacking endobionts and some possessing endobionts (including some chloroplast-husbanding species), implying that microbial associates are not solely responsible for this process in foraminifera. (Supported by NSF EF-0702491.)


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Novel method combining carbonate carbon isotopic and cellular ultrastructural analysis of individual benthic foraminifera: assessing controls of apparent disequilibrium in hydrocarbon seeps

Joan M. Bernhard1, Jonathan B. Martin2, Jason Curtis2, Anthony E. Rathburn3

1Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, United States 2University of Florida, United States 3Indiana State University, United States E-mail: [email protected] The dogma that the δ13C values of benthic foraminiferal carbonate correlates predictably with ambient δ13CDIC values has recently been drawn into question by observations that calcite of foraminiferal tests (shells) in cold methane-seep habitats are as much as 40‰ out of equilibrium with the ambient δ13CDIC of bulk pore water. Disequilibrium between ambient pore water and co-occurring foraminiferal calcite has important and serious consequences for our understanding of past seep activities. The causes of such disequilibrium are likely biological and/or environmental. Our novel method to obtain both the stable carbon isotope values and cellular ultrastructure of individual foraminifera allows insights into the biological controls on an important paleoceanographic proxy for changes in carbon cycling. Specimens of six common calcareous species from both seep and non-seep samples were analyzed for their stable carbon isotopes and then examined for (1) food vacuole contents such as inorganic detritus and bacterial, algal, and/or metazoan remains, (2) heterotrophic symbiont presence/absence, and (3) intact organelles (e.g., nuclei, mitochondria). Results from our unique data set are consistent with the suggestions that, in our sites, several foraminiferal species found associated with seep clam beds do not live under seep clams, that diet and symbiont presence do not appear to be major contributors to disequilibrium, and that, of the seep-tolerant foraminiferal species, little calcification occurs while seep conditions prevail. Further, ultrastructural analysis shows that positive staining with Rose Bengal indicates presence of foraminiferal cytoplasm, bacterial biomass, or a combination of both. Finally, we show for the first time that some living seep foraminifera have endobionts. Results further suggest that our knowledge of benthic foraminiferal ecology and biomineralization, especially in extreme habitats such as seeps, must be bolstered before we fully understand the fidelity of paleontologic records derived from benthic foraminiferal test delta13C data. (Supported by NSF projects OCE-0551001, OCE-0550396, and OCE-0550401.)

Life positions of foraminifera under hydrocarbon-seep bivalves: Do species exhibit submillimeter-scale stratification?

Joan M. Bernhard1; Darin M. Lang2, Zakary Bailey2; Jonathan B. Martin3; Anthony E. Rathburn2

1Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, United States 2Indiana State University, United States 3University of Florida, United States E-mail: [email protected] In hydrocarbon cold seeps, details on the ecology, physiology, and calcification of benthic foraminifera, as well as paleoceanographic signals preserved as chemical proxies incorporated into their calcite, are little known and sometimes debated. Of the foraminiferal species that do inhabit seep environments, nearly nothing is known of their distributions on a microhabitat (millimeter) scale. Similarly, little is known of heterogeneity of chemical composition of pore water in seeps, but steep vertical porewater composition gradients and lateral heterogeneity at centimeter to meter scales suggest that variations of chemical environments could be common at micron scales within seeps. Given that microhabitat compositions can affect the concentration of chemical constituents used as paleoceanographic proxies (e.g., delta13C), a better understanding of foraminiferal distributions on a microhabitat scale is warranted. We employed the Fluorescently-Labeled Embedded Core (FLEC; Bernhard et al. 2003 Limnology and Oceanography) method to survey the sub-mm scale distributions of living benthic foraminifera in sediments under hydrocarbon seep clams and in an adjacent non-seep setting. The FLEC method allows us to determine if the living foraminifera were distributed throughout the sediment column, aggregated in horizontal or vertical patches, or veiled on the sediment surface immediately below the clam. Results suggest that seep cores (both below clams and immediately adjacent to clams) had average abundances that were similar to non-seep cores. Very few specimens were living at the sediment-water interface or just below the clams. Further, aggregations were not detected. We will also present species specific distributions and use all data to begin to assess potential explanations for the observed distributions and possible impacts such distributions have on proxy records. (Supported by NSF OCE-0551001, OCE-0550401, and OCE-0550396.)


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The impact of offshore drilling activities monitored by recent and subfossil assemblages of benthic foraminifera

Erica Bicchi1, Christine Barras1, Mariéva Deno-yelle1, Meryem Mojtahid2, Jacques Miné3, Frans Jorissen1

1BIAF, France 2National Oceanography Centre, United Kingdom 3TOTAL, France Email: [email protected] Benthic foraminiferal faunas are increasingly used to monitor the impact of offshore oil and gas activities. Recently 6 areas off western Africa, from inner continental shelf to lower slope, have been the object of detailed studies to determine the validity of foraminifera as bio-indicators of oil-based drill mud disposal. In the 6 investigated areas, with water depths between 30 and 2600 m, with very different natural environmental conditions, a rather similar faunal response to environmental perturbation is observed: 1) poor faunas close to the drill mud disposal sites; 2) a density increase of a number of stress-tolerant and/or opportunistic taxa slightly farther away from the drill platform and drill mud disposal area; 3) faunas becoming progressively similar to the natural background faunas at a larger distance from the disposal sites. Although the faunal successions are comparable, the impact of oil drilling activities appears to be maximal at the outer continental shelf and upper slope. On the inner continental shelf, it is very difficult to differentiate between natural eutrophication phenomena due to river runoff and the anthropogenic impact. In the deeper mid and lower slope ecosystems, the wider geographical dispersal of the drill muds, resulting from the longer water column transit, may lead to a less well defined faunal succession on the sea floor. The tolerant and /or opportunistic taxa, indicative of ecosystem enrichment, are recognised on the basis of distributional patterns around the disposal site, but also by a comparison of recent and subfossil faunas. In fact, tolerant/opportunistic taxa will attain much higher densities in recent than in subfossil, pre-impacted faunas. Conversely, species sensitive to perturbation will be present in the subfossil (baseline) faunas, but absent or rare in the living faunas. These indicator species are not always the same, but change in function of the trophic level and physical parameters of the natural, undisturbed environment. Consequently, ubiquitous pollution marker species do not exist and it is necessary to select marker species for every study area. Our data confirm the suitability of benthic foraminiferal faunas for the assessment of environmental impact of offshore drilling activities, but additional studies are still necessary to develop a standardised method applicable by non specialists.

Planktonic foraminifera ecology and carbon system recovery after the end Cretaceous mass extinction

Heather Birch1, Helen Coxall1, Paul Pearson1, Daniela Schmidt2

1School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, United Kingdom 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] The end Cretaceous mass extinction seriously affected the marine ecosystem. Surface to deep-ocean carbon isotope gradients and carbonate accumulation records suggest that the extinction coincided with a crash in organic matter flux to the sea floor and was followed by a long (3Myr) delay in recovery. This critical interval in Earth’s history is crucial for understanding how the marine ecosystem reacts to major perturbations. Palaeoceanography and palaeoecological studies are largely dependent on stable isotopes of planktonic foraminifera, but the foraminifera themselves were profoundly affected by the extinction as they re-diversify. Disentangling the effects of changing ecology and depth habitats on the isotopic composition of their tests is crucial for understanding how the carbon system recovered. Here we present new multispecies foraminiferal stable isotope data and planktic shell size distributions from a new, well-dated and continuous Atlantic deep sea core. The data document the evolution and diversification of photosymbiosis in Paleocene planktonic species 3 million years after the end Cretaceous extinction when the pelagic carbon system finally recovered. The data show that the geochemical signature of photosymbiosis evolved in an initially thermocline dwelling species that migrated to illuminated shallower levels. This suggests opening of a new ecological opportunity in surface waters, or stress at deeper levels, that initiated a shift in depth habitat and a tendency to retain and protect alga as symbionts rather than consume them immediately. With this new understanding of the ecology of Paleocene planktonic foraminifera indicator species, we can gain an improved understanding of the ocean nutrient and thermal restructuring and the implications for marine carbon system recovery.


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Larger Foraminifera distribution and Sr-isotope stratigraphy of the La Cova Limestones (Upper Cretaceous, Montsec Mountains, NE Spain)

Carme Boix1, Esmeralda Caus2, Gianluca Frijia3, Mariano Parente4, Vicent Vicedo2 1Badley Ashton & Associates LTD, United Kingdom 2Departament de Geologia (Paleontologia), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain 3Institut für Erd- und Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Potsdam, Germany 4Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Napoli “Federico II”, Italy Email: [email protected] The shallow-water carbonates of the La Cova Limestones extend east to west for more than 50 km, south of the main cliff of the Montsec Mountains. They correspond to a complete cycle of sedimentation bounded by erosional surfaces. Within the cycle the depositional environments vary from coastal ponds to well developed lagoons, separated from the open sea by a system of discontinuous bars. The La Cova Limestones contain a very rich and structurally diverse fauna of larger foraminifera that represents the first great diversification of the K-strategists in the Pyrenean Basin after the Cenomanian-Turonian Oceanic Anoxic Event. Although this association of larger foraminifera has long attracted the attention of palaeontologists and geologists, the chronostratigraphic distribution of many species remains still unclear. The aim of this work is to present the detailed biostratigraphical distribution of the main taxa of larger foraminifera, and to use strontium isotope stratigraphy (SIS) in order to constrain the chronostratigraphic age of the larger foraminifer assemblages. The biostratigraphical study is based on over 400 samples collected in 12 parallel sections through the whole ridge. The SIS database consists of 25 samples of biotic low Mg-calcite, coming from 14 stratigraphic localities. The samples, consisting mainly of rudists and ostreids, have been passed through a complete diagenetic screening. Only the best preserved samples have been utilized for SIS.

Using Planktonic Foraminifera to Link the Paleo-ecology and Paleo-Ocean Temperature of the Southwest Pacific Ocean

Annette Bolton1,2, Joel Baker1, Gavin B. Dunbar1,2, Lionel Carter2

1School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand 2Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand E-mail: [email protected] Using Laser Ablation (LA)-ICPMS, Mg/Ca ratios, an established proxy for ocean temperature, have been

measured in the planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber and Neogloboquadrina incompta. The samples originate from a variety of sites in the Southwest Pacific Ocean with widely differing water temperatures and preservation states that have been used to develop Mg/Ca paleo-water temperature calibration for New Zealand. Because we can sample individual chambers within foraminifera shells, LA-ICPMS can help unravel the relative contributions of vital (biological) and environmental effects on shell geochemistry, such as, whether intra-chamber Mg/Ca variability is a result of depth migration or gametogenic biomineralisation and their relative contribution to total shell Mg/Ca. The data define a relationship in G. ruber between Mg/Ca and temperature over a wide range of sea surface temperatures from 15-29 °C. For the average of all visible chambers of individuals Mg/Ca = 0.776 x e 0.069 x T, and a chamber specific calibration of Mg/Ca = 0.806 x e 0.070 x T for the antepenultimate chamber (f-2). These are broadly consistent with previously published calibrations for this species and suggest calibrations may be only regionally applicable. For single sites we also found considerable inter-individual Mg/Ca variations consistent with other published studies. However, significant intra-chamber differences in Mg/Ca were also found between the final chamber (f) and the antepenultimate/penultimate chambers (f-2, f-1) with f having Mg/Ca values 4-39 % lower than f-1 and f-2, which is interpreted to reflect migration of individuals to deeper, cooler water late in their life-cycle at some sites. Thus, LA-ICPMS analysis of chambers f-2 or f-1 appear to best record past changes in the upper sea surface temperature for this species. N. incompta calibrations proved to be more complex and suggest that this species may not be a good proxy for SST in the Southwest Pacific Ocean.

Relationships between foraminiferal biodiversity and the biochemical composition of sediment organic matter in the Central Adriatic Sea

Sonia Bonatto1, Anna Sabbatini1, Irene Pancotti1, Silvia Bianchelli1, Antonio Pusceddu1, Caterina Morigi2, Alessandra Negri1

1Department of Marine Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Italy 2Stratigraphy Department, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Denmark E-mail: [email protected] Biodiversity of living benthic Foraminifera of the Central Adriatic Sea is not well known and a census of the current species is not fully assessed, yet. In particular, monothalamous (single-chambered) species with either agglutinated or organic-walled shells (“allogromiids” sensu lato) have been completely ignored to date. Furthermore, only poor knowledge is available about the environmental variables that mostly influence the abundance and biodiversity of Foraminifera in shallow seas


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sediments. To cope with this gap of knowledge, we investigated abundance, biomass and biodiversity of living (Rose Bengal stained) benthic foraminifera along with the quantity and biochemical composition (in terms of phytopigment, protein, lipid, carbohydrate and biopolymeric carbon contents) of sediments at a shallow site (15-m depth) in the central Adriatic Sea from February 2008 to February 2009. Foraminiferal abundance, biomass and biodiversity were assessed separately for the 63–150 µm and 150 µm size fractions. During the study period a total of 96 species were encountered and the assemblage was largely dominated by polythalamous agglutinated and monothalamous soft-shelled taxa. We also found 34 species or morphotypes of “allogromiids”, with Psammophaga sp.1 being the dominant taxa. Uni- and multi-variate analyses of variance allowed identifying clear temporal variability in all of the investigated variables and in the composition of the foraminiferal assemblage, as well as some relations between the composition of the foraminiferal assemblage and the quantity and biochemical composition of organic matter in the sediment. In particular, the highest abundance of two species (Leptohalysis scottii and Psammophaga sp.1) were consistently associated with higher quantity and quality (in terms of the protein and phytopigment contributions to biopolymeric carbon) of sediment organic matter (i.e. in February 2009). This result, along with the reduction of foraminiferal species richness in the same period, let us hypothesising that these two species, owing to their opportunistic behaviour, might represent current indicators of benthic eutrophication.

Upper Valanginian benthic foraminifera evolution during a major carbonate crisis episode: study of a Provencal Platform record (Ollioules section-Southern France)

Aurelie Bonin1, Annie Arnaud-Vanneau2, Thierry Adatte3, Emmanuelle Vennin1, Emmanuelle Pucéat1

1Burgundy University, France 2Dolomieu Institute, France 3Lausanne University, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] The Valanginian is marked by major platform demises associated with other major perturbations (carbon, biocalcification crisis, climatic cooling). These demises induce a hiatus in platform from the Campylotoxus zone (latest Early Valanginian) to the Loryi zone (earliest Hauterivian) which make difficult the study of microfauna for this critical period. However, the Ollioules section preserves a Late Valanginian record within shallow water environments (Bonin et al., 2009). Through 85 meters, this section presents a well constrained record from the latest Early Valanginian to the Mid–Late Valanginian inferred by the carbon isotope stratigraphy and biostratigraphical framework based on benthic microfauna. This study is focused on the benthic foraminifers communities during the Mid-

Valanginian platform crisis. It allows to precise the biostratigraphy and to discuss the depositionnal environments of this Valanginian platform. From preliminary observations, the Ollioules’s microfaunas show four main assemblages: (1) The first assemblage is observed within the first Valanginian levels identified by Montsalevia salevensis, M. elevata, Pfenderina neocomiensis, Chofattella pyrenaica and Valdanchella miliani. This earliest Valanginian shows the first appearance of Vercorsella and Sabaudia and numerous Andersenolina genus particularly represented by A. cherchia. (2)The second microfauna assemblage is observed during the earliest Late Valanginian and is marked by the appearance of Dictyoconus n. sp., Barkerina dobrogiaca, Scythiolina filiformae and Citaella favrei. In addition, Haplophragmoides joukovskyi is particularly well represented during these times. (3)The third assemblage corresponds to the latest Valanginian to earliest Hauterivian interval and is concomitant with the disappearance of the main previous species as the common Andersenolina group. This group, represented by A. alpina, A. delphinensis, A. campanella and A. cherchiae, was known from the Jurassic. Only Citaella favrei and Choffatella pyreneica still remain. Scythiolina filiformae, Vercorsella winteri and Trocholina forms appear within this interval. The observed Trocholina would be closed to the T. odukpaniensis which dominates the Hauterivian-Barremian ages. (4)The last assemblage occurs during the earliest Hauterivian. It is dominated by an hauterivian-barremian microfauna including Vercorsella wintereri, Vercorsella arenata, Cribellopsis sp., Paracoskinolina ? sp, Pfenderina globosa, Pseudonummoloculina sp. and a new genus closed to the Dobrogelina genus.

Reconstruction of paleoproductivity off the Moroccan margin across Termination I using benthic foraminiferal assemblages

Jerome Bonnin1, Pierre-Arnaud Desiage1, Aurélie Penaud1, Frédérique Eynaud1

1EPOC, Université de Bordeaux I, France E-mail: [email protected] Past primary productivity based on benthic foraminiferal assemblages has been investigated across the Termination I (19 – 8.5 kyrs BP). This study has been done on sediments from the marine core MD04-2805 CQ recovered from 34°N off Morocco in a zone influenced by seasonal upwelling at water depth of 860m. Our preliminary results show that the number of total benthic foraminifera was substantially higher during Henrich Event 1 (HE1) indicating increased productivity. Species like Cassidulina carinata, Bolivina alata, Bulimina marginata or Hyalinea balthica appear particularly well represented between 16 and 15.2 kyrs BP while they were virtually absent later on (even during the Younger Dryas) indicating pulsed delivery of organic matter to the seabed. The main species


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to be found on the later part of the record are Uvigerina mediterranea/peregrina and Melonis barleanum that may reflect more stable primary flux. Our data are partly consistent withoxygen stable isotopic data (Penaud et al., in press) that together with dinocysts assemblages showed intensified upwelling system during the HE1.

Using artificial neural networks (ANN) and Self Organizing Maps (SOM) for better understanding of recent benthic foraminifera distribution

Adriana Borcic1, Danijela Bogner2, Sinisa Popadic 1Ruder Boskovic Institute, Center for Marine Research Rovinj, Croatia 2Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Croatia E-mail: [email protected] Data set used in ANN-SOM approach has been obtained from 48 sediment samples taken from the River Cetina estuary (eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea). The sediment cores (up to 12 cm long) were collected at two stations (P1 and P2) in front of the Cetina River mouth over the period of one year (four sampling campaigns: May, August, November 2003 and April 2004). As ANN work with numerical data sets only, a quantitative analysis of benthic foraminifera was performed on the fraction >63 µm. All the parameters have been scaled down using normalization methods which ensured that they all have the same impact on the ANN. As opposed to standard data analysis and low dimensional statistical observations ANN are able to comprehend today’s modern environments with numerous characteristics (sediment type, organic matter, etc.) in a more complex manner by correlating all the parameters of the data set. This was the core idea for this experimental approach. The data set was used to prepare two record sets (two tables) that could be used for cluster forming analysis. Five tests were performed to determine the clusters in two record sets using Self Organizing Maps (SOMs). In the first test a relative abundance of foraminifera per sample was used (the first record set) which pointed out dominant species of foraminifera. Three clusters were formed. The first and the biggest cluster gathered foraminiferas that occurred rarely on both stations. The second cluster contained foraminiferas with moderate occurrence (Bulimina aculeata, Cribroelphidium decipiens, Cibicides sp., Rosalina bradyi, Ammonia inflata and Miliolinella subrotunda). In the third cluster dominant species were found. The third cluster contained sub-clusters which separated dominant species on station P1 (Elphidium punctatum, Quinqueloculina sp., Q. seminula, Q. bosciana, Globorotalia sp., Globigerina sp. and Ammonia tepida) and dominant species on station P2 (Pseudoparrella exigua, Haynesina depressula and Ammonia tepida). Relative abundance of species, granulometric parameters, organic matter, carbonates, foraminiferal density and relative number of planktonic species were used (the second record

set) in the remaining 4 tests which were done by excluding certain parameters from the analysis under suspicion that they had greater influence in cluster forming than the other parameters. The second test was done using the whole second record set but it was suspected that the foraminiferal density and the number of planktonic species were too concrete for the analysis. The third test included the second record set with all the parameters except foraminiferal density and relative number of planktonic species. Generally, the SOM map was divided among the two stations probably because of the parameters that were characteristic for each station (organic matter, carbonates, etc.). Although station P2 was deeper than the station P1, no data regarding depth were included in this analysis. The most distinctive cluster formed in this test contained data from the first three measurements on the station P1. Sub-cluster structure was also noticeable in this cluster between different sediment layers and measuring seasons on that station. Further analysis of this cluster showed that it could be described with lower values of silt, organic matter, clay, sorting, skewness and curtosis, and higher values of gravel, sand, carbonates and mean size. It is interesting how the cluster was clearly formed under influence of all these parameters. The last two tests were done additionally only for better understanding of the cluster forming by analyzing separately the relative abundance of species and granulometric parameters. The test results showed that, indeed, clusters and sub-clusters were formed in a way so that they could be described by common parameter values. Different graphical visualizations of the clusters were able to show how each parameter in the record sets participated in forming certain clusters. These tools could be better utilized if bigger data sets were available where the full potential of this approach would come to the fore.

How are Foraminifera effected by ocean acidification?

Laura Bordelon1, Birgit Schneider1 1Christian Albrechts University, Kiel Germany E-mail: [email protected] Increasing CO2 in the atmosphere and resulting ocean acidification have become important topics of study in recent years. While both phenomena are becoming increasingly documented, their effects on marine biogeochemical cycles are not well understood. Laboratory and mesocosm experiments have shown an increase in carbon fixation by marine plantkonic organisms (carbon overconsumption). This could be paralleled by a decrease in calcification and may result from ocean acidification. Both changes have the potential to alter the ratio of inorganic to organic carbon (PIC:POC) of natural particle fluxes in the water column. The PIC:POC ratio has been shown to have a major influence on the partitioning of carbon


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between atmosphere and ocean and it is suggested as one of the decreases of glacial/ interglacial pCO2 variability. Here we use an ocean biogeochemical model (PISCES) to assess the sensitivity of organic matter formation to ocean acidification and the consequences on particle flux and finally air/sea Co2 exchange. Our aim is to introduce a ballasting equation into the model grid so that the net effect of (1) carbon overconsumption (positive feedback) and (2) reduced ballasting (negative feedback) via particle fluxes on atmospheric CO2 can be quantified.

Determination of the metabolically active fraction of benthic foraminifera by means of Fluorescent in situ Hybridization (FISH)

Chiara Borrelli1, Anna Sabbatini1, Gian Marco Luna1, Roberto Danovaro1, Alessandra Negri1

1Department of Marine Science, Polytechnic University of Marche, Italy E-mail: [email protected] Benthic foraminifera are an important component of the marine living biota, but protocols for investigating their metabolism or even viability are still limited. Classical studies on benthic foraminifera are based on direct counting by light microscopy, which do not allow demonstrating the viability of observed organisms. The FISH (Fluorescent in situ hybridization) technique represents a potentially useful approach identifying living cells with active metabolism cells, but this approach has never been applied to foraminifera. In this work, we tested for the first time the suitability of the FISH technique based on fluorescent probes targeting the 18S rRNA, to detect these live benthic protists. The protocol was tested on the genus Ammonia, on the Miliolidsgroupand an attempt was made also with agglutinated species (i.e., Leptohalysis scottii and Eggerella scabra). Our study revealed that FISH targeted only live and active foraminiferal cells. These results together with those obtained from the microscopic analysis of the cytoplasm colour, presence of pigments and pseudopodial activity, allowed to classify as “live”, cells improperly classified as “dead” by means of the classical technique. The comparison of this technique with the results obtained by using Rose Bengal (RB) indicated that this latter technique overestimated the living fraction by staining also specimens devoided of rRNA and thus dead. Comparative analyses conducted on starved and actively growing cells from cultures demonstrated that individuals actively growing were stained more efficiently than starved cells. This finding supports the hypothesis that the physiological status of cells can be directly related with the intensity of the fluorescent signal. We conclude that the use of molecular approaches represents an important tool for acquiring crucial information on the ecological role of foraminiferal assemblages in marine sediments.

Determining ecological quality status of coastal waters using benthic foraminifera: calibration with benthic macrofauna

Vincent M.P. Bouchet1, Elisabeth Alve1, Brage Rygg2, Richard J. Telford3, Nina Reuss4

1University of Oslo, Norway 2Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Norway 3University of Bergen 4University of Copenhagen, Denmark E-mail: [email protected] Environmental conditions along European coasts have changed dramatically over the past decades to centuries due to human impact. The EU Water Framework Directive mandates that water quality be restored to “good status” relative to the “reference conditions”. These are a “description of the biological quality elements that exist, or would exist, at high status”. However, since monitoring data for biological quality elements are sparse or absent from pre-impact times, it is difficult to define habitat-specific reference conditions. The Research Council of Norway-funded PES* project aims to assess a new method to determine in situ reference conditions for soft-bottom habitats based on paleoecological approaches using benthic foraminiferal parameters intercalibrated with criteria used for macrofauna. Unlike most macrofaunal groups which are the most commonly used biological quality indicator in these environments, benthic foraminifera leave a fossil record and therefore allow the reconstruction of human-induced environmental disturbance over decades to centuries. Foraminifera have the potential to serve as ecosystem characterization tools in modern and past marine and estuarine environments. In August 2008, a total of 27 stations in 11 silled fjords along the Norwegian Skagerrak coast were sampled. From each station, replicate samples of benthic foraminifera and macrofauna were examined, and environmental parameters (bottom-water dissolved-oxygen, TOC, TN and pigments) were analysed. Methodological issues addressed so far: 1) benthic foraminifera sampling procedure (e.g., 0-1 cm versus 0-2 cm), 2) the use of sieve size and fossilizable vs unfossilizable taxa, and 3) comparison of living and dead foraminiferal assemblages with benthic macrofauna. Shannon index (H’log2) and ES(100) were calculated to determine ecological quality statuses. Dissolved-oxygen and TOC are the main drivers of the macrofauna and foraminifera distribution. Results indicate that the same ecological status information yielded by the macrofauna is reflected in the benthic foraminifera. Consequently, foraminifera may provide an alternative to macrofauna for defining habitat-specific reference conditions in soft-bottom sediments of coastal and transitional waters. * PES = Paleoecological reconstructions of marine soft-bottom Ecological Status and in situ reference conditions: calibrating benthic foraminifera with macrofauna and hydrographic data (2008-2012), http://www.geo.uio.no/pes/


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Evolution and paleogeographic distribution of the Lepidocyclinids

Marcelle BouDagher-Fadel1

1University College London, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected]

The Lepidocyclinidae has been described extensively in the literature, with occurrences ranging from the middle Eocene in the Americas to the late Miocene (or possibly early Pliocene) in the Indo-Pacific Tethyan sub-province. Lepidocyclinids originated in the Americas but related forms are reported from West Africa from the middle Eocene–early Oligocene pointing to an eastward migration. This migration continued within the Tethys until they finally colonized the Indo-Pacific in the late early Oligocene. Various species have been used to zone and date the Neogene, and many, sometimes confusing, generic and subgeneric nomenclatures have been proposed to differentiate the often subtle morphological changes that have been observed to occur with time. Until now, it has not been possible to develop an effective global view of the evolution and migration of the lepidocyclinids because descriptions of specimens from the American province have been relatively rare. The results from a variety of wells drilled off South America have allowed a comparison from the South America province with those from the Tethyan sub-provinces of the Mediterranean–West Africa and the Indo-Pacific. By comparing the stratigraphic ranges of the South American specimens with previously described Tethyan forms, the phylogenetic evolution of the lepidocyclinids has been reconstructed from their mid-Eocene origin in the Americas to their late Miocene (or possibly early Pliocene) extinction in the Indo-Pacific. Systematic comparisons have enabled us to trace the timing and route of the paleogeographic migration of the lepidocyclinids from the Americas, through the Tethyan/Mediterranean corridor, and into the Indo-Pacific region. Our observations confirm that the series of global regressions in the middle Eocene and early Oligocene facilitated transoceanic migration of larger benthic foraminifera between the American and the Tethyan provinces. However, this migration stopped after rising sea-level in the early Oligocene effectively isolated the provinces from each other. Subsequently, in these provinces larger benthic foraminifera exhibited independent but similar lines of evolution. The resulting examples of parallel evolution led to some taxonomic confusion in the literature that we seek to resolve.

Pseudopodia of Gromia and Allogromia: Sister Organelles or Long (Long) Lost Cousins?

Samuel S. Bowser1, Jadranka Loncarek1, Susan T. Goldstein2, Jeffrey L. Travis3

1Wadsworth Center, United States 2University of Georgia, United States 3State University of New York, United States E-mail: [email protected] In the "pre-molecular" era, motility mechanisms and cytoskeletal structures provided feature-rich criteria for protist classification schemes. How useful are these behavioral/structural features in contemporary "total evidence" phylogenetic approaches? Reports of close affinities between the Foraminifera and Gromia based on gene sequence data prompted a reexamination of gromiid and allogromiid pseudopodia by high-resolution light and electron microscopy. Initial results of this comparison show many differences but few similarities between the two groups. A more rigorous framework for defining pseudopodial characters within the Rhizaria is proposed.

Quantifying forams growth with High-Resolution X-Ray computed tomography: Ontogeny, phylo-geny and paleoceanographic applications.

Antonino Briguglio1, Johann Hohenegger1

1Vienna University, Austria E-mail: [email protected] Seven specimens of both recent and fossil larger benthic foraminifera, belonging to the nummulitids, were imaged with a high-resolution microCT scanner. This method enables three-dimensional imaging and calculation of measurements like 3D distances, surfaces and volumes. Our goal is to demonstrate the potential of three-dimensional biometric quantification to get information concerning ontogeny and test shape. The quantitative high-resolution images enabled the extraction of the lumina from the proloculus to the last complete scanned chamber and of the canal system spreading into marginal chord and septa. External surfaces and volumes were calculated on the extracted parts. These measurements allowed the calculation of porosity and micro-porosity to obtain the test density, which is the basis for many taphonomic inferences about foraminifera, e.g. reconstructions of transport and deposition. The three-dimensional data obtained show the actual growth of the foraminiferal cell and the development of the test as it was in the past. Climatic changes at different scales may be observed and calculated by the results made on volumes; growth steps and sequences may be also observed as well as the achievement of the reproduction stage. Because measurements made on an equatorial section cannot be considered representative of a three dimensional test, we tested several


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correspondence between 2D and 3D data to find significant correlations. Chamber height, septal distance, spiral growth and chamber's area were measured on the equatorial section and correlated with the volume measurements from 3D images. In particular, we show that the equatorial section area of chambers correlates significantly with the chamber volume and can be used to differentiate between nummulitid genera according to their different growth patterns.

The shape entropy parameter: A geometric tool to approach larger foraminifera accumulation.

Antonino Briguglio1, Johann Hohenegger1

1Vienna University, Austria E-mail: [email protected] Empty tests of larger foraminifera may be transported depending mainly on two factors: the morphology of the environment (e.g. the slope steepness) and the hydrodynamic scenario (i.e. the water motion input and the test answer). In the fossil record, since in the field the topography of the paleoenvironment is not always as clear as we need to estimate transport, we always can calculate the hydrodynamic parameters of every single test. These test parameters quantify the answer to the energy input given by water motion at the sea bottom and are most useful to evaluate transport, deposition and accumulation of tests. The comparison between water motion at the sediment-water interface and the species-specific settling velocity helps calculate the water depth at which deposition for a certain test type may occur and at which tests may accumulate. Based on these correlations, paleodepths can be estimated using the distribution of foraminiferal shapes in the fossil environment according to size-independent parameters. Size and shape, beside density, play a fundamental role in the overall calculation and drive the sequence of equations. The high diversity of larger foraminifera test shapes leads to different hydrodynamic answers within the same energy scenario. Depending on specimens' shapes and on the entropy value, the best-fitting theoretical settling velocity can be selected for use in the energy scenario. Thus, the calculated shape entropies are diagnostic to interpret deposition and accumulation of foraminiferal tests. The shape entropy may finally solve the problems inherent in the overly subjective and not useful morphological definitions such as "disk-like", "plate-like", "lens-shaped", "egg-shaped", "globular" and "elongate" test form. Shape entropy and its calculation is a powerful parameter to differentiate test forms and to compare forms that are apparently different, but which may have similar hydrodynamic behaviour. In fact, it is very common in both recent and fossil environments to find, within the same assemblage, very different test shapes that probably have similar shape entropy. Different shape entropy ranges outlined here lead to different settling velocity calculations and thus to different settling

ranges. This methodology leads to more detailed and exact interpretations of depositional environ-ments.

Benthic foraminiferal assemblage in sediment facies in cores drilled at the Maricá Lagoon

Regina Lucia Bruno1, Claudia Gutterres Vilela1, José Antônio Baptista-Neto2

1Universidade Federal do Rio de Jeneiro, Brazil 2Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil Email: [email protected] Foraminiferal assemblages were studied at the Maricá Lagoon, in order to characterize changes and/or events related to microfauna and sediment composition. The Maricá Lagoon, located in southeastern Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, integrates the Maricá-Guarapina lagoon system, which consists of four small lagoons connected by natural channels (Maricá, Barra, Padre and Guarapina lagoons) and covers 34 km2 surface area. Two cores were drilled (T1, 178 cm; T2, 168 cm) at the Maricá Lagoon, between the coordinates 22 ° 56 'and 22 ° 57 S and 42 ° 49' and 42 ° 50 'W, using PVC tubes. Sedimentology was visually described at the laboratory, while the cores were open. For micropaleontological analysis, the cores were subsampled at every 10 cm, standard 30 ml samples were washed through a 0.062 mm sieve and dried in an oven at 50° C. Subsequently, 100 foraminifera were picked for identification in samples or sample split fractions. Preliminary results show in both cores (from the base to approximately 120 cm), the presence of Ammonia parkinsoniana, A. tepida, Elphidium excatum and other lamellar calcareous species in muddy-sand layers with bioclastic fragments (disarticulated shells). From 83 cm (T1) and 93 cm (T2) towards the top of the cores, layers of silty-mud with agglutinated species (Miliammina fusca, Ammotium cassis, A. salsum, and others), were recorded, characterizing a confined and low- energy environment. An increase in abundance was recorded in the calcareous assemblage, from the base until 120 cm in T1, and until 90 cm in T2, while the agglutinated assemblage succeeding the calcareous one was much less abundant. The Shannon-Wiener diversity was calculated only in samples with 100 or more individuals, and low values was observed in both cores, from the base to 70 cm. In the remaining intervals, in the both cores, silty-mud and sandy-mud lens with or without bioclastic fragments and/or concentration of disarticulated shells, did not influence the microfaunistic composition. These sediment intercalations may represent changes in sediment deposition related to events of low, medium and high energy, that can be influenced by coastal progradation and retrogradation. The succession of calcareous and agglutinated assemblages along the cores suggests an environmental change from marine to lagoonal environment, thereby confirming a coastal progradation.


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Foraminiferal distribution in the Platform of Ilheus, Bahia, Brazil, based on measurement of the rates of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and organic matter

Regina Lucia Bruno1, Altair Jesus Machado2, Tânia Fonseca Araújo2 1Universidade Federal do Rio de Jeneiro, Brazil 2Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brazil Email: [email protected] We collected 30 samples of surface sediment from the platform of Ilhéus, Bahia (bathymetry 20-50m), between latitudes 14º 36' and 14º 51' S and longitudes 38º 51’ and 39º 30' W, at approximately 26 km offshore the city of Ilhéus, Bahia, in order to investigate the influence of abiotic factors (calcium carbonate and organic matter) over the population density and microfaunistic distribution. At the laboratory, samples were washed to remove salts, dried at 50º C, and sieved. After this procedure, each sample was removed from the amount of 1g of sediment for sample split fractions to the total picked of foraminifera. We picked 10.631 individuals distributed in 75 benthic and 5 planktonic genera. Out of the total of 255 identified species, 32 are considered as constant, 38 as accessories and 185 as accidental species. The measurement of organic matter with percentages ranging from 2.14 to 3.21% revealed a medium with greatly increased foraminifera population (including the highest peaks of density), as found in muddy sediment (siliciclastic enriched with carbonate) the largest record of species diversity. No influence on the population density of foraminifera was observed in those samples classified as sandy and gravelly (bathymetry ranging from 40m to 50m). However, there was a marked increase in the relative frequency of the following carbonate species: Amphistegina lessonii, A. gibbosa and Peneroplis pertusus. This study on foraminifera assemblage associated with abiotic factors (CaCO3 and organic matter) on the platform of Ilhéus, Bahia, supports previous studies addressing the behavior of endemic population and the dynamics of the fauna.

Intensity of the Okhotsk Sea oxygen minimum zone during the present and last interglacial periods inferred from benthic foraminifera

Natalia Bubenshchikova1, Dirk Nürnberg2, Ralf Tiedemann3, Lester Lembke-Jene3

1P.P.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Federation 2Leibniz Institute for Marine Sciences, Germany 3Alfred-Wegener-Institue for Polar and Marine Research, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Benthic foraminifera are useful indicators of the past changes of organic matter flux and bottom water mass oxygenation, both factors determining the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) intensity. In this

study, strength of OMZ in the Okhotsk Sea during the last glacial Termination (T) I - Holocene and Termination (T) II - marine isotope stage (MIS) 5e is compared to variations of July insolation at 60º N and global sea level to investigate the driving force of the global climate changes on the Okhotsk Sea environments during these key interglacial periods. Changes of the OMZ intensity during the TI - Holocene are derived from benthic foraminiferal data of four cores: LV28-2-4, LV28-43-5, LV28-40-5 and MD01-2415. The TII - MIS5e variations of OMZ are based on foraminiferal data of core MD01-2415. The KOMEX cores LV28-2-4 and LV28-40-5 were recovered from the Sakhalin slope at water depths of 1265 and 1312 m, and core LV28-43-5 was taken from the Kamchatka slope at water depth of 839 m during the V28 cruise of the R/V Akademik M.A.Lavrentyev in 1998. Cores LV28-2-4, LV28-40-5 and LV28-43-5 cover 46, 78 and 52 ka, respectively. The IMAGES core MD01-2415 was collected on the northern slope at water depth 822 m during the WEPAMA 2001 cruise of the R/V Marion Dufresne. Benthic foraminifera were investigated in the upper 8.30 m of the core MD01-2415 sediments, which cover the last 130 ka. Our benthic foraminiferal data for the TI - Holocene show that a two-step intensification the OMZ (at water depths of 800-1300 m) took place in the Okhotsk Sea during the TIa (the Bølling-Allerød interstade) and TIb (Preboreal interstade). Maximal strengthening of the OMZ existed in the Preboreal, when bottom water oxygenation is estimated to have decreased by factor two or three as compared to the present oxygenation near the cores sites (1.0-1.3 ml l-1 O2). Comparison of the recent and last interglacials indicate that the TII – MIS 5e intensification of the Okhotsk Sea OMZ was less pronounced than that of the TI – Holocene. The sea level at the beginning of the TI (-110 m) was lower than one of the TII (-40 m). It is suggested to be the main driving force of a stronger OMZ in the present interglacial than in the last interglacial periods in the Okhotsk Sea.

Paleoecology and biogeography of Cretaceous oceanic red bed foraminifer communities

Miroslav Bubík1

1Czech Geological Survey, Czech Republic E-mail: [email protected] Oceanic red beds of the Late Cretaceous age (CORB) contain usually abundant foraminifers that represents often the only useful microfossils for stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental implications. Different foraminifer taphocoenoses are specific for different settings: abyssal plain, intrabasinal elevations, rise (turbidite fan systems), middle and upper slope. Benthic foraminifer communities give evidence on trophic conditions, oxygen content etc. Generally oceanic red beds were deposited under oligotrophy and low sedimentary rate. Benthic communities show, anyhow, variations of controlling factors.


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Eastern Alps and Carpathians are classical areas of the CORB and their foraminifer fauna. Fossil material from Austria, Czech Republic, Poland and Rumania was used for comparison. Different benthic communities: abyssal "Krasheninnikov fauna", various flysch-type faunas (Nothia-dominated fauna, high-diversity fauna), bathyal Wadowice-type and couches-rouges-type fauna indicate different abyssal to bathyal (middle slope) environments. Benthic foraminifers are mostly cosmopolitan. Alpine-Carpathian benthic fauna is comparable with CORB communities of the North Atlantic described in literature. Specific communities were found in the Scaglia Rossa of Apennines and the CORB of Zumaya. From the eastern Tethys only bathyal communities are available. From Tabriz area, Iran, the communities of Coniacian – Santonian red limestones and Maastrichtian variegated marsltones were studied. The communities evidence a deepening from outer shelf in the Coniacian to middle slope in the Maastrichtian. Benthic foraminifera are cosmopolitan but some agglutinated taxa (Recurvoides spp., Haplophragmoides spp., hormosinids) show differences that may be different ecophenotypes or even distinct taxa. Similar but low-density low-diversity foraminifer fauna was obtained from late Santonian-early Campanian CORB of Tibet (Northern Tethyan Himalayas). The taphocoenose with high PB ratio has calcareous benthos accompanied by the "Marssonella fauna" and can be compared with couches-rouges-type fauna of Alps and Carpathians. Eastern Pacific realm generally lacks the CORB. The reddish brown-grey shales of Albian-Cenomanian(?) age discovered in Hex Hill Area, California, are close to the CORB. Solely agglutinated flysch-type fauna is mostly cosmopolitan, but few taxa may be endemic (trochamminids, Haplophragmoides spp.).

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages from three polluted areas in Southern Sardinia (Italy): A review.

Carla Buosi1, Anna Maria Porcu1, Stefania Da Pelo1, Antonietta Cherchi1, Myriam Del Rio1, Davide Davide Mana2, Felicina Trebini3, Manuela Biondo3

1Cagliari University, Dip. Scienze della Terra, Italy 2Urbino University, Italy 3Sartec Spa, Italy E-mail: [email protected] Previous studies evidence that benthic foraminifera are excellent indicators for monitoring the marine-coastal environments (e.g. Armynot du Châtelet et al., 2004; Coccioni, 2000; Debenay et al., 2000; Geslin et al., 2000, 2002; Murray, 2006; Samir & El-Din, 2001; Scott et al., 2005; Yanko et al., 1994, 1998, 1999; etc.). A detailed study on shallow-water benthic foraminifera of three polluted areas in Sardinia (Portoscuso-Portovesme, Santa Gilla Lagoon and Cagliari Gulf) were carried out in order

to get informations on the environmental quality of these areas. Studies of marine sediments collected in Portoscuso-Portovesme (South-west Sardinia) revealed high concentrations of Hg, Cd, Pb and Zn (Cherchi et al., 2009), whereas Santa Gilla lagoon near Cagliari, is particularly affected by a high trace element content, mainly Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn. Mercury shows values up to 10 times higher than the background level (Frontalini et al., 2009). On the basis of a preliminary study (work in progress), the spatial distribution of the foraminiferal assemblages and the geochemical data reveal from highly to less heavy metals polluted conditions in the western part of the Cagliari Gulf (industrial area). Biological data and heavy metals contents were analyzed both with bivariate (correlation matrix), multivariate techniques of principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. The benthic foraminiferal assemblages react to increasing concentrations in heavy metals, often considered as very harmful for the environment. In the studied areas, the statistical analysis shows a possible control of the pollutants both on the taxonomic composition of the benthic foraminiferal assemblages and the development of test abnormalities. The discovery of a very depauperate foraminiferal assemblage and the occurrence of abnormalities, particularly emphasized in the innermost part of the Santa Gilla Lagoon, in Portovesme stations near the industrial complex, and in the western part of the Cagliari Gulf, testify important stress conditions in these areas. Ammonia tepida, Haynesina germanica and bolivinids show tolerance to environmental disturbance and pollution, these species are therefore particularly suitable as bio-indicators in coastal areas.

Distribution of recent benthic foraminifera in high energy environment from the Strait Of Bonifacio, Sardinia (Italy)

Carla Buosi1, Eric Armynot du Châtelet2, Antonietta Cherchi1

1Cagliari University, Dip. Scienze della Terra, Italy 2Université Lille 1, FRE 3298 Géosystèmes, France E-mail: [email protected] The ecology of benthic foraminifera is related to the physical and chemical conditions of the bottom environment. Since foraminifera have a short life cycle and big density, they react quickly to environmental changes and can be used as bio-indicators for ecological investigations. This is true for both short and long time-scales and for various marine ecosystems (impacted by pollution, for instance). The understanding of the impact of natural parameters on benthic foraminifera distribution is a obliged prerequisite, before describing anthropogenic impact. More concrete knowledge about the various environmental parameters and their connected benthic foraminiferal community response is presently needed. A better understanding of the mechanisms that determine


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the distribution of associations in natural environments will allow promoting the use of foraminifera in environmental monitoring to decision-makers and governmental bodies. In this study, we investigate the relationships between the benthic foraminifera (species composition, population density and diversity, assemblage structure and spatial distribution pattern) and environmental parameters (depth, grain size, organic matter). These investigations are based on 31 samples collected in the Strait of Bonifacio. On the basis of a preliminary results, the spatial distribution of the foraminiferal assemblages appears to be strongly correlated to high hydrodynamic energy, sediments grain-size, organic matter content and bathymetry. These natural parameters appear to drive natural benthic changes that should be taken in account before studying polluted coastal environments.

Comparisons of vertical distribution patterns of benthic foraminifera at sites of active methane seepage and adjacent non-seep sites off Costa Rica

Ashley M. Burkett1, Anthony E. Rathburn1, Elena Perez2, Lisa A. Levin3, Greg W. Rouse3, Victoria J. Orphan4, Jonathan B. Martin5, Brian Wrightsman1

1Indiana State University, United States 2The Natural History Museum, United States 3Scripps Institution of Oceanography, United States 4California Institute of Technology, United States 5University of Florida, United States E-mail: [email protected] As part of an ongoing project examining the ecology and biogeochemistry of methane seep ecosystems, vertical distribution patterns of benthic foraminifera labeled with CellTracker Green fluorescent and stained with rose Bengal were compared at sites of active methane seepage and adjacent non-seep habitats off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Living foraminifera were examined from bacterial mats, carbonate rocks, and Vestimentiferan tubeworms within active methane seep habitats. Vestimentiferantubeworms had highly variable numbers of attached epibenthic foraminifera, dominated by Cibicides wuellerstorfi. Carbonate rocks also revealed patchy and variable distributions of epifaunal taxa. Metazoan biota populating the worm tubes and rocks may influence foraminiferal abundances. Within bacterial mats vertical distribution patterns of foraminifera stained with Rose Bengal and/or labeled with CellTracker Green were similar to those observed for conspecifics reported from other Pacific coast seeps. Similar taxa were found at both seep and non-seep sites including: Chilostomella oolina, Uvigerina peregrina, U. hispida, Globocassidulina subglobosa, and Cassidulina braziliensis. Stable isotopic compositions of foraminiferal carbonate will be compared with those of authigenic carbonate and biogenic carbon. The results of this study provide important clues about the ecology of seep

foraminifera and the factors that control the distribution and biogeochemistry of foraminifera on soft and hard substrates.

Taxonomy of the Globorotalia crassaformis subspecies and their use in stratigraphy

Marina E. Bylinskaya1

1Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] The species of the Globorotalia crassaformis plexus are widespread throughout the World Ocean and, along with Globorotalia puncticulata and G. inflata, commonly define the specific character of Pliocene and Quaternary planktonic foraminiferal assemblages. However, the stratigraphic significance of the forms of Globorotalia crassaformis is so far not widely recognized being underestimated. For instance, Blow (1969) reported the occurrence of all taxa of the group from the Late Miocene to the Holocene thus not considering them as stratigraphic markers. Stainforth et al. (1975) believed that the distinctions between its forms are weak and insignificant and recognized only G.crassaformis, G.aemiliana, and G.ronda. However, thorough investigations show that subspecies of G.crassaformis have clear morphologic distinctions, therefore they can be used as marker forms for the Pliocene and Quaternary. The studies of DSDP sites and piston cores located in the Atlantic from the equator to subpolar latitudes provided new knowledge of the range and distribution of the Globorotalia crassaformis plexus. According to our data, Globorotalia crassaformiss.l. originated from G. cibaoensis, the descendant of G. scitula, in the Early Pliocene. Globorotalia crassaformis crassaformis appeared at 5.06 Ma in the subtropical region and at 4.62 Ma in the boreal area. In the mid-Early Pliocene it was followed by G. crassaformis ronda, G. crassaformis hessi (4.5 Ma), and G. crassaformis viola (4.0 Ma). The latter disappeared at approximately 1.45–1.5 Ma in the Early Quaternary. G. crassaformis ronda and G. crassaformis hessi had their LADs at 0.5–0.6 and 0.1–0.2 Ma, respectively. The subspecies G. crassaformis imbricata first occurred in the Late Quaternary at 0.58 Ma. The problem of the first occurrences of G. crassaformis and G. puncticulata is still not clearly understood owing to their extreme resemblance at early stages of development. According to our material, G. crassaformis appeared earlier in all sections studied. Specimens of G. puncticulata were first recorded at 4.88 Ma in the subtropical region and at 4.54 Ma in the temperate latitudes. One more interesting problem is the taxonomy of G. aemiliana, the index species of the Mediterranean zonations. The illustrations of its holotype show its strong similarity with G. crassaformis viola. Assuming the identity of these forms, the name G. aemiliana has priority.


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Breaching biogeographic barriers: The invasion of Haynesina germanica (Foraminifera, Protista) in the Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina

Lydia Calvo-Marcilese1, Martin R. Langer2

1Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Argentina 2University of Bonn, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Large populations of the living benthic foraminifera Haynesina germanica (Ehrenberg 1840) are reported for the first time from marsh and intertidal mud flat sediments of the Bahía Blanca estuary (Argentina). Recent and fossil sediment samples were collected between 1990 and 2008, from cross-transects and outcrops. Maximum abundance of living specimens was recorded in shallow intertidal environments. The species was previously recorded

from many European and North American shallow-water coastal settings, but has not been documented from Argentina. Our studies of modern foraminiferal assemblages demonstrate that Haynesina germanica is widely distributed and abundant throughout the modern habitats of the estuary. Comparative faunal assemblage analysis from dated core sample material from within the Bahía Blanca Estuary shows that the species has not been present for at least the last 8200 years. This supports the hypothesis that the species has been accidentally introduced outside its natural range as a probable result of ballast water and/or shipping activities. This study is the first report of a successful invasion of non-indigenous benthic foraminifera to the South Atlantic coast of Argentina. The introduction of nonnative foraminiferal species provides new evidence that human-mediated breaching of biogeographic barriers, will ultimately result in the biotic homogenization of foraminiferal intertidal faunal assemblages.

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Arade Estuary (south-western Portugal) based on different Foraminifera Categories of Marine Influence

Sarita Camacho da Encarnação1, Tomasz Bosko1, Delminda Moura1, Laura Pereira1

1CIMA, Algarve University, Portugal E-mail: [email protected] The Arade estuary is one of the three main estuarine systems comprised in a broader study of the Holocene evolution of the south coast of Portugal. Located in the southwest coast, is mainly constituted by the Arade River and two tributaries, Boina and Odelouca rivulets. Aiming to better understand the sedimentary processes inherent to the estuary formation, three boreholes were drilled. P2 and P6 were located near the Arade main channel and P5 near Boina rivulet. Allied to a litho-chronostatrigraphical data set a paleoenvironmental characterization was performed based on benthic foraminifera paleo-assemblages.

The microfaunal data were summarized in different Foraminifera Categories of Marine Influence (FCMI) which is a wide-ranged classification system based on the ecological characteristics of the microfaunal assemblages, developed for the previous studied estuarine systems in the same geographic region. In Arade estuary four paleoenvironments were identified: (i) environment without preserved foraminifers (FCMI 1); (ii) confined marshland environment (FCMI 2); (iii) intertidal-subtidal estuarine environment (FCMI 4); (IV) open estuary environment (FCMI 5). Although some differences between boreholes are recorded mainly due to geo-morphological different characteristics, in a rough way the same paleo-environmental sequence is recognized for the three boreholes. A terrestrial environment is observed immediately before the first’s signs of marine influence which are recorded earlier in P2 than in the other boreholes. This evidence is recorded prior to ca 8600 cal years BP, with the presence of Trochammina inflata and the inner linings group (FCMI 2). The first evidence of marine influence in the P5 and P6 (ca 8000 cal yr BP) is interpreted as highly influenced marine environment (FCMI 5), suggesting concomitancy between the estuary formation and the most oceanic period during the transgressive event. Although more datings are needed to support inferences about the length of the most oceanic period, it seems evident for P5 and P6 boreholes that it ends after ca 9 m of sediment accumulation, where the alternation between FCMI 5 and 4 is suddenly broken by a FCMI 1 level. In P5 borehole the lithological evidences point to a flood event as the major cause for this shift. In P2 no clear environmental cut is observed, keeping it´s connection to sea through time. The occurrence of a marsh environment in the superficial meters of all sedimentary sequences suggests a recent equilibrium (600 cal yr BP) between accretion rates and sea-level rise.

Evidences of past oceanographic changes In the Western tropical South Atlantic based on planktonic foraminifera from Pernambuco-Para

Edmondo Camillo Jr.1, Felipe A. L. Toledo1, Karen B. Costa1, Juliana P. Quadros1

1South Atlantic Paleoceanography Laboratory, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil E-mail: [email protected] This study focuses the paleoceangraphic changes at Brazilian continental margin. The planktonic foraminiferal assemblages of two deep-sea piston cores from Pernambuco-Paraiba basin were investigated. Isotopic data from the shallow dwelling planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber ‘white’ were analyzed together with paleoceanographic ANN sea surface temperature estimatives. The relative abundance of Globorotalia menardii plexus (G. menardii, G. tumida and G. tumida flexuosa) was employed to determine the Ericson & Wollin biostratigraphic zonation. The ∂18O results reveals


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that during the cold global events, e.g. through the biozone Y and Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the decline on warm species relative abundance was followed by a simultaneous increasing on the upwelling species group relative abundance. The first described group is associated with a stable and stratified water column, while the second group corresponds to the deep-living planktonic foraminifera characterized by a lower tolerance for the vertical gradient stratification. In addition ∂13C suggest a higher productivity along biozone Y and the decrease of this parameter, observed at biozone Z, is related to the recovery of the stratification limiting the supply of nutrients from the greater depths to the surface waters. ANN paleotemperature estimatives revealed warm temperatures through these periods indicating that during the LGM a pronounced accumulation of heat and salt occurred at western tropical Atlantic, as a result of cross-equatorial heat and salt transport lowering. At the end of this event, the intensification of cross-equatorial heat and salt transport cooled and freshened the western tropical surface waters. These results are in agreement to previous studies which suggest the western tropical Atlantic served as a heat and salt reservoir during last maximum deglaciation.

New Record of Upper Jurassic Planktonic Foraminifera from the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico

Robert J. Campbell1

1Shell, United States E-mail: [email protected] The stratigraphic record of Jurassic planktonic foraminifera is hampered by taxonomic uncertainty and geographically isolated occurrences. Upper Jurassic planktonics recovered in ditch cutting material from hydrocarbon exploration wells in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico (Desoto Canyon and Mississippi Canyon protraction areas) provide additional data points and confirm their presence in the Gulf of Mexico region. The taxonomic assignment of these planktonic forms is complicated. They are typically pyritized, poorly preserved, and relatively small (<0.2 mm in diameter). The better preserved of the specimens appear to have a low (but asymmetric) arched umbilical aperture with a lip, and the test is low-moderately spired (height/diameter ratio = 0.75-0.85). These features are consistent with the type illustration of Globuligerina oxfordiana (Grigelis, 1958) from Lithuania, but not necessarily with more recent specimens figured as G. oxfordiana with a loop-shaped aperture from France and Portugal (Bignot & Janin, 1984, Stam, 1986, Simmons et al., 1997). Given the taxonomic confusion surrounding the aperture, it is not surprising that there is variation in the stratigraphic range reported for G. oxfordiana in the literature. Those that maintain a large number of Lower Cretaceous and Jurassic planktonics (~15 species), tend to restrict G.

oxfordiana to the Oxfordian (e.g. Grigelis & Gorbatchik, 1980, Simmons et al., 1997, Hart et al., 2002), while others that synonymize the majority of these taxa (~3 species), interpret a longer range for G. oxfordiana; Late Bajocian through Early Valanginian (Stam, 1986, Riegraf, 1987). The Gulf of Mexico specimens are tentatively assigned to Globuligerina oxfordiana, and their presence is regarded as a proxy for Oxfordian strata. Supporting this interpretation is the uphole occurrence of Kimmeridgian nannofossil assemblages, and the coincident occurrence of large (>13 µm) and consistent Watznaueria manivitiae (=Cyclagelosphaera deflandrei in some studies). Typically associated with the planktonics are rare pyritized benthics (Garantella sp.), gastropod and bivalve spats, and ammonite protoconchs. Paleoenvironments are estimated to have been middle to outer neritic.

Toarcian benthic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and paleoenvironment of the Maria Pares Section (Lusitanian Basin, Portugal)

Cristina Carapito Krausshar1

1Ghent University, Belgium E-mail: [email protected] The Toarcian series in the Lusitanian Basin (Portugal) are generally dominated by hemipelagic deposits, represented by marl/limestone alternations that are rich in fauna, on a ramp controlled by eustatic fluctuations and regional tectonics. The Maria Pares section has been studied by different authors in the last fifty years. This is the first high resolution sampling and study of the benthic foraminiferal faunas and shows that they were affected by an early Toarcian Polymorphum zone flooding event, through a generalized marly accumulation. The boundary between Polymorphum and Levisoni zones is marked by a turnover of the microfauna with disappearance of Marginulina prima, Lingulina tenera, Lenticulina obonensis and the decline in species diversity widely recognized and here probably augmented by an important tectonic activity occurred, responsible for a significant sedimentary change. The dominance of marl observed at the top of the Levisoni zone points to the maximum transgression of the Toarcian. The benthic foraminiferal faunas in this interval are characterized by opportunistic species as Lenticulina muensteri, Lenticulina bochardi and Lenticulina toarcense. The base of the Bifrons zone is marked by the first appearance of Citharina clathrata. The species diversity of the benthic foraminiferal faunas increases in the upper part of the Speciosum zone reflecting the beginning of a transgressive sequence with reappearance of some species and the appearance of some others. This tendency inverts during the upper part of the Meneghinii and Aalensis zones with the rarefaction of the foraminiferal benthic faunas.


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Spatial variation of living benthic foraminifera from the shelf off Callao (12 ºS), Peru

Jorge Cardich1, Dimitri Gutiérrez2, María Morales3, Edgardo Enríquez2, Luis Quipuzcoa2, Juana Solís2, Robert Marquina2, Abdelfettah Sifeddine4

1Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru 2IMARPE, Peru 3INGENMET, Peru 4LOCEAN-IRD, Brazil E-mail: [email protected] Benthic foraminifera constitute an important group of bottom communities in terms of biomass and are very sensitive tracers of environmental conditions, especially organic matter flux and bottom-water oxygenation. The Peruvian margin represents one of the most productive regions in the world and supports an intense and shallow oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). Because OMZs strongly influence the abundance and diversity of benthic communities, benthic foraminifera off Peru deserve big interest. Here we assess ecological aspects of this community from the continental shelf off Callao (12 ºS) during April 2009 (austral summer end). Variations on abundance, taxonomic composition and vertical distribution of this community along a spatial gradient of sedimentary organic matter, bottom water dissolved oxygen and pore-water sulfide are the basis of this study. The samples of the biota were obtained from the top 5 cm of multicorers. We present the results from two oceanographic and benthic stations, one closer to the coast and the other one near the shelf break (E2=94 m and E5=175 m deep). Our results reflect that the assemblages may be driven mainly by organic matter quality and influenced by sulfidic conditions. Both stations were subjected to dysoxic conditions (<4.5 µM), though the shallower station is more easily subjected to oxygenation as well as to phytodetrital mass sedimentation episodes. The shallowest station presented sulfidic conditions and higher contents of sedimentary Chlorophyll-a, whereas the deepest one had a higher content of total sedimentary organic matter. Communities from both stations were comparable in abundance with each other and with data from other dysoxic regions, exhibiting dominances of calcareous species, particularly bolivinids. However, species assemblages showed clear spatial differences such as the greater abundance of agglutinated species and diversity of allogromiids in E5, besides the major contribution of the larger size fraction in this station. At both stations, the bulk of the community was concentrated in the top one-centimeter. One species (Virgulinella fragilis) and allogromiids behaved differently showing subsurface peaks in their vertical distribution. It is noticeable the particular profile showed by V. fragilis in E2, where the subsurface peak of the species coincides with the upper boundary of the sulfidic layer. This observation supports the concept that this species could be an indicator of pore-water sulfidic conditions

A link between form and function in planktic foraminifera?

Aude G. M. Caromel1, Daniela N. Schmidt1, Jeremy C. Phillips1, Emily J. Rayfield1

1University of Bristol, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] Despite the many applications of planktic foraminifera, the reasons behind their morphological disparity, the adaptive significance of the various forms, and even the functional role of the test itself remain unexplored. A possible functional control on test morphology has been suggested by the iterative evolution of a limited and stereotyped suite of morphological designs in successive radiations through geological time. Additionally, the depth-stratified nature of the planktic foraminifer ecosystem, with extant shallow-living species having a rounded test, and deeper dwelling forms having a flattened discoidal or conical test, suggests an ecological correlation with test shape. Finally, numerous morphometric and culturing studies have demonstrated correlations between foraminiferal morphological variation and environmental parameters, leading to hypotheses of a relationship between shape and the physical properties of the surface waters, such as buoyancy, stratification and density. We predict that a rounded morphology is better adapted to living in the turbulent upper water column. We used synchrotron radiation X-ray microtomography (SRXTM) to digitally reconstruct a range of representative morphologies: Globigerinoides sacculifer and Globigerina bulloides to represent shallow-living forms, and Globorotalia menardii, Globorotalia tumida and Globorotalia truncatulinoides for deeper-dwelling species. These were input into two-dimensional finite element experimental flow models simulating a range of ecologies to evaluate their hydrodynamic behaviour, and to inform on the interaction between ecological preference and test morphology. The results were compared to real-time settling experiments. The SRXTM data also allowed us to digitally reconstruct the ontogenetic stages of the foraminifera. Our results show that overall morphology changes, sometimes markedly, throughout ontogeny. Further investigation of the relationship between shape and environment will assess whether these changes in shape relate to the changes in position in the water column undergone by planktic foraminifers throughout their ontogeny.


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A biozonation (KSBZ) based on shallow benthic, mainly larger foraminifera from the Upper Cretaceous of the Pyrenees

Esmeralda Caus1, Mariano Parente2, Lukas Hottinger3

1Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, 2 Università di Napoli, Italy 3Naturhistorisches Museum E-mail: [email protected] Biozones are the smallest units of the geologic timescale, based on the evolution of the organisms during Earth History. Their minimal duration in the Cretaceous is about one to two million years. In recent decades the designation of the biozones by numbers freed the timescale from the names of the taxa that had to be spelled correctly, emended or changed so often. The new biozonation proposed here is based on the succession of shallow carbonates on both sides of the Pyrenees. Their composition by different phylogenetic lineages represents a mutual control. Moreover, the upper part of the zonation, KSBZ 3-10, is based on two parallel lineages of orbitoid foraminifera, Orbitoides and Lepidorbitoides, both evolving the morphology of their shells in accordance with nepionic acceleration. KSBZ 1 corresponds to the earliest phase of the GCM cycle, where r-strategists secure the subfamiliar heritage of Cenomanian groups such as Cuneolina, Pseudonummuloculina and Rotorbinella, which escaped extinctionduring the CTB oceanic anoxic event. The early zones, KSBZ 2-4, are based on the "explosive" development of porcelaneous groups, where the generic diversity reaches its peak. In this phase of community maturation the duration of the zones is the shortest. After KSBZ 5, the diversity of porcelaneous taxa decreases in favour of lamellar-perforates which dominate the later part of the upper Cretaceous covering most part of the depth gradient in the benthic environments. The KSBZ 10 corresponds more or less to the "Maastrichtian stage". The position of the lower stage boundary is controversial. Therefore we refrain from subdividing the stage by biozones. The Maastrichtian faunas at Maastricht and in the Pyrenees are quite different. We do not know if these differences are due to different ages, different environments or different climate zone. However, during KSBZ 10, the orbitoids reach a distinctly mature stage (Orbitoides gensacicus) while some smaller r-strategists appear that represent the phylogenetic root of important Paleogene groups that will survive the KTB event and produce, after a period of preparation, Paleogene K-strategists. The KSBZ is correlated to the plankton biozones as far as the lateral lithological extension permits to bridge the benthic to the planktonic realms. Rarely, the planktics and the shallow-water benthics occur together in the same outcrop. For this reason we dated by strontium isotope stratigraphy several stratigraphic levels in order to calibrate the KSBZ in terms of numerical ages tied to chronostratigraphic scale.

The Southern Atlantic – a refuge for Paleocene-Eocene cosmopolitan deep-water agglutinated foraminifera? The highly diverse agglutinated assemblages from the Oligocene of the Congo Submarine Fan, offshore Angola

Claudia G. Cetean1, Michael A. Kaminski2

1Natural History Museum, United Kingdom 2UCL, United Kingdom Email: [email protected] We document very diverse agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages from the Oligocene of the Congo fan recovered from wells drilled in turbidite deposits of the Western African Margin, offshore Angola. Our data added to a previous study reveal that assemblages comprise of at least 129 species belonging to 63 genera, resulting in probably the most diverse agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages ever recorded in the Oligocene. Agglutinated assemblages include new taxa (one new genus and several new species) but also include frequent species characteristic of the Paleocene-Eocene cosmopolitan “flysch-type” assemblages. Good preservation allowed us to extend the known stratigraphic ranges of genera such as Alveovalvulina, Tetrataxiella, Rashnovammina and also to fill a gap in the stratigraphic ranges of fragile taxa that are usually recorded only from the Eocene and Recent such as Hormosinelloides guttifer and Hormosinella distans. The presence of forms with poor fossilization potential means the Oligocene of offshore Angola is a type of preservational Lagerstätten for the deep-sea agglutinated foraminifera. The presence of the Paleocene-Eocene cosmopolitan “flysch-type assemblages” leads to the conclusion that marginal basins with high sedimentation rates and high organic carbon influx may have served as a refuge for this type of fauna which was disappearing elsewhere due to causes such as orogenic phases (the Carpathian basins) or changes in oceanic circulation at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary at abyssal localities.

Borings in the Eocene orthophragminids, stratigraphic and/or paleocologic features?

Vlasta Ćosović1, Alan Moro1, Katica Drobne2, Jelena Vidović1

1Faculty of Science, Croatia 2ZRC SAZU, Slovenia

Email: [email protected] The upper-most part of the Eocene shallow-water carbonate succession, deposited on the Adriatic Carbonate Platform, is represented by Orthophragminae-bearing limestones (ranging in age from the Lutetian to Bartonian, SBZ 14-SBZ 17). They are mainly composed of orthophragminid and nummulitid tests, the former with abundant traces of bioerosion. A statistical analysis of affected specimens, altogether 60 foraminiferal tests (drilling


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frequency of 10%, this estimation may be seriously affected by selective sampling biases), indicates that these datasets are quantitatively consistent and provides interpretable numerical data on drilling patterns. The foraminiferal tests bear either isolated elliptical marks (major axis from 0.4 to 1 mm) located in the central part of the test; a series of elliptical marks (spaced at regular intervals of about 1 mm, with major axis from 0.4 to 1.25 mm ) arrayed along the equatorial layer (in Discocyclina individuals with Diameter/Thickness ratio greater than 2.2); or round, circular holes (range in size from 0.1 to 0.2 mm) in lateral layers on inflated Orbitoclypeus specimens (Diameter/Thickness ratio less than 2.2). Despite various limitations (such as only axial sections were available for study), the non –randomly distributed traces record: 1) predators (singular circular holes) or parasites (elliptical, singular to multiple holes) in orthophragminids; 2) drilling attacks being size selective (traces show a relatively narrow size range); 3) a position of traces within the test suggesting that they were made to gain access to the inside of the host. The distributional pattern of ellipsoidal traces implies that microorganisms broke into the test along the equatorial layer, benefiting from the cytoplasm concentration and complex stolon system as “possible routes”. Some “intruders” continued to grow as the “host” grew, leaving the set of marks evenly distributed along the equatorial layer, while some “invaders” stayed with the embryonic part of the test, including two successive chambers; 4) a temporal distribution of affected orthophragminids as a potential paleoecological marker (Middle Eocene); 5) an occurrence of traces that suggests that their distribution was controlled by environmental parameters (low sedimentation rate, mesotrophication, lower photic zones, low energy).

Nummulite safari: Extinction of larger benthic foraminifera across the Eocene-Oligocene transition, Kilwa district, Tanzania.

Laura J. Cotton1, Paul N. Pearson1, Paul Wright1

1Cardiff University, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] It has long been known that a number of widespread and long-ranging larger benthic foraminifera became extinct during the Eocene-Oligocene transition, including the Orthophragminidae, Pellatispiridae and a number of species belonging to the genus Nummulites. However, questions remain about the exact timing of events and correlation with global stratigraphy as, due to the global regression associated with the boundary, many shallow water carbonate successions are incomplete. Adams suggested the extinction of larger benthic foraminfera was a mass extinction caused by the drop in sea level, however data from new and recently discovered sections from Tanzania suggest this is not the case.

Three Tanzanian Drilling Project (TDP) cores (drilled 2004-5) span the Eocene Oligocene boundary in the Kilwa district of Tanzania. Within these, larger benthic foraminifera-rich limestones occur as secondary debris flow deposits within hemi pelagic clay successions. Further fieldwork in 2009 resulted in the discovery of another Eocene Oligocene boundary section and numerous other Palaeogene larger benthic foraminifera rich limestones were found and sampled. These new data contain a detailed record of larger benthic foraminiferal stratigraphy tied to stable isotope (d18O, d13C), planktonic foraminifera and nanno-fossil studies of the clays which allow them to be correlated with plankton stratigraphy and the global isotope curve. The results of this correlation have proved surprising . The extinction of the majority of larger benthic foraminifera in the Tanzanian sections occurs at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, as recognized by the extinction of the planktonic foraminiferal Family Hantkeninidae, rather than as Adams predicted at the oxygen isotope excursion associated with the main phase of Antarctic ice growth and eustatic regression. This correlates both the top of letter stage Tb and shallow benthic foraminiferal zone 20 with the Eocene-Oligocene boundary (top of planktonic foraminifer Zone E16) in the stratotype section at Massignano, Italy. It also raises the question of what process could have caused the simultaneous extinction of planktonic foraminifera in the open ocean and larger benthic foraminifera on the carbonate platforms.

Shell anomalies in a population of Archaias angulatus from Florida (USA) Sampled in 1982-83 and 2006-07

Heidi Crevison Souder1, Pamela Hallock1, Robert Byrne1, Bryan McCloskey1

1University of South Florida, United States E-mail: [email protected] A variety of anomalous features were observed in the shells of Archaias angulatus individuals collected live from the Florida reef tract in 2004 and 2005. Six types of anomalies were documented using scanning electron microscopy: microborings, microbial biofilm, pitted surfaces, dissolution, calcification abnormalities, and growth abnormalities. Calcification abnormalities included mineralogical projections, lacy crusts, and repair marks. In 2006, a comparative study was undertaken to see if the occurrence and types of morphological abnormalities have changed in A. angulatus from the Florida Keys over the past 2.5 decades. Samples of A. angulatus collected in 1982-83 from John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park were compared to samples collected quarterly from the same locality in 2006-07. Seven different types of morphological abnormalities and 5 different surface-texture anomalies were documented. Abnormalities included profoundly deformed, curled,


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asymmetrical, and uncoiled shells, irregular suture lines, surface “blips,” and breakage and repair. Surface texture anomalies included pits, dissolution, microborings, microbial biofilm, and epibont growth. Epibonts included bryozoans, cyanobacteria and foraminifers. There were no significant differences in occurrences of anomalies between samples collected in 1982-83 and those collected in 2006-07. Implications of these observations are that, in studies of fossil assemblages, damage to shells and changes in shell-surface textures should not be assumed to have occurred postmortem, and may provide evidence of environmental stressors acting upon living populations. In addition, we speculate that test dissolution in larger miliolid foraminifers when alive can indicate declining carbonate saturation in seawater, which can result locally from salinity changes or increasing benthic respiration rates, as well as globally from rising concentration of atmospheric CO2.

Competing polar and tropical influences on ocean climate: A Southwest Pacific perspective

Martin P. Crundwell1, George H. Scott1, Lionel Carter2, Timothy Naish1,2

1GNS Science, New Zealand 2Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand E-mail: [email protected] Planktic foraminiferal assemblages and artificial neural network estimates of sea-surface temperature at ODP Site 1123 (41°47.2’S, 171°29.9’W; 3301 m deep), east of New Zealand, reveal a high-resolution history of glacial–interglacial (G–I) ocean climate variability at the Subtropical Front, during the last 1.2 million years. Most G–I cycles of ~100 kyr duration have short periods of both cold glacial and warm deglacial climate centred on glacial terminations, followed by long temperate interglacial periods. During glacial–deglacial transitions, peak abundances of subantarctic and subtropical taxa coincide with SST minima and maxima respectively, and lead ice volume changes by up to 8 kyrs. Such relationships reflect the competing influence of subantarctic and subtropical surface inflows suggesting alternate polar and tropical forcing of southern mid-latitude ocean climate. The lead of subtropical SSTs over ice volume points to tropical forcing of southern mid-latitude ocean-climate during deglacial warming. This contrasts with the established hypothesis that southern hemisphere ocean-climate is driven by the influence of continental glaciations. Most deglacial–interglacial transitions coincide with sortable-silt minima that may be related to a reduced inflow of lower Circumpolar Deep Water caused by a southward migration of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) which dominates the deep flow in the south. A decrease in thermohaline circulation caused by decreasing wind strengths in the Southern Ocean, or a reduction in annual sea-ice formation.

During temperate interglacial periods, subantarctic and subtropical inflows are more evenly balanced, and SSTs more tempered, although they record a progressive cooling as subtropical water yields to an increased subantarctic influence. A general decline in the dominance of temperate taxa during middle to late interglacial periods, together with an increase in Globigerina bulloides and other eutrophic mixed-layer taxa, suggest increased wind-driven mixing of the surface-ocean and perhaps partial disruption of the thermocline during interglacial to glacial transitions, as the global thermohaline “ocean conveyor belt” builds momentum, contributing to the onset of the next G–I cycle. Oceanic circulation is a more sluggish state now than at any other time in the Holocene. Does this herald the end of the Holocene deglacial?

The early history of the planktic foraminiferal clade Truncorotalia: A tale of masked identity and climate change

Martin P. Crundwell1, Marina Verducci2

1GNS Science, New Zealand 2University of Siena, Italy E-mail: [email protected] Planktic foraminiferal species of the clade Truncorotalia are widely used for the biostratigraphic subdivision of the Pliocene, yet the origin and early history of the clade remains a subjective of considerable debate. Some workers (eg. Kennett and Srinivasan, 1983) have suggested that the genus Truncorotalia evolved from Hirsutella cibaoensis Bermudez in the Late Miocene, while others (eg. Cifelli and Scott, 1986) have suggested that it evolved from a non-specialized scituline globorotalid in the Late Miocene. Current work, however, suggests Truncorotalia evolved from a scituline globorotalid in the Middle Miocene before it spread from the Southern Ocean, as global climate cooled. Species of Truncorotalia are primarily distinguished from other globorotalid species on the basis that they have finely perforate walls and have pustules on early formed chambers. These diagnostic features are first recorded in the Miocene species Truncorotalia juanai (Bermudez and Bolli). The earliest known forms of Truncorotalia juanai occur at subantarctic sites ODP 747 (55°S) and 1171 (48°S) in the Middle Miocene (13.7-13.3 Ma). They appear immediately after the Mi3 isotope event – a positive 1‰ shift Oδin 18 associated with a major expansion of the Antarctic Ice Sheet and the reorganization of southern mid to high latitude oceanic circulation. Because of heavy encrustation, the surface ultrastructure of these early truncorotalids is modified and resembles that of Hirsutella and Globoconella. Juvenile specimens, however, that have undergone partial dissolution reveal typical truncorotalid surface ultrastructures that reveal their true phylogenetic identity. The first temperate records of Truncorotalia juanai are noted at DSDP Site 593 (45°S) in the Late


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Miocene (10.82-10.50 Ma, 7.09-6.86 Ma, and 5.84 Ma to Early Pliocene). The initial influxes of truncorotalids at this site coincide with climatically controlled incursions of cold subantarctic water and represent unsuccessful invasions of the New Zealand region. The third and final influx, however, near the Miocene/Pliocene climate transition, marks the invasion and successful colonization of the New Zealand region. The establishment of temperate truncorotalid populations was followed immediately by a period of rapid speciation and widespread dispersal as truncorotalid species adapted to deep-water habitats.

Foraminiferal biostratigaphy of the Qom Formation at Kuh - E - Bichareh Section in Central Iran Basin, Iran

Jahanbakhsh Daneshian1, Hakimeh Khalaj1

1Tarbiat Moallem University, Islamic Republic of Iran E-mail: [email protected] The main aim of this study is to present a new documentation about foaminifera and to obtain geneal idea of their stratigraphic distributions from sediments of the Qom Formation at Kuh - e - Bichareh section in southeast of Qom. The results help us to understand about the connection between Mediterranean sea, Persian gulf and Indian ocean at Miocene Epoch. The Qom Formation which consists of limestone, marl, shale, sandstone, siltstone, sandy limestone, gypsum, argillaceous limestone andcalcareous shale with a thick 631m, disconformably overlies the Lower Red Formation and underlies the Upper Red Formation. Based on micropaleontological investigation of 185 collected samples, 46 genera and 53 species foraminifera including 43 genera and 49 species of benthonic and 3 genera and 4 species planktonic foraminifera were identified. The present of index foraminiera such as Globigerinides triloba, Globigerina praebulloides, Meandropsina iranica, Borelis melo curdica, Bozorgniella qumiensis, Elphidium sp. 14, Peneroplis evolutus, Miogypsina sp.,Miogypsinoides sp., Nephrolepidina tournoueri, Operculina complanata, Austrotrillina howchini, Peneropelis thomasi, Dendritina rangi indicates that the Qom Formation is Aquitanan to Burdigalian in age. Whilst, only 5m of the top of the succession belongs to Burdigalian. Also, the biostratigrphical studies show that Kuh - e - Bichareh section is comparable to Borelis melo group - Meandropsina iranica Assemblage Zone and Miogypsinoides - Archaias - Valvulinid Assemblage Zone from biozonation of Adams and Bourgeois.

Planktonic foraminiferal genotypes of the Oman Margin and Benguela Upwelling Systems

Kate Darling1, Hartmut Schulz2, Christopher Wade3

1University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom 2University of Tübingen, Germany 3University of Nottingham, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] Specimens of the planktonic foraminiferal morphospecies Globigerina bulloides, Turborotalita quinqueloba and Neogloboquadrina pachyderma were collected for small sub-unit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) genotyping at 15 multinet stations off the Oman Margin in 2007. A region of upwelling was successfully sampled, allowing direct comparison between the genetic profiles of the upwelling and the more oligotrophic open ocean region of the central Arabian Sea. A newly recognised cool water genotype of G. bulloides Type IIf was found directly associated with upwelling while only the warm water Type Ia was found in the open ocean. A similar pattern was observed for T. quinqueloba,where a cool water genotype IIe was found in low numbers against a background of the warm water genotype Ib. The new genotypes of both these upwelling morphospecies clustered with the high latitude cool water genotypes. A single new genotype of N. pachyderma (Type VIII) was identified off the Oman Margin which was also present in numbers in the central Arabian Sea. This genotype was found to be highly divergent from all other N. pachyderma genotypes. Globigerina bulloides, N. incompta and N. pachyderma were also collected for SSU rRNA genotyping from the Benguela upwelling system off Namibia in November 2001. Specimens were sampled by vertical plankton tow along a cruise track between 2 and 30 nautical miles from the coast. The genotypes of this system are quite distinct from those of the Oman Margin. The G. bulloides identified in these waters were the cooler water bipolar genotypes (Types IIa and IIb) of the Atlantic subpolar and transitional waters. The Atlantic bipolar genotype N. incompta Type I was also identified within the system. Large numbers of N. pachyderma were found within the upwelling core and two distinct genotypes were identified. The N. pachyderma Type V genotype is very closely related but distinct from the N. pachyderma Types II and III of the Southern Ocean subpolar waters. A single specimen of a more divergent N. pachyderma genotype was also identified (Type VI). It is highly likely that a series of distinct genotypes of N. pachyderma will eventually be found within the Benguela as a result of episodic isolation associated with glacial-interglacial cyclicity.


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Surviving the K-Pg Mass Extinction by bridging the Benthic/Planktic divide

Kate Darling1, Ellen Thomas2, Simone Kasemann3, Heidi Seears4, Christopher Smart5, Christopher Wade4

1University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom 2Yale University, United States 3University Bremen, Germany 4University of Nottingham, United Kingdom 5University of Plymouth, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] Highly diverse planktic foraminiferal assemblages populated the oceans’ surface waters during the Late Cretaceous, but their ecological domain was devastated during the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous, while bottom-dwelling benthic foraminifera were little affected. Very few planktic species survived, with survivor assemblages dominated by microperforate triserial and biserial forms. We show that at least some of the surviving planktic foraminifera could have survived the environmental turmoil caused by asteroid impact through their ability to occupy both planktic and benthic domains (being tychopelagic). We present surprising but conclusive genetic evidence that the Recent biserial planktic Streptochilus globigerus belongs to the same biological species as the benthic Bolivina variabilis, and geochemical evidence that this ecologically flexible species actively grows within open-ocean surface waters, thus occupying both planktic and benthic domains. The occurrence of such species may explain the unusual, discontinuous temporal and biogeographic distribution of planktic biserials. The ability to survive in both planktic and benthic habitats should be seen as an extraordinary ecological adaptation for long-term survival. After mass extinctions in the plankton, e.g., as caused by bolide impacts and Oceanic Anoxic Events, tychopelagic species may be able to repopulate the pelagic realm and evolve into purely planktic forms. The possibility that such a tychopelagic lifestyle exists should be taken into account in future phylogenetic studies based on the planktic foraminiferal fossil record for both their early evolution in the Jurassic and their radiations since.

Bridging the Benthic/Planktic divide

Kate Darling1, R. Mark Leckie2 1University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom 2University of Massachusetts, United States E-mail: [email protected] Traditionally, all planktic foraminifera have been seen as monophyletic, descending from a single benthic group in the late Early Jurassic. Although limited in resolution, foraminiferal molecular phylogenies hint that this is unlikely to be true. In many ways it would be quite surprising if it were such a singular event since there is constant opportunity to bridge the benthic/planktic divide. The transition zone of the outer continental shelf and

upper slope is an area of seasonally high biological productivity and shifting water masses where the thermocline, chlorophyll maximum zone and oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) interface with benthic habitats. This dynamic interface makes it a likely “bridge” for benthic forms to invade the planktic realm. Buoyancy is generally assumed to be one of the major constraining evolutionary traits on the passage from benthos to plankton. In the modern ocean, propagules of benthic forms are widely dispersed in suspension and a few benthic taxa produce reproductive float chambers containing gametes. Benthic taxa are also regularly observed in plankton tows over the shelf and off the shelf break in turbulent waters. Lacking buoyancy, they are thought to sink back to the benthos as high energy waters subside. But is this true for all of them? Today, microperforate biserial and triserial planktic forms appear off the continental shelf edge in large numbers, often associated with wind driven upwelling. We now know that the biserial forms lead a dual life style as molecular evidence shows that the benthic morphospecies Bolivina variabilis and the planktic Streptochilus globigerus are the same biological species with the ability to occupy both planktic and benthic habitats. Geochemical data show that this ecologically flexible species can actively grow in both the seafloor sediments of a continental shelf or in surface waters of the open ocean far offshore. The existence of such a “tychopelagic” mode of life in foraminifers provides a glimpse at a possible mechanism by which planktic lineages may have evolved multiple times from benthic ancestors since Jurassic time. The foray into the pelagic realm by benthic foraminifers is likely to have occurred a number of times over the past 180 myr. Times of high global sea level and flooded continental interiors correspond with numerous suspected invasions of the plankton by a number of different benthics. Some of these suspected experiments may have been initiated by a dynamic food supply or oxygen stress in the benthos. A number of unusual planktics existed in epicontinental seas or had restricted geographic distributions along continental margins, such as Bifarina, Tenuitella insolita, Rectoguembelina, Zeauvigerina, and Anarcticella. Others like Heterohelix (and their descendents), Guembelitria, Tenuitella, Cassigerinella chipolensis, and Streptochilus became very successful in the pelagic realm, with some more common and widespread than others. Fluctuating sea level and changing conditions of the OMZ are two of many factors that may have provided opportunities for benthic forams to make the leap into the plankton. Changing phytoplankton community structure of the upper water column, including the diversification and rise in dominance of dinoflagellates and coccolithophorids during the Mesozoic Era, and diatoms during the Cenozoic, may have also facilitated planktic foraminiferal evolution by stimulating experimental forays into the photic zone of the upper water column.


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Innovative use of foraminifera in ecotoxicology: testing potential toxicity

Mariéva Denoyelle1, Emmanuelle Geslin1, François Galgani, Jacques Miné, Frans Jorissen 1Angers University, France E-mail: [email protected] Benthic foraminifera, marine unicellular organism protected by a shell, are commonly used as bioindicators of pollution in marine environments. We are increasing the bio-indication potential of foraminifera by developing a bio-assay method, comparable to those based on oyster larvae and crustacean larvae. In order to develop this method, a series of laboratory experiments are performed, in which foraminifera are exposed to different concentrations of drill fluids for different lengths of time. The aim of this study is to evaluate the toxicity of different drilling fluids. These ecotoxicological tests are divided into 2 major exposures: acute and chronic. The principle of the acute test is to expose foraminifera for 24 hours to supernatants formed from different concentrations of drilling mud (between 0 and 500 g/L). The activity of the foraminifera is then measured by a spectrofluorimetry technique, with the previous addition of a FDA solution in the seawater. The chronic test is elaborated during one month on several drilling mud concentrations (between 0 and 10000 mg/L) to measure 1) the pseudopodial activity of each individual and 2) the growth rate and the morphological abnormalities of the shell. This test is conducted in a solution of calcein/seawater to observe fluorescent newly built chambers under an epifluorescent microscope. The first results are very promising. They give an inverse correlation between an increasing concentration of drilling mud in the seawater and the activity and growth of the foraminifera. Our foraminiferal toxicity tests are developed with the objective to determine threshold values of pollution such as the Lethal Concentration for 50% of the population (LC50) or the No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC).

Foraminiferal Biomineralization – New insights, new questions

Lennart Jan de Nooijer1

1Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University E-mail: [email protected] Foraminifera are among the most important proxy-carriers used for paleoceanographic reconstruct-tions. Trace element and stable isotope composition of the calcite they produce depends on a range of environmental conditions: for example, the amount of Mg incorporated into the calcite of a foraminiferal shell is a function of seawater temperature. Cellular activity of the foraminifer also influences incorporation of elements (Mg, Ba, B, etc) and fractionation of isotopes (δ18O, δ11B, etc) during

calcification. In order to precipitate CaCO3, foraminifera take up sea water and extract Ca2+ and (b)carbonate which they store in intracellular pools until they are used for calcification. The cellular machinery responsible for production of these pools is largely unknown, although their identification is the only way to mechanistically understand calcification and trace element partitioning and isotope fractionation (and sensitivity of them on environmental parameters). Recent application of a number of techniques (e.g. fluorescent probes) has led to the identification of a number of key cellular mechanisms and strategies and have resulted in a new foraminiferal calcification model.

Benthic foraminiferal response during early Eocene hyperthermals at DSDP Site 401, Bay of Biscay, North East Atlantic

Simon D’haenens1, André Bornemann2, Ursula Röhl3, Peter Stassen1, Robert P. Speijer1

1Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium 2Universität Leipzig, Germany 3MARUM, Universität Bremen, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The early Paleogene “hothouse” (60-50 Ma) was a climatically dynamic period with transient intervals (<200 kyr) of extreme global warming, also known as hyperthermals. The most prominent and best-documented hyperthermal is the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM; ETM-1; ~55.5 Ma), which left a major mark on the biogeosphere evolution; the extinction of up to 50% of deep and shallow water benthic foraminifera being a prime example. In early Eocene deposits worldwide, additional smaller hyperthermals have been detected, primarily based on stable isotope records and physical properties, yet the biotic aspects remain largely unexplored. By studying these early Eocene hyperthermals, an assessment can be made whether or not they display similar biotic patterns as the PETM, as has been suggested by several authors. Lower Eocene deep-sea sediments from DSDP Site 401 in the Bay of Biscay (paleodepth ~2000 m) show a well-developed cyclicity in sediment color and carbonate content in calcareous nannofossil Zone NP11. In this interval, several darker, marly horizons stand out in the otherwise grayish-brown calcareous chalks. The δ13C and δ18O records on Nuttallides truempyi and Oridorsalis umbonatus and on bulk material clearly show the iconic isotopic excursion of the PETM and at least four additional negative excursions of up to ~0.90‰ throughout Biozone NP11. Some of these isotopic excursions can be correlated to strong benthic foraminiferal assemblage changes as indicated by a rapid onset of impoverished faunas, blooms of small opportunistic taxa and small long-term shifts in species composition. These patterns are indicative of similar, yet smaller, biotic changes as observed during the PETM interval of DSDP Site 401 and other deep-sea deposits worldwide.


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The lithological, isotopic and quantitative foraminiferal data provide strong evidence for the presence of early Eocene hyperthermals at DSDP Site 401 and seem to confirm the idea that these events display benthic foraminiferal changes similar to the PETM.

Recent Foraminiferal Assemblage In An Impacted Brazilian Estuarine System

Teresa Lima Díaz1, André Rosch Rodrigues1, Beatriz Beck Eichler1

1Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil E-mail: [email protected] The aim of this study is to determine the benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the estuarine system of Santos, São Vicente and Cubatão in São Paulo State (Brazil). This estuarine system is located in the southeastern part of Brazil and is intensely impacted by industrial and domestic effluents. The region contains both the main industrial center of the country (Cubatão) and the largest harbour in Brazil (Santos harbour). The sediment for analysis was collected during the 2007 austral summer (January) and winter (July). The total of forty–seven surface sediment samples (23 during the summer and 24 during the winter) were collected with a Van Veen grab sampler, Temperature, salinity, pH, total organic matter in sediment and grain size were also determined. The Foraminifera fauna is composed mainly by calcareous taxa. From the 107 found taxa about 73 were calcareous, 33 agglutinated and 1 planktonic taxon. In the austral summer, we found 58 calcareous and 24 agglutinated taxa. The most abundant taxa were Ammonia beccarii, A. parkinsoniana, Elphidium spp. and Pseudononium atlanticum. The average value of richness is 13.2, Shannon-Wiener diversity is 1.187, Simpson Dominance 0.502 and evenness is 0.481. The agglutinated taxa were not common during this season. During the winter we found 67 taxa: 40 calcareous, 26 agglutinated and 1 planktonic species, The calcareous species Pseudononion atlanticum and the agglutinated taxa Arenoparrella mexicana and Trochammina advena were also frequent. The average value of richness is11.2, Shannon-Wiener diversity is 1.160, Simpson Dominance 0.493 and evenness is 0.522. Ammonia beccarii was the dominant species in both seasons.and the abundance of agglutinated taxa were higher than in the summer samples. The estuarine system of Santos, São Vicente and Cubatão is under anthropogenic impact because our results show a low richness and evenness faunal data in both seasons and a dominance of species that are common in impacted areas (A. beccarii, A. parkinsoniana, and Elphidium spp.).

Late Pleistocene-Holocene sea level changes as recorded by foraminiferal assemblages in the Tyrrhenian continental shelf off the Tiber delta (Central Italy).

Letizia Di Bella1, Piero Bellotti1

1Earth Sciences Department, University “La Sapienza” Rome, Italy E-mail: [email protected] Foraminiferal assemblages of a borehole (TC8) drilled at -126 m depth far from the sea shore of Tiber mouth (Latium Central Italy) were studied in order to highlight the sea level variations during a time interval ranging from 35 kyr BP to Holocene. The micropaleontological data were integrated with sedimentological analysis to carry out a better paleoenvironmental reconstruction and verify the relationships between sedimentological parameters of bottom and microfaunal distribution. Moreover radiocarbon dates have been performed. Two main intervals have been identified. The first from the bottom (-410 cm) to -200 cm includes mainly shallow-water benthic assemblages and a planktonic fraction dominated by cold species (Globigerina bulloides, Globorotalia scitula, Neogloboquadrina pachyderma r.c.). The river influence induced scarcely oxygenated episodes alternating to vegetate bottom. The second interval is related to the onset of Holocene that is recorded by the presence of a sandy level (revinement surface) at -200 cm depth. The faunal turnover from infralittoral to circalittoral benthic assemblage occurred at about 6 kyr (-180 cm depth) and coincided with the sea level stabilization. Plankton was characterised by the decrease of cold taxa and the significant presence of G. truncatulinoides and G. inflata (temperate species) that testified the establishment of the onset of the winter convection and vertical mixing typical of the Modern Tyrrhenian Sea. Assuming invariant sedimentation rates between two successive control points (radiocarbon years BP) these were relatively high in the basal portion of the core in the Late Pleistocene age from 34 kyr BP to 28 kyrBP (23-24 cm/kyr). In the upper portion from about 6 Kyr BP to Recent the sedimentation rates increased with values of 35 cm/kyr. From about 28 kyr BP to 6 Kyr BP, it’s not possible to estimate the sedimentation rates for the absence of sedimentation continuity. Nevertheless considering for the revinement surface, close to -120 m depth, an age upcoming at the beginning of the postglacial sea level rise, during the transgression it is hypothetical a sedimentation rate has been nearly null.


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Benthic foraminiferal assemblages as indicators of anthropogenic activity in the SW Barents Sea

Noortje Dijkstra1, Juho Junttila1, JoLynn Carroll2, Morten Hald1, Katrine Husum1, Dorthe Klitgaard-Kristensen3, Sergei Korsun4

1Department of Geology, University of Tromsø, Norway 2Akvaplan-Niva, Norway 3Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø, Norway 4Shirshow Institute of Oceanology, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Petroleum industry activities in the Arctic will increase in the coming decades. In the southwest Barents Sea, oil exploration wells have been drilled and there are plans to start production in the Goliat oil field in the next 10-15 years. The Northern Environmental Waste Management (EWMA) project at the University of Tromsø aims to develop a successful strategy for waste handling associated with the petroleum industry activities in the SW Barents Sea. As part of the EWMA project, we investigate the effect of enhanced anthropogenic activities on benthic foraminifera assemblages in the SW Barents Sea. Surface sediment samples and sediment cores, covering the last 1000 years will be analyzed to determine long term records (pre and post industrial activities) of sedimentary pollutants (PAHs, metals, POPs). Today these sedimentary pollutants are transported towards the region by long range transport. Observed modern and past benthic foraminifera distribution patterns will be correlated to pollutant levels, sediment type and geochemical sediment properties. These results will serve as a data set to predict and model future transport, accumulation and distribution of petroleum related pollutants and their impact on the environment.

Vertical and horizontal distribution of foraminifera at Pereque Mangrove (Parana, Brazil)

Sibelle Trevisan Disaró1, Leonardo Zagonel Serafini1, Rodrigo Aluizio1

1Federal University of Parana, Brazil Email: [email protected] The distribution of Foraminifera in the intertidal zone is influenced by many factors (e.g. frequency of tidal exposure, elevation, salinity, etc.). After death, if not destroyed, they become part of the sediment. The composition, horizontal and vertical distribution of forams associations from Perequê mangrove (Brazil, 25°35’S; 48°20’W) were studied, as well as their relationship with the environmental parameters. Samples were distributed in a transect perpendicular to the margin and according to elevation and tidal exposure, 3 zones were established: upper mangrove (UM), medium

mangrove (MM) and lower mangrove (LM). Samples were taken at 0-1cm, 1-3cm, 3-5cm and 5-10cm depth intervals and fixed with 4% formaldehyde buffered solution and Bengal Rose. Living and dead tests were counted. Environmental variables were analyzed at each sampled depth. Fine and very fine sand dominate. Carbonate and organic matter content varied from 3.16 to 5.65% and from 3.68 to 8.25% respectively; chlorophyll-a varied from 0 to 9.83 mg/ml, temperature from 28.5 to 32°C, salinity from 14 to 27, pH from 6.61 to 8.3 and O2 from 28 to 100%. We identified 31 foraminiferal species. The most abundant were Arenoparrella mexicana (48.5%), Trochammina inflata (13.31%) and Haplophragmoides wilberti (11.75%). Fisher’s α index varied from 2.15 to 4.97, Shannon index from 1.19 to 2.14, dominance from 0.19 to 0.45 and equitability from 0.54 to 0.70. Species and environmental data relationship were analyzed through Correspondence Analysis. Clustering identified 2 groups: one characterized the UM and another, the MM and LM. There was a positive correlation between the substrate elevation and the higher frequencies of H. wilberti. At the MM and UM the higher standing stock occurred at 5-10cm depth, meanwhile at the LM it occurred at 3-5cm depth. The higher number of tests (total fauna) within the LM and UM occurred at 3-5cm depth and at the MM it occurred at 5-10cm depth. We concluded that the uppermost portion is not adequate to characterize the mangrove foraminiferal associations once they are more abundant at deeper levels. Several authors believe that the substrate of mangroves may limit the foraminiferal colonization, but since these cells seem to be tolerant to the mangrove sediment features, a sampling design including up to 10cm depth seems to be more adequate.

Benthic foraminiferal associations from the continental shelf of Campos Basin, southeastern Brazil

Sibelle Trevisan Disaró1, Silvia Watanabe2, Violeta Totah2, Rodrigo Aluizio1, Elis Regina Ribas1, Ana Paula Chiaverini1, Ingrid Rodriguez Tellez1, Daniel V. Pupo1, Carlos E. Silva1, Eduardo A. M. Koutsoukos3, Ana Paula Falcão3 1Federal University of Parana, Brazil 2Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Argentina 3Petrobras S A, Brazil Email: [email protected] This research is part of the “HABITATS Project– Evaluation of the Environmental Heterogeneity of the Campos Basin”, which aims to characterize the physical, chemical and biological features of the Campos Basin, southeastern Brazil (20.5ºS - 24ºS) in support of research and development activities of Petrobras, the Brazilian state-owned oil Company, in the area. During 2008’s Austral winter benthic foraminiferal associations were studied over the continental shelf and along the shelf break edges. A total of 39 stations were sampled (in triplicate) with a


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van Veen grab along 9 transects perpendicular to the coastline. Samples were collected from the surface (0-2cm) bottom sediment, fixed with 4% formaldehyde buffered solution, stained with Bengal Rose, washed and sieved through a 63µm mesh (20cm³ was analyzed and part was stored for retesting). Depth, grain size, carbonate content, temperature and other data were obtained and evaluated using a Constrained Analysis of Principal Coordinates. Foraminiferal biomass was estimated by biovolume measuring. A total of 401 foraminiferal taxa (365 species) were recorded. Cassidulina crassa minima was the most abundant and frequent species. Foraminiferal spatial distribution was strongly influenced by sediment (grain size and carbonate content) and depth. Cluster analysis allowed to recognize two very distinct areas: a shallower region (25 to 50m) with sandy substrate and a deeper region (75 to 150m) with high carbonate content. Three groups could be distinguished: the Bolivina paula - Discorbis williamsoni group, which characterizes the sandy shallow area (25 to 50m); the Bulimina marginata - Eilohedra laevicula group, charac-terizing the southernmost muddy region and the Uvigerina proboscidesa - Seabrookia earlandi group, which characterizes the deeper region (75 to 150m) with high carbonate content. Small rotalids were more abundant at the southern siliciclastic muddy area, whereas large mixotrophic rotalids were common at the central and northern region. Biomass values agreed with the data available in literature. Despite the highest abundances at the southern region, preliminary data show higher biomass values at the northern area where species of longer life cycles live. If confirmed, this information should be taken into account considering local environmental assessment.

Stratigraphic relationships between the last occurrence of Neogloboquadrina inglei and marine isotope stages at site C9001 hole C in the northwest Pacific Ocean

Hanako Domitsu1, Jun-ichi Uchida2, Kaoru Ogane3, Tokiyuki Sato4, Minoru Ikehara5, Hirosh Nishi6, Shiro Hasegawa7, Motoyosho Oda3

1The University of Shiga Prefecture, Japan 2OYO Corporation, Japan 3Tohoku University, Japan 4Akita University, Japan 5Kochi University, Japan 6Hokkaido University, Japan 7Kumamoto University, Japan Email: [email protected] The Neogloboquadrina group is representative of the planktic foraminifera typical of late Neogene mid- to high-latitude regions. The last occurrence (LO) of Neogloboquadrina inglei is one of the Pleistocene biochronological markers, with an estimated age of ca. 0.7 Ma. The ages for this bioevent have been calculated by few magnetostratigraphic, tephrostratigraphic, and

biostratigraphic controls available for the interval between 0.8 Ma and the present. In 2006, Site C9001 Hole C was drilled on the continental slope at 1180 m water depth near the Shimokita Peninsula, Japan, during the CK06-06 D/V Chikyu Shakedown Cruise. Shipboard and shore-based preliminary study of siliceous and calcareous microfossil biostratigraphy, tephro-stratigraphy, and magnetostratigraphy imply that the 365-m-long core from Hole C9001C records a high and continuous sedimentation rate during the Brunhes normal epoch. To determine the stratigraphic position of the LO of N. inglei, we established the nannofossil biostratigraphy and oxygen isotope stratigraphy of Hole C9001C and examined its planktic foraminiferal biostratigraphy. Oxygen isotope values for benthic foraminifera from 340 horizons in Hole C9001C showed cyclic changes through the length of the core, ranging from 3 to 4.8‰. Two calcareous nannofossil events, the first occurrence of Emiliania huxleyi and the LO of Pseudoemiliania lacunosa, were used as age-control points, and the oxygen isotope curve of C9001C was correlated with the standard oxygen isotope curve LR04. Hole C9001C provides a nearly continuous record from marine isotope stage (MIS) 18 to present during the Brunhes normal epoch, with an average sedimentation rate of 50 cm/kyr. Based on the age model of C9001C, the stratigraphic position of the LO of N. inglei is in late MIS 16 or near the MIS 16/15 boundary.

Paleogene conical foraminifera with aggluti-nated walls in the Tethys realm – Biostrati-graphy, palaeoecology

Katica Drobne1, Vlasta Ćosović2

1Paleontological Institute of Slovenian Academy of Science and Arts, Slovenia 2Vlasta Ćosović, University of Zagreb, Croatia E-mail: [email protected] The agglutinated-conical foraminifera of the Paleogene are poorly known in comparison to groups with porcelaneous or lamellar-perforate shells because their habitat is restricted to extremely shallow environments. Nevertheless they should be considered as a powerfull tool not only to recognize shallowing upward, regressive phases in sedimentary sequences but also to identify such cycles. The Paleogene fossil record registers dramatic changes in the composition of successive communities of agglutinated conicals and reductions of their diversity when associated with larger miliolids. Sofar, 18 species belonging to 11 genera were described from sediments deposited in the Tethys from the eastern shores of the Atlantic accross the Mediterranean to the Indopacific. The appearance of diversified associations of conical foraminifera takes place in the Late Paleocene (Thanetian, SBZ 3 and 4). In the northern Tethyan bioprovince (W Pyreneans and Paleogene Adriatic Carbonate Platform) 7 species are found, while in Corfu there are 4, in E Turkey 1


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and in Iran 8. In Oman and Somalia, similar faunas occur. During the Ilerdian (Early Ypresian, SBZ 6-9) no conical-agglutinated foraminifera were found. In the Cuisian (Late Ypresian, SBZ 10-12), for the second time they became abundant and their association was highly diversified. The species were found in Middle to Late Cuisian and Early Lutetian sediments deposited in Tunisia (1 species), on the Apulian Platform (Trentinara Fm), the Adriatic Carbonate Platform (Coskinolina liburnica Stache is known since 1875), in Afghanistan (4 species) and Pakistan (3 species). Their occurrence in Balucistan is considered very important for the paleobiogeographic interpretation of the Paleogene belts of carbonates along the margins of the Indian subcontinent. A last assemblage from the Late Lutetian and the Bartonian is found in shallow-water settings in Tunesia, Egypt, Somalia and Iran (Jarum formation, 7 poorly defined taxa). Common to all Paleogene conical taxa are the agglutinated chamber walls lacking distinct textures. The cones are formed by successively growing discoidal chambers or chamberlet cycles in uniserial or spiral arrangement. The genera are distinguished by the simple or complex structure of the megalospheric embryo and by the arrangement of the spiral nepionic chambers. The adult chambers may be trochospirally, planispirally or uniserially disposed. They are presenting various kinds of exokeletons and endoskeletons in the form of radial septula or pillars. The faces of the cone may be differentiated by various arrangements of the apertures and of the apertural axes. In the Caribbean, agglutinated conicals are known from the upper part of the Early Eocene until the late Eocene. There are 6 genera with together 9 species. Only two genera are in common with the Tethys. The knowledge on the Caribbean conicals has not been updated recently. The corresponding taxa might need revisions.

Foraminiferal biostratigraphy and sea level curve for the Maastrichtian strata of the Lublin Lviv Syncline (SE Poland and West Ukraine)

Zofia Dubicka1, Danuta Peryt1

1Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland E-mail: [email protected] During Late Cretaceous time the evolution of the Polish lowlands was strongly influenced by eustatic changes and the inversion of the Mid-Polish Through. In Santonian to Maastrichtian times, during the main phase of Polish basin inversion, the depocentres moved toward the NE and SW into the marginal synclines, where marine sedimentation continued until the Early Palaeocene. As a result, Maastrichtian deposits coming from the Lublin-Lviv Syncline (southern part of marginal synclines), are characterized by almost complete sedimentation and large thickness. The most complete record of Maastrichtian strata is exposed in the so-called Middle Vistula River section, which is located to the east of the northeastern margin of the Holy Cross

Mountains, and represents a standard succession for extra-Carpathian Upper Cretaceous deposits in Poland. The detailed stratigraphy of Maastrichtian strata of the mentioned profile is established, on the basis on macrofauna. The present study deals with the population changes of the planktic foraminifers coming from fifteen Maastrichtian outcrops from the Middle Vistula River area and the area between Lublin in SE Poland and Lviv in West Ukraine. These sediments contain rich assemblages of well-preserved planktic foraminifers characterized by heterohelicids, globigerinelloids, hedbergellids, rugoglobigerinids and globotruncanids. Quantitative and qualitative studies show long-term changes in planktic foraminiferal assemblages, comparable in profiles of both investigated regions, whichallow for correlation of Maastrichtian strata in entire Lublin-Lviv Syncline. Changes in the composition of planktic foraminifer depth groups suggest bathymetrical changes during the Maastrichtian. Similar bathymetrical changes have been observed in the Limburg Basin and globally. These data imply that depth changes in Maastrichtian sea of the Lublin – Lviv basin were mainly controlled by global changes in sea-level and to a lesser extent by local tectonic processes.

Modelling CaCO3 calcite dissolution kinetics

Anke Dürkop1, Birgit Schneider1

1Christian-Albrechts-University, Germany Email: [email protected] The difference between glacial and interglacial periods reaching about 100 ppm for atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) during the last 400.000 years remains one of the major unsolved question in climate research. Dissolution of CaCO3 affect the CO3

2- concentration in the ocean, which is involved in the regulation of atmospheric pCO2 on these time scales. In biogeochemical models CaCO3 dissolution is usually calculated as R=k*Sn, where k is the dissolution rate constant transforming S, the degree of (under-) saturation of seawater with respect to CaCO3, into a time dependent rate R, and n is the reaction rate order. Generally, there are two definitions for the description of the saturation state of seawater with respect to CaCO3: (1) ∆CO3

2-, which reflects the difference between the in-situ carbonate ion concentration and the saturation concentration, and (2) Ω, which is approximated by the ratio of in-situ carbonate ion concentration over the saturation concentration. These two commonly formulations used to express the degree of (under-) saturation of seawater with respect to CaCO3 are not equally applicable for the calculation of CaCO3 dissolution in the ocean across pressure gradients as they differ in their sensitivity to ocean acidification (change to CO3

2-) over depth. This different sensitivity may affect the time scales of sediment buffering, so that the appropriate formulation needs to be known.


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In the present study we apply a marine biogeochemical model to test the sensitivity of the marine carbon cycle to the formulation of the saturation state of seawater with respect to CaCO3. We show that the different formulations of the dissolution kinetics have an influence on the distribution of dissolved inorganic carbon, alkalinity, the calcite saturation horizon depth, and the flux of particulate inorganic carbon. The latter exhibit strong increases in CaCO3 flux with increasing depth and therefore reflect a reduced sensitivity of higher reaction rate orders n.

Live benthic foraminifera in the Whittard Canyon (NE Atlantic)

Pauline Duros1, Christophe Fontanier1, Edouard Metzger1, Frans Jorissen1, Antonio Pusceddu2, Florian Cesbron1, Roberto Danovaro2, Henko de Stigter3

1Angers University, BIAF, UPRES EA 2644, France 2Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy 3Royal NIOZ, The Netherlands Email: [email protected] Living (Rose Bengal stained) benthic foraminifera were investigated at 18 deep-sea stations sampled in the Whittard Canyon area (NE Atlantic). The stations were positioned along 4 bathymetric transects ranging from 300 to 3000 m depth: two along the main canyon axes (Western and Eastern branches) and two along adjacent open slopes (Western and Eastern slopes). The aim of this study was to assess changes of foraminiferal standing stock, diversity and microhabitat in relation to the physico-chemical conditions prevailing at and below the sediment-water interface. Minimal oxygen penetration depths and maximal diffusive oxygen uptake were recorded at upper canyon stations suggesting a higher mineralisation rate in the canyon heads. It is confirmed by high phytopigment concentrations measured in the sediment of the upper canyon axes. Foraminiferal abundance is positively correlated with (1) species richness, (2) diffusive oxygen uptake and (3) phytopigment concentration in the sediment. It suggests the key role of organic matter fluxes on the foraminiferal communities (standing stock and diversity). Foraminiferal abundance is generally higher along the canyon axis compared to open-slope sites at comparable water depths. It confirms a preferential transport of organic detritus into the canyons. The species composition varies (1) with water depth along all of the four transects and (2) between canyon branches and adjacent slopes. Higher abundances of agglutinated taxa such as Reophax spp., Eggerella bradyi, Ammobaculites agglutinans are observed at the open slope stations, whereas calcareous species dominate the canyon branches. This faunal difference may be related to food scarcity on the slopes, and suggests that the dominant calcareous taxa are strongly favoured by a higher supply of labile food particles. The absence of recent turbidites suggests that most of the

investigated stations in the Whittard Canyon system are not subject to massive sediment transport. However, in many of the deeper canyon stations, the presence of silty/sandy intercalations suggests the presence of instantaneous sediment deposits of a smaller extent. At some of these stations, the faunal characteristics (strong dominance, weak sediment penetration) suggest that the foraminiferal community is probably in an early state of ecosystem colonization.

Diversity and short-term processing of phytodetritus by benthic foraminifera in the abyssal NE Pacific

Annekatrin J. Enge1, Hidetaka Nomaki2, Nanako O. Ogawa2, Ursula Witte3, Markus M. Moeseneder3, Gaute Lavik4, Naohiko Ohkuchi2, Hiroshi Kitazato2, Petra Heinz1, Michal Kucera1

1Institute of Geoscience, University of Tübingen, Germany 2Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Japan 3Oceanlab University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom 4Max-Planck-Institute for Marine Microbiology Email: [email protected] The deep sea is a unique environment combining relatively stable ambient conditions with large variability in phytodetritus fluxes. To investigate the carbon cycle in the deep-sea and the role of benthic organisms within, the use of tracer experiments has proven to be an effective tool. In this study we examined the composition of the benthic foraminiferal community at Station M (34°50'N, 123°00'W, 4100 m depth), a long-time observation site in the northeast Pacific, and monitored the response of the fauna to a simulated phytodetrital pulse during a short-term in situ experiment. By means of a ROV, Oceanlab spreader systems were deployed at the seafloor and the enclosed sediments were incubated with 13C-labeled diatoms (Thalassiosira weissflogii) for four days. Faunistic results show that the living foraminiferal community (> 63 µm) at Station M is dominated by a few taxa of soft-shelled foraminifera with up to 127 ind. 10 cm-³ and relative abundances in deeper sediment layers of up to 71%. Agglutinated foraminifera show the highest species diversity and a preponderance of epifaunal species, whilst calcareous taxa are the least abundant group. Analyses from the in situ experiment show that the numerically dominating soft-shelled foraminifera did not have any impact (< 0.1%) on the total carbon uptake by the foraminiferal community. In contrast, agglutinated and calcareous foraminifera ingested the offered phytodetritus at a similar rate but with significant differences between individual species. In the studied agglutinated species, the depth of the highest phytodetritus uptake coincides with the habitat preferences of individual species. In general, the carbon ingestion by foraminifera decreases with sediment depth.


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Holocene palaeoenvironment in the Skagerrak, Eastern North Atlantic: a study of foraminiferal abundance, stable isotopes and Mg/Ca ratios

Dorthe R. Erbs-Hansen1, Karen Luise Knudsen1

1Aarhus University, Denmark Email: [email protected] A 32 m long IMAGES piston core (MD99-2286) was retrieved at 225 m water depth on the north-eastern edge of the Norwegian Channel in Skagerrak. It spans the latest part of the Younger Dryas and the entire Holocene period. The core site area is promising for high-resolution studies of changes in the oceanic circulation pattern and climate during the Holocene. Today, the circulation pattern at site MD99-2286 creates a sink for sediments because inflow of waters from the North Atlantic Current and the Jutland Current mix with outflow-water from the Baltic Current, creating an anti-clockwise gyre. This causes a significant decrease in the current speed and allows sedimentation to occur. The age model for the record is based on 30 radiocarbon dates. Foraminiferal contents have been analysed throughout the core, and stable oxygen and carbon isotopes and Mg/Ca ratios were measured. The species used for the isotopic analysis were Cassidulina neoteretis, Uvigerina mediterranea and Melonis barleeanus with an overlap of 30 samples between each species. The Mg/Ca ratios were measured only on M. barleeanus covering the most of the Holocene time interval. Palaeotemperature estimates have been made based on the stable oxygen isotopes, the Mg/Ca ratios and transfer functions, and these estimates are compared. In an interval ranging ca. 11500 - 8000 cal. a BP the assemblage is characterized by both C. neoteretis and Cassidulina laevigata and a transitional form between the two occur (C. cf. laevigata). The analyses show a cold ice-proximal environment during the latest Younger Dryas and earliest Holocene. Around 10000 cal. yr BP, full interglacial conditions were established, and Skagerrak resembled a fjord with a strong inflow of Atlantic water until the eustatic sea level rose sufficiently to flood the entire North Sea, the English Channel and the Danish straits, and the modern circulation system was developed corresponding to a major faunal change at ca. 8000 cal. yr BP. Subsequently relatively stable environmental conditions prevailed in the area, though a slight change in oceanography occurred after ca. 6400 cal. yr BP and particularly during the last 2000 years, when fluctuations increased considerably.

Evaluating intratest compositional variability in Nummulites: Palaeoceanic proxies and season-ality from the Eocene

D. Evans1, W. Müller1, Willem Renema2 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of London (RHUL), Egham, UK 2Department of Geology, Leiden, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected]

A detailed understanding of the effects of past climate variation on Earth is vital to the development of accurate models describing future environmental change. As some of the best analogues for current global temperature rise occurred in the more distant geological past, palaeoenvironmental proxies such as those evaluated here are a previously overlooked but important source of evidence in the understanding of such events. Both stable isotope ratios (δ18O, δ13C) and more recently element/Ca ratios (e.g. Mg/Ca as a temperature proxy) are being utilised to reconstruct palaeoceanic environments from foraminifera tests. Such proxies are typically applied to Pleistocene and Holocene extant species enabling calibration relative to laboratory cultures, which however becomes increasingly more difficult for geologically older taxa. Here we explore the application of element/Calcium to Eocene Nummulites. This material is of particular interest because well-preserved samples are available both from the Bracklesham and Barton Beds of Southern England, as well as the Nangulan Formation of Kali Watapuri, Indonesia. Modern large benthic foraminifera (LBF) are used for comparison in order to assess diagenesis and for the calibration of proxies. The laser ablation ICPMS facility at RHUL featuring rapid signal washout enables detailed analysis of intratest chemical variability of foraminifera, thereby allowing identification of potentially important fine-scale information (e.g. daily or seasonal variations) and diagenetic alteration. Comparison with recent Operculina ammonoides indicates only minor diagenetic change in the Eocene material. Hence palaeo-temperature, water-mass and pH estimates appear possible, including the provision of independent temperature estimates for stable isotope work. In particular, the retention of apparent seasonal variation in Mg/Ca in some specimens, as well as the expected retrodiction of both latitudinal and temporal temperature decrease during the mid-Eocene, demonstrates that useful proxy data can exist in samples of this age. Corresponding data will be presented.


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Paired δ18O – Mg/Ca records from G. ruber, G. trilobus and N. dutertreiδ indicate a rapid recent warming of the Mozambique Channel, upstream of the Agulhas Current

Ulrike Fallet1, Isla Castaneda1, Craig Grove1, Jens Zinke1, Stefan Schouten1, Geert-Jan Brummer1

1Royal NIOZ, Marine Geology, The Netherlands Email: [email protected] The transport of warm and salty waters from the Indo-Pacific into the Atlantic Ocean is controlled by the Agulhas leakage around South Africa, and is of critical importance to global thermohaline circulation because it is the primary contributor of heat and salt for the surface branch of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. To estimate the change in heat transport from the Mozambique Channel to the Agulhas Current in the Holocene in comparison to the 21st century we have analyzed a number of foraminiferal temperature proxies in time-series fluxes and coretop sediments. Age models obtained by foraminiferal 14C-AMS indicate that foraminiferal d18O and Mg/Ca from coretops is a composite from the last ~1000 years. Results from foraminiferal temperature proxies demonstrate a distinct temperature difference between specimens from coretop sediment and from time-series fluxes. Surface-dwelling G. ruber and G. trilobus suggest that surface waters are between 1.1 °C and 2.0 °C warmer in the 21st century as compared to the late Holocene. The d18O and Mg/Ca values from subthermocline-dwelling N. dutertrei differ by ~3.0 °C from the late Holocene mean indicating an even extremer warming of waters below the surface mixed layer (> 60 m). Our results illustrate that a severe recent warming of the SW Indian Ocean and hence the Agulhas Current has occurred, which is not only restricted to the ocean surface but that it extends to subthermocline depths. This warming causes the transport of 1.1 – 3.3 °C warmer waters to the Agulhas leakage thereby probably causing an increased heat transport into the Atlantic which significantly contributes to a warming of the world’s oceans and hence global climate.

Evolution of meridionally arranged ornament-ation in Late Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera taxa

Francesca Falzoni1, Maria Rose Petrizzo1

1Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy E-mail: [email protected] Santonian-Campanian meridionally ornamented morphotypes are widely recognized in literature and are traditionally accommodated in three genera (Costellagerina, Rugoglobigerina and Rugotruncana), mainly discerned based on the position of the primary aperture, on the wall ornamentation and on the peripheral margin features (Petrizzo and Premoli Silva, 2000; Georgescu and Huber, 2007). On the other hand

scanning electron microscope (SEM) pictures of the holotypes are rarely available and the taxonomic relevance of some diagnostic characters such as the development of the meridional pattern and the presence of an imperforate peripheral band have been variably interpreted among authors (i.e, Gandolfi, 1955; Broenniman and Brown, 1956; Pessagno 1967; Robaszynski and Caron, 1984; Georgescu and Huber, 2007). The analysis of the planktonic foraminiferal assemblages across latitudes highlights the occurrence of widely diffused morphotypes with strongly ornamented wall showing muricae, costellae and rugae, so that some of the diagnostic characters currently used to discriminate among genera appear inadequate. To perform this study we examined upper Santonian – upper Campanian samples collected from localities representing different paleogeographic and paleoceanographic settings as follows: central Pacific Ocean (Ocean Drilling Program Leg 198, Shatsky Rise, Hole 1210B), western Australian margin (Ocean Drilling Program Leg 122, Hole 762C), coastal Tanzania (Tanzanian Drilling Program Sites 23 and 35), and central Italy (Bottaccione Section, Gubbio). The detailed external morphology and the wall texture of selected specimens have been analyzed through a SEM with the attempt to revise the taxonomy and to accommodate and define the stratigraphic distribution of species. Specimens have been grouped based on shell morphology, umbilical area features, number of chambers in the last whorl, chambers size increasing rates, wall ornamentation and stratigraphic position. The studied assemblage is highly diversified and three new hedbergellid-like forms with scattered pustules and muricae have been recognized. Moreover, we observed the presence of a morphotype never described before, showing a meridionally oriented ornamentation with pustules, costellae and rugae of uncertain taxonomic position. Results seem to demonstrate that a variably stressed meridional ornamentation could develop on the same morphology and therefore the importance of this diagnostic character at genus level and its evolution are discussed.

Remarks on Globotruncana insignis types: how the reconstruction of the phyletic lineage can solve taxonomic debates

Francesca Falzoni1, Maria Rose Petrizzo1

1Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy E-mail: [email protected] Globotruncana insignis was first described (original designation: Globotruncana rosetta insignis Gandolfi, 1955) from the Campanian of the Colon Formation (Colombia). Afterwards, the species was considered a junior synonym of Globotruncanita elevata by Pessagno (1967) and thus ignored by the foraminiferal specialists. Subsequently, the holotype was lost by the European Working Group (Rouen, 1981) during the preparation of the Atlas of late Cretaceous Globotruncanids (Robaszynski et al.,


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1984), and because of the inaccessibility of the paratype, a neotype was designated (Caron, 1983a). This designation caused a strong taxonomic debate where the conspecificity of holotype and neotype was widely argued (Caron, 1983b; Longoria, 1983; Longoria and Pessagno, 1984). Nevertheless, Robaszynski et al. (1984) regarded the taxon as a true species and tentatively placed it in the Globotruncana genera, although the single keel and the ambiguous structure of the umbilical area suggested a possible location within the Globotruncanita group. The continuous record of exceptionally well preserved and highly diversified planktonic foraminifera assemblages from the Globotruncana ventricosa and Radotruncana calcarata Zones, recently recovered from southeastern Tanzania, allowed us to reconstruct the phyletic lineage of G. insignis and to unravel the taxonomic questions previously raised. Eighty-four samples from Tanzanian Drilling Program (TDP) Site 23 and eighty samples from TDP Site 35 were prepared following the standard methodologies and examined under a stereomicroscope. More detailed observations on shell morphology and wall structure were performed through a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The studied population is composed by widely diffused globotruncanids showing a strongly convex umbilical side. In detail, we recognized at least two morphotypes that we considered intermediate between Globotruncanita stuartiformis and G. insignis, proving the existence of an ancestor-descendant relationship between the two taxa and the accommodation of G. insignis in the Globotruncanita genera. In our opinion, the neotype selected by Caron (1983a) belongs to the G. stuartiformis - G. insignis phyletic lineage and may represent an ancestral form with respect to the holotype. Finally, we identified a well discernible and large-sized Globotruncana morphotype having closely spaced double keels, a strongly convex umbilical side and 8-9 petaloid chambers in the last whorl that seems to have never been described occurring in Campanian sediments. Further studies on other sections are required in order to precisely establish its geographic and stratigraphic distribution.

Multispiral growth in Nummulites

Carles Ferràndez-Cañadell1 1Universitat de Barcelona, Spain E-mail: [email protected] The analysis of the ontogeny of the test of large Nummulites shows that all larger species are characterised by multispiral growth. Larger Nummulites tests are constructed from several, up to 15-20 spires growing simultaneously, so that in every growth step several "chambers" (in fact chamberlets) are formed simultaneously, one at the end of each spiral. As the term chamber defines all the structures formed in one growth step, the compartments formed in various spires growing simultaneously should be considered as

chamberlets of the same chamber. Consequently, the number of growth steps in an individual is only a fraction of the absolute number of “chambers" of its test, that can be as low as a 10-15%. Large test size in Nummulites is primarily due to their multispiral growth and only secondarily to the increase in longevity. The slow growth rate and prolonged longevity that has been suggested by some authors for the Eocene Nummulites is considered erroneous in this study. Because if the multispiral type of growth is taken into consideration, such a slow growth rate in the largest (16 cm) species would imply a life span of more than 250 years if it had 30 spirals, or either it would need to growth with 400 simultaneous spirals to live “only” 20 years. Instead, the results of the present study suggest a faster growth rate for the larger Eocene species, and a longevity of 2-5 years is considered sufficient to account for the formation of the tests of most large species. The comparison of the ontogeny in different Nummulites species display different patterns of multispiral growth in different lineages that seem to have developed independently, as a way of increasing the growth rate and the test size.

δ18O and Mg/Ca results from a multi-temperature culture study of benthic foraminifera

Helena L. Filipsson1, Joan M Bernhard2, Sara A. Lincoln3, Daniel C. McCorkle2

1Lund University, Sweden 2Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, United States 3Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States E-mail: [email protected] The stable oxygen isotopic composition (δ18O) and magnesium: calcium ratios (Mg/Ca) of foraminiferal calcium carbonate are used to estimate ocean chemistry and temperature at the time of calcification. However, there are often significant differences in isotopic and elemental composition between biogenic and inorganic calcite, which are often attributed to the influence of life processes on biogenic carbonates (“vital effects”). Calibrations of both proxies have relied on core-top samples; in such studies, water chemistry, water temperature, and biological factors including food supply often co-vary, making it difficult to isolate the proxy response to any single environmental parameter. Laboratory culture experiments provide a way to isolate and study individual environmental and biological factors that influence benthic foraminiferal shell chemistry. We collected several species of benthic foraminifera from four locations in the North Atlantic: the Skagerrak and Gullmar Fjord, Sweden; the Bahamas; and the Charleston Bump, United States at water depths ranging 120 to 800 m. The specimens were grown in culture chambers under controlled physical and chemical conditions at four temperatures (4, 7, 14 and 21°C) to establish the temperature dependence of foraminiferal calcite


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δ18O and Mg/Ca. Two Bulimina species (B. aculeata and B. marginata) were most successful in terms of calcification, adding chambers at all four temperatures and reproducing at 7 and 14°C. Foraminiferal δ18O values displayed ontogenetic variations, with lower values in younger individuals. The δ18O values of adult specimens decreased with increasing temperature in all but the 4°C treatment, exhibiting a relationship consistent with previous δ18O paleotemperature calibration studies. Foraminiferal Mg/Ca values, determined by LA-ICP-MS, were broadly consistent with previous Mg/Ca calibration studies, but extremely high values in the 4°C treatment and higher than predicted values at two of the other three temperatures make it challenging to interpret these results. The results from the present culturing experiment will be compared and discussed in relation to previous culturing studies focused on Bulimina spp.

Galapagos Islands — an enigmatic hotspot of foraminiferal diversity?

Kenneth L. Finger1

1University of California Museum of Paleontology, United States E-mail: [email protected] Biodiversity hotspots are regions where environmental stability and geographic isolation have fostered fine niche partitioning and endemism. These are prime areas for researching biogeographic speciation. This study evaluates the extensive benthic foraminiferal data from the Galapagos Archipelago that was documented by the late marine biologist Irene McCulloch in her multi-issue, multi-volume works on the East Pacific fauna collected from 1382 sites. Although the majority of samples were taken off California and Mexico, only 19 of 49 source areas are actually in the East Pacific. Her achievement received few accolades, likely in part due to Its cost, limited distribution, lack of modern imaging (all specimens were hand-drawn), no indication of peer review, and the author’s reclusiveness (she was 92 at the time of its publication). As a “splitter,” McCulloch believed it was necessary to taxonomically distinguish morphotypes for their biologic information, but she created numerous generic and specific synonymies. Furthermore, her fauna is not sorted by locality, leaving anyone seeking assemblage data from one or more localities with an arduous task such as that undertaken for the present study. Among 73 assemblages recovered from 86 Galapagos stations, McCulloch identified 619 taxa, describing most as new species. Whereas other literature on Galapagos foraminifera is surprisingly sparse, McCulloch’s publications and the Ellis and Messina Catalogue of Foraminifera were consulted to identify the late Pleistocene fauna of the archipelago, mostly from an uplifted terrace on Isla Isabela dated at 720 kyr. Of the 74 benthic species identified, only 29 were among the 619 that McCulloch recorded from the Galapagos; the

remainder had been described by others or appear to be new. McCulloch’s drawings appear to be accurate and the incompleteness of her species list is likely to be much greater than its inflation by synonymies. She was probably correct in believing that the majority of East Pacific foraminiferal species have yet to be found. Considering that the high species richness (944) of the “hotspot” foraminiferal fauna of the Sahul Shelf was derived from >5X more assemblages and from a >7X wider depth range, that of the Galapagos is likely to be comparable if not greater, which would qualify it as a bonafide hotspot of benthic foraminiferal biodiversity. Influenced by the cold Peru Current, this equatorial hotspot contradicts the general perception that marine biodiversity hotspots are restricted to warm tropical waters.

Foraminifera and thecamoebians from Miocene mangrove environment of Colombia

Flavia Fiorini1

1The Petroleum Institute, United Arab Emirates E-mail: [email protected] The benthic foraminifera and thecamoebians recovered in Miocene sediments from two Wells located in Eastern Colombia were described and used to interpret the paleoenvironment. The foraminiferal microfauna from the studied sections results to be totally composed by agglutinated foraminifera mainly belonging to the genera Arenoparrella, Ammobaculites, Ammotium, Miliammina, Haplophragmoides and Jadammina. The thecamoebians are presents with the genera Difflugia, Heleopera, Centropyxis and Pontigulasia. The above mentioned foraminifera are for the first time described in Miocene sediments of Colombia whereas the thecamoebian microfauna constitutes the first fully-documented Miocene record reported worldwide. The recovered foraminiferal and thecamoebians specimens were compared either with the ones occurring in recent associations from similar environment and were possible, with same-age microfauna from other areas and finally used to interpret the paleoenvironment. The comparison of the microfauna with modern foraminiferal and thecamoebians associations suggests that these sediments were deposited in brackish environment like a mangrove swamp or marsh.


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Benthic foraminiferal distribution from the Colombian Caribbean continental slope and shelf

Flavia Fiorini1

1The Petroleum Institute, United Arab Emirates E-mail: [email protected] Quantitative benthic foraminiferal analysis was conducted on 30 seafloor sediment samples distributed along the continental slope and shelf in Fuerte Area (Colombian Caribbean), between 39 and 2469m water depth. The objectives of the research were to provide data on distribution of Caribbean recent benthic foraminifera, to estimate changes in foraminiferal distribution related to the bathymetry and the characteristics of the substrate, to define a taxonomical data-bank of recent tropical benthic foraminifera, and to use the benthic distribution as a proxy to be used in paleoenvironmental reconstructions of Neogene sequences in the region. Three different assemblages corresponding to three different environments were observed. Assemblage 1 was characterized by variable percentages of porcellaneous, hyaline and agglutinated benthic foraminifera indicative of shelf environment Assemblage B was dominated by calcareous hyaline microfauna mainly composed by infaunal foraminifera corresponding mainly to upper bathyal underoxygenated marine conditions. Aassemblage C was composed by agglutinated and calcareous hyaline foraminifera characteristic of normal deep-water marine environments. The record constitutes both, a taxonomical data bank on recent Caribbean benthic foraminifera, and a foraminiferal distribution model that can be used in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions of the Neogene.

Habitat preferences and life cycle of the polar planktonic foraminifer Neogloboquadrina pachyderma in sediment traps seasonally ice-covered under the East Greenland Current, 75°N

Peter Fittkau1, Eduard Bauerfeind2, Hartmut Schulz1, Helmut Erlenkeuser3

1Institute for Geosciences, Tübingen University, Germany 2Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar Research, Germany 3Kiel University, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Three sediment traps AWI 419-2 SFB37 and AWI 420-1 SFB14 and SFB10 of the joint research project ARKTIEF II were established between September 2000 and 2002 beneath the East Greenland Current EGC between 10° 19.5` and 10° 12.2` western longitude. Depth of the three traps was 3061, 2650 and 800 m, respectively. In this area, the very cold EGC flows southward along the

continental shelf and slope and is seasonally covered with ice; warmer and more saline waters further offshore are the remnants of Atlantic surface waters flowing N off Norway and Svalbard, and return S with the deeper parts of the EGC. In the two years of anchoring, the ice cover was below the annual mean, however sea ice extended far out to the east so that sediment traps were situated under 80% to 100% ice cover approximately in January-March in 2001 and in March 2002. In the present study, we aim to quantify the foraminiferal flux under changing ice coverage and its impact on the ontogeny and on the oxygen and carbon isotopic composition of the important cold water species. Initial counts of the planktonic foraminifera demonstrate that Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (sinistral) is the most abundant species with a frequency of about 80%. In smaller numbers Turborotalia quinqueloba, and Globigerina bulloides were abundant. Flux maxima of up to 1.7 x 103 specimens m-2 d-1 occurred in the summer and autumn season including the months of July to December, but flux of planktonic foraminifera also persisted during the season of ice coverage (mostly below 0.2 x 103 specimens m-2 d-1). The significant flux of specimens does not suggest a close link between ice-free conditions and the standing stock of planktic foraminifera. Measurements of the δ18O values of N. pachyderma calcite are as low as 2.89 ‰ in the middle of the winter season (March). Foraminiferal δ13C was as high as 0.5‰ in June, 0.2 ‰ in August, and at a minimum in November of -0.8 ‰ and suggest that high biological productivity is tied to the ice margin and ice-free conditions. In a further investigation, we will have a closer look to the ontogeny of N. pachyderma since it is represented with only one genotype in the area. These investigations will include light and scanning electron microscopy, and further stable isotope analyses of different size fractions.

Larger benthic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of a Lower Khuff outcrop equivalent: Saiq Formation, Al Jabal al-Akhdar, Oman Mountains

Holger C. Forke1, Daniel Bendias2, Lisa Walz2, Bastian Koehrer2, Thomas Aigner2, Michael C. Pöppelreiter3

1Museum of Natural History Humboldt University, Germany 2Center of Applied Geosciences, Germany 3Shell Research an Technology Center, Qatar E-mail: [email protected] The Middle Permian to Lower Triassic Khuff Formation and its time-equivalent deposits are a prime target for hydrocarbon exploration in the Middle East. Integrated, high-resolution stratigraphy (sedimentology, biostratigraphy and geophysics) for correlation of outcrop sections and subsurface wells serve as an important input to reservoir models. The Khuff Formation covers most of the Arabian Platform and represents over large areas a flat


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epeiric mixed carbonate-evaporitic ramp. The biostratigraphic zonation of the upper Khuff strata (Upper Permian-Lower Triassic) has been established mainly by means of bio- and ecostratigraphic analysis of smaller benthic foraminifera due to the predominantly restricted environments. Much less attention has been paid on the Lower Khuff (Middle Permian), water bearing in most fields. Larger Benthic Foraminifera (LBF) are scarce or absent on the Arabian Platform. Fusulinid foraminifera have only been sporadically mentioned in previous literature. However, the basal part of the Saiq Formation in the Oman Mountains, time-equivalent to the Lower Khuff Formation, displays open-marine ramp deposits with a diversified macro- and microfauna. Detailed sampling of 6 complete Khuff sections covering an area of 30 km x 50km shows a much higher biodiversity then described elsewhere from the Arabian Platform with several LBF previously unrecognised. Fusulinids (belonging to the verbeekinid, schwagerinid, schubertellid, and staffellid lineages) in the Oman Mountains are particularily common during the initial transgression, right above eroded Pre-Khuff basement. The new data will allow a refined biostratigraphic zonation of the Lower Khuff, a correlation with regional (Tethyan) stages (based on LBF), and a discussion on their paleobiogeographic significance.

Sequence biostratigraphic correlation and paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Late Carboniferous platform deposits (NE Svalbard, Norway)

Holger C. Forke1, Christian Scheibner2, Dierk Blomeier3

1Museum of Natural History Humboldt University, Germany 2Department of Geosciences, Germany 3Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway E-mail: [email protected] Sequence biostratigraphy on both a regional and global scale become an increasingly important tool for high-resolution stratigraphy. Fusulinids are one of the most common constituents in Late Paleozoic deposits and due to their rapid evolution, they provide an excellent tool for biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental interpretation of cyclic sequences. Svalbard is located at a key position along the northern rim of Pangea. Fusulinid faunas represent the paleobiogeographical link between the Canadian Arctic (Franklinian Province) and the Uralian-Tethys Province. In the NE part of Svalbard shallow-marine platform carbonates of the Wordiekammen Formation (Moscovian – Sakmarian) are exposed across Ny Friesland and Nordaustlandet. The Pyefjellet Beds (Moscovian – Kasimovian) constitute a substantial part of this formation, displaying a distinct cyclicity, formed by vertically stacked sequences. Pronounced glacioeustatic sea-level fluctuations resulted in

shallowing-upward successions from deeper subtidal to peritidal deposits. Most cycles are bounded by subaerial exposure surfaces. According to the number of cycles and stratigraphic range, they can be regarded as 4th order sequences (~400–500 ka). Fusulinid associations of several sections across the Ny Friesland platform are studied in detail under sequence biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental aspects. Several of the cycles can be separated and correlated by the first/last appearance on a generic and/or species level across the Ny Friesland platform. The most distinctive pattern for correlation is the disappearance of Wedekindellina, disappearance of Beedeina and Neostaffella, and appearance of Quasifusulinoides in three successive cycles. Within an individual cycle, changes of faunal associations are caused by paleoecological constraints. Beedeina, Neostaffella,and Wedekindellina solely occur in the bioclastic deeper subtidal wacke- to packstones, replaced by an association of Pseudofusulinella, Quasifusulinoides, and Fusulinella (Protriticites in the upper part of the section) in the shallower mid- to inner shelf environments. Staffellid foraminifera predominate in peloidal grainstones of the peritidal environment.

Statistical Evidence for Selectivity in the Planktic Foraminifera

Andrew Fraass1, Shanan Peters2, Clay Kelly2

1University of Massachusetts – Amherst, United States 2University of Wisconsin, United States E-mail: [email protected] Planktic Foraminifera have previously been shown as a premiere example of selective extinctions. This is especially true for the End K/Pg, when they go from a large and diverse group to a few small, compressed globigerine forms. To test the significance of this pattern, we utilize a 24 variable morphometric database, comprehensive at the species level. Measurements include a combination of ratios, size metrics, angles, and the number of chambers in the final whorl. By performing a Principle Component Analysis (PCA), the repeated pattern of small compressed forms evolving to a more complex, diverse, large assemblage is clearly illustrated. To investigate selectivity, the mean and variance of each morphometric variable were calculated separately, and binned into roughly half a planktic foraminiferal zone. In an extinction, directional selection is defined as a significant change in the mean morphology from one bin to the next. Similarly, stabilizing selection is a decrease in the variance of the morphometric distribution, as the extreme morphologies are eliminated. This appears in the morphometric data as shifts in the mean and the variance during extinction events. These shifts are expressed by the first differences of the mean and variance. By holding the species’ originations and extinctions to the real values and bootstrapping the morphometric values, the authors can develop


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stochastically derived curves of the mean and variance, which are sensitive to the changing species diversity. The measured data is then examined for significant deviations from this null model. At the End K/Pg, there is directional selection in the total area of the test and the length-to-width ratio, as well as stabilizing selection in the apical angle. While this analysis is focused on the hallmark extinction, the End K/Pg, there are significant events during other intervals. For example, there is both a directional and a stabilizing selection event in the ratio of final chamber area to test area during the Mid-Miocene. The PCA was also interrogated for events, but through the creation of the composite axis, several disparate changes in morphology were combined and the signal of selectivity was largely lost. This highlights the need to study selectivity in individual variables, not as composites. This statistical approach highlights specific unique events which drive selection in the Planktics in a significant way, and allows for a more focused investigation into the oceanographic causes.

Revised Oligocene Planktic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and Taxonomy of Hole 803D (Ontong Java Plateau) and Hole 628A (Little Bahama Bank)

Andrew Fraass1, Mark Leckie1

1University of Massachusetts – Amherst, United States E-mail: [email protected] Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Hole 803D in the western equatorial Pacific and ODP Hole 628A in the subtropical North Atlantic have been chosen to apply the newly revised taxonomy of the Oligocene Planktic Foraminiferal Working Group. Both sites have diverse foraminiferal assemblages (Leckie et al., 1993; ODP Leg 130 Sci. Results Vol.). The revision has been done with respect to original and revised descriptions, and new images of holotypes and paratypes, which have been uploaded to the online Oligocene taxonomic atlas currently under construction and hosted by CHRONOS (http://www.chronos.org/). The focus of our work has been identifying the Highest and Lowest Occurrence (HO/LO) of newly described species Subbotina projecta, S. tecta, Dentoglobigerina taci, D. eotripartita, as well as the refined concepts of D. larmeui, D. galavisi, D. tripartita, D. cf. binaiensis, D. prasaepis, Turborotalia euapertura, and Globoquadrina dehiscens, among others. T. euapertura and D. prasaepis were found to have extraordinarily similar morphologies, and are separated on the basis of their different wall texture, emphasizing the need for special care when using these species. Site 803 contains a complete Oligocene sequence and allows the authors to delineate the LO/HOs of these new and refined species concepts in a complete setting. Site 628 on the other hand, is better preserved in some sections but less complete than Site 803. Scanning Electron

Micrographs from Site 628 more clearly illustrate the morphologies and wall textures of the new and revised species concepts.

Species diversity and recognition in the Genus Lenticulina; toward a clear taxonomy.

Daniel L. Frederick1

1Austin Peay State University, United States E-mail: [email protected] In order to develop a working phylogenitic model it is first necessary to have a clear understanding of species level diversity and history. This level of analysis has been conducted on numerous foraminiferal taxa. This report describes initial results of such an analysis of the genus Lenticulina. The genus Lenticulina has a reported geologic range of more than 250 my, Late Permian to the Present. During that time span a large number of species, subspecies and variaties have been described. In addition at least three subgeneric designations have been proposed. A database constructed from several hundered published and unpublished sources of species reports resulted in the enumeration of 630 species, subspecies and variity names assigned to Lenticulina and various subgenera. Several basic patterns have emerged. First there are a large number of species names that have either a single or two reports. Second the geologic range of most species is poorly constrained, even at the Epoch level. Third, significant gaps and extremely long reported ranges (> 100my) suggest many of the most commonly reported forms consist of multiple species which may not be closely related. Finally, a trend of decreasing morphologic variation over geologic time. Continued development of the data base and analysis of morphologic data will allow development of a clear understanding of the taxonomy diversity and history of this large genus. Without a clear taxonomic model for this genus it is impossible to evaluate the history of the clade and the patterns of evolutionary history.

Millennial-Scale changes in ice volume, sea level and North Atlantic SST during Mis 100 (Latest Pliocene)

Oliver Friedrich1, Clara T. Bolton2, Christopher Beer2, Paul A. Wilson2, Ralf Schiebel3

1Institute of Geosciences, Goethe-University, Germany 2NOCS; United Kingdom 3BIAF, France E-mail: [email protected] Given its proximity to the large dynamic ice-sheets of the northern hemisphere and the role in deep-water formation the North Atlantic represents one of


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the climatically most sensitive regions on Earth. Hence, data sets in key areas like the North Atlantic are extremely useful in order to e.g. quantify and reconstruct the paleoceanographic dynamics of the latest Pliocene. The broad objective of this study is to quantify, at millennial time-scales, paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic changes during the Late Pliocene (MIS 99 to 101). These objectives will be met by the integration of planktic and benthic d18O and the Mg/Ca paleotemperature method and its use to allow a differentiation between changes in SST and global ice-volume and therefore sea level. The recently drilled Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Site 1313 from the central North Atlantic (50°N) provides an ideal opportunity to tackle these questions. A demonstrably complete Mid to Late Pliocene section for Site 1313 was recovered, consisting mainly out of nannofossil ooze and nannofossil silt. A very high sedimentation rate and the abundant and well-preserved microfossils provide the requirements for high-resolution studies on planktic foraminifera and optimal reconstruction of the phasing of SST records and their relationship to ice-sheet and sea level changes on a high temporal resolution. For this study 145 samples in 2-cm spacing (resulting in a ~400 years resolution) of isotope stages MIS 99 to 101 were prepared for parallel Mg/Ca and stable isotope analyses of benthic (O. umbonatus, C. wuellerstorfi) and planktic foraminifera (G. ruber). Our sub-millennial Mg/Ca and stable isotope record indicates millennial-scale sea-surface temperature fluctuations in the North Atlantic during marine isotope stage 100 (Late Pliocene). These temperature fluctuations occur with a cyclicity of ~1,500 years, strongly related to Dansgaard-Oeschger-cycles of the cooler Pleistocene climate regime. Abundance peaks in IRD as well as ice-volume fluctuations are shown to occur on an approximately 8000 year spacing. Reconstruction of sea level fluctuations before, during and after MIS 100 show large-scale fluctuations on a higher amplitude than previously reconstructed.

Effects of test size, water depth, and species ecology on the planktic foraminiferal Mg/Ca paleothermometer: Implications for paleoceano-graphic studies

Oliver Friedrich1, Ralf Schiebel2, Syee Weldeab3, Matthew Cooper4, Paul A. Wilson4

1Institute of Geosciences, Goethe-University, Germany 2BIAF, France 3UCSB, United States 4NOCS; United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] To understand past changes in climate and oceanography, it is essential to determine temperature and salinity of ocean surface and deep waters. Mg/Ca ratios in foraminiferal calcite have been of increasing use as proxy for seawater

paleotemperature. One striking feature of recent investigations has been the existence of differences in resulting calibrations between different species. Thus, the use of species-specific calibrations provides the most desirable way to employ the Mg/Ca paleotemperature technique. However, we do not know the extent to which calibrations are applicable across foraminiferal morphotypes and little is known about the effect of shell size, weight and dissolution within the water column on Mg/Ca ratios. Major goal of this paper is hence to relate Mg/Ca to ontogeny and depth habitats of the most common subtropical to temperate species. We analyzed nine modern planktic foraminiferal species from a North Atlantic core-top sample for an ontogenetic effect on Mg/Ca and plankton-tow samples collected through the water column in the North Atlantic and Arabian Sea (0-2500 m water depth). Mg/Ca ratios of the core-top sample decrease with increasing test size in all but one species, Orbulina universa,in whichMg/Caratios increase with size. All species analyzed show differences in the ontogenetic decrease or increase of Mg/Ca ratios related to their specific ecological demands. One striking result of our study is the need to analyze Mg/Ca on very narrow size fractions, if possible as narrow as 50 µm, in particular for shallow-dwelling species such as G. bulloides and G. ruber. Mg/Ca data of plankton-tow samples from the Arabian Sea are in good agreement with temperature measurements and mean monthly temperatures at the sampling sites. There are no signs of test dissolution or lateral advection in the water column. Strong fluctuations in planktic foraminiferal Mg/Ca data from water-column samples of the North Atlantic and overestimation of in-situ temperatures are interpreted as a result of lateral advection and ecologic variability during storm events.

Human impacts on large benthic foraminifers near a densely populated area of Pacific atoll islands

Kazuhiko Fujita1, Yoko Osawa2, Yu Umezawa3, Hajime Kayanne2, Yoichi Ide4, Tishihiro Miyajima2, Hiroya Yamano5

1University of the Ryukyus, Japan 2University of Tokyo, Japan 3Nagasaki University, Japan 4Oceanic Planning Corporation, Japan 5National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan E-mail: [email protected] Human impacts on sand-producing, large benthic foraminifers were investigated on ocean reef flats at the northeast Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands, along a human population gradient. The densities of dominant foraminifers Calcarina and Amphistegina declined with distance from densely populated islands. Macrophyte composition on ocean reef flats differed between locations near sparsely or densely populated islands. Nutrient concentrations in reef-flat seawater and groundwater were high near or on


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densely populated islands. d15N values in macroalgal tissues indicated that macroalgae in nearshore lagoons assimilate wastewater-derived nitrogen, whereas those on nearshore ocean reef flats assimilate nitrogen from other sources. These results suggest that increases in the human population result in high nutrient loading in groundwater and possibly into nearshore waters. High nutrient inputs into ambient seawater may have both direct and indirect negative effects on sand-producing foraminifers through habitat changes and/or the collapse of algal symbiosis.

Sea-level rise during Termination II inferred from large benthic foraminifers: IODP Expedition 310, Tahiti Sea Level

Kazuhiko Fujita1, Akitoshi Omori1, Yusuke Yokoyama2, Saburo Sakai3, Yasufumi Iryu4

1University of the Ryukyus, Japan 2University of Tokyo, Japan 3JAMSTEC, Japan 4Nagoya University, Japan E-mail: [email protected] The course of sea-level fluctuations during Termination II (TII; the penultimate deglaciation), which is critical for understanding ice-sheet dynamics and suborbital climate variability, has yet to be established. Here we report a new sequence recording sea-level changes during TII in the Pleistocene sequence at Hole M0005D (water depth: 59.63 m below sea level: mbsl) off Tahiti, French Polynesia, which was drilled during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 310. Lithofacies variations and stratigraphic changes in the taxonomic composition, preservation states, and intraspecific test morphology of large benthic foraminifers indicate a deepening upward sequence in the interval from Core 310-M0005D-26R (core depth: 134 mbsl) through -16R (core depth: 106 mbsl). Reconstruction of relative sea levels, based on paleodepth estimations using large benthic foraminifers, indicated a rise in sea level of about 90 m during this interval, suggesting its correlation with one of the terminations. Assuming that this rise in sea level corresponds to that during TII, after correcting for subsidence since the time of deposition, a highstand sea-level position would be 2±15 m above present sea level (masl), which is generally consistent with highstand sea-level positions in MIS 5e (4±2 masl). Therefore, the studied interval likely records the rise in sea level and associated environmental changes during TII. In particular, the intervening cored materials between the two episodes of sea-level rise found in the studied interval might record the sea-level reversal event during TII. This conclusion is consistent with U/Th ages of around 133 ka, which were obtained from slightly diagenetically altered in situ corals in the studied interval. This study also suggests that our inverse approach to correlate a stratigraphic interval with an approximate time frame could be useful as an independent check on the

accuracy of uranium-series dating, which has been applied extensively to fossil corals in late Quaternary sea-level studies.

Impact of Mg/Ca ratios on the calcification of the benthic Foraminifer Ammonia tepida

Antje Funcke1, Lennart de Nooijer2, Nina Keul1, Jelle Bijma1

1Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany 2University of Utrecht, Department of Earth Sciences, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] The Mg/Ca ratio of the oceans has varied in the geological past due to different rates of seafloor spreading. At present, this ratio is ~ 5, which is high enough to inhibit calcification even though surface sea waters are supersaturated with respect to CaCO3. Consequently, foraminifers evolved cellular mechanisms to calcify in environments with high Mg concentrations. Since foraminiferal tests are widely used in paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic studies, understanding these mechanisms is necessary to reliably reconstruct past changes in ocean chemistry - particularly when using the calcite’s Mg/Ca ratio - but also to predict the impact of future changes like ocean acidification on calcification. In this study, genetically identical juveniles of the benthic foraminifer Ammonia tepida were cultured in artificial seawater of different Mg and Ca concentrations. Subsequently, growth and morphological parameters like test size, weight, thickness, and coiling direction, as well as chemical parameters like Mg/Ca and microstructures, were analyzed. Results revealed that Mg/Ca ratios are not as important as the actual concentrations. As soon as the Ca concentration is below a certain threshold, growth of A. tepida is affected. A relatively high growth rate at high Mg concentrations reflects the adaptation of A. tepida to high Mg concentrations, probably by leaving Mg behind in endocytosed seawater vacuoles, while Ca is pumped out and concentrated for subsequent calcification. Upcoming analysis of morphological as well as chemical parameters will give more insight into the mechanisms that are responsible for the regulation of Mg concentration in the intracellular calcification pools and will be presented on the poster.


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Foraminifera of Lakshadweep Archipelago, Arabian Sea

Subhadra Devi Gadi1, Mushthak M. S.2, Rajashekhar K. P.2

1Carmel College for Women, Nuvem, Goa, India 2Department of Applied Zoology, Mangalore University, India E-mail: [email protected] Islands and lagoons are ecosystems with unique hydro-biological features. Lakshadweep archipelago is one of such ecosystems of 36 coral islands. Amini Island (1107 ס’ North latitude and 7244 ס’ East longitude) covers an area of 2.59 and 20 fromsq.km and measures 2.89 km long and 1.25 sq. Km wide. It has a lagoon that encircles the island. The depth of the lagoon varies from 1.0 - 2.5 m.Kadmat is situated at 11o13' north latitude and 72o48' east longitude. It is 8 Km long and 550 m wide at the broadest point. It is surrounded on the eastern and western side by the lagoon. A total of 40 sediment samples (20 from Amini and20 from Kadmat) were collected during June-July 2008. They were analysed for foraminiferal diversity. Live foraminifera were distinguished by Rose Bengal staining. Species were classified and identified. Representative species of foraminifera were observed using Scanning Electron Microscope. A total of 24 species belonging to 17 genera, 14 families and 4 sub-orders of foraminifera were identified.Total Foraminiferal Number, Live Foraminiferal Number and Shannon Diversity of Amini were 346/g, 111/g and 2.229 respectively.Total Foraminiferal Number, Live Foraminiferal Number and Shannon Diversity of Kadmat were 225/g, 83/g and 2.340 respectively. Marginopora vertabralis, Calcarina calcar, Amphistegina madagascariensis Amphistegina radiata and Amphistegina lessoni were abundant species. Marginopora vertabralis, and Calcarina calcar are typical coral reefspecies. Morisita Horn similarity Index of total and live foraminiferal populations of Amini and Kadmat islands is 0.954 and 0.812 respectively. The size of the tests of some species of foraminifera from shores of Aimini and Kadmat Islands were found to be larger than those of West and East Coasts of India. About 37.5% of foraminifera occurring in the lagoons of Amini and Kadmat Islands are exclusive, compared to that of West- and East coasts of India. Lakshadweep archipelago and Gulf of Kutch of Arabian Sea and Andaman Islands of Bay of Bengal have similar benthic foraminiferal assemblages. Foraminifera of the Indian Peninsula is quite similar to the species reported from the lagoons and the reef areas of tropical Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

Southern high latitude foraminiferal and facies evidence for Oligocene glacial events

Stephen J Gallagher1, Malcolm W. Wallace1, Li Qianyu2, Giulina Villa3, Russell Drysdale4

1The University of Melbourne, Australia 2Tongji University, China 3Università degli Studi di Parma, Italy 4The University of Newcastle, Australia Email: [email protected] The early Cainozoic earth was dominated by greenhouse conditions in the absence of permanent ice caps. Declining CO2 levels in the atmosphere and cooling in the late Eocene culminated in East Antarctic Ice Sheet expansion by the earliest Oligocene (Oi1 ca. 33 Ma). This marked the onset of more global icehouse conditions. Records of Oligocene glacio-eustatic events are primarily based on C and O isotope excursions in deep sea sections and northern hemisphere records like the New Jersey margin in the USA. Early Oligocene records of these events are rare in the Southern Hemisphere, confined mainly to poorly sampled subsurface sections or attenuated sub/outcrop in Antarctica. Here we present for the first time the results of a detailed microfossil (foraminiferal/nannofossil), bulk isotope and facies analyses of a subsurface cored section (Groper-1) of early Oligocene age from 55°S palaeolatitude, in the offshore Gippsland Basin, southeast Australia. Foraminiferal and facies analyses suggest that the marl and limestone in this section were deposited in low energy shelfal to upper slope environments from 27 to 32 Ma. The presence strong metre scale cyclic alternations of dysoxic to suboxic middle shelf marl and oxic outer shelf to upper slope chalk are interpreted as eccentricity and obliquity driven glacio-eustatic events. Three or more events are superimposed on this cyclicity, associated with positive carbon isotope excursions, benthic dysoxia and strong surface ocean productivity. These correspond to glacial events Oi2 (ca. 30 Ma), Oi2* (ca. 29 Ma) and Oi2b (ca. 27 Ma) predicted from global Carbon and Oxygen isotope data. Facies and seismic evidence suggest minor subaerial exposure and strong subsidence during deposition. Hence, it is probable that Groper-1 preserves one of the best high latitude proxy records of early Oligocene glacio-eustacy in the Southern Hemisphere. However, evidence of Oi1 the first and biggest Oligocene glacial event is not preserved.


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Planktic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and correlation across the Cretaceous-Paleogene transition at the Tethys (Tunisia, Spain) and the Atlantic realms (France)

Njoud Gallala1, Dalila Zaghbib-Turki1, Mohamed Moncef Turki1, Ignacio Arenillas2, José Antonio Arz2, Eustoquio Molina2

1Département de Géologie, Tunis, Tunisia 2Spain Email: [email protected] Based on the high resolution biostratigraphical analysis, at El Kef (K/Pg boundary stratotype section and GSSP point), Ellès sections (Tunisia) and the Agost and Caravaca sections (Betic cordillera, Spain), located at Tethyan realms, showing a complete section in its Cretaceous-Paleogene transition interval may be compared with their neighbors in the Atlantic realm (Bidart section, SW France). At the Tethys realm, all the biozones and subzones are easily recognized by their biomarkers. Even the uppermost Maastrichtian is developed and indicated by Pl. hantkeninoides. This biomarker is absent at the Atlantic section of middle latitude: (Bidart, SW France). This later are characterized by Psg. hariaensis biomarker which have larger paleogeographic extension, it is why we have choose to consider this late species as indicator of the uppermost Cretaceous subzone at Atlantic realm and the Pl. hantkeninoides as indicator of Tethys realm. At El Kef section, the Gt. cretacea biozone spans 55 cm. It is more expanded than at Agost (12.5 cm), Caravaca (15 cm) relative to the Tethys realm, and to Bidart (10 cm) relative to Atlantic realm but it is nearly expanded than at Ellès section in Tunisia (66 cm). In spite of the reduced Gt. cretacea biozone expansion at El Kef K/Pg boundary stratotype and the auxiliary sections, Caravaca and Agost sections (Spain), like as elsewhere, at the Bidart (France) and the Ellès section (Tunisia), the Pv. longiapertura FAD is observed at the upper part of the relevant biozone. At the El Kef section the Pv. eugubina zone spans 5.7 m, it is largely expanded than at Caravaca and Agost sections spanning respectively (42 cm and 65 cm), it is also more expanded than at Bidart section (SW France) spanning 107 cm. But it is approximately equivalent than Ellès (5.8 m). This zone is subdivided into Pv. sabina and E. simplicissima subzones. The deposition thickness of the biozones and subzones are less expanded than at El Kef and Ellès sections. This would be related to a less deposition ratio and/or to the sedimentary basin morphology.

Planktic foraminiferal behaviour and stratigraphical ranges below and at the K/Pg boundary at Tethys realm: El Kef GSSP, Ellès, Oued El Melah, Oued Es Smara, Oued Abiod (Tunisia), Agost, Caravaca (Spain) and Atlantic realm: Bidart (France)

Njoud Gallala1, Dalila Zaghbib-Turki1, Mohamed Moncef Turki1, Ignacio Arenillas2, José Antonio Arz2, Eustoquio Molina2

1Tunisia Faculté des sciences de Tunis, Département de géologie, Tunis 2Spain Email: [email protected] Our biostratigraphic and quantitative analyses, indicates that sedimentation, across the K/Pg transition, at the Tunisian (El Kef, Ellès, Oued El Melah, Oued Es Smara and Oued Abiod) and Spanish sections (Agost, Caravaca) at the Tethys realm and the Bidart section at the Atlantic realm, is continuous, i.e., without any relevant hiatus. Upper Maastrichtian assemblages from these sections, are largely dominated by short life cycle biserial species such as heterohelicids. Planispiral (globigerinelloids) and trochospiral (hedbergellids, rugoglobigerinids and globotruncanids) species are frequent and triserial (guembelitriids) and tubulospinose species (schackoinids) are rare. A stratigraphic ranges of these taxa during the late Maastrichtian in Tethys and Atlantic realms, indicate very few changes in the faunal assemblages and most of the species are present in the Abathomphalus mayaroensis biozone. The LODs of Gansserina wiedenmayeri, Gansserina gansseri, Contusotruncana fornicata, Globotruncana bulloides, are observed at the lower part of this biozone (e.g. El Kef GSSP and Oued Abiod sections). At the uppermost Maastrichtian, as in the Zumaya section (Molina et al., 1998), Archaeoglobigerina cretacea disappears a few centimeters below the K/Pg boundary like as in Bidart section.This disappearance was also recognized in El Kef GSSP, Ellès, Oued El Melah, Oued Es Smara, Oued Abiod (Tunisia), Agost, Caravaca (Betic Cordillera, Spain). This local disappearance is due to the Signor-Lipps effect. In our high-resolution sampling and the intensive search for the Abathomphalus mayaroensis index species at the upper most Maastrichtian in Tethys and Atlantic sections, we confirm that this species is omnipresent in all sample however, we have found very scarce specimensof Ab. mayaroensis in all Maastrichtian samples. The very weak abundance of the deep dwelling species, such as Ab. mayaroensis andAbathomphalus intermedius atthe upper Maastrichtian could be due to a sea level fall (Schmitz et al., 1992)that prevented this species from reproducing in this environment. This possible event could also explain the disappearance of Archaeoglobigerina cretacea and the scarcity of Planoglobulina multicamerata and Planoglobulina riograndensis.Similarly, Abathomphalus intermedius disappeared at the K/Pg boundary in the Tethys and Atlantic studied sections.


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Recent Sea-Level Changes In The Southern Bay Of Biscay (n Spain): Application Of A Foraminifera-Based Transfer Function To The Saltmarsh Sedimentary Record

Ane García-Artola1, Alejandro Cearreta1, Eduardo Leorri2

1University of the Basque Country, Spain 2University of East Carolina Email: [email protected] Current concerns regarding anthropogenic warming of the atmosphere and oceans and derived global sea-level rise have resulted in increased interest on past sea-level changes. Low coastal areas are susceptible to suffer severe social and economic consequences due to sea-level rise and its associated increase in storm activity. The necessary information for the reconstruction of sea-level variations can be found in: a) the sedimentary record of the coastal environments (particularly saltmarshes that develop in the upper limit of tidal range), and b) the instrumental record of tide gauges. However, the spatial and temporal coverage of tide gauges is heterogeneous and limited and therefore does not capture regional variability. Advances in high-resolution sea-level reconstruction were made in the last few years through the development of foraminifera-based transfer functions. Foraminifera have been used as proxies for elevation by quantifying the relationship between microfaunal data (relative abundance of individual species) and environmental data (elevation) in the modern saltmarsh environments. These modern relationships are then applied to cores to reconstruct past tide levels from microfossil assemblages within sedimentary sequences in order to reconstruct palaeomarsh surface elevation. A foraminifera-based transfer function has been developed based on a modern dataset of samples and species obtained from different saltmarshes in N Spain. The relationship between observed and foraminifera-predicted elevation indicated that precise reconstructions of former sea levels are possible (error ±0.11 m). The transfer function was used to calibrate the foraminiferal assemblages collected from four 50cm-long saltmarsh cores. The foraminifera-based reconstructions were placed into a temporal framework using 210Pb-derived sediment accumulation rates supported by 137Cs and Pb concentrations. The resulting relative sea-level curve is in good agreement with regional tide-gauge data. Both instrumental data and microfossil records suggest a rate of relative sea-level rise of approximately 2 mm yr−1 for the 20th century compared to a negligible rise over the previous centuries. (Research funded by UNESCO06/08, Convenio UPV/EHU-Ihobe SA (Etortek) and CGL2009-08840.)

Paleoceanographic changes inferred from foraminiferal assemblages: The northern Tethyan margin during the Cenomanian-Turonian oceanic anoxic event (OAE-2)

Holger Gebhardt1, Oliver Friedrich2, Lyndsey Fox3, Malcolm Hart3, Bettina Schenk4, Michael Wagreich4

1Geologische Bundesanstalt, Austria 2Universität Frankfurt, Germany 3University of Plymouth, United Kingdom 4Universität Wien, Austria E-mail: [email protected] The late Cenomanian – early Turonian oceanic anoxic event (OAE-2) represents major paleoceanographic and faunal perturbations and led to different, usually organic rich, sedimentary successions in various parts of the world. In order to trace the paleoceanographic processes at the northern Tethyan margin, we investigated samples from the Rehkogelgraben section, the only known Cenomanian-Turonian boundary section comprising a black shale interval in the Eastern Alps. Paleoecologic conditions were reconstructed for strata before, during and after OAE-2 by combining the results of assemblage counts of indicative microfossil groups from planktic (foraminifera, radiolaria) and benthic (foraminifera) realms. Microfossil assemblages, size distributions and accumulation rates show a tripartite subdivision for surface and bottom waters. Assemblages and data indicate oligotrophic surface conditions and oxic bottom waters with a reasonably high food supply for the late Cenomanian interval. The OAE period with black shale deposition is characterized by very low numbers but relatively high diversities and a lack of high productivity indicators among planktic foraminifera. Benthic foraminifera show extremely low accumulation rates and are all of small size, pointing to low oxic or dysoxic conditions at the sea floor.Post-OAE assemblages are characterized by mesotrophic planktic species and benthic foraminifera point to a re-appearance of oxic bottom waters. It took about 300 ky to re-establish a pelagic carbonate-producing regime. The Rehkogelgraben record points to unusual paleoceanographic conditions during the OAE-2. The semi-enclosed basin situation of the Penninic Ocean is thought to be responsible for the apparent differences between the high productivity in most parts of the world ocean and the overall absence of high productivity indicators in the foraminiferal assemblages at Rehkogelgraben. Our records show higher benthic and planktic foraminiferal diversities during OAE-2 compared with high productivity areas elsewhere. The Penninic Ocean may have even served as a retreat area during the environmental crisis.


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Oxygen Respiration rates of benthic foraminifera measured under laboratory conditions using oxygen microelectrodes

Emmanuelle Geslin1, Nils Risgaard-Petersen2, Fabien Lombard3, Dewi Langlet1, Edouard Metzger1, Frans Jorissen1

1BIAF, University of Angers and LEBIM, Marine station of Yeu Island, France 2Center for Geomicrobiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Aarhus, Danemark 3DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark E-mail: [email protected] Oxygen respiration rates of benthic foraminifera are not well documented because of the difficulties to measure them. However, the determination of the respiration rates of benthic foraminifera is important in order to: 1) compare the metabolic rates of different species, of various size, and with different microhabitats in the sediment; 2) estimate the contribution of benthic foraminifera in the aerobic mineralization of organic matter. Benthic foraminifera from 4 different natural environments were used: three species from the intertidal rocky shore of Yeu island, two species from the muddy Bay of Aiguillon, two species from the Bay of Biscay and eleven species from the Rhône prodelta (France). Living foraminifera were placed in a small tube, in which oxygen gradients were determined using oxygen microelectrodes. Respiration rates were calculated on the basis of the oxygen fluxes measured in the vicinity of the foraminiferal specimens. Foraminiferal biovolumes were estimated on the basis of the overall shape of the various species (for example, Ammonia is assimilated to a half sphere) and the width of the shell walls. Respiration rates ranged between around 90 and 5300 pmol O2 . cell-1. day -1) and a clear correlation with the biovolume of the foraminifera. No clear relationship between respiration rates and microhabitat was observed. A comparison with previously published data shows that our estimations are generally lower for the small size species. For example, the respiration rate estimations published recently by Nomaki et al. (2007) show a range of 900 to 10 000 pmol. cell-1.day-1. The total contribution of benthic foraminifera in the aerobic mineralization of organic matter was estimated for the studied areas. The results suggest a minor role of benthic foraminifera in this process, which strongly contrasts with their strong contribution to anaerobic mineralisation of organic matter in the same areas (Pina-Ochoa et al., PNAS, 2009).

Chemo- and biostratigraphic studies of the uppermost Aptian to Late Cenomanian strata of the Southern Palmyrids

Hussam Ghanem1, Mikhail Mouty2, Jochen Kuss1 1Universität Bremen, Germany 2Departement de Geologie, Universite de Damaskus, Damaskus, Syria E-mail: hussamgh78 uni-bremen.de During Late Aptian to Late Cenomanian times the Palmyrids are characterized by exclusively shallow water carbonates, in addition to some Albian pelagic sediments. We studied the biostratigraphic evolution of the Zbeideh to Abou-Zounnar formations in two sections of the South Palmyrids, based on 42 species of benthic and 38 species of planktonic foraminifers. Biostratigraphic comparisons with other Tethyan assemblages allow to determine 12 biozones that define an Upper Aptian to Upper Cenomanian age of the studied carbonate rocks. The following six biozones are based on planktic foraminifera: Ticinella bejaouaensis, Muricohedbergella planispira/ Ticinella primula, Ticinella praeticinensis, Rotalipora subticinensis, Rotalipora appenninica/ Rotalipora globotruncanoides and Rotalipora cushmani. They co-occur with the following six biozones, based on benthic foraminifera: Mesorbitolina texana partial range zone, Mesorbitolina subconcava range zone, Valdanchella decourti, Neoiraqia convexa interval zone, Neoiraqia convexa taxon-range zone, Conicorbitolina conica/Conicorbitolina cuvillieri range zone and Chrysalidina gradata super-zone. The biochronologic framework was compared with a new carbon-isotope curve from the southern Palmyrids that allows for correlation with the English reference of Jarvis et al. (2006).

Magnesium and Strontium composition of benthic foraminifera Ammonia and Haynesina: relationship with temperature and salinity of sea-water

Anupam Gosh1, Pratul Kumar Saraswati2, Kanchan Pande2, L. S. Mombasawala2

1Jadavpur University, Department of Geological Sciences, Jadavpur University, India 2IIT Bombay, India E-mail: [email protected] Estimation of sea-surface temperature and salinity are major steps in palaeoceanography and palaeoclimate reconstruction. The Mg / Ca and Sr / Ca are used as proxies in addition to the routinely used stable isotopic composition. There are different observations, however, on the relationship between temperature and Mg or Sr content of the tests. Many studies have shown good correlation between Mg / Ca and temperature in planktonic foraminifera but not in larger benthic foraminifera. It has also been emphasized that species-specific calibrations are preferable over the general calibrations in biogenic carbonates. In the present study, two species of


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smaller benthic foraminifera, Ammonia tepida and Haynesina germanica,were collected live from the intertidal flats of Hazira (Gujarat, India) for five seasons. The temperature and salinity of sea-water at the time of collections were measured. The Mg, Sr and Ca content of aggregates of ~10 specimens of each species for five seasons were analyzed by ICP-AES (inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectroscopy). The Mg / Ca and Sr / Ca in the two species varied between 66 to 153 mmol / mol and 0.79 to 1.80 mmol / mol respectively. The Mg / Ca and Sr / Ca show no correlation with salinity in either species. Mg / Ca is well correlated with temperature in Ammonia tepida / Ca = 487.51e-

0.049T; r2= 0.77 and poorly correlated in Haynesina germanica / Ca = 338.67e-0.0418T; r2= 0.38. Sr / Ca shows almost perfect correlation with temperature in Ammonia tepida / Ca = 0.0569T - 0.4849; r2= 0.99 and moderate correlation in Haynesina germanica = - 0.0304T + 2.4098; r2= 0.62. The study also shows that in the two species Sr / Ca is a better proxy of palaeotemperature compared with Mg / Ca.

The extra-cellular pH and Ca2+ microenviron-ment of the benthic foraminifera Ammonia tepida during growth (i.e. chamber formation events)

Martin Glas1, Nina Keul2, Lennart de Nooijer3

1Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Germany 2AWI for Polar and Marine Research, Germany 3Utrecht University, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] A lot of speculation has arisen concerning the physiological background of growth (i.e. chamber formation) in benthic foraminifera. Recent studies showed an internal pH elevation inside vesicles, suggesting active vesicle-membrane proton pumping, during these chamber formation events. Together with an internal calcium storage pool it has been proposed, that by the fusion of such vesicles the precipitation of calcium carbonate is facilitated. The extra-cellular microenvironment of pH and Ca2+ during these growth events is yet unknown. However, these conditions are of high importance, as this stage is considered to be particularly vulnerable in the live cycle of benthic foraminifera towards future changes like ocean acidification. In this study we measured the pH and Ca2+ microenvironment with microsensors of the benthic temperate foraminifera species Ammonia tepida from the German Wadden Sea during chamber formation at the extra-cellular site of calcification. Our results showed that the pH microenvironment is strongly decreased during this growth process (> 0.3 pH units, total scale). Also the duration of the growth period and the conjunct decrease in pH is positively correlated with size of the individuals. Ca2+ measurements revealed no changes in the extra-cellular calcium concentrations compared to the surrounding seawater, supporting the presence of an internal calcium storage pool. Compared to

future scenarios of ocean acidification (e.g. IPCC) till the year 2100 the measured extra-cellular pH decreases are intriguing as they are more powerful than the expected changes in the seawater column. This suggests a higher resilience towards future ocean acidification of benthic foraminifera during their growth increments.

Environmental Influences on the Pore-Density in Tests of Bolivina spissa

Nicolaas Glock1, Anton Eisenhauer1, Yvonne Milker2, Volker Liebetrau1, Joachim Schönfeld1, Jürgen Mallon1, Stefan Sommer1, Christian Hensen1

1IFM-Geomar, Germany 2Institut für Geologie and Paleontologie der Universität Hamburg, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The density and size of pores are important aspects in the morphology of foraminifera. These pores are supposed to control the uptake of oxygen ( O2) and to the release of carbon dioxide ( CO2) as a waste product of respiration. Hence it seems obvious to test certain characteristics like pore-density and porosity as an indicator for O2 depletion in the water column and different redox-conditions, respectively. Here we present a first quantification of the relationship between different environmental factors such as water-depth, bottom-water oxygen ( O2BW) and nitrate concentrations ( NO3

-BW) and the pore-

density of tests from Bolivina Spissa collected off the Peruvian continental margin. For the experiment the pores of 232 specimens from 8 locations with different redox-conditions were counted. We found an inverse non-linear relationship between the pore density (PD) and O2BW and the water depth respectively. At higher oxygen-concentrations the pore-density reaches an equilibrium value where it is independent of O2BW. A comparison of the pore-density to NO3

-BW revealed that the relationship

between pore-density and NO3-BW is better

constrained then the one relative to O2BW. The observation that certain foraminifera may switch to nitrate respiration during oxygen depletion in the water column was recently documented to occur in different benthic foraminiferal species. This infers that the pores in Bolivina spissa are more related to the intracellular nitrate-uptake than to the uptake of oxygen. Future studies will test the application of the pore-density as a possible proxy for NO3

-BW.


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Some insights into the Holocene palaeoenviron-mental changes in the region of the western entrance of the Strait of Magellan, Chile (53ºS)

Maria A. Godoi1,2,3, M.A. Kaminski4, R. Kilian5, T. Hromic2, L. Quezada2

1University of Cambridge, Department of Geography, United Kingdom 2Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile 3Centro de Estudios del Cuaternario (CEQUA), Punta Arenas, Chile 4University College London, Department of Earth Sciences, UK 5University of Trier, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The area around the western entrance of the Strait of Magellan is influenced by climatic patterns of global significance, such as the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds belt, and might have played a key role in the recession of the Patagonian Ice Sheet at the end of the Last Glaciation. This work presents a preliminary multiproxy approach, based on the study of relatively shallow marine sediments at two sites located on opposite sides of the Strait of Magellan (~ 53ºS). Tamar, on the eastern side of the strait, is a well-ventilated site influenced by surface currents entering the western entrance of the strait and by the meltwater plume from the Gran Campo Nevado Ice Cap located east of the site. On the western side of the Strait, Churruca is a sill-protected low-oxygen site at the end of an estuarine system that branches off the main strait. The sediment cores from the Tamar site record a lower sedimentation rate, and benthic foraminiferal assemblages with higher species diversity and abundance, and larger test size. The foraminiferal profiles from the Churruca site present opportunistic species, with very small test size and low species diversity, corresponding with a dysoxic environment throughout the Holocene. The marine incursion during the early Holocene is represented by the presence of sulphur-rich sediments, the origin of which is still under investigation; and by the initial colonisation of foraminifera, implying that fully marine conditions had already been established in the area at approximately 9,000 14C yr BP.

Temporal dynamics of live (stained) benthic foraminiferal faunas in a river-dominated shelf: assessing the impact of the Rhône River in the prodelta (Gulf of Lions, NW Mediterranean)

Aurelie Goineau1, Christophe Fontanier1, Frans J. Jorissen1, Roselyne Buscail2, Philippe Kerhervé2, Audrey Pruski3, Cécile Cathalot4, Christophe Rabouille4

1BIAF, University of Angers, France 2CEFREM, France 3LOBB, France 4LSCE; France E-mail: [email protected] Live (stained) benthic foraminifera of the 63-150 µm and >150 µm size fractions were investigated at two stations sampled at 20 and 68 m depth in the prodelta of the Rhône River (Gulf of Lions, NW Mediterranean). Sampling was processed during four different periods: in April 2007, September 2007, May 2008 and December 2008, covering a wide range of environmental conditions (low discharge/Rhône River flood; low primary production/spring bloom). Important variations in foraminiferal faunal composition are observed at the 20 m deep station closest to the river mouth. In April and May, during spring bloom conditions (high sediment chlorophyll-a content), phytodetritus feeders such as Leptohalysis scottii and Nonionella stella are abundant. Conversely, in September and December, when primary production is much lower (low sediment chlorophyll-a content) and the river impact is very strong (organic matter with a continental signature), numerous individuals of taxa commonly found in river-impacted environments with low-quality organic matter (Ammonia tepida and Psammosphaera fusca) are observed. At the 68 m deep station, faunal composition is much less variable. The most noticeable change is, at first, the occurrence of opportunistic species during the spring bloom period (Bolivinids, Textularia porrecta, Nonionella iridea). In September and December, a taxon typical of the sandy bottoms west of the Rhône river mouth (Nouria polymorphinoides) is abundant together with species tolerant to low-quality continental organic matter (Nonion fabum, Eggerelloides scabrum). Although the impact of the Rhône River on benthic foraminiferal communities is still noticeable, it is substantially reduced in comparison to the shallow site close to the river mouth.


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Propagule Dispersal in Benthic Foraminifera and the Occurrence of “Exotic” Taxa

Susan T. Goldstein1, Joan M. Bernhard2, Virginia P. Edgcomb2

1Department of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, United States 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, United States E-mail: [email protected] The many studies on benthic foraminiferal distribution patterns and biogeography have demonstrated a rich array of correlations with environmental conditions and regional occurrences. Such studies emphasize assemblages of “adult” populations. Juveniles, though abundant in fine-grained sediment, are difficult to identify and are generally disregarded. Previous studies, however, have shown that many benthic species disperse as propagules (tiny juveniles), and that dispersal may extend well beyond the natural distribution of conspecific adults. Further, such propagules can grow if returned to appropriate environmental conditions. This raises several questions. How far do foraminiferal propagules disperse? Does foraminiferal dispersal by propagules fit the Bass Becking adage that “everything is everywhere,” or rather, is dispersal considerably more limited? To begin to address such questions, fine-grained sediments that included banks of foraminiferal propagules were collected from onshore and offshore sites near Cape Cod, MA (USA). The fine sediment fraction [<53 microns] was isolated by sieving, distributed to a series of small containers, and foraminifera were grown under a variety of temperature, salinity, light, and dietary conditions. The resulting assemblages that grew were assessed, compared with naturally occurring assemblages from each of the collection sites, and “exotic” taxa identified. Our initial results identify species of Rosalina, Textularia, and Bolivina as commonly occurring exotics in assemblages grown at temperatures elevated above ambient.

Foraminiferal Ectobionts and the Occurrence of Aberrant Test Morphologies

Susan T. Goldstein1

1Department of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, United States E-mail: [email protected] Deformed tests in benthic foraminifera have been widely reported, primarily in multi-chambered calcareous taxa, but in agglutinated taxa as well. The underlying causes are varied and have been attributed to natural causes, the effects of pollution, fluctuating salinities, environmental stress, and shell repair among others. This report adds infestation by foraminiferal ectobionts to this list of potential causes. An assemblage of benthic foraminifera grown from propagules (tiny juveniles) present in

the fine sediment fraction [<53 microns] collected from a mudflat on Sapelo Island, Georgia (USA) yielded numerous individuals of Textularia cf. T. candeiana and a more limited number of Trochammina advena. Both of these agglutinated species, more typical in assemblages of the continental shelf than mudflats, included strongly deformed individuals that were covered by numerous foraminiferal ectobionts. Individuals of T. candeiana that lacked ectobionts were generally not deformed. Numerous ectobionts may induce aberrant growth forms through parasitism, over-crowding, or in a more general manner by increasing stress on the host. The specific mechanisms, however, are not known.

Arctic benthic foraminiferal assemblages as a potential indicator of anthropogenic environ-mental impact

Elena Golikova1, Sergei Korsun2

1St.Petersburg State University, Faculty of Biology, Dept. of Invertebrate Zoology, Russian Federation 2Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Federation Email: [email protected] Drilling for gas and oil will intensify in the Arctic. We attempt to evaluate the potential of Arctic foraminiferal assemblages (FA) as an indicator of environmental stress (ES) in general and ES associated with drilling. Stressed FA in tropical and temperate waters demonstrate low taxonomic diversity, small shell sizes and a high percentage of opportunistic taxa; additionally, in case of eutrophication and hypoxia, an assemblage dominated by hypoxia-tolerant taxa deserts infaunal microhabitats (Alve 1991). FA near oil exploration wells at low latitudes (off western African coast) did show the above signs of ES near the discharge points; drill cuttings stressed the environment by the rapid accumulation of mud, eutrophication, and flux of toxic hydrocarbons (Duchemin et al. 2008). Marine macrobenthos in subpolar glacial fjords is exposed to natural ES caused by tidewater glaciers; the macrofauna is low-diverse and sparse near the outlets (Holte & Gulliksen 1998). We examined the composition of Arctic FA in glacier-proximal settings for traces of ES and rapid sediment accumulation. We expected neither flux of toxic chemicals no eutrophicaton; oxygen concentration in the sediment was unknown. Taxonomic diversity and living density decreased and larger species disappeared along the transect of 8 stations toward the tidewater glacier in the head of Tempel Fjord, Spitsbergen. These were general signs of ES. As for taxonomic composition, opportunistic (Hald et al. 1994) Elphidium excavatum clavatum dominated near the glacier consistent with the expected stress effect. An elsewhere rare species Quinqueloqulina stalkeri was common near the ice cliff likely indicating glacial influence.


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Tidewater glaciers produce (1) turbid meltwater, from which mineral fines fall out rapidly and bury the benthos and (2) icebergs, which drop stones, release fresh water and may plough the seabed (Plassen et al. 2006). The settling turbidity is believed to be the main factor of ES (Görlich et al. 1987). To cut off the effect of iceberg calving, we examined FA at 3 stations in Dickson Fjord, which has no tidewater glaciers but is fed by a short stream delivering turbid meltwater from the nearby glacier terminating on land. The FA at the river mouth were similar to those at tidewater glacier in (1) low diversity, (2) lack of large species, (3) E.e.clavatum dominance and (4) Q.stalkeri presence. We conclude that 1 and 2 are the general signs of environmental stress, 3 is characteristic of stressed Arctic assemblages, and 4 may signify rapid accumulation of mud.

Xenophyophores (Rhizaria, Foraminifera) from the Nazaré canyon (Portuguese margin, NE Atlantic)

Andrew J. Gooday1, Ana A. Aranda da Silva2, Jan Pawlowski3 1National Oceanography Centre, United Kingdom 2CESAM Universidade de Aveiro Campus Universitário de Santiago and LNEG, Portugal 3University of Geneva, Switzerland Email: [email protected] Xenophyophores are abundant on a terrace of the lower Nazaré canyon (4300-m water depth) on the Portuguese margin. Most abundant is a new species assigned to the genus Reticulammina. This large species has a soft, friable hemispherical test up to 10-cm or more in diameter consisting of curved, sinuous plates (lamellae) that branch and anastomose. The plates are separated by deep furrows and other depressions to form a distinctive ‘brain-like’ structure. The outer test layer is thin, weakly cemented and dominated by fine sediment particles, the internal xenophyae include a higher proportion of larger mineral grains. The second species at the 4300-m site, representing a new genus and species, is much less common. The test is basically plate-like, but towards the interior it is perforated by oval spaces, which typically merge into complex system of bar-like features, sometimes with irregular excrescences. The granellare system (cell body and its organic envelope) is packed with mineral grains of various sizes and shapes, including tiny rod-shaped particles. Also common at this deep site are clusters, up to 10 cm or more in diameter, of irregular tubes belonging to Aschemonella ramuliformis Brady 1884, a species previously known mainly from isolated tubes. Rather than being single individuals, these clusters comprise a large number of separate branched tubes. Finally, Syringammina fragillissima Brady 1883, a well-known species that is widely distributed on the NW European margin, occurred on steep sediment-covered slopes at a shallower (1555 m water depth) site in the upper canyon. Almost

complete SSU rDNA gene sequences obtained from A. ramuliformis and the new Reticulammina speciesconfirm that these xenophyophores are foraminifera. Together with two previously sequenced xenophophores (Shinkaia lindsayi Lecroq et al. 2009 and Syringammina corbicula Richardson, 2001), and the foraminiferan Rhizammina algaeformis Brady 1879, they constitute a clade within the bush-like radiation of monothalamous foraminifera.

Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera from Tata, Gerecse Mts, N-Hungary

Ágnes Görög1, Balázs Szinger2, Roland Wernli3

1Eötvös Loránd University Budapest, Hungary 2MOL Plc, Hungary 3University of Geneva, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] The tiny globigerina-like, early planktonic foraminifera are mentioned from the Late Triassic to the Early Cretaceous in rock thin sections as well as in isolated forms. The finds in isolated forms are very scarce, sporadic in space and time and there are huge gaps of knowledge of this group from the Kimmeridgian up to the Hauterivian. The Late Kimmeridgian-Early Valanginian sequence of the Kálvária Hill at Tata, Gerecse Mts, Hungary is unique in the Tethyan realm because of its early planktonic foraminifera content known from the thin sections for a long time. Although detailed macro- and microfacies investigations were carried out and the age was determined by ammonites, cadosinas and calpionellids but foraminifera have not been studied. Due to the acetolysis rich, diverse and relatively well preserved foraminifera fauna could have been extracted from the nearly 2m thick, condensed ammonitico rosso type series deposited on a slope between basin environment and submarine ridge. Besides the isolated forms, large number of thin sections of detailed sampling was studied. Generally, the diversity and the quantity of foraminifera increase from the lower to the upper part of the succession. Usually the benthic forms are more abundant but the planktonic forms appear like ooze, giving up to 90% of the foraminifera fauna. Among the benthic species spirillinids(Spirillina, Conicospirillina, Radiospirillina) or lenticulinids are predominant, besides them few Rectoammodiscus, Trocholina, Ophthalmidium, Dentalina, Nodosaria, Eoguttulina, Epistomina and Paalzowella also occur. In the Kimmeridgian beds the tiny Favusella? parva is the most common species, but Conoglobigerina avariformis, and Globuligerina bathoniana also appear. In the Tithonian—lower Upper Berriasian (Chitinoidella, Crassicolaria, Calpionella and Calpionellopsis simplex zones) only favusellids (F.? parva, F. hoterivica) are present. In the Calpionellopsis dadayi and Calpionellites darderi zones the Praehedbergellidae (Gorbachikella kugleri,


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Praehedbergella handousi) also exist showing their oldest occurrence. The diverse early planktonic foraminifera fauna of Tata add very important contribution about the stratigraphical range, the palaeogeographical distribution and the evolution of this group. (This research was supported by OTKA (K68791).)

A dissolution-based foraminiferal proxy for low tide

Hugh R Grenfell1, Bruce W. Hayward1, Ashwaq Sabaa1, Jon Kay1

1Geomarine Research, St Johns, New Zealand E-mail: [email protected] Fossil foraminifera provide some of the most precise reconstructions of former Holocene sea levels, but are based on species with a narrow high tidal zonation. In this study we identify two foraminifera-based proxies for low-tide levels in sheltered harbour or estuarine mudflats. One proxy previously used for low tide level is the increasing relative abundance of two calcareous foraminifera, Elphidium advenum and Haynesina depressulus, which comprise >5% of foraminiferal faunas below mean low water neap level in salinities >30 psu. The new dissolution-based proxy is based on the periodic occurrence of a wedge of low-salinity, low-pH surface water trapped in the heads of sheltered elongate bays. These conditions increase the relative abundance of intertidal, brackish, agglutinated foraminifera, mostly Miliammina fusca and Haplophragmoides wilberti, and promote the dissolution of calcareous-shelled foraminifera down to ~0.5 m below extreme low water spring level. We use these two foraminiferal proxies to estimate former sea level heights in two cores of Holocene sediment from Anakoha Bay in the Marlborough Sounds, South Island of New Zealand. On the basis of these, we calculate a gradual subsidence rate of 0.55-1.05 m kyr-1 over the last 4 kyr. These results provide independent evidence in support of long-held hypotheses favouring a recent subsidence origin for the deeply-drowned valley systems of the Marlborough Sounds.

Ca-isotopes in benthic foraminifers: environ-mental controls and influences of test-mineralogy

Nikolaus Gussone1, Helena L. Filipsson2, Henning Kuhnert3

1Universität Münster, Institut für Mineralogie, Germany 2Dept. of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Lund University, Sweden 3Marum, Universität Bremen, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Calcium isotopes are increasingly used in paleoceanography and environmental geochemistry for reconstructions of food-chains, oceanic Ca-budget and temperature, and characterisation of sedimentary porewater processes. In particular, Ca isotope ratios of foraminifera were proposed to reflect both the variability of the Ca isotope composition of seawater (δ44Casw) and seawater temperature. We investigated Ca isotope ratios of different benthic species’ tests over a depth-temperature gradient of core top sediment samples from the Atlantic Ocean. This is of great importance in order to gain a better understanding of Ca isotope fractionation in foraminifers, which in turn is a basic precondition for obtaining reliable paleoenvironmental reconstructions. We studied low and high magnesium calcite tests of several benthic foraminiferal species together with aragonitic tests (Hoeglundina elegans). Calcium isotope ratios of H. elegans were lighter compared to the calcitic species, similar to the offset between inorganic aragonite and calcite. Both, Quinqueloculina sp. (high magnesium species) and H. elegans revealed a continuous apparent temperature dependence that is significantly positively correlated to temperature over the investigated temperature range. In contrast, the low magnesium calcite benthic foraminifer tests show a distinct anomaly, which is characterized by an inverse temperature dependency below 4 °C, observed in the infaunal foraminiferal species Cassidulina laevigata, Elphidium sp., Gyroidinoides spp., and Uvigerina peregrina as well as in the epifaunal Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi. While Ca isotope fractionation of H. elegans and Quinqueloculina sp. seems to be mainly controlled by temperature, that of low magnesium calcite secreting species seems to be driven by the combination of temperature and calcite saturation state. This would also indicate considerable differences in biomineralisation and/or Ca transport processes that govern Ca isotope fractionation in the respective foraminifer species.


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Seasonality of surface and thermocline seawater recorded by Mg/Ca in single specimens of planktonic foraminifera

Tim Haarmann1, Ed C. Hathorne2, Jeroen Groeneveld3, Mahyar Mohtadi1, Torsten Bickert1

1Marum - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, Geosciences - University of Bremen, Germany 2IFM-Geomar, Germany 3Alfred Wegener Institute for Marine and Polar Research, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The seasonal migration of large-scale wind patterns leads to strong seasonal differences in upwelling intensity and the structure of the water column in many regions of the oceans. Changes in upwelling can have dramatic impacts for climate (e.g. ENSO) and as such the reconstruction of seasonal variability is a prime objective for Paleoceanography. Planktonic foraminifera calcify over a period of up to one month and the range of Mg/Ca temperatures obtained from single specimens potentially records the seasonality, provided that the selected species exists throughout the year. In order to test this, we analyzed Mg/Ca ratios of single foraminifera (Globorotalia inflata, Globigerinoides ruber pink and Globigerinoides ruber white) from a sediment trap off Cape Blanc (20°45.6’N, 18°41.9’W). We further evaluate various Mg/Ca temperature equations applied to single specimens of the respective species. Sediment trap CBi-3 was deployed between July 2005 and September 2006 in a water depth of 1277 m. The location is in an area influenced by upwelling and exhibiting seasonal changes in water temperature with changing upwelling intensity. Hence, this trap is ideally suited to investigate if the seasonality of seawater temperature is recorded by single foraminiferal tests. Samples were cleaned using a flow through cleaning device. The main advantage of this method over routinely applied cleaning methods for bulk samples is that no material is lost, and that it therefore allows analysis of single tests. G. ruber pink was collected throughout the year. Mg/Ca single shell ratios show a strong seasonality. We found that the calibration of Regenberg et al. (2009) is best suited in order to track sea surface temperatures (SST), while reconstructed SSTs using other calibrations are either too high (e.g. Anand et al., 2003) or too low (e.g. Elderfield et al., 2000). Using the Regenberg et al. (2009) calibration, highest Mg/Ca temperatures follow SST, while the lowest Mg/Ca temperatures suggest the deepest calcification of G. ruber pink at ~50 mbsl. Contrastingly, G. ruber white was in highest numbers collected between January 2006 and May 2006. During this time no SST-related-seasonality is apparent in Mg/Ca ratios. G. inflata (four chambered, apparently unincrusted) single shell Mg/Ca does not exhibit an apparent seasonality off Cape Blanc. Comparison of G. inflata shell Mg/Ca to water temperatures measured by CTD casts and to atlas temperatures reveals a habitat depth ranging

between 60 and ~400 mbsl, coinciding with the depth of the seasonal thermocline.

Study of food composition of Persian Sturgeons (Acipenser Persicus Bordin,1987) in Southern part of Caspian Sea(Iranian Water) under 10 m Depth

Kourosh Haddadi Moghadam1, Mahmoud Tava-kolo1, Zabiholah Pajand1

1International Sturgeon Research Institute, Islamic Republic of Iran E-mail: Sturgeons one the most important and valuable fishes in the world and Caspian Sea is one of their most important habitat's which 90 percent of total world Caviar belongs to it .In recent years sturgeons stock and catch has been decreased in their most important habitats. Biological and feeding factors have great influence an sturgeon catch .To determine these factors, we should investigate on sturgeon feeding composition and other relations between different habits of fishes in various places and time is of high importance. Persian sturgeon caught under 10m depth using bottom trawl net by research vessel during winter 2006, summer and winter 2007 and spring 2008 in east, central and west of southern parts of Caspian Sea, then, their diets were investigated. During 136 trawling in the aimed seasons,108 un matured Persian sturgeon with 1 to 2 years old and 179.67±0.2gr (BW) captured. Examination of stomach contents, revealed food spectrum composed of benthic belonging to crustaceans, polychaeta, foraminifera (genus of Cuvillierina) and bony fishes. Investigation on stomach contents of sturgeon Acipenser persicus caught under 10m depth in 2006 to 2007 surveys showed that there is significant difference in the consumed food. Polychaeta is the primary consumed food and foraminifera is the secondary one (P>.05).Also, no new types of food (such as bony fishes or benthic) have been observed on food chain of Acipenser persicus and shows no significant difference ( P>.05).

Untangling an Orogeny: Foraminiferal Calibration of Neogene Phases of Timor Collision

David William Haig1

1University of Western Australia, School of Earth & Environment, Australia E-mail: [email protected] The late Neogene collision of the Banda Arc with the Australian continent had a major restrictive effect on the oceanic "gateway" between the western Pacific and northeast Indian oceans. It may


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have influenced Earth's climate system, the terrestrial biogeography of the region, and the development of late Neogene petroleum-trap structures on Australia's Northwest Shelf. The timing of collision has been controversial with dates ranging from 16 Ma to 2.5 Ma cited by various authors. Three main phases are recognized in the continuing orogeny: (1) initial collision with subduction and crustal shortening; (2) locking of subduction causing quiet tectonic conditions and widespread pelagite sedimentation over the developing orogenic pile; and (3) detachment of the stalled subducting slab and isostatic rebound causing uplift.This talk will show how biostratigraphic and palaeobathymetric investigations of foraminifera have been critical in developing our new understanding of the palaeogeography and timing of collision phases. In the Timor region the collision was between a submarine continental terrace (Timor Plateau contiguous with the Australian continent) on the Australian Plate and the volcanic Banda Arc on the Asian Plate. In the resultant orogenic belt that forms the present-day island of Timor (part of the non-volcanic Outer Banda Arc), four main tectonostratigraphic units are recognized: (1) Permian to Middle Jurassic Gondwana Megasequence deposited in the East Gondwana Rift System; (2) Upper Jurassic to lower Upper Miocene Australian Margin Megasequence deposited on the post-breakup Australian passive margin; (3) Upper Mesozoic to Lower Miocene Banda Terrane units of Asian affinity emplaced in the orogenic pile during collision; and (4) Pliocene-Pleistocene synorogenic units deposited during phases 2 and 3 of the orogeny. Phase 1 of the collision is marked by a major unconformity (9.8-5.5 Ma) between planktonic foraminiferal zones N15 and N18. The style of deformation in pre-collision strata is very different from that in relatively undeformed strata overlying the unconformity. Phase 2 is represented by widespread chalk belonging to zones N18-N19 (5.5-4.5 Ma). A reconstruction of the submarine topography on top of the orogenic pile during the tectonic quiet phase has been made from interpretations of foraminiferal palaeobathymetry. The chalk successions grade upwards into marls in zone N20 and then clastic turbidites in zone N21 signifying the uplift of the island (post 4.5 Ma). The main phase of uplift occurred during the Middle Pleistocene.

Selective choice of material in agglutinated foraminifera. Analysis and documentation by means of SEM and EDX of a sample from Mozambique

Christian Haller1, Ursula Leppig2, Andreas Danilewsky2 1Bonn University, Germany, 2Freiburg University, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Textularia hauerii d‘Orbigny 1846, an agglutinated benthic foraminifera from the Bazaruto archipel (Southeast Africa/Mozambique/Indian Ocean) shows remarkable quantities of ilmenite grains (FeTiO3) in its test. The intergranular cement of the biserial test up to 2 mm in length mainly consists of microgranular aragonite. Textulariinas are known to pick up available particles such as sediment grains, ooids, coccoliths, sponge needles or even tests of other dead foraminifera. Different theories on particle selection exist: Selection is either controlled by the species (availability of material in the surrounding environment) or by the genes. The scanning electron microscope, equipped with a SE, BSE and EDX detector revealed details of the test composition. Ilmenite and zircon grains of a size range from 100 – 150 µm are incorporated into the test of T. hauerii. These grains are substantially larger than the average size of other reefal sand grains used by the foram. The sediment contains less than 1% of ilmenite, the tests of T. hauerii however, are composed of up to 26% ilmenite. Together with zircon, ilmenite is integrated into all chambers during ontogeny. Selection for size ranges does not occur. Particle selection does not take place in respect to grain size. Rather chemical and physical properties might govern preferential uptake. Both ilmenite and zircon have higher masses and higher densities than common available minerals in the substrate. High molecular masses mean large radii of atoms with plenty of loosely attached electrons floating around the nucleus. Probably this physical behavior of ilmenite and zircon enhances the functionality of the organic adhesives in the cement of Textularia hauerii which work on the basis of electrostatic attraction. This might lead to a stronger and more resistant test that is more resistant to waves, currents and predators.

Evidence for environmental stress in Amphistegina shells

Pamela Hallock-Muller1

1University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, United States E-mail: [email protected] Populations of the circumtropical reef-dwelling genus Amphistegina (Order Rotaliida), have exhibited a variety of stress symptoms worldwide since at least the early 1990s. Temporal, depth and latitudinal trends in symptoms, corroborated by


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laboratory experiments, implicate photoinhibitory stress as one causal mechanism. The primary symptom, loss of golden brown color (“bleaching”), is not preserved in the sediment record. However, secondary symptoms, particularly shell abnormalities including test breakage and repair, boring, etching, and shell deformities can provide tools for recognizing chronic stress in fossil foraminiferal populations. The degenerative nature of the stress appears to interfere with calcification, weakening shells and making individuals more susceptible to attack. Cytological damage also impacts asexual reproduction, thereby increasing occurrences of shell anomalies in affected populations. Anomalies found in live specimens from Florida, Belize, Australia and elsewhere include: a) deformities such as distention of the umbilical region and shell twisting; b) three types of predator borings; c) microboring by cyanobacteria; d) peripheral breakage, possibly by an arthropod predator; e) massive breakage; and f) breakage and repair. The predatory borer, Floresina amphiphaga, is prevalent in stressed populations of Amphistegina gibbosa on Florida reefs. A prey-selection experiment introduced both adult and juvenile F. amphiphaga to confined groups of normal-appearing and partly bleached A. gibbosa. Results revealed that the predatory foraminifer actively selected symptomatic prey. Examination of Amphistegina specimens collected live prior to the 1990’s revealed that percentages of all shell anomalies, including chips, breaks, borings and deformities, seldom exceeded 5%. Anomalies since 1991 have often exceeded 25% in live populations. Although shell breakage certainly occurs post mortem, the prevalence of other anomalies in fossil assemblages, particularly test breakage and repair, borings, and congenital abnormalities, may provide evidence for stress events in the Cenozoic record, at least for Amphistegina spp. One caveat is that similar studies of symbiont-bearing Miliolida indicate that shell anomalies are common in archived as well as recently collected samples, reflecting greater inherent potential for variability in miliolid shells.

Central Arctic Ocean foraminiferal challenges

Daniela Hanslik1

1Stockholm University, Dept. of Geological Sciences, Sweden E-mail: [email protected] The central Arctic Ocean with its perennial sea ice cover is one of the most challenging environments to investigate. The occurrence of calcareous microfossils in studied sediment cores is discontinuous and the Quaternary usually confined to the uppermost few meters of the cores. Dating and establishment of an accurate chronology remains one of the main challenges, in particular due to apparent intervals of carbonate dissolution and greatly varying sedimentation rates. Some of

the only usable time indicators beyond the range of radiocarbon dating are unique benthic foraminiferal events. The dating method of using amino acid racemization has provided some promising results down to Marine isotope stage (MIS) 5, but seems to be problematic after that. The planktic foraminiferal record is in most cores limited to MIS 1-7 and within that primarily in units of interglacial, interstadial and deglaciation times. Besides the only true polar species Neogloboquadrina pachyderma, the subpolar species Turborotalita quinqueloba is present in some time intervals, likely suggesting increased inflow of warmer North Atlantic water to the Arctic Ocean. Stable oxygen and carbon isotope records of these discontinuous foraminiferal intervals are affected by periodic large inflows of melt water from decaying ice sheets, river influx, and the formation and melting of sea ice. This makes comparison between Arctic stable isotope records to other deep sea records and the global oxygen isotope curve less meaningful. On the other hand, some isotope peaks may be related to melt water events of paleoceanographic significance and correlated throughout the Arctic Ocean. A core retrieved in 2005 from the central Lomonosov Ridge contains an unusually high resolution MIS 1-3 sequence with good calcium carbonate preservation allowing us, among other things, to address the question of radiocarbon reservoir ages. Reservoir ages larger than previously applied (400-500 years) to calibrate central Arctic Ocean radiocarbon dates to calendar years are suggested from our study (1200 years). Other new cores from the southern Lomonosov Ridge north off Greenland and Morris Jesup Rise retrieved in 2007 show better calcium carbonate preservation and therefore provide longer microfossil records. In particular, the calcareous benthic foraminiferal stratigraphy extends much further down in these cores than previously reported from central Arctic Ocean cores. They also reveal a previously not described peak in abundance of subpolar planktic foraminifera in an interval older than MIS 7.

Modern seawater acidification: the response of foraminifera to high CO2 conditions in the Mediterranean Sea

Malcolm B. Hart1, Bruna B. Dias2, Christopher W. Smart1, Jason M. Hall-Spencer1

1University of Plymouth, United Kingdom 2Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopólis, Brazil E-mail: [email protected] The seas around the island of Ischia (Italy) have a variable and, on average, lowered pH as a result of volcanic gas vents that emit carbon dioxide from the sea floor at ambient seawater temperatures. These areas of acidified seawater provide natural laboratories in which to study the long-term biological response to rising CO2 levels. Benthic foraminifera are routinely used to interpret the effects of climate change as they have short life


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histories, are environmentally sensitive and have an excellent fossil record. Here, we examined changes in foraminiferal assemblages along gradients in pH at CO2 vents on the coast of Ischia as they may provide a useful model on which to base future predictions of the consequences of ocean acidification. We show that foraminiferal abundance, diversity and ability to calcify decreased markedly in living and dead assemblages as pH decreases, the result of CO2 percolating through the seawater. These results are in accord with the responses recorded by coralline algae, corals, molluscs, barnacles and echinoderms at the same sites. Samples from the normal (pH8.17) environments around Ischia contain a diverse fauna dominated by miliolid foraminifera (e.g., Peneroplis planatus, P. pertusus, Quinqueloculina spp.) while those from areas with reduced pH (7.8 to 7.6) have faunas that are progressively less diverse and composed of <100% agglutinated taxa (e.g., Ammoglobigerina globigeriniformis, Miliammina fusca, Trochammina inflata, Textularia blocki). The changes in the benthic foraminifera are quite dramatic for only a slight reduction in pH and confirm the possibility that events, such as the PETM, could quite easily record a widespread loss of diversity or extinction as a result of ocean acidification. Work on Ischia is on-going and there is a parallel example under investigation on the south-east coast of the island of Vulcano (Mediterranean Sea).

Recovery patterns of benthic foraminifera in environments subject to volcanoclastic sedimentation

Malcolm B. Hart1, Deborah Wall-Palmer1, Jodie K. Fisher1, Christopher W. Smart1

1University of Plymouth, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] The islands of the Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc have a long history of volcanic activity, with several of the islands in the Inner Arc (e.g. Martinique, Guadeloupe Montserrat) still active. Following an intensive period of research involving three cruises, the analysis of 100+ marine sediment cores and comparison with other volcanic areas we have identified two quite different patterns of foraminiferal recovery. The “Pinatubo Model” shows relatively rapid recovery of benthic foraminifera with Reophax dentaliniformis and Bulimina aculeata acting as the “pioneer taxa”, being recorded within 18-19 months of the May 2006 eruption on Montserrat. As sampling was undertaken in December 2007, we have no indication of the precise recolonisation date; it could have been earlier. The Pinatubo Model is seen where there is quite widespread deposition of relatively thin ash layers on the sea floor (usually) downwind of the active volcano. In the “Deception Island Model” there is much slower recovery with species of Globocassidulina and Cibicidoides being the first recorded taxa. In this case, R. dentaliniformis is a much later entrant into the

assemblage. This pattern of recovery is seen following major volcanic disturbance (e.g., eruption of Deception Island in 1970 or the pyroclastic flows entering the Caribbean Sea east of Montserrat in 2003 and 2006) or the colonisation of newly available volcanic substrates (between Montserrat and Guadeloupe). In the case of the seas around Montserrat the area to the west and south-west of the island has a record of recovery after both the 2003 and the 2006 eruptions, with an assemblage of living (=stained) species being collected in December 2007, only 18 months after the eruption in May 2006. In some of these cores in which both the 2003 and 2006 eruptions are recorded, the recovery assemblage from the 2003 event was also stained, despite being buried by the later (2006) eruption. This is almost certainly the result of the sediments entombed below the later ash fall being starved of oxygen. This lack of oxygen both within and below the ash layer was measured on-board ship immediately after sample collection.

Distribution of living Elphidium batialis and Elphidiella okhotica in the Sea of Okhotsk

Shiro Hasegawa1, Takeshi Oi1, Yuumi Masuda1

1Kumamoto University, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kurokami, Japan E-mail: [email protected] Elphidium and its related genera are generally living in shallow water regions. However, there are three exceptional species reported from deeper bottom in the Sea of Okhotsk. They are more or less similar in morphology each other, and some confusion occur. Elphidium batialis Saidova,1961: Bering Sea to off Honshu, Japan, 1400-3600m deep). Elphidium abyssicola Ishiwada, 1964: Off Honshu and Hokkaido, Japan, 819-1111m batialis (as Cribroelphidium batiale) by Fursenko et al. (1979) Saidovella okhotica Voloshinova and Kuznetsova, 1970(=Elphidiella okhotica in this presentation): the Japan Sea, 100-200m (by Voloshinova and Kuznetsova, 1970), the Sea of Okhotsk, abundant between 87 and 178m Elphidiella hannai by Saidova (1961). We have analyzed benthic foraminiferal distribution for more than 100 samples of surface sediment mainly in the western part of the Sea of Okhotsk. We have found Elphidiella okhotica in the northwestern part of the sea and east of Sakhalin between 100 to 450m deep, and Elphidium batialis in the eastern slope of Sakhalin between 780 and 1200m in depth. The depth range of Elphidium batialis corresponds to that of Deep Pacific Water (DPW). On the contrary, the ranges of Elphidiella okhotica correspond to Okhotsk Sea Intermediate Water (OSIW) of the Sea of Okhotsk. The DPW is considered to directly connect with the Pacific deep water through deeper straits of Kurile Islands, and OSIW is the brine water originated with sea-ice formation on the northern and northwestern shelves of the sea. Consequently, the distribution pattern of


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two species well corresponds to stratified water masses in the sea.

Responses of the benthic foraminiferal species Ammonia Beccarii to a high CO2 ocean

Kristin Haynert1, Joachim Schönfeld1

1IFM-GEOMAR, FB1 Ozeanzirkulation und Klimadynamik, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Benthic foraminifera occur in all marine environments and respond quickly to environmental changes owing to their short life cycle. Laboratory culturing and field studies were performed with living Ammonia beccarii from Flensburg Fjord, southwestern Baltic Sea. Field studies showed regular, seasonal changes in pH and total alkalinity of the near-bottom water and pore water, and the effect of variable pCO2 concentrations on A. beccarii over a period of one year. Specimens from Flensburg Fjord displayed an enhanced shell loss. Extremely corroded test walls were found, and the last thinner chambers were destroyed.The dissolution phenomena are a response to a low seasonal pH of the Baltic Sea water in the outer Flensburg Fjord. High seawater pCO2 also reduces the saturation state and carbonate ion concentrations, which inhibits the calcification of shells and skeletons of marine organisms. A. beccarii was cultured in order to determine their calcification rates under different pCO2-conditions and to constrain the critical thresholds for calcification and growth. During laboratory experiments, the pCO2 was varied at 380, 840, 1120 and 2400 µatm in order to resolve the pCO2 range we observed in Flensburg Fjord. A future scenario of 4000 µatm was also simulated. The experiments produced the same dissolution phenomena as observed in nature. Growth rates differed significantly among the different pCO2-treatments. A. beccarii exhibited negative growth rates and calcification feedback under elevated pCO2 and lowered pH. The highest increase of the mean test diameters was observed at the lowest pCO2 level of approximately 380 µatm by 19%. In response to a rising seawater pCO2 the mean test diameter was reduced. A marked decrease in test diameter by22% was observed by even higher pCO2 of 4000 µatm. Visible shell dissolution depicted the reduced calcification. Under a current pCO2 of 380 µatm, A. beccarii shows intact tests. At pCO2 concentrations of ~1120 and ~2400 µatm the last, thinner chambers were destroyed. The visual inspection at a high future pCO2 of 4000 µatm showed dissolution of all chambers grown under these conditions and the inner organic lining remained.

Dispersal and extinction of deep-Sea foraminifera following the Messinian Crisis in the Mediterranean Sea

Bruce W Hayward1, Ashwaq T. Sabaa1, Shungo Kawagata2, Hugh Grenfell1

1Geomarine Research, New Zealand 2Yokohama National University, Japan E-mail: [email protected] The deep-sea foraminifera of the Mediterranean Sea was wiped out during the late Miocene Messinian Crisis. Following reopening of the shallow Straits of Gibraltar liveable marine conditions were quickly re-established at bathyal and abyssal depths in the Mediterranean Sea. By what mechanism and how quickly did deep-sea-restricted forams manage to disperse back into this enclosed sea? In our study of a deep-sea-restricted group of elongate benthic foraminifera, we have found that only 45% (44 species) of their Pliocene global biodiversity successfully migrated into the Mediterranean Sea (ODP Sites 654, 966, 967, 975, 976) following their Messinian annihilation there. Most colonisation occurred within the first 0.8 myrs (5.3-4.5 Ma) after re-establishment of the Mediterranean-Atlantic link, with possibly a second lesser period of immigration in the late Pliocene (3.4-3.0 Ma). We infer that colonisations were fortuitous and few in number, as some members of the group common in the Atlantic never succeeded. There is no evidence of any new immigration events during the Pleistocene, implying that the present anti-estuarine circulation may have been in place throughout this period. Our studies suggest that these deep-water, low-oxygen-tolerant foraminifera survived the many periods of deep-water sapropel formation in the Pliocene-Early Pleistocene, possibly in somewhat shallower (~500 m) refuges with dysoxic, rather than anoxic conditions. The Pliocene-Pleistocene stratigraphic record of this group is similar in the west and east Mediterranean basins. The group declined in abundance (flux) and diversity in two pulses, during the Late Pliocene (3.1-2.7 Ma) and the late Early Pleistocene (1.3-1.0 Ma) in concert with abyssal sites globally and much earlier than the single decline (1.0-0.6 Ma) in mid-lower bathyal sites around the world. All species, with one possible exception, disappeared slightly earlier in the Mediterranean than globally. The highest occurrence of any species of this group in Mediterranean sites was 0.8-0.43 Ma, comparable with 0.7-0.2 Ma elsewhere. Thus, despite the unusual oceanographic conditions and isolation, the deep Mediterranean Sea was neither the centre for the evolution of new species nor a refuge where species survived after they had disappeared elsewhere.


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Forams in WoRMS: Foraminiferal Researchers contribution to the World Register of Marine Species

Bruce W. Hayward1

1WoRMS Editor for Foraminifera, www.marinespecies.org E-mail: [email protected] Most foraminiferal research is founded on good taxonomy and to clearly communicate our results it would be preferable if we all used the same names and had similar species concepts. Unfortunately this is not so. Should we strive towards remedying this? Some workers have started their own web sites with keys and illustrations of a limited number or subset of species. We could select one or more of these to build on? Another approach is to contribute to an existing proven global database, the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), as the first step in this challenging project. A first step, because WoRMS primarily targets the living marine biota and because it is mainly a compilation list of all recognised modern species and their synonyms, with their higher classification and fields for geographic occurrence, source literature, etc. Further complimentary steps in the project would be to include fossils, keys and images to aid identification. This could be in WoRMS or preferably links to more purpose-built internationally-accepted web-based databases. The advantages of starting with WoRMS is that it has wide international support across most other taxonomic phyla, a secure and funded host and a well-tested database system with numerous add-on features. It is being widely used with over 11 million hits last year from >250,000 individuals. It grew out of the European Register of Marine Species and is managed through the Society for the Management of Electronic Biodiversity Data. It has formal agreements with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Encyclopedia of Life and Species 2000, and is the official taxonomic reference list for the Ocean Biogeographic Information System and many other regional and global projects. WoRMS currently contains records of 350,000 taxa (all ranks) including 285,000 named living species (185,000 considered valid). Foraminifera are the largest group to have received little attention with only 3800 listed living species and a further 6500 species, described from the Recent, to be added from Ellis and Messina. The next challenge is for competent taxonomists to systematically assess the recorded species and determine which are “valid” and which are synonyms. In other phyla this has been done by establishing key taxonomic editors, sometimes supported by an international panel, to work up specific taxonomic groups (e.g. Globigerinida; Allogromiida; Bolivinidae; larger foraminifera; salt marsh foraminifera; etc). Is this a way forward for better understanding the biodiversity and biogeography of living foraminifera, as a first step towards the ultimate goal of an on-line global atlas of all foraminifera (fossil and modern)?

Recent New Zealand Deep-Water Benthic Foraminifera – A New Monograph

Bruce W Hayward1, Hugh Grenfell1, Ashwaq T. Sabaa1, Helen Neil2, Martin A. Buzas3

1Geomarine Research, New Zealand 2NIWA, New Zealand 3Smithsonian Institution, United States E-mail: [email protected] A new monograph on New Zealand’s deep-water benthic foraminifera has just been published (2010) as a companion volume to an earlier monograph on New Zealand’s shallow-water benthic foraminifera (Hayward et al. 1999). The new publication records 563 benthic foraminiferal species from deep water (>50 m) within the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Three hundred and forty-seven of the most common or distinctive species are fully illustrated and their diagnostic features outlined. In combination with the shallow-water monograph, 504 New Zealand species are fully illustrated and described. Cluster and canonical correspondence analyses of census count data (59,000 specimens) of 424 species in 264 samples are used to map the distribution of deep-water (50-5000 m depth) benthic foraminifera around New Zealand and relate this distribution to a number of environmental “drivers”, such as quality, quantity and seasonality of organic carbon flux, sea-floor oxygen concentration, temperature, salinity, bottom current strength, and carbonate corrosiveness. A slightly greater proportion of deep-water (>100 m) species (69%) have a cosmopolitan distribution than do shallow-water

Application of correspondence analysis to palaeobathymetric reconstruction of Pliocene series of the Sahel (North-Algeria)

Missoum Herkat1

1Faculté des Sciences de la Terre, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie, Algiers, Algeria E-mail: [email protected] The assessment of paleobathymetry is essential in paleogeographic reconstructions, and generally relies on the extrapolation of the depth distribution of modern taxa to fossil forms. Methods to estimate paleobathymetry take into account the depth range in which individual taxa have been encountered or parameters related to the depth variations found on present day bathymetric transects, as the Planktonic / Benthonic (P/B) ratio. However these methods are not always appropriate to determine the changing paleobathymetry through succession. This may be due to the lack of foraminifers in the studied series or to the composition of the fossil assemblages which are not totally representative of the original biocoenoses owing to environmental modifications modifying the distribution of foraminifers. To get round these difficulties, an attempt of estimation of the paleobathymetries was accomplished, using the


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correspondence analysis. This method applied to an Upper Cretaceous series was used to identify the main palaeontological associations and the systems tracts linked to them, resulting in a tentative reconstruction of the changing palaeobathymetry through the succession. In the present study an estimation of the paleobathymetry of foraminiferal assemblages from the Pliocene of Western Sahel is made, using quantitative data represented by the relative abundance of species within the samples. The foraminiferal assemblages are assessed through correspondence analysis and resulting sample scores are plotted according to the main variability factor which is interpreted to reflect paleobathymetry. The calibration of the scores in terms of water depth allows a detailed bathymetric interpretation of the obtained curve. The validity of reconstructed paleodepths is tested against the bathymetries calculated from the P/B ratio. The results of this study reveal a good accordance between the paleobathymetries determined by the correspondence analysis scores and those evaluated from the P/B ratio expression. This method could be applied to series in various geological settings, with the same quantitative approach, using different taxa, in order to verify its reliability in the paleoenvironmental reconstructions.

Planktonic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and Paleoecology of the Oligocene in the North Adriatic Sea (Croatia)

Morena Hernitz Kucenjak1, Vlasta Premec Fucek1, Renata Slavkovic1

1INA-Industrija nafte d.d., Exploration & Production BD, Croatia E-mail: [email protected] In the North Adriatic Sea well preserved Oligocene planktonic foraminifera assemblages have been observed.The detailed biostratigraphic study was based on samples from drill cuttings and cored intervals from the exploration wells located in the Adriatic Sea on the edge of Adriatic Carbonate platform. Oligocene sediments consist of monotonous silty marls with rare and thin siltstone beds. The basement of area is built up of Upper Eocene sediments. After the Oligocene, sedimentation continued through Lower Miocene. Rich planktonic foraminiferal association with index species enabled identification of six Oligocene biostratigraphic Zones: Pseudohastigerina naguewichiensis – O1, Turborotalia ampliapertura – O2, Globigerina sellii – O3, Globigerina angulisuturalis/Chiloguembelina cubensis – O4, Paragloborotalia opima – O5 and Globigerina ciperoensis – O6. E/O boundary is marked by extinction of Hantkenina and Cribrohantkenina as well as turborotalids of the T. cerroazulensis group. Planktonic assemblages in the Zone O1 are characterized by increased proportions of non-spinose deep-water globigerinid forms of Dentoglobigerina and Globoquadrina, while small planktonic forms adapted to life in surface

water layer are rare. In the Zone O2, beside previously mentioned taxa, Turborotalia ampliapertura and T. increbescens prevail in the assemblages. Catapsydrax, Globorotaloides, Tenuitella, Subbotina and Chiloguembelina are also well presented in O2 Zone. In the next Zone (O3), continuing trend of moderate cooling is evident by presence of Catapsydrax, Globorotaloides, Tenuitella, as well as Chiloguembelina and Paragloborotalia nana. Specimens of Dentoglobigerina and Globoquadrina are still abundant. Appearance of small spinose planktonic foraminifera of G. ciperoensis group and Globoturborotalita in Zone O4indicate warmer water conditions. Boundary between upper and lower Oligocene was determined based on high common occurrence (HCO) of C. cubensis. In the Zone O5warm water indicators,spinose species of G. ciperoensis group and Globoturborotalita become more frequent, whereas abundance of large globigerinids, such as Dentoglobigerina and Globoquadrina decrease. The Zone O6 is characterized by considerable decrease of diversity in northern Adriatic area. Diversity and morphological features of planktonic foraminiferal tests imply a general cooling trend which began at the Eocene/Oligocen boundary. Increase of the warm water species during the Upper Oligocene indicates a further paleooceanographic changes and warmer climate conditions.

Concept for a foraminiferal database

Michael Hesemann1

1www.foraminifera.eu project, Hamburg, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Foraminiferal research has produced numerous catalogues, atlases, books and articles dealing with the same data elements derived from taxonomical, stratigrafical, faunal and environmental classifications plus illustrations. This basic information on foraminifera though is scattered, main sources such as Loeblich and Tappan, 1987 are outdated, out of print and accessible only at well equipped libraries. A comprehensive database with a multi-criteria search query has not been established yet though via internet accessible databases have become easy to handle. Ellis and Messina catalogues as the most comprehensive catalogue does not offer a multi-criteria search. EOL and similar internet-projects are based on the one-dimensional Tree of Life structure. Prints are fixed in structure and cross searches may be time-consuming if not impossible at all. With www.foraminifera.eu we have established a freely accessible foraminiferal database with an online multi-criteria search query based on high quality SEM and optical. So far 1600+ entries on a species-level are searchable on 15 data-criteria with 700+ defined values. Five of the criteria are taxonomical, two morphological, three geographical, three stratigrafical and two source-related. A key to


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genera offers for 240+genera a multi-criteria search query on 7 criteria with about 100 defined values. If connected well any query results within seconds in a plate like presentation of images accompanied by basic information. Each entry has a single webpage with a bigger image and more information. With 80 visitors and 1 email/day the project seems to be of help especially for young scientists, scientists from less developed countries, hobby-naturalists and schools. A community-like structure has been established with about 60 worldwide contributors. In 2010 it has reached a level where more professional scientists need to be involved in order to assure the data quality and enlarge the data-coverage. Professional scientists are invited to join in with their expertise and material such as images, drawings and samples. In return their scientific work will be recognized by the 25.000+ visitors of foraminifera.eu per year. (References: Ellis and Messina catalogues, New York: Micropaleontology Press, AMNH. EOL Encyclopedia of Life. Available from http://www.eol.org Loeblich, A.R., Jr., and Tappan, H., 1987, Foraminiferal genera and their classification.)

Effects of water-based drill cuttings vs physical burial on benthic foraminifera and macrofauna: a mesocosm experiment

Silvia Hess1, Elisabeth Alve1, Hilde Cecilie Trannum2

1Oslo University, Norway 2Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Norway E-mail: [email protected] Traditionally, macrofauna is used in environmental monitoring to describe the ecological status of marine soft-bottom environments. An increasing number of studies indicate that benthic foraminifera hold a similar potential as macrofauna to characterise ecological status. Also, foraminifera have the advantage that their fossil remains can provide time-series for evaluating possible deviations in ecological status from pre-impacted conditions. In order to explore their potential in characterizing possible effects of petroleum exploration operations, benthic foraminiferal analyses were included in a mesocosm experiment performed to investigate the impact of water-based drill cuttings on benthic community structures. Replicate box-cores with sediment containing its natural benthic communities from Oslofjord, Norway, were transferred to a mesocosm setting. One set of boxes was covered with layers of 3, 6, 12 and 24 mm water-ilmenite based drill cuttings originating from a drilling operation in the Barents Sea. In order to evaluate possible effects of the drill cuttings versus the physical burial on the benthic community a second set of boxes was covered with 6, 12 and 24 mm natural, defaunated sediment from the same

site in Oslofjord. Some boxes were kept untreated as control samples. During the following six months, oxygen and nutrient fluxes at the sediment water interface and the oxygen penetration depth were regularly monitored. The response of the benthic community (macrofauna and living (stained) benthic foraminifera) was examined 6 months after the new substrate was added. Both the macrofauna and the foraminifera showed a significant reduction in number of taxa, abundance, and diversity with increasing thickness of drill cuttings. Addition of natural sediments had no effect on the macrofauna while the foraminifera, probably due to their smaller size, showed a reduction in the faunal parameters. However, the decline was more strongly developed in the water-based treatment than in the natural sediment treatment. Overall, both benthic foraminifera and macrofauna were affected by the water-based drill cuttings; i.e., the response was not only due to the physical disturbance caused by an abrupt sedimentation (burial) event.

Monitoring benthic community recovery in the Oslofjord: responses to capping and re-oxygenation

Silvia Hess1, Elisabeth Alve1, Brage Rygg2, Richard J. Telford1

1Oslo University, Norway 2Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Norway E-mail: [email protected] Oslofjord has been contaminated by discharges from various sources since the early industrial period. This, combined with restricted deep water renewal, caused nearly anoxic to anoxic bottom-water conditions to develop in extensive areas of the fjord. With growing environmental consciousness and governmental regulations promoting advanced wastewater treatment, the environment is slowly recovering. A common approach to the remediation of strongly polluted basins is to cap contaminated sediments with clean sediment. Since 2001, the semi-enclosed Bekkelagsbaseng, Oslofjord, has been re-oxygenated following decades of predominantly anoxic conditions. Additionally, in 2007, parts of the polluted, organic-rich sediments in the basin were covered by post-glacial clay. This offered a unique opportunity to monitor the benthic community recovery following capping with clean sediments and response to improved oxygen conditions. Three sites in Bekkelagsbassenget were regularly sampled for benthic foraminiferal, geochemical, and macrofaunal analyses between March 2008 and June 2010. One site was located in the middle (RC5), one at the periphery (RC8), and one (RC9) just outside the capped area. The substrate at the capped sites represents a new habitat for the benthic community. One year after the capping, the same common species were present at all sites indicating that the colonizers had rapidly immigrated from neighboring environments. However, their


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abundance (e.g. Stainforthia fusiformis, Bulimina marginata, Textularia earlandi) showed differences between sites and both foraminifera and macrofauna showed significantly higher diversities at the capped (RC5 and 8) compared to the uncapped (RC9) sites. This was probably due to the fundamentally different environmental properties at the clean, capped site versus the organic-rich, contaminated soft sediments outside. Results indicate that benthic foraminifera are as useful as macrofauna in monitoring ecological recovery, and that capped sediments recover more quickly than uncapped ones where recovery is due to re-oxygenation. Both remediation methods have caused improvement of the environmental conditions but comparison with fossil data shows that the ecological status has still not returned to pre-impacted “reference” conditions.

Effects of ocean acidification on calcification of symbiont-bearing reef foraminifers

Mana Hikami1, Kazuhiko Fujita2, Atsushi Suzuki3, Akira Iguchi2, Kazuhiko Sakai2, Azumi Kuroyanagi1, Hodaka Kawahata1

1The University of Tokyo, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, Japan 2University of the Ryukyus, Japan 3National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan E-mail: [email protected] Ocean acidification (a decrease in carbonate ion concentration and pH) in response to rising atmospheric pCO2 is generally expected to reduce calcification by reef calcifying organisms, with potentially severe implications for coral reef ecosystems. Algal symbiont-bearing, reef-dwelling foraminifers are one of the most important primary and carbonate producers in coral reefs and mainly produce high-Mg calcite shells. Previous laboratory experiments have shown that a decrease in pH causes Marginopora individuals to reduce their calcification rates. However, it has recently been suggested that the response of marine calcifying organisms to ocean acidification varies between species. Here we report results of culture experiments to investigate the effects of ongoing ocean acidification on the calcification of living clonal individuals of three foraminiferal taxa (Baculogypsina, Calcarina, and Amphisorus) by using a high precise pCO2 control system (the AICAL system). These foraminifers were subjected to seawater with five different pCO2 levels from 300 to 1000 ppm. Cultured individuals were maintained for 12 weeks in an indoor flow-through system under constant seawater temperatures, light intensity, and photoperiod. After experiments, the shell diameter and shell weight of each cultured specimen were measured. Results showed that net calcification of Baculogypsina, which secretes a hyaline shell and is host to diatom symbionts, increased under the intermediate levels of pCO2 (600 and 800 ppm) and decreased at a higher pCO2

level (1000 ppm). Net calcification of Calcarina, which also secretes a hyaline shell and is host to diatom symbionts, generally decreased under elevated pCO2, but increased under the intermediate levels of pCO2 (600 or 800 ppm). Net calcification of Amphisorus, which secretes a porcelaneous shell and is host to dinoflagellate symbionts, tended to decrease under elevated pCO2. These different responses among three taxa are possibly attributed to the decrease in carbonate ion concentration, the enhancement of calcification by the photosynthesis of algal symbionts, and differences in calcification mechanisms (in particular, different carbonate species used for calcification) among taxa. Our finding suggests that ongoing ocean acidification will be favorable for some hyaline taxa of symbiont-bearing reef foraminifers under the intermediate levels of pCO2 (600 and 800 ppm), but unfavorable for those with both hyaline and porcelaneous shells at higher pCO2 levels (over 1000 ppm).

Larger benthic foraminifera in the Early Eocene hothouse and their impact to tectonic and climatic perturbations – a case study from Egypt

Stefan Hoentzsch1, Christian Scheibner1, Jochen Kuss1

1Bremen University, Department of Geosciences, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The early Paleogene demonstrates a period in Earth’s history which underwent repeated changes with respect to global climate and environmental constraints. A continuing global warming trend culminated during the early Eocene climatic optimum at ~52 to 49 Ma. Global greenhouse conditions were superimposed by transient hyperthermals, which coincide with major perturbations of the global carbon cycle. The most prominent hyperthermal event, the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM) at 55.5 Ma, caused major biotic turnover in many environments on Earth. In lower latitudes, corals reached their critical temperature threshold in the latest Paleocene when they were replaced by larger benthic foraminifera (LBF), forming now the major biota at carbonate platforms. At the PETM ancient ranikothalids and miscellanids were replaced by true Nummulites; glomalveolinids evolved into true alveolinids. In the Early Eocene multiple transient climatic pertubations with minor but noticeable environmental shifts were observed mainly in deep sea records. The response of those post-PETM hyperthermals within marginal shallow-marine settings (e.g. LBF evolution) is still under debate. Here, we present a new study from the early Eocene Galala platform in Egypt, which focusses on LBF evolution during times of high climatic and tectonic variability. The Galala Mountains in the Eastern Desert of Egypt represent a Late Cretaceous to Eocene isolated carbonate platform at the southern margin


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of the Tethys. Early Eocene platform evolution is strongly linked to three major controlling factors: climate, global sea-level fluctuations and local tectonism. Throughout the early Eocene the platform is dominated by nummulitids and alveolinids. Associated LBF are discocyclinids, orbitolitids and operculinids. Their distribution at the platform records a sea-level rise in the Early Eocene, which is superimposed by a major tectonic uplift of the inner platform. Shifts in the bulk rock carbon isotope- and total organic carbon record allow to identify post-PETM hyperthermals. In contrast to the PETM, Early Eocene hyperthermals exhibit no shifts in LBF taxa and the associated shallow-marine benthos. Thus, Early Eocene LBF probably reveal an adaptation to stressed environments with higher turbidity, strongly variable trophic resources and transient temperature shifts.

Classification, phylogenetic systematic and molecular genetics, different ways to the natural system of organisms

Johann Hohenegger1

1Universität Wien, Institut für Paläontologie, Austria E-mail: [email protected] The status of biological systematic within the frame of classification is shown, differentiating between natural and artificial class systems, all based on relations (symmetrical or asymmetrical) between the classifying objects, which are species in many cases. Further distinction must be made between the ontogeny (essence) and the epistemology (recognition) of class systems, mostly misinterpreted in phylogenetic systematic. Difficulties in establishing phenetic system based on symmetric relations are shown, quite as they arise using phylogenetic methods based on asymmetric relations. Furthermore, differences between cladograms (inclusive phylograms) and the phylogenetic trees are demonstrated. Using molecular genetic techniques for establishing phylogenetic relations between objects of classification (in most cases a single or a few specimens representing the complete species) often leads to complications - besides instabilities using different gene sequences and methods - by comparing them with phylograms based on morphological characters, again using different characters and methods. Supertrees without depending on characters (inclusive molecular genetics) and thus not restricted to living specimens possibly lead to more comprehensive solutions for approximating the phylogenetic tree, because including fossil species.

Pleistocene to recent changes in the Indo-Pacific warm pool and its associated currents using selected benthic foraminiferal species as biogeographic markers

Peter W. Hoiles1, Stephen J. Gallagher1, Akihisa Kitamura2

1The University of Melbourne, School of Earth Sciences, Australia 2Shizuoka University, Japan E-mail: [email protected] Benthic foraminifera were analysed from the Sea of Japan and the North West Shelf of Australia in order to chart the fine-scale variability of the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool (IPWP) from Pleistocene to Recent times. Several key species of benthic foraminifera with affinities for the IPWP were used as biogeographic proxies for changes in the warm pool’s evolution. These species include Asterorotalia spp., Pseudorotalia spp., Heterolepa margaritiferus, Assilina ammonoides and Nummulites venosa. The Kuroshio Current and its offshoot, the Tsushima Current, were investigated from the 41,000 year orbital obliquity forced sediments of the Omma Formation in the Sea of Japan. Several species are present in interglacial sediments and disappear in glacial periods. This indicates that during the early Pleistocene, the warm Tsushima Current flowed into the Sea of Japan during interglacial periods and abated during glacial periods. Thus, the IPWP expanded and contracted through the early Pleistocene in response to 41,000 year orbital obliquity cycles. Middle Pleistocene to recent sediments from two boreholes from the North West Shelf of Australia were analysed. Indo-Pacific benthic foraminifera are present in sediments corresponding to interglacial periods and absent in glacial periods. CaCO3 variation in the boreholes, caused by changes in flow regimes of the warm Leeuwin Current and expansion and contraction of the IPWP, follow global isotope trends and thus sea level variability. It is possible that during interglacial periods, the NW Shelf of Australia was influenced by the Australian Monsoon, with sediment input from terrigenous sources and that the monsoon shut down during glacial periods. Data shows that the IPWP expanded and contacted during the early Pleistocene to recent time in response to global glacial/interglacial cycles, causing variation in flow regimes of the Leeuwin and Kuroshio/Tsushima currents. Key benthic foraminiferal species were present in interglacial periods of flow of the warm currents, and were absent during glacial periods.


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The Early Devonian morphogroups of agglutinated foraminifers from the Barrandian area (Czech Republic)

Katarína Holcová1

1Charles University Prague, Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Czech Republic E-mail: [email protected] The small foraminifera were studied from acid-insoluble residues from 24 Devonian sections including stratotypes and auxiliary stratotypes. Two recorded foraminiferal blooms can be correlated with deposition of the nodular limestones which occurs in two stratigraphical levels: (1) the Pragian (Dvorce-Prokop Lms.) between the Lochkovian/Pragian and Lower Zlichovian events; (2) the late Emsian (Třebotov Lms.) between the Daleje and Choteč events. The blooms may be caused by: (1) favorable paleoecological conditions which primarily enabled bloom of foraminifera; (2) favorable diagenetic processes which enable preservation of foraminiferal tests. Generally, diversity of Pragian foraminifera is low (17 species in total; 1-5 in sample), the Emsian assemblages are more diversified (44 species in total, 1-14 in sample). Abundance of foraminifera is high (foraminifera occur in 90% of samples: 5-320 specimens were recorded in 1 kg of rock). Using the morphogroup classification of Mesozoic and Tertiary agglutinated foraminifera, the Early Devonian genera were classified to the following morphogroups: Unilocular and two-chambered tests: (1) Morphogroup ED1: tubular or branched (Hyperammina, Rhabdammina), erect epifauna; (2) Morphogroup ED2: planoconvex was subdivided into the subgroups ED2a (planoconvex meandering, Tolypammina), and ED2b (planoconvex hemispherical, Tholosina, Hemisphaerammina and Webbinelloidea), attached epifauna; (3) Morphogroup ED3: flattened was subdivided into the subgroups ED3a (flattened, planispirally coiled, Ammodiscus) and ED3b (flattened, irregular), surficial epifauna, (?) phytal; (4) Morphogroup ED4: globular (Psammosphaera, Lagenammina, Thurammina), epifauna to shallow infauna. Multilocular tests: (5) Morphogroup ED5: elongate subcylindrical (Reophax, Ammo-baculithes), shallow to deep infauna. Only epifaunal and transitional epifaunal-shallow infaunal morphotypeswere recorded in the Pragian. Infauna appeared only rarely in the Emsian and represent maximally 1.5% of assemblages. Around the anoxic events (Daleje, Choteč, Lower Zlichov and Lochkovian/Pragian), very rare assemblages composed mainly of globular and tubular morphotypes were recorded. The flattened irregular coiled test (Pragian) or planispirally coiled tests (Emsian) together with irregular planoconvex tests dominated in the abundant assemblages between the anoxic events.

Interpretation of postmortem transport and reworking of the Middle Miocene Foraminifera from the Carpathian Foredeep (Central Paratethys)

Katarína Holcová1

1Charles University Prague, Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Czech Republic E-mail: [email protected] The studied interval dated by the FOs of Praeorbulina circularis, Orbulina suturalis and LO of Praeorbulina is characterized in the Central Paratethys by large transgression. The sediments content rich and generally well preserved foraminifera without apparent indicia of transport. Only detailed study of preservation, size-sorting and isotopic composition of tests enabled to interpret postmortem transport and reworking of foraminiferal tests. 1. Mixing of shallow and deep water fauna is routine interpreted as transport of shalow-water fauna to the deeper paleoenvironment. In the marginal part of the early Middle Miocene sea, mixing of shallow-water genera as Asterigerinata and Elphidium with deep-water Melonis, Pullenia and Uvigerina were recorded. Detailed SEM study of recrystallization of internal test walls showed that deep-water foraminifera are recrystallized. Therefore, reworking of deep-water tests is expected and shallow-water environment can be interpreted what agree with sedimentological interpretation of paleodepth. 2. High variability in the oxygen and carbon isotopic composition of well preserved planktonic foraminiferal tests may indicate mixing of tests from different paleoenvironment caused by both: reworking of tests or postmortem transport of open marine plankton to nearshore environment. The postmortem transport and/or reworking of plankton enable to explain also high P/B-ratio in respect to expected paleodepth. Transport of planktonic foraminifera can also explain the discrepancy between co-occurrence of diversified open marine planktonic foraminifera and low-diversified nannoplankton assemblages dominated by opportunistic Reticulofenestra minuta indicating stress environment. 3. One or two marked peaks in size distribution curve of foraminiferal tests may indicate postmortal transport also for assemblages without any other indices of transport. Though all species in assemblages indicate the shallow-water, well aerated paleoenvironment, the size sorting of tests may indicate transport on short distance in high energy environment.


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Symbiosis in larger foraminifera: a molecular approach

Maria Holzmann1, Jan Pawlowski1, Willem Renema2

1University of Geneva, Institute of Zoology and Animal Biology, Switzerland 2Natural History Museum, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] We have carried out a global survey of host-symbiont diversity in larger foraminifera based on samples collected over 11 years. Molecular analyses of 18S rDNA and ribosomal ITS genes were carried out for 3 endosymbiont groups (rhodophytes, chlorophytes and diatoms), being housed by 6 different foraminiferal taxa. Our results clearly contradict the current opinion of a rather broad acceptance of endosymbiotic algae and show that each investigated foraminiferal taxon is characterized by the possession of a specific symbiont type. This specificity persists in space and time as the same symbiont types occur in different geographic regions and over different years with the exception of one symbiont type that seems to be locally restricted. Symbiotic algae show a monophyletic origin in each group of examined foraminifera. The establishment of symbiosis appears to be an infrequent event in the evolution of foraminifera but has proofed to be very successful whenever it took root as the evolutionary history of symbiont bearing foraminifera is marked by cycles of rapid radiation.

The Rotaliids of the Lockhartia Sea as indicators of foraminiferal hot spot diversity in the Neotethys during the Eocene

Lukas C. Hottinger1

1Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] Large Paleogene Rotaliidae belong to the new subfamilies Lockhartiinae, Kathininae and Daviesininae. By their large size, their strong dimorphism and their distribution of canal orifices on the surface of their shells they all represent moderate K-strategists similar to the nummulites to which they are associated. Their strategy of life obliges them to adapt rapidly to the changing conditions in shallow water. They arize as Tethys-wide groups during the Paleocene and reach their highest diversity during the earliest Lower Eocene (SBZ 5). Later, the representatives of the Lockartiines, Lockhartia, Dictyoconoides and Sakesaria, dominate the rotaliid associations and sometimes the complete shallow benthic communities. The rotaliid distribution pattern on the time scale reflects the basic rules of global community maturation (GCM) cycles, that is: preparing the metabolism for K-strategy – experimenting with ways of life – reveling in success – gaining size and

endemism. Thus, they document a GCM cycle that ends for the Rotaliids by their disappearence after the Middle Eocene while other groups like the Nummulitids and the Orthophragminiforms continue up to the Eocene-Oligocene boundary. In the Middle Eocene already the first K-strategists of the conservative Neorotalias appear with a new species that has microspheric specimens with incomplete chamberlet cycles like a Miogypsinid. These Neorotalias will partially substitute the extinct Lockhartiinae. The biogeographical distribution of the rotaliidae starts with species that are ranging throughout the western and central Neotethys during the Paleocene. In the Earliest Lower Eocene, the rotaliids disappear from the eastern shores of the Atlantic, in particular from the Pyrenean Gulf, may be by the numerous nummulitid competitors. During the following periods the biogeographic range of the larger Rotaliids is restricted to the central part of the Neotethys, from Turkey to Tibet in Asia, and from Egypt to Somalia in Africa. An other index fossil with an identical range is the porcelaneous Somalina, whereas the Archaiasines are newcomers in the Bartonian. This is what we call the Lockhartia Sea. The large carbonate platforms in the South of the Arabic Peninsula (Dhofar in Oman in particular) exhibits in addition numerous porcelaneous genera of which several are new. The relations of the Tethyan Rotaliids with the Caribbean forms on the other side of the Atlantic remain obscure as long as the Caribbean taxa have not been revised.

Benthic Foraminifera in fjords and channels of Southern Chile

Tatiana Hromic1

1Instituto de la Patagonia, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile E-mail: [email protected] Fjords and channels of Southern Chile (42º-56ºS) are areas of particular interest for aquiculture, an issue that highlights the potential environmental deterioration that could result from an intense economical activity. Marine circulation is driven by water masses from the Pacific Ocean and by the contribution of meltwater from the glaciers draining the Northern and Southern Patagonian Icefields. Research efforts in this region have been focused on defining baselines for the marine flora and fauna in order to detect future changes due to anthropogenic impact. Benthic Foraminifera are good biological proxies for environmental changes; their sensitivity is reflected on changes in species richness, species diversity, relative abundance, size, shape of the tests, etc. During the last decade, the multidisciplinary project Cimar-Fiordos (Chile) has allowed sample collection in this area, providing a mean to establish baselines for the assemblage of benthic Foraminifera populating these channels. Data on species abundance have allowed identification of patterns of geographical and bathymetric distribution and


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detection of fluctuations in the areas most intensely exploited. At present, approximately 300 species have been identified, from those about 20 species are represented in percentages over 2%. High heterogeneity has been observed in assemblages with low species richness. Data suggest that benthic Foraminifera scarcely penetrate the fjord interior where estuarine environments dominate. Genus Nonionella (30%) y Bulimina (18-20%) are abundantly represented, in the northern gulfs and channels region (Reloncaví, Ancud and Corcovado). This coincides with a more intense commercial exploitation of the area, and to some extent eutrophism at least temporarily. The presence, in the same region, of a high percentage of planktonic Foraminifera, reflects the input of oceanic waters that could be contributing to refresh the environment. In the central region (Golfo de Penas- western entrance of the Estrecho de Magallanes), a longitudinal gradient is observed, with diversity and abundance decreasing towards the interior. In the southern channels (Estrecho de Magallanes- Cabo de Hornos), species abundance and diversity increase, reflecting the lesser effect of the Patagonian Icefields, in the distribution of benthic Foraminifera in this area.

Mid-Late Cretaceous ‘glassy’ foraminifera and stable isotope records from the Tanzania drilling project

Brian T. Huber1, Kenneth G. MacLeod2, Maria Rose Petrizzo3, Alvaro Jiménez Berrocoso4

1Smithsonian Institution, Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, United States 2University of Missouri, United States 3University of Milan, Italy 4University of Manchester, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] The goal of the Tanzania Drilling Project has been to provide temporal and spatial control to the Cretaceous tropical temperature record through analysis of exceptionally well preserved (‘glassy’) foraminifera cored using a land-based portable drill rig in the southeast coastal region of Tanzania. The project involves lithostratigraphic and chronostratigraphic correlation of surface and subsurface samples, stable isotope geochemical analyses of benthic and planktonic foraminifera, carbon isotope analyses of bulk carbonate and organic matter, and correlation of biofacies relative to stable isotopic records and biotic distributions that may have responded to changes in relative sea level change.Drilling during the 2007-2009 field seasons has penetrated a total of 1736 m at 20 drill sites, with complete composite records spanning the Turonian (10 sites), Cenomanian (3 sites), latest Turonian-late Santonian (1 site), lower-middle Campanian (4 sites), and middle-upper Maastrichtian (1 site). Short intervals of the late Albian and late Aptian were also drilled (2 sites). Unfortunately, complete Cenomanian-Turonian and

Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary sections were not recovered despite repeated attempts. Calcareous foraminifera are glassy through most of the lower-middle Turonian and in some intervals, of the Campanian and Cenomanian. In most of the remaining intervals foraminifera are moderately to well preserved, but shell diagenesis is too severe to for obtaining reliable stable isotopic signatures. d18O results from samples spanning most of the Turonian are remarkably stable, with isotopic variability of ~ 1‰ across the interval and a range of -4.5 to -4.9‰ (~32-35°C). Benthic foraminiferal values are also quite consistent. The most common species measured, Lenticulina macrodisca, varies between -2.0‰ and -3.0‰. The data show no coordinated d18O shifts that might indicate a Turonian glacial episode. For the lower-middle Campanian, results suggest temperatures 4-5°C cooler than those during the Turonian but still warmer than temperatures for comparable modern settings. Like the Turonian, the values are quite stable. Unlike the Turonian, though, the Campanian results provide the warmest paleotemperature estimates yet generated for this interval. As the middle Campanian is a proposed time of greenhouse glaciation, finding apparent temperatures warmer than present day undermines claims both of a global cooling episode at this time or of a whole ocean d18O shift that would be expected if significant amounts of water were being stored in glacial ice.

Palaeoenvironments of Upper Permian foraminifera of Saudi Arabia

Geraint Wyn Hughes1 1Saudi Aramco, Geological Technical Services, Saudi Arabia E-mail: [email protected] High-resolution foraminiferal micropalaeontology of carbonates is used to establish intra-reservoir stratigraphy for intra-reservoir correlation, sequence stratigraphy, three-dimensional palaeoenvironmental interpretation and for biosteering control. The Khuff Formation of Saudi Arabia consists of a succession of carbonates and evaporites that span the Upper Triassic - Lower Triassic. Semi-quantitative micropalaeontological analysis of closely-spaced core samples from the Upper Permian, Changhsingian, Khuff C carbonates of the southern part of Ghawar Field reveal distinctive biofacies and morphogroup variations. The carbonates contain a variety of microbiocomponents including fusulinid, miliolid and nodosarid foraminifera, calcareous algae, bryozoa, ostracods, brachiopods, echinoids and cyanobacteria. These permit palaeoenvironmental subdivision of a ramp environment into shallow to moderately deep lagoon, with localized ooid grainstone shoals. Proximal cycles typically never deepen beyond the Agathammina pusilla – Hemigordius schlumbergeri biofacies. Progressively deeper cycles are evident


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by the presence of Globivalvulina vonderschmiti, Brunsispirella linae, Neohemigordius sp., Nodosinelloides mirabilis caucasica, Pachyphloia schwageri, Pachyphloia ovata, Frondina permica, Paraglobivalvulina mira, Ichthyofrondina palmata and Ichthyofrondina latilimbata species. The ooid grainstone shoals introduce species of the small fusulinids Nankinella sp. and Stafella hupehensis. Their vertical succession enables recognition of high-frequency depositional cycles of varying intensities, with characteristics indicative of transgressive, maximum and regressive components, although regressive elements of proximal cycles are commonly represented by barren mudstones. Micropalaeontological biostratigraphy provides essential information for high-resolution, intra-formational,subsurface correlation to enhance and support sedimentological interpretations because of inconsistent gamma-ray values. The relatively high-diversity and small size of the Khuff foraminifera provide a detailed biofacies scheme currently used for biosteering coiled-tube drilling of the Khuff reservoir.

Using foraminifera to biosteer the Upper Permian Khuff Reservoirs in Saudi Arabia

Geraint Wyn Hughes1, Saleh Enezy1, Samir Rashid1 1Saudi Aramco, Geological Technical Services, Saudi Arabia E-mail: [email protected] The gas development wells in the Upper Permian, carbonate Khuff Formation are being drilled under-balanced using coiled-tubing. Only gamma-ray log is available in coiled-tubing drilling whose tool lies 30 feet behind the bit. The wells are bio-steered using the stratigraphic control that is provided by micro-paleontological analysis of drill-cuttings. Bio-steering at rig-site relies on thin-section micropaleontology of closely-spaced cuttings samples, which is compared and calibrated semi-quantitatively to core-based, high-resolution biozones in order to determine the drilled stratigraphic layer. The shallow marine, Khuff-C depositional environments were highly varied over short distances. It is necessary to establish a local reference bio-zonation for each bio-steered well. High-frequency depositional cycles are recognized by vertical succession of bio-facies, and such intra-reservoir bio-periodicity is used to determine cycle boundaries up to 5 km away from the reference well. This is applicable even when exact bio-facies composition varies due to lateral paleo-environmental changes. A down-hole motor in coiled-tubing drilling helps in reducing the sample contamination by cavings, and enables stratigraphic control to within 2ft accuracy. Bio-steering enables drilling trajectory instructions to be communicated to the directional driller in real-time. Changes in dip and fault intersections can be

recognized and rapid drilling adjustments can be made. Microfossil identification in limestone provides good micro-stratigraphic control even in non-mimetic dolomite reservoirs, as the bio-zonation differences in the limestone above and below the dolomites permit stratigraphic calibration. As the “eyes” of the drill, bio-steering enables the bit to be positioned and maintained within thin target reservoir layers. Due to positioning of laterals within the best reservoir layers, a four-fold increase in gas flow has been noticed while drilling these wells. Although this is the first time for bio-steering to be used in Saudi Arabia, the study has extended previous bio-steering global applications to depths in excess of 11000’, and to the oldest stratigraphic section. To date, more than 17 wells and 54 laterals have been successfully bio-steered in the Khuff C reservoir.

Fine tuning high latitude sea surface temperature reconstructions: new modern trainning sets of planktic foraminifera

Katrine Husum1, Morten Hald1, Anne Burhol1

1University of Tromsø Department of Geology, Norway E-mail: [email protected] In order to investigate natural ocean changes on longer time scales it is crucial to obtain reliable quantitative proxy data. Earlier reconstructions of sea surface temperatures (SST) below 5°C are hampered by incomplete training sets, sample quality and unsuitable sample preparation techniques. This may partly be due to incomplete modern training sets at high latitudes such as insufficient geographical coverage, poor sample quality and unsuitable sediment preparation. The aim of this study is to obtain surface samples with undisturbed sediment-water interface and correlate modern planktic foraminifera with in situ measurements of environmental parameters. Additionally, depth habitats of planktic foraminifera are variable, and they do not always reflect the upper most surface temperature. This should be taken into account when correlating to environmental parameters and later reconstructing temperatures. The studied size fractions of planktic foraminifera are also a critical factor. Many studies have investigated the fraction larger than 125 and 150 µm. This may reduce the faunal diversity to near mono-specific assemblages and much vital fauna information is left out of the SST reconstructions. Surface sediment samples from the Fram Strait, Greenland Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea were retrieved using a multicorer/boxcorer and prepared at the size fractions 100 µm to 1.0 mm. The foraminiferal analyses show how N. pachyderma (sin) constitutes 96 - 99 % of the fauna in areas under Arctic and Polar surface water masses. Under Atlantic surface water masses N. pachyderma (sin) is reduced with up to 50 %, and other species take over e.g. T. quinqueloba and G.


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uvula. The database based on 100 µm show clearly that the latter small species are much more frequent and important for the reconstructions than previously assumed. In addition, when comparing reconstructions of sea surface temperatures using different transfer functions a very important implication of this size-related difference is that the sea surface temperatures below 4°C seem to give too low values when using the larger size fractions. Another implication is found when including temperatures of intermediate water masses; the temperatures reach lower values, and it is possible to reconstruct temperatures below 5°C.

Natural selection under ocean acidification drives phytoplankton to be more heavily calcified

Takahiro Irie1, Kazuhiro Bessho2, Helen S. Findlay3, Piero Calosi4

1University of Amsterdam, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, The Netherlands 2Kyushu University, Japan 3Plymouth Marin Laboratory, United Kingdom 4University of Plymouth, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] Ocean acidification is potentially one of the greatest threats to marine ecosystems and global carbon cycling. Amongst marine organisms, calcifying phytoplankton have received special attention because their calcite precipitation plays a significant role in carbon export flux to the deep ocean. Currently, empirical effort is devoted to evaluating the plastic responses to acidification, but evolutionary considerations are missing from this approach. We thus constructed an optimality model to evaluate the evolutionary response of their life history, assuming that calcareous exoskeleton serves to reduce the instantaneous mortality rates. Contrary to the widely held belief, our model predicted that natural selection favors constructing more heavily calcified exoskeleton in response to increased acidification-driven costs. This counter-intuitive response occurs because the fitness benefit of choosing a better-defensed, slower growth schedule outweighs that of accelerating the cell cycle by equipping less calcified exoskeleton under acidification conditions. As a result, the total amount of CaCO3 precipitated during the bloom can increase, depending on the remaining parameter values. These findings suggest that ocean acidification may enhance the calcification rates of marine organisms as an adaptive response, possibly accompanied by higher carbon fixation ability of a population during the bloom. We thus emphasize that scientists working on ocean acidification must now focus on evolutionary dynamics of organisms.

Cenozoic foraminiferal associations of SMS drill core AND-2A in the Victoria Land Basin margin, Antarctica

Scott Ishman1, Molly Patterson1, 1Southern Illinois University Carbondale, United States E-mail: [email protected] During Austral Summer 2007 the Southern McMurdo Sound (SMS) ANtarctic DRILLing (ANDRILL) SMS AND-2A drill core was recovered from Southern McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. AND-2A reached 1138 mbsf with sediment recovery of 98% dating to 21 Ma. Five hundred and twenty three samples from lithostratigraphic units (LSUs) 1-14 were collected and analyzed for foraminifera. These analyses result in the recognition of 69 taxonomic groups that include 3 genera of planktonic and 66 taxa of benthic foraminifera. Benthic foraminiferal diversity ranges from 1 to 16 taxa with preservation ranging from Good to Poor with the best preservation of Good to Fair in LSUs 2 and 3. The remaining intervals are represented by Fair to Poor preservation. Three benthic foraminiferal zonations are established. These benthic foraminiferal zonations have both paleoenvironmental and biostratigaraphic significance through their correlation with existing drill sites in the Victoria Land Basin margin and Southern Ocean. Benthic Foraminiferal Zone 1 includes LSUs 1 and 2 with a foraminiferal assemblage comprised of taxa similar to the late Miocene and mid-Pliocene assemblages of DVDP 10 and 11 from Taylor Valley, Antarctica. Commonly occurring throughout Zone 1 is Globocassidulina subglobosa, Pullenia sp., Cassidulinoides spp., and Epistominella exigua. Occurring within LSU 2 is Ammoelphidiella antarctica, a taxon that is pervasive in early to mid-Pliocene sediments throughout Antarctica. Foraminiferal Zone 2 ranges from LSU 3 into the upper part of LSU 8.1. This zone includes the planktonic species Globorotalia sp., as well as the benthics E. exigua and Nonionella spp. Foraminiferal Zone 3 is comprised of the lower part of LSU 8.1 through LSU 14. The assemblage characterizing this zone is comprised of N. iridea, G. subglobosa, Ammoelphidiella spp., Cibicides lobatulus and Melonis affinis. The assemblages representing Zones 2 and 3 are similar to the early Miocene Epistominella-Elphidium-Nonionella Assemblage Zone of DSDP 270, the Miocene assemblages described from Cape Roberts Project CRP-1, and the early Miocene assemblages described from CRP-2.


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A Holocene paleoclimatic record from the Northern Antarctic Peninsula margin; Vega Drift, Antarctica

Scott Ishman1, Eugene Domack2, Amy Leventer3, Stefanie Brachfeld4

1Southern Illinois University Carbondale, United States 2Hamilton College, United States 3Colgate University, United States 4Montclair State University, United States E-mail: [email protected] Core NBP0003-JPC38, collected during cruise 00-03 of the R.V. Nathaniel B. Palmer, recovered 20.53 meters of Holocene glacio-marine sediments from the Vega Drift, Antarctica. The core was analyzed for a variety of paleoclimate proxies including samples collected every 4 cm for foraminiferal analyses. The benthic foraminiferal data were analyzed using cluster and principal component analyses. Results of these analyses show significant stratigraphic changes in the record of the Vega Drift, coincident with sedimentological, geochemical and diatom results. Three foraminiferal assemblages characterize the core, the Miliammina arenacea, Textularia wiesneri, and Stainforthia fusiformis assemblages. Major trends show agglutinated taxa decrease downcore, and comparisons to modern analogues imply post-depositional diaggregation. The presence of calcareous taxa indicates non-corrosive bottom and interstitial waters. The calcareous S. fusiformis assemblage characterizes the early to middle Holocene Vega Drift sediments. This assemblage is dominated by calcareous taxa and includes Globocassidulina biora, G. subglobosa, and Nonionella iridea. The planktonic species Neogloboquadrina pachyderma is also associated with the S. fusiformis assemblage. The S. fusiformis assemblage is faunally similar to assemblages described in fjords of the western Antarctic Peninsula and indicates the presence of Fresh Shelf Water. Sedimentological data indicate glacial meltwater plume conditions with diatom data suggesting subpolar surface water conditions. Sediments of the mid- to late Holocene interval are characterized by the T. wiesneri and M. arenacea assemblages and indicate the presence of Hyper Saline Shelf Water. These assemblages are similar to modern assemblages directly to the south in the Prince Gustav Channel. The late Holocene is also marked by several small intervals with taxonomic characteristics similar to the S. fusiformis assemblage, indicating periodic episodes of Fresh Shelf Water to the Vega Drift. These results suggest Holocene climatic conditions in the northern Antarctic Peninsula differing from those of the Larsen Ice Shelf system to the south.

Biogeography of Foraminifera in the Barents Sea during the last 16 ka: a response to variations in the Atlantic Water input

Elena V. Ivanova1, Natalia O. Chistyakova1, Ekaterina A. Ovsepyan1, Bjørg Risebrobakker2, Mojib Latif3, Vladimir Semenov3, Wonsun Park3

1Shirshov Institute of Oceanology RAS, Russian Federation 2Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, University of Bergen, Norway 3IFM-GEOMAR, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Biogeographic distribution of several planktic and benthic foraminiferal species in the coretop samples from the Barents Sea is known to demonstrate a strong relationship to the Atlantic and Arctic water masses. Our high-resolution study of the sediment cores retrieved from different oceanographic settings provides new insight into the biogeographic variability of foraminiferal assemblages and relevant species through the last 16 cal ka related to changes in the Atlantic Water inflow into the sea that is reconstructed by independent paleoceanographic proxies. In the northern Barents Sea, pronounced changes in benthic foraminiferal assemblages mirrored warming and enhanced Atlantic water input at the Younger Dryas/Holocene boundary and at the thermal optimum, ~8-7 cal ka BP. At ~ 4 cal ka BP, an increase in abundance of the most opportunistic Arctic species Elphidium excavatum forma clavatum is documented at several locations indicating a climatic deterioration and sea-ice advance associated with the weakened intermediate Atlantic Water penetration to the northern troughs. However, scarce occurrence of planktic foraminifera and Atlantic-affiliated benthic species (Cassidulina teretis, Pullenia spp. and others) ascertain the persistence of the inflow. In the south-western Barents Sea, on the main stream of the surface-to-bottom Atlantic Water inflow the latter group of species dominates through the Holocene and Bølling-Allerød interstadial. Changes in abundance of planktic species Turborotalita quinqueloba versus Neogloquadrina pachyderma sin. and N. pachyderma dex. in the region are used to trace the temporal shift of the Polar Front through the last 12 ka. We compared biogeographic and paleoceanographic reconstructions to the experiments with the Kiel Climate Model which demonstrated a dramatic change in surface circulation, wind pattern and sea-ice extent in the Barents Sea in the case of slowdown and/or shutdown of the surface Atlantic Water input. This might be associated with short-term cooling events, such as the Younger Dryas cooling which is marked by a strong decline in the amount of Atlantic-affiliated benthic species even in the warmest south-western part of the sea.


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Possible paleo-tsunami deposits in North-western Puerto Rico

Bruce Jaffe1, Mary McGann1, Mark Buckley1, Steven Watt1, Brian Atwater2, Uri ten Brink3

1U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA, USA 2U.S. Geological Survey, Seattle, Washington, USA 3U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA E-mail: [email protected] In March 2009, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey investigated three sites on the northern coast of Puerto Rico looking for paleo-tsunami deposits resulting from ruptures along the northeastern Caribbean Subduction Zone (the Puerto Rico Trench) to the north. The first site, East Bajura, is located about 10 km from the western end of Puerto Rico. This study area is characterized by a beach with sand dunes that minimize the inward flow of storm overwash deposits and an adjacent field; combined they extend ~100-150 m from the shore. Further inland is ~150 m of mangrove swamp. Two samples collected from a trench in the field contained abundant marine foraminifera attributed to an extreme storm overwash event witnessed the previous year. Seven other samples from gouge cores collected in the mangrove swamp contained very few marine foraminifera that are either paleo-storm or paleo-tsunami overwash deposits. In contrast, a core (EB09-g11) collected ~250 m from shore in the swamp contains a sample 181-185 cm downcore with a very abundant and diverse benthic and planktic foraminiferal fauna endemic to the marine realm. We consider these foraminifera to be possible paleo-tsunami indicators because recent samples from the mangrove swamp contain lagoonal and marsh/mangrove swamp taxa; no marine taxa were recovered. Foraminifera were also found in six of 13 samples from a pond and inland deposits on cultivated land at Camuy, located about 35 km from the western end of the island. Most are characteristic of lagoonal environments (Ammonia and Elphidium) although very rare marine specimens (Amphistegina, Hetereostegina, miliolids, and planktic specimens) were also present. Due to the proximity of the ocean to the sampling sites and low abundance of foraminifera recovered, we assume these are likely storm overwash deposits although a tsunami origin cannot be ruled out at this time. The third site, Fajardo, is located at the eastern end of the island. A gouge core was recovered from Laguna Grande in Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve. The sample from 100-105 cm downcore contained Trochammina inflata, considered a baseline marsh/mangrove swamp taxon at this location. In contrast, three samples between 68 and 123 cm contained abundant marine foraminifera including Amphistegina, Bolivina, Borelis, Hetereostegina, Peneroplis, Rosalina, Sorites, and miliolids. Once again, because of the close proximity of the core site to the ocean, we assume the presence of marine foraminifera at depth in the core is most likely due to storm overwash deposition.

Response of benthic foraminifera test morphologies on heavy metal pollution in the harbour area of Mumbai, India

Sofie L. C. Jehle1, Hartmut Schulz1, Ulrich Blaha2, Nathani Basavaiah3, Petra Heinz1, Michal Kucera1

1Institute for Geoscience IfG, Germany 2Bavarian Geological State Office for Environment, Germany 3Indian Institute for Geomagnetism IIGM, India E-mail: [email protected] Sediments of the Mumbai harbour area are contaminated by heavy metal and organic waste. The heavy metals originate directly from industrial discharge and indirectly from the large populated areas of Mumbai, as a washout filling the creeks and shorelines. Here, we investigate how intertidal benthic foraminifera in this polluted setting react on the high heavy metal load in their environment. In three short cores, up to 30 cm long, the abundance and species composition of benthic foraminifera, their size, and surface test structures have been investigated and compared with the bulk sediment magnetic susceptibility, which is closely connected to the concentration of heavy metal pollutants. The cores were taken in early 2006 and late 2008 near the Tata Power Plant, near to Vashi Bridge over Thane Creek and near to the Elephant Island next to the mouth of Panvel Creek. Magnetic susceptibility was measured on the freeze-dried sediment samples by a KLY3-Kappabridge. The magnetic susceptibility profiles indicate increased industrial metal pollution for the past several decades. This young age of the sediment is supported by Pb-dating from the area. After micropalaeontological analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) were used to gain further information on effects of pollution. The benthic foraminiferal fauna (unstained) in the three cores is dominated by Ammonia tepida (78.57%, 92.17%, 60.00%), Elphidium incertum and Elphidium advenum (21.43%, 7.83%, 40.00%); other species like Quinqueloculina sp., Nonionella sp., and Bolivina sp. occur only sporadically. The abundance of foraminifera negatively correlates with the heavy metal load. A number of benthic foraminiferal tests show significant structural and textural abnormalities that can be attributed to the discharge of heavy metals into their habitat. Aberrant variations in test surfaces, morphology and especially in species abundances are also observed. The specimens often show an encrusted surface, tend to be smaller, and the assemblages are less diverse, when magnetic susceptibility in the sediment is increased.


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Response of recent Arctic benthic foraminifera to inflow of warm Atlantic water; evidence from annual sampling in a glacial fjord, Svalbard

Patrycja Jernas1, Dorthe Klitgaard-Kristensen2, Nalan Koc1, Vigdis Tverberg2

1Norwegian Polar Institute and Department of Geology, University of Tromsø, Norway 2Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway E-mail: [email protected] Benthic foraminifera usefulness as proxies of past environmental conditions depends entirely on how well they are calibrated to their present biological, chemical, and physical surroundings. For the Arctic regions there is limited knowledge on how the benthic foraminifera relate to the present polar conditions. In this study, we investigate in particularly how rapidly foraminifera respond to the changes in the flow of warm and saline Atlantic water masses into the Arctic. Our study area is Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, European Arctic), a glaciated Arctic fjord characterized by the presence of Arctic and Atlantic waters. In summer, frontal instabilities at the outer and inner parts of Kongsfjorden result in the intrusion of warm and saline Atlantic waters into the fjord. The volume of such intrusions varies interannually, and in the 2006 and 2007 they have been significant. Concurrent with CTD measurements we sampled multicore samples annually for four years (2005-2008) in a transect along the fjord and analyzed for the content of living (Rosa Bengal stained) benthic foraminifera. The recent alterations in the Kongsfjorden hydrology shifting from ’’cold’’ (2005) to ‘’warm’’ (2006-2007) years resulted in changes in the relative composition of the benthic fauna. Two common species Elphidium excavatum f. clavata and Cassidulina reniforme known as co-dominant species in harsh glaciomarine environment decrease in abundance during the warmer years (2006 – 2007) in the entire Kongsfjord area. In 2007, the spring bloom of diatoms was delayed and consisted of a lower biomass (reduced food source for forams). This might explain the decline of Nonionellina labradorica in some parts of the fjord and increased contribution of other foraminifera species. The cooling in 2008 results in increased abundance of arctic species C. reniforme, particularly at the outer stations. However, the most common arctic, glaciomarine species E. excavatum still remains below 2%. In summary, we observe a clear response of foraminifera, particularly the common arctic species, to the inflow of warm Atlantic water as well as to changes in the marine ecosystem in Kongsfjorden.

Functional morphology of agglutinating for a-minifera - 25 years of progress

Robert Wynn Jones1

1BG Group, Advanced Geosciences Team, Thames Valley Park, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] The development of our understanding of the functional morphology of agglutinating foraminifera over the last twenty-five years is reviewed. The relationships of "morphogroups" of agglutinating foraminifera to bathymetry and sedimentary environment are discussed. Case histories of the application of "morphogroups" in source-, reservoir- and cap- rock studies are given.

Foraminifera and pollution monitoring - Room for improvement

Frans Jorissen1

1Angers University, France E-mail: [email protected] The use of foraminifera for pollution monitoring has experienced a spectacular increase over the past decades. This unexpected success is due to several particularities of foraminifera: their elevated densities in small sediment volumes, their high diversity, their tolerance to strongly adverse conditions, and especially the preservation of their tests in the sediment, which makes it possible to obtain an idea about the natural faunas, in the many cases in which no baseline study has been performed. Unlike the situation for other bio-indicator groups, no formalised working protocols exist for foraminifera. The various research groups use a wide range of methods with various degrees of scientific rigour. Whereas ecotoxicology tests have been developed for many other bio-indicator groups, only some preliminary results are available for foraminifera. It appears therefore urgent to develop a more solid scientific basis for pollution monitoring with foraminifera. I will address several points which need particular consideration. Some of the methods which are presently used for foraminiferal bio-monitoring will be discussed, as well as the biotic indices routinely used for macrofauna. In practice, it appears difficult to adapt these indices for foraminifera, because they occupy a more limited number of ecological niches, and especially, because the vast majority of foraminiferal species are surprisingly tolerant to pollution. This leads directly to the question how to select marker species. Since pollution-sensitive taxa appear to be rare, it appears judicious to select opportunistic indicator species, which are favoured by pollution phenomena. However, such a monitoring strategy can probably only be successful if chemical pollution is accompanied by organic enrichment. Furthermore, since the natural level of organic supplies determines which opportunistic


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taxa are present in the natural fauna, it appears impossible to select a universal set of indicator species, as has been done for macrofauna. A final problem, which also concerns pollution monitoring with macrofauna, is that marine areas present various degrees of natural enrichment. Hence, the quality of a marine environment should be quantitatively described with respect to the natural state of the same environment. Existing monitoring methods do not foresee such a possibility.Finally, I will treat the very scarce ecotoxicological studies available today. The main result of these studies is the surprisingly high tolerance of many foraminiferal taxa to many types of pollutants. It is clear that much more research is needed in this particular field.

Bathymetric reconstruction of a Middle Pleistocene section on Rhodes (Greece)

Nina V. Joseph1, Jürgen Titschack2, Gerhard Schmiedl3, André Freiwald4

1Erlangen University, Germany 2Bremen University, Germany 3Hamburg University, Germany 4Senckenberg am Meer, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The widespread marine Plio-Pleistocene deposits on the island of Rhodes, southern Aegean Sea, are a classic study area for sedimentological and paleontological studies. The sediments are preserved in micro-graben systems with widths of a few kilometres down to a few meters. Due to the tectonically active setting, relative sea-level changes are thought to reflect dominantly tectonically induced vertical movements, on which the Plio-Pleistocene glacio-eustatic sea-level changes were superimposed. Paleo-bathymetric reconstructions of the Middle Pleistocene Lardos SW Hill section were performed using the corrected (which discards infaunal benthic foraminiferal species), the uncorrected planktonic-benthic ratio, and the distribution of depth-related occurrences of benthic indicator foraminifers. The investigated 930-cm-thick section is rich in micro- and macrofossils, which indicate a considerable uplift of the island during the investigated time period (~ 850 to 400 kyr BP). Both P/B-ratios yield a depth range of 200 to 700 m for the lower part of the section, followed by a strong regression with estimated water depths of 80 to 200 m in the middle part. This is also reflected in the dominance of deep-water indicators (e.g. Cibicidoides, Gyroidinoides) in the lower part and their replacement by shallow-water indicators (e.g. Discorbis, Elphidium, Ammonia beccarii) in the middle part of the section. This rapid shallowing is most probably due to tectonic activities. At the top of the section, a water depth of >350 m is suggested by the uncorrected P/B-ratio, though the corrected P/B-ratio indicates a water depth of >1000 m. This discrepancy is due to the exclusion(corrected P/B ratio) of Brizalina dilatata that represents more than

50 % of the benthic foraminifers in this part of the section. In contrast, the abundance of shallow-water foraminifers in the upper interval suggests water depth shallower than 350 m. Also the sedimentological record suggests a shallow-water environment increasingly influenced by a prograding delta. Therefore it is assumed that the environmental conditions changed drastically due to the increasing influence of a nearby river. This particular setting caused a drop of benthic foraminiferal numbers and increase of P/B ratios resulting in an overestimation of water depth.

A catalogue of agglutinated foraminiferal genera

Michael A. Kaminski1, Claudia G. Cetean2

1UCL, Earth Sciences, United Kingdom 2The Natural History Museum, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] The descriptions of foraminiferal genera are in need of revision and updating. The compilation of Loeblich & Tappan (1987), is now 25 years out of date, and advances in the the suprageneric classification of the foraminifera (including changes in rank of the group), have now made the Loeblich & Tappan classification obsolete (Kaminski, 2004). At latest count, over 140 new genera of agglutinated foraminifera have been described since 1987; and many others have been subsequently emended. In 2002, we convened a working group to address the problem of updating the systematics of the Foraminifera. As a first step towards the task of updating the foraminiferal classification, we are preparing a compendium of all agglutinated foraminiferal genera considered valid (>760 genera). We have compiled a database using a file format that follows the general format of the Ellis & Messina Catalog of Foraminifera, containing the name of the genus, the type species, type reference, synonymy, description and remarks, stratigraphic range, and illustrations. We have added new illustrations (either by photographing type specimens or, if lacking, other good preserved specimens), re-scanned original figures, and included information on the locations of type specimens. As part of this work, we have lectotypified over 50 type species of genera housed in the collections of the NHM in London, and elsewhere. Our goal is to produce a revised catalogue of the valid genera of agglutinated foraminifera that can be accessed in electronic form, and updated on a regular basis. We envision this will be the first stage in the revision of the foraminiferal genera as a whole. We invite others to join us in this effort. Kaminski, M.A. 2004. The Year 2000 classification of agglutinated foraminifera. In: Bubik, M., & Kaminski, M.A., (eds), Proceedings of the Sixth International Workshop on Agglutinated Foraminifera. Grzybowski Foundation Special Publication, 8, 237-255.


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Persistent seesaw SST-patterns between the Nordic seas and the adjacent North Atlantic during pronounced interglaciations

Evgenia Kandiano1, Henning Bauch2, Kirsten Fahl3, Jan Helmke4

1IFM-GEOMAR, Paleoceanography, Germany 2Mainz Academy of Sciences, Humanities, and Literature, Germany 3Alfred Wegener Institut for Polar and Marine Research, Germany 4Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Intensities of warm water advection into the mid-latitude North Atlantic region and farther north into the Nordic seas were compared across pronounced interglaciations MIS 1, MIS 5e and MIS 11 using mainly planktic foraminiferal abundances as quantitative and qualitative proxies for sea surface temperature (SST) reconstructions. In addition, relative abundances of so-called rare species with very low relative abundances were also separately considered. These latter species normally inhabit tropical-to-subtropical zones but are brought to higher latitudes by a more vigorous and stronger North Atlantic Current system. Analysis of the rare species content has proven useful when SST differences between the compared time intervals and SST fluctuations do not substantially exceed the methodological error, as it is usually the case when investigating interglacial climate dynamics. In the Nordic seas, foraminiferal counts were also partly performed on smaller size fractions as in this cold region and within the larger size fraction, the planktic foraminiferal assemblage becomes almost monospecific and are largely represented by the polar foraminifer N. pachyderma (s). Both foraminiferal-based SSTs and inferences were compared with alkenone-derived SSTs and supported by planktic and benthic O-isotope records and by data of ice rafted debris (IRD) content. When compared to the Holocene our reconstructions for MIS 5e and MIS 11 would detect a sea surface warm anomaly in the mid-latitude North Atlantic whereas farther north in the Nordic seas surface conditions remained rather cold. Moreover, it seems that during MIS 11 the Nordic seas experienced even more severe conditions than during MIS 5e. We relate these SST results to differences in the intensity of warm water advection into these regions. We further hypothesize that under a pronounced interglaciation climate regime the suppression of a warm water inflow into the Nordic seas might result from the specific surface conditions in the polar North, such as seasonal sea ice distribution, causing a strengthening of the subpolar gyre and enhanced temperatures in the mid-latitude North Atlantic.

Modelling coral reef growth and extinction during the Late Pleistocene using foraminifera as palaeoenvironmental indicators

Zahra Karimi Mossadegh1, Eberhard Gischler2, Justin Parker1, Wolfgang Oschmann1 1Center for Biodiversity and Climate Change, Germany 2Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany E-mail: [email protected]) Flooding of the Persian Gulf during the last two Late Pleistocene interglacial cycles created environmental conditions suitable for coral growth. Each period of coral growth was preceded by localised extinction caused by draining of the gulf during glaciation and tectonic uplift. During MIS 7 (245-190 ka fide Pirazzoli et al. 2004), corals proliferated despite the deposition of marl in what was probably a stressful environment. This combination of coral and marl has preserved an exceptional record of coral reef growth from inception to extinction during an interglacial cycle. We use foraminifera to trace environmental changes before, during and after coral reef formation to model inter-glacial sea-level induced coral reef cycles. Immediately before reef growth, the foraminiferal community consisted of a low-diversity high-salinity assemblage dominated by Ammonia, Murrayinella, Elphidium and Quinqueloculina. When coral (Montastrea-Platygrya-Branching coral community) started growing the abundance and diversity of foraminifera began to increase, and Pararotalia, Amphistegina and Placopsilina appeared. Biodiversity continued to increase up the sequence, and more normal salinities were associated with the appearance of Textularia, abundant Placopsilina and attached rotaliid taxa (including Acervulina, Planorbulina and Planogypsina). Maximum flooding is marked by the occurrence of Textularia, Hyalinea, Globobulimina and Gyroidinoides, disappearance of Amphistegina and miliolid foraminifera, and maximum foraminiferal diversity. Coral mortality in this interval appears to be the result of drowning. As sea level fell biodiversity decreases and Amphistegina appears again with renewed coral growth and a change in coral community structure (Monitpora-Platygyra community). A mollusc rich layer with a low diversity of foraminifera and abundant Amphistegina caps the coral-marl unit. This layer is believed to be MIS 5. Modern Persian Gulf coral reefs (e.g. Hengam Island) that are closer to the Indian Ocean connection than those at Kish Island are also associated with marl deposition. Foraminiferal diversity in these reef habitats is low, typical of the broader gulf region and a feature of Pleistocene coral reef fauna. The modern species composition (abundant miliolid foraminifera and Elphidium) differs slightly to the Pleistocene, and is most similar to the fauna that inhabited the first phase of reef growth during MIS 7. This suggests that the Persian Gulf is becoming less connected with the Indian Ocean, due to lower inundation, tectonic uplift or more likely, both.


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Preliminary data on the events of the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary in Atlasic and Tellian domains (Algeria) from a comparative study on foraminifera assemblages.

F. Kechid-Benkherouf1

1FSTGAT- USTHB, Algiers, Algeria [email protected] Differences in the evolution of foraminifera populations of the Cenomanian – Turonian boundary are identified between the deposits of carbonate platform of Aures and South-east Constantine, and those more deeper (basin) of Biban. In the environments of carbonate platform, planktonic foraminifera are rare or lacking during Cenomanian. Benthic foraminifera show very diversified and characteristic assemblages (Lituolidae, Ataxophragmiidae, Nezzazatidae, Soritidae, Alveolinidae...). At upper Cenomanian and in relation to the disorganization of the carbonate platforms, the benthic populations of foraminifera disappear brutally. In the Cenomanian-Turonian transition, a pelagic tendency takes place, related to eustatism and tectonics : planktonic foraminifera (Whiteinelles) become omnipresent. From middle Turonian, the carbonate platforms develop again parallely to a major and specific renewal of benthic and planktonic foraminifera, which will continue during the lower Senonian. In the environments of basin, planktonic foraminifera develop adaptive strategies in connection with sea-level changes : the K-strategy, where foraminifera are dominated by keeled morphotypes (Rotalipores), characterizes the regressive part of the cycles; the R-strategy, relative to the simple and globular morphotypes (Whiteinelles), characterizes the transgressive part of the cycles. Benthic foraminifera assemblages of middle and upper Cenomanian (R. cushmani zone: K-strategy species) are very diversified during the phases of low level and are dominated by Verneuillinidae, Nodosariidae, Gavelinellidae and Turrilinidae. During the transgressive interval, a strong decrease of the specific diversity of benthic foraminifera appears in the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary, in the W. archaeocretacea zone (R-strategy species); following the example of Vocontian basin (SE France), this phenomenon, which is observed for the first time in Algeria (Tellian domain), is allotted to a Anoxia (COT: 1-2). Above, during the high level phases of lower Turonien (H. helvetica zone: K-strategy species), specific diversity is again significant and the assemblages of benthic foraminifera are qualitatively and quantitatively identical to those of middle to upper Cenomanian. In the end, it thus appears that a major crisis (OAE2) is recorded at the Cenomanian – Turonian boundary in the Tellian and Atlasic domains of Algeria. It differently affects foraminifera according to their environment : total disappearance of benthic foraminifera (Lituolidae, Ataxophragmiidae, Nezzazatidae, Soritidae, Alveolinidae...) in carbonate platform field (Aures and SE Constantine); significant decrease of the diversity of

benthic foraminifera (Verneuillinidae, Nodosariidae, Gavelinellidae and Turrilinidae) and development of different adaptive strategies for planktonic foraminifera in external platform and basin fields (Biban). Let us note finally that for a better comprehension of the Cenomanian-Turonian Oceanic Anoxic events (oceanic phenomenon of anoxia, geochemical crisis and significant renewal of the calcareous plankton...), the precise analyses of new sections in other areas and geochemical analyses (isotopes of Carbon and Oxygen) prove to be essential.

IODP Expedition 323 initial results: Bering Sea foraminiferal records of the past 4 Ma and implications for changes to deep and surface ocean palaeoecology

Sev Kender1, Katrine Husum2, Carlos Alvarez-Zarikian3, Michael A. Kaminski4

1British Geological Survey, United Kingdom 2University of Tromsø, Norway 3Texas A&M University, United States 4University College London, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] We present foraminiferal records from IODP Expedition 323, Bering Sea, Sites U1339 (Umnak Plateau), U1340 and U1341 (Bowers Ridge), and U1343, U1344, U1345 (northern Aleutian Basin). Benthic and planktic faunas were recovered at all sites to ca. 1 Ma. They comprised abundant calcareous benthic species that are indicative of reduced oxygen conditions (e.g. Bulimina, Globobulimina, Islandiella, Nonionella, Valvulineria), and high latitude planktic species indicative of cold water (e.g. Neogloboquadrina pachyderma sinistral). High sediment accumulation rate Sites U1339 and U1345 (located within the oxygen minimum zone today) reveal large changes in assemblages since 0.8 Ma that are believed to reflect changes in oxygen levels at depth. Lower oxygen appears to be associated with interglacial/deglacial events, and may have been driven by increased surface water productivity at these times. The Mid Pleistocene Transition (ca. 0.8–1.1 Ma) was recovered with good foraminiferal preservation at Sites U1340, U1343 and U1344. All sites reveal an increase in the absolute abundance of benthic and planktic foraminifera after this interval, along with a higher variability in low oxygen benthic assemblages and a shift from subpolar to polar planktic assemblages. This may reflect the intensification of glacial/interglacial cycles and changes to surface water productivity after this transition, and appears to have affected the entire Bering Sea. The Late Pliocene Transition (ca. 2.5–3.0 Ma) was recovered at Sites U1340 and U1341, where predominantly agglutinated benthic faunas (possibly dissolution-affected) show very low abundance and diversity (Martinotiella communis, Eggerella bradyi).The last occurrence of M. communis at


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these sites occurs around this time, and could indicate a change in deep water oxygenation.

Vesicle dynamics in foraminifera

Nina Keul1, Lennart de Nooijer2, Gerald Langer1, Jelle Bijma1

1Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Marine Biogeosciences, Germany Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] The calcium carbonate produced by foraminifera contains a wealth of information (so called “proxies”) for paleoceanographical studies. The environmental conditions under which they calcified, such as temperature, salinity, productivity and the ocean carbonate chemistry, are recorded in the geochemical composition of their shells (isotopic signature, trace metals concentrations). However, foraminifera maintain their own distinct (trace) metal homeostasis, which results in characteristic and species specific elemental ratios as well as in particular isotope fractionation (“vital effect”), which is offset from inorganic-thermodynamic equilibrium. In order to improve the predictive capability of the proxies it is important to identify the physiological processes controlling the chemical and isotopic composition of foraminiferal calcite. Foraminifera precipitate calcite from modified seawater vacuoles, which are incorporated via the process of endocytosis (Erez 2003). We studied this vacuolisation process on juvenile foraminifera using fluorescent dyes (FITC-Dextran and Calcein) and confocal imagery. Specimens of the shallow, benthic foraminifer Ammonia tepida were incubated for various periods (ranging from 2-10 hrs) in seawater labelled with fluorescent dyes. After incubation the Petri dishes containing the foraminifera were carefully washed with seawater to remove the dye. Once the dishes were filled with fresh, unlabelled seawater the dynamics of the formed endocytosis vesicles were followed by means of confocal microscopy until chamber formation occurred. Depending on the length of the incubation period and the physiological status of the cell (prior/ after chamber formation) different patterns of vesicle cycling could be observed.

Biological response of foraminifera to ocean acidification

Nikki Khanna1,2, William E. N. Austin1, David M. Paterson2

1School of Geography & Geosciences, The University of St Andrews, Scotland 2School of Biology, The University of St Andrews, Scotland E-mail: [email protected]) Elevated concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide, partly driven by anthropogenic sources, are driving down the pH of the oceans. Since the industrial period, ocean pH has reduced by 0.1 units and this change is predicted to continue into the future. The implications of ocean acidification on the marine environment include severe biological disruptions, particularly with respect to the many groups of organisms that produce carbonate shells and structures (coral, molluscs, protozoa etc). One major affect of the change in seawater carbonate chemistry is a predicted reduction in calcifying capacity of these organisms, including foraminifera. It is unclear whether these organisms will have the ability to acclimate or adapt to the changes that are predicted to occur. The research being conducted at St Andrews will investigate the response of benthic intertidal foraminifera to ocean acidification. Manipulative experiments will be conducted in a physio-chemically stable seawater culturing facility to elucidate the effects of exposure to acidified seawater on both foraminiferal ecosystems and individual foraminiferal species. Using carbon dioxide gas, the seawater will be acidified to pH 8.1, 7.7 and 7.3. The chemical composition of the foraminiferal tests can also be interpreted to provide information on changing seawater chemistry as they form rapidly in culture, with new growth being readily distinguished by addition of new chambers. This research will further determine the important physiological consequences of lower pCO2 levels in benthic intertidal foraminifera. Details of the experimental system are presented, together with preliminary observations on the systems stability, manipulations and foraminiferal growth response.

Benthic foraminifers from Central Arctic ocean bottom sediments

Liza Khomenko1, Evgeny Gusev1, Fedor Maksimov2, Snezhana Levchenko2

1VNIIOkeangeologia, Russian Federation 2St. Petersburg State University, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] There are “young” and “ancient” stratigraphical models of bottom sediments in the Arctic Ocean. The “ancient” one is based on paleomagnetic analysis and revealing of certain index-species. The


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“young” one based on the 14C dating and oxygen stable isotope composition. The piston core from 26 cruise of r/v “Akademik Fedorov” from the western flank of the Mendeleev Ridge (2280 m water depth, total core length ~ 350 cm) has been treated. Size fraction > 125 µm in all samples was used for total planktonic and benthic foraminiferal abundance counts, and benthic species identification. Foraminiferal analysis reveals five abundance maxima of benthic foraminifera throughout the core, corresponding to brown sediment beds. The same intervals characterized by planktonic abundance maxima as well. The 0-15 and 20-50 cm core intervals contain abundant assemblage of benthic foraminifera and are characterized by high biodiversity. The benthic foraminifera species composition probably reflects alternating inflow of Pacific and Atlantic waters in the time interval 34-183 kyrs. Oridorsalis tener are numerous in 190-210 cm interval. It is known they become dominant in oligotrophic environment. 61-112 cm interval separates two foraminifera abundance peaks from horizons that are almost barren of benthic and planktonic fauna. The fauna absence could possibly be explained with dissolution or other destruction processes. In some samples of the interval there are black colored particles. Some of them appeared to be foraminifer shells which are completely replaced with ferric compounds. The foraminiferal assemblages generally correspond with the faunas from the Mendeleev Ridge. The age control was provided by three 230Th/234U dates. If the sediment age is determined correctly then benthic foraminifera-rich units corresponds with the Mikulinian and Likhvinian inerglaciations – MIS 5 (Marine Isotope Stages) and MIS 11. Similar age dates were obtained earlier for northern Mendeleev Ridge. At the same time the 14C and aminoacide dates were obtained. They indicate the younger age of same sediments. Benthic foraminifera-rich units in this case correspond to the Middle Valdaian (MIS 3) and Mikulinian (MIS 5) interglaciations. The problem of different dating methods could be considered as unsolved yet.

Pelagic foraminifera from Gurpi formation at Kharame section, southeast of Shiraz, Iran

Narges Khoshkhabar1, Masoomeh Sohrabi-Mollayousefi1, Ebrahim Ghasemi-Nejad1

1Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran E-mail: [email protected] Kharameh section is located at 84 km of southwest of Shiraz. According to structural geology divisions, it belongs to internal Fars with only outcrop of Gurpi formation. Thickness of Gurpi formation is 150m and contains of well bedded shale and limestone. Pelagic foraminifers' investigations showed 3 groups of them: shallow water (bi serial and three serial tests), Epicontinental Sea (plan spiral tests) and deep water fauna.

The main genera of distinguished foraminifera as follows: Heterohelix, hedbergella, Globotruncana, Contusotruncana, Gansserina. In studied region Gurpi formation classified to 5 zones by using of foraminifers. Presence of Globotruncana elevate in the base of section was showed early Campanian for Gurpi formation. The upper boundary of Gurpi formation was determined of Tarbour formation by Gunsserina gansseri. Zonation and age dating were then based on foraminifera based on which five biozones showing in general an age of Early Campanian-Early Maastrichtian was determined for the formation.

Feeding strategies among deep-sea benthic foraminifera: Evidences from TEM observations and in-situ experiments for modern deep-sea foraminifera

Hiroshi Kitazato1, Hidetaka Nomaki1, Takashi Toyofuku1

1Institute of Biogeosciences, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology(JAMSTEC), Japan E-mail: [email protected] Deep-sea benthic foraminifera dwell in sediments with clear depth preferences. We know how they live, but we do not know why they live in the sediment with depth preferences. For understanding the reasons of depth preferences within sediments, we have made both TEM observations of organelles and in-situ experiments at Sagami Bay, Japan. TEM observations show specific organelle arrangements within cell among deep-sea foraminifera. Shallow infauna show normal scatted mitochondrial distribution. Deep-infauna show clusters of mitochondria-peroxysome within cell. Filling-up materials in food vacuoles are also different from shallow infauna and deep infauna. Differences in organelles should indicate food preferences in deep-sea benthic foraminifera. Results from in-situ feeding experiments are concordant with those from TEM observations. We would like to show both TEM images and experimental results and to discuss about feeding strategies among deep-sea foraminifera.

AMOR helps to decipher morphological evolution in menardiform planktonic foraminifera

Michael W. Knappertsbusch1, Yannick Mary1

1Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] AMOR (Automated Measurement system for for shell mORphology) is a robot allowing the automated positioning, orientation and imaging of


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mounted, isolate planktonic foraminifera in a standard micropaleontological slide under a binocular microscope. AMOR consists of a motorized four-axis tilting stage under a binocular, the latter being equipped with a digital video camera. The microscope is driven by a motorized zoom and has an autofocus. All components are controlled via program AMOR 3.10 on a PC, which was built using LabView from National Instruments. This system was developed in collaboration with engineers from the University of Applied Sciences of Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW). Using AutoIt v3 (a freeware automate and script langauge for windows tasks) individual functions from AMOR can be combined as needed and even allows for overnight-processing. While AMOR orientates and collects digital images of isolated microfossils, further custom developed software help to extract morphometric descriptors from the images. The following measurements are used to characterize shell variability: spiral height, axial length, keel angles, osculating circles of the keel region and surface area of the silhouette. For every specimen outline coordinates are extracted for fourier- and/or eigenshape analyses. Our goal is to quantify inter- and intraspecific morphological shell variation in planktonic foraminifera and so to better understand the biogeography of morphological evolution and speciation. In order to facilitate and accelerate our data collection we use the above system. Our study objects are menardiform globorotalids because of their interesting radiation during the Pliocene. We use materials from Holocene and Late Pliocene (3.2 Ma) time-slices, and from from several deep-sea cores considered to be interesting for testing speciation patterns. So far we have investigated cores from the Caribbean Sea (DSDP Site 502) and the Eastern Equatorial Pacific (503), and work is underway at ODP Site 925 (Ceara Rise), and plans are to investigate ODP Site 667 (off Equatorial Africa). (More Information: Please follow the links under "Research" from http://pages.unibas.ch/museum/microfossils/index.html)

Benthic and planktonic foraminifera used for the reconstruction of water mass changes through the last 1000 years off North Iceland

Karen-Luise Knudsen1, Jón Eiríksson2, Helga Bára Bartels-Jónsdóttir2

1Aarhus University, Department of Earth Sciences, Denmark 2University of Iceland, Iceland E-mail: [email protected] This study is based on two high-resolution 1000-year sedimentary records on the North Icelandic shelf: IMAGES core sites MD99-2273 (water depth 650 m; sedimentation rate 600 cm/1000 yr) and MD99-2275 (470 m; 300 cm/1000 yr). The present position of the oceanographic Polar Front across the

North Icelandic shelf separates Polar and Arctic surface waters of the East Greenland and East Icelandic currents from branches of the North Atlantic Current. The fossil record, which reflects past oceanographic and climatic changes in this highly sensitive boundary region, shows that the position of the Polar Front has been very dynamic through the last millennium. Sea-surface temperature (SST) reconstructions are based on the planktonic foraminiferal assemblages (transfer function, TF) and oxygen isotopes (calcification depth 75 m) and compared with diatom-based SST TF reconstructions. Bottom water temperature (BWT) and salinity (BWS) were reconstructed on the basis of benthic assemblages (TF). The oxygen isotope-based BWT reconstructions have been corrected for the salinity changes. Diatom-based SSTs show that warm, stable conditions prevailed during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP). Considerable cooling at around AD 1300 indicates the transition to the Little Ice Age (LIA). It is notable that the planktonic foraminifera (assemblages as well as isotopes) indicate that a cooling of the subsurface waters occurred at least 100 years prior to the sea-surface change, at around AD 1200. Towards the end of the LIA, the planktonic foraminifera show that a relatively strong influence of Atlantic waters (Irminger Current) in subsurface waters was initiated already at AD 1700-1800. A warming of surface waters, however, occurred at AD 1910, as revealed by the diatom-based TF. This coincides with or precedes a marked air temperature increase over the northern North Atlantic. Information from the proxy record about specific levels of the water column contributes to the understanding of the ocean circulation and the relationship to solar irradiance. The foraminiferal-based bottom-water reconstructions show the influence of different water mass components of overflow waters at the two sites, i.e. Denmark Strait overflow water at the deep, western site and Return Atlantic Water at the shallower eastern site, throughout the last 1000 years.

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages as indicators of Campanian/Maastrichtian deep-water changes

Mirjam C. Koch1, Oliver Friedrich1 1Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany E-mail: [email protected] During the cooling phase of the late Campanian/early Maastrichtian, a superimposed positive shift in benthic and planktic d18O values is controversely discussed. While some studies argue for the occurrence of ephemeral ice sheets, others propose that the observed isotope excursions reflect changes in deep-water circulation and formation. To resolve the long-lasting debate whether the excursions were due to the presence of ice sheets or changes in deep-water sites, benthic foraminifera


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assemblage counts are used in this study to reconstruct deep-water formation and ventilation. Benthic foraminiferal assemblage counts have been carried out on sediment from ODP Site 690 (Maud Rise, Weddell Sea, southern South Atlantic). This site is located near Antarctica and therefore provides a perfect opportunity to study the influence of ice-volume growth and changes in deep-water formation and ventilation on the benthic fauna. Samples were taken in a 50kyr resolution spanning the latest Campanian/early Maastrichtian (72.5-68.5 Ma). As high-resolution foraminiferal stable isotope measurements from the same site and interval are available, they are compared with the results of the assemblage counts. The stable isotopes indicate a cooling of bottom waters that is interpreted as a consequence of intermediate- to deep-water production at high latitudes. This is confirmed by the results of the benthic foraminifera assemblage counts of this study, with the faunal composition indicating well-oxygenated sea floor conditions becoming more prominent during the isotope excursion. This can be demonstrated by the constantly high abundance of the species Gavelinella beccariiformis, Reussella szajnochae and Nutallides truempyi.

Denitrification and life strategy of Globobulimina turgida under anoxic conditions: a laboratory study

Karoliina A. Koho1, Elisa Piña-Ochoa2, Emmanuelle Geslin3, Nils Risgaard-Petersen2

1University Utrecht, Earth Sciences, The Netherlands 2Aarhus University, Denmark 3Angers University, France E-mail: [email protected] The discovery of widespread occurrence of nitrate accumulation and denitrification among benthic foraminifera has challenged our understanding of the N-cycling processes and the micro-organisms that mediate them. Foraminiferal denitrification is sustained through an intracellular nitrate pool. Thus, foraminifera actively collect and store nitrate in their cell, enabling them to maintain respiratory activities even when the desired electron acceptors (i.e. O2 or NO3

-) are absent from the environment. This experimental laboratory study was designed to monitor the life strategies of G. turgida under different oxygen/nitrate conditions. The survival rates were recorded together with the intracellular nitrate and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels. The results show that both the survival rate and ATP concentrations of G. turgida were not significantly different at oxygenated and anoxic nitrate-containing conditions. Thus, G. turgida can survive prolonged anoxia (at least three months) as long as nitrate is available to sustain its respiration. At anoxic nitrate free conditions the survival rates decline between 21-35 days but foraminifera were observed to survive up to 56 days if respiring from their intra cellular nitrate pool only. The foraminiferal

nitrate pool appears very dynamic as wide ranges of concentrations were measured in living specimens (0-463 mM/individual). We postulate that the scatter in the nitrate pool measurements highlights the active nature of the foraminifera to collect and respire on nitrate, depending on individuals’ history to oxygen and nitrate exposure.

Foraminifers as biological evidences of End-Guadalupian crisis in the Zagros Mountains (Kuh-e Gakhum, Iran)

Christophe Kolodka1, Emmanuelle Vennin1, Daniel Vachard2, Vincent Trocme3, Mohammed Goodarzi4

1University of Burgundy, France 2University of Lille, France 3GDF-Suez, France 4NIOC, Islamic Republic of Iran E-mail: [email protected] The end-Permian is known as the most severe extinction of the Phanerozoic. Two separate events affecting both terrestrial and marine biota, respectively called the end-Guadalupian crisis at the Guadalupian/Lopingian boundary and the Permian/Triassic crisis, are recognized. A lot of group experienced many losses during this period (e.g. bryozoans, corals, echinoderms, brachiopods, ammonoids, and foraminifers). Among microfossils, the fusulinids are probably the most emblematic. At the Guadalupian/Lopingian boundary, a shift in foraminifer species diversity is observed concomitantly with the disappearance of large fusulinids families such as Schwagerinidae, Verbeekinidae and Neoschwagerinidae. At the Permian/Triassic boundary all of the fusulinids were extinct. Numerous examples of this drop in foraminiferal diversity were described in Palaeotethys and Neotethys but few in the Middle East area and especially in the Zagros Mountains. In order to constrain precisely the effects of the end-Guadalupian crisis on foraminifers, we developed a detailed biostratigraphy including five biozones. One of these biozones is new and based on the appearance of Praedunbarula simplicissima n. gen n. sp. Large fusulinids are scarce in the Kuh-e Gakhum area but the utilization of other proxies such as small fusulinids (e.g. Biseriamminids) and others groups of foraminifers allow to identify the whole Middle-to-Late Permian stages. Regarding the foraminiferal biota, a major shift in diversity is observed at Guadalupian/Lopingian boundary, which coincides with the end of Shanita zone. Furthermore the decline is concomitant with a global sea-level falling indicated by the deposition of evaporite in the inner part of the Arabian Peninsula. The Guadalupian/Lopingian boundary corresponds to a transition from a biological-induced production to a chemical precipitation. This transition records also a great instability in the floro-faunal associations.


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Foraminifer- and palynology-based reconstruct-tions of site-shoreline distance, sea-level, and ecosystems: new data from the New Jersey shallow shelf (IODP Expedition 313)

Ulrich Kotthoff1, Miriam E. Katz2, Francine M. G. McCarthy3

1Hamburg University, Germany 2Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, United States 3Brock University, Canada E-mail: [email protected] The ratio between the cysts organic-walled dinoflagellates and pollen grains found in late Eocene (Priabonian) to Miocene (Serravallian) sediments of the New Jersey Atlantic Margin is used as a proxy to estimate the distance of two IODP drilling sites from the shoreline (Expedition 313 holes M0027A and M0029A). Combined with qualitative descriptions of the palynofacies, this ratio allows paleo-sea-level reconstruction. Benthic foraminiferal species typically colonize certain ranges of water depths, with key depth-indicator species providing an invaluable tool for reconstructing paleobathymetry through time. Expedition 313 assemblages were used to determine inner, middle, and outer neritic paleodepths, primarily based on fauna characterized by various species of Elphidium, Hanzawaia, Pseudononion, Buliminella, Uvigerina, Cibicidoides, and/or Oridorsalis. Paleodepth estimates based on benthic foraminiferal data from the same or neighbouring samples show close agreement with the paleo-sea-level estimates derived from the palynomorphs. The combined use of these proxies provides great confidence in reconstructing sea-level change through time. Furthermore, the micropaleontology-based reconstructions of distance from the shoreline and paleodepth contribute to a pollen-transport model, and thus to more confident pollen-based reconstructions of the vegetation development in the hinterland of the New Jersey margin from the Priabonian to the Serravallian. Hickory-oak forests dominated the vegetation in the hinterland during the Miocene. The Aquitanian-Burdigalian boundary witnessed the presence of different hemlock (Tsuga) species, indicating humid, but probably cool conditions. Subsequently, the spreading of deciduous oaks and further broad-leaved tree taxa during the late Burdigalian, points to warmer temperatures. During the Langhian to Tortonian, grass- and herbs-dominated landscapes expanded, probably due to decreasing humidity.

Expansion of warm-water symbiont-bearing foraminiferal species in coastal ecosystems of the Aegean Sea (Greece, E. Mediterranean): evidence for climatic fluctuations?

Olga Koukousioura1, Margarita D. Dimiza1, Maria V. Triantaphyllou1

1University of Athens, Greece E-mail: [email protected] Living foraminifera for the present study were collected from the coastal ecosystems in different locations of the Aegean Sea, Greece. Sampling was completed at several sampling periods by collecting red (Jania, Amphiroa and Corallina), brown (Halopteris and Padina) and green algae (Enteromorpha). Benthic foraminifera were rich in all the studied samples. In general, the foraminiferal assemblages were dominated by genera with calcareous tests (hyaline and porcelaneous). The porcelaneous forms comprise an important component of the fauna and are mainly represented by members of the genera Peneroplis, Quinqueloculina, Miliolinella, Sorites, Coscinospira and Triloculina. The hyaline taxa are represented mostly by the genera Amphistegina, Rosalina, Elphidium, Ammonia, Asterigerina and Cymbaloporetta. Agglutinated components are rare and mainly represented by Textularia species. The most abundant is Amphistegina lobifera Larsen, which is the dominant foraminifer species at the southern and central Aegean sites. This species lives predominantly on hard and phytal substrates at low to mid depth of tropical and subtropical seas and has algal endosymbionts. Furthermore, two otherstypical warm-water symbiont-bearing species, Sorites orbiculus and Coscinospira hemprichii occur in the same assemblage. The foraminiferal assemblages at the southern and central Aegean sites are characterized by a high proportion of the above species that generally account for more than 30% of the assemblages, reaching up to 70% in particular cases. In the northern site these species present an abrupt decrease, in agreement with the lower sea temperature values. Their distribution may be associated with several pathways, via the Atlantic during interglacial warm periods of the Pleistocene-Holocene or fairly recent invasions and now well established most probably via the Suez Canal.Their high relative abundance is the result of very successful adaptation of these species to local conditions in the coastal environments, in relation to the increasing trend in the Mediterranean water temperature during the last 30 years as a possible result of human-induced global warming.


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Phenotypic plasticity, speciation, and phylogeny in Early Danian planktonic foraminifera

Eduardo A. M. Koutsoukos1 1PETROBRAS-CENPES, Cidade Universitária, Brazil E-mail: [email protected] A piston core drilled at a depth of 2,809 m, offshore Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, recovered an unique 1.83 m-thick section of unconsolidated muddy sediments, representing a complete stratigraphic succession across the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary. The sediments yielded abundant, strikingly pristine tests of planktonic and benthic foraminifera, with no indication of diagenetic alteration or recrystallization. The continuous sedimentary record ranges from the uppermost Maastrichtian (A. mayaroensis Zone) to the lower Danian (zones P0/P-alfa, P1a, P1b, and lower P1c), spanning a time interval of about 3-4 Ma across the K/Pg transition. The profuse and superbly preserved foraminiferal assemblages present a unique window to the past. They provide an excellent basis for a detailed taxonomic appraisal, together with an evaluation of lineage relationships, phylogenetic trends, and the sequence of evolutionary events which took place among the Globigerininae at the beginning of the Cenozoic. Early Danian planktonic foraminifera characteristically show a high degree of speciation and phenotypic plasticity, which are evolutionary strategic modes enabling a particular taxon to populate a broad ecological setting, such as the widespread neritic and oceanic pelagic niches rendered vacant as a consequence of the K/Pg mass extinction event. Notwithstanding numerous recent taxonomic studies, the significance of these phenotypic varieties has never been assessed in a paleoecological context. Whereas the cancellate Praemurica (Globorotaliida) and Parasubbotina (Globigerinida) lineages evidently underwent rapid speciation over a relatively narrow phenotypic range, the Eoglobigerina (Globigerinida), the Parvulorugoglobigerina, and the coiled to elongate morphotypes of the Guembelitria, Woodringina and Chiloguembina lineages (all members of the family Guembelitriida) show phenotypic plasticity over a much broader range. This dichotomy correlates with inferred differences in life-history parameters between these planktonic taxa, including pelagic dwelling preferences, related to reproductive and feeding strategies and to water-mass trophic levels.

Late Quaternary faunal changes of benthic foraminifera in the sediment core Md01-2412 recovered from the SW sea of Okhotsk

Masako Koyanagi1, Shiro Hasegawa1

1Kumamoto University, Japan E-mail: [email protected] The southwestern part of the Sea of Okhotsk is in the peculiar oceanographic condition. It is covered by seasonal sea-ice every winter. Furthermore the Soya Warm Current flows there along the Hokkaido coast. The Sea of Okhotsk is a marginal sea in the Northwest Pacific and is located at the lowest latitude among the seas with sea-ice in the northern hemisphere. It is regarded as the source area of the North Pacific Intermediate Water, and thus, affects the oceanic condition of the North Pacific. Biogeographic feature on the Okhotsk foraminifera has been established mainly through the response to environmental changes during Quaternary. A giant piston core MD01-2412(58.11 m long) retrieved at north of Shiretoko Peninsula of eastern Hokkaido, northern Japan (1,225m in water depth) during IMAGES WEPAMA Cruise 2001 of R/V Marion Dufresne, is used for faunal analysis of benthic foraminifera at the SW sea of Okhotsk. The age model of this Core is constructed by oxygen isotopic stratigraphy of benthic foraminifera, radiocarbon ages of planktonic foraminiferal tests, and variations of biogenic opal content, and tephrochronology. The bottom of the core is estimated at cal.115kyrs BP. Every sediment samples of 2.5cm cube for faunal analysis was washed on a 63µm sieve after processing of freeze-drying. Late Quaternary benthic foraminiferal fauna in this core revealed the following features. The fauna mainly composed of Uvigerina akitaensis was dominant before 1.9kyrs BP (during LGM). The fauna with a key species Eilohedra rotunda, which is called as one of the opportunistic, was confirmed in about 15kyrs BP. Since 6.2kyrs BP, the present fauna composed of Islandiella norcrossi, Elphidium batialis and U. akitaensis established. We will discuss paleoceanographic changes, which brought such a faunal transition of foraminifera based on some new data on the distribution of the Recent benthic foraminifera in the Sea of Okhotsk.

Late Quaternary foraminiferal assemblages as a tool to reconstruct the past arctic environments of Murchisonfjorden, Nordaustlandet, Svalbard

Frauke Kubischta1, KarenLuise Knudsen2, Veli-Pekka Salonen1, Antti E.K. Ojala3

1University of Helsinki, Finland 2Aarhus University, Denmark 3Geological Survey of Finland, Finland E-mail: [email protected] We are presenting a study of a 2.5 m long marine core, which was recovered in Murchisonfjorden


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during the summer expedition of the International Polar Year - Kinnvika project 2009 to Nordaustlandet (Svalbard). The core was split into two halves and the lithology of the sediments was visually described as laminated silty clay, with occasional sandier intervals, structureless silt and diamicton intervals with pebble sized clasts. The magnetic susceptibility was measured, and subsequently the core was cut into 1 cm thick slices. Each 1-cm slice has been sub-sampled for measurements of water content and for foraminiferal, diatom and grain size analyses. The samples for foraminiferal analyses were washed through a stack of sieves (1 mm, 0.1 mm and 0.063

mm), dried in the oven at 50⁰C, and the foraminifera

in the >0.1 mm size fractions were concentrated by the means of a heavy liquid. At least 300 specimens of benthic foraminifera from each sample slice were counted when possible. The number of benthic calcareous species ranges from 9-15, and the Walton-faunal diversity is 6-11. In addition to the benthic calcareous foraminifera, the samples also contained abundant agglutinated species, and fragments of mollusc shells were found throughout the core. An age model for the core record is based on eight AMS 14C datings, three foraminiferal samples (excluding the species Cibicides lobatulus) and five mollusc fragment samples. In general, the assemblages indicate shallow, open marine conditions with seasonal sea-ice cover. Changes in the foraminiferal assemblage can be observed throughout the core. In the sandy, coarse grained intervals, Cibicides lobatulus is dominant, whereas Elphidium excavatum and Cassidulina reniforme dominate the assemblages of finer grained intervals. Islandiella helenae was used for stable isotope (oxygen and carbon) studies. Results of the palaeoenvironmental indications of the assemblages and isotopic results are discussed and compared to similar studies from the polar region, including Svalbard, Greenland, Russia, Norway, Iceland and Canada.

Molecular phylogeny of planktonic foraminifera

Michal Kucera1, Ralf Aurahs1, Alexander Auch2

1University of Tübingen, Institute of Geosciences, Germany 2University of Tübingen, Wilhelm-Schickhard Institute of Informatics, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Modern planktonic foraminifera are classified into five clades. Of these, forms with serially arranged chambers have been shown to represent benthic species with a planktonic phase in their life cycle. The remaining clades contain holoplanktonic species and each is considered monophyletic. We here present the latest compilation of SSU r DNA sequence data covering over 60 % of the morphological species diversity in all clades. This

compilation includes new sequences from five lineages and numerous new genetic types. The coverage for individual clades varies between 56 % for the macroperforate globorotalids (10/18), 63 % for the spinose globigerinids (10/16), 66% of the spinose hastigerinids (2/3) and 86% for the microperforate candeinids (6/7). We use this dataset to attempt to resolve the monophyly of these four clades and determine the pattern of diversification within them. Whereas the globigerinids and the hastigerinids are resolved as monophyletic clades in our analyses, two newly discovered sequences, attributed to the microperforate genus Tenuitella, are assigned alternately to the basis of the microperforate candeinids or to the macroperforate globorotalids. If the attribution of these sequences to Tenuitella is correct, it means that this genus is a living fossil, a survivor of the earliest diversification of the microperforate clade. Molecular clock calculations suggest that the divergence between this genus and the rest of the microperforate clade must have occurred in the Paleogene, >50 My ago. The diversification patterns in the three clades with fossil record are remarkably different. The candeinids show the substitution rates and a pattern of sequential divergence. The globigerinids show a well resolved phylogeny of the more recent divergences, which are consistent with data from the fossil record, and an unresolved base indicative of rapid radiation. The globorotalids show large differences in substitution rates, which make their molecular phylogeny unstable and incongruent with the fossil record. Whereas the monophyly of the individual clades appears to be supported by the molecular data, their mutual relationships remain obscure. Importantly, the spinose globigerinids and hastigerinids are considered as sisters in most analyses, but it is conspicuous that both clades also show the highest substitution rates. Our analysis shows that the present SSU r DNA phylogeny of planktonic foraminifera is still sensitive to taxon sampling, both in terms of deep-diverging lineages and sister species to taxa with elevated substitution rates.

Relationship between pore-density within benthic foraminifera and oxygen concentration

Tanja Kuhnt1, Oliver Friedrich1, Jens O. Herrle1, Gerhard Schmiedl2

1Frankfurt University, Institute of Geosciences, Germany 2Hamburg University, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Benthic foraminifera (BF) provide an import proxy for marine paleoenvironmental and paleoceanographic reconstructions because of their morphological diversity in combination with the narrow ecological tolerance of single species and/or assemblages as well as their abundances in marine sediments. Thereby, BF assemblages yield information on bottom-water characteristics like oxygenation and organic matter flux to the seafloor.


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However, until now it is difficult to decide whether observed changes in fossil assemblages are related to changes in bottom-water oxygenation or to changes in organic matter supply. Previous studies have already suggested a general relationship between pore characteristics (density, size, distribution) of BF species and oxygen content of the ambient water mass. However, none of these studies has tried to quantify the relationship between the pore characteristics and oxygen content. In order to test BF pore characteristics, we have analysed living (Bengal-Rose stained) BF assemblages from different locations with different redox-conditions. Core-top samples spanning a wide rage in bottom- water oxygenation across oxygen minimum zones off SW Africa (Namibia and Angola) and off Pakistan were selected. We compared pore-densities of epi- and infaunal BF species/genera (size fraction >125 µm) with measured oxygen concentrations in bottom- and/or pore-waters, and present a first quantification of intra-specific pore-densities in BF taxa to oxygen contents of the ambient water mass. The overall aim of our study is to contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between BF pore characteristics and oxygenation, and thus contribute to the development of a valuable proxy to obtain quantitative reconstructions of bottom-water oxygenation. Using this proxy as supplement to interpretations based on faunal assemblages and geochemical proxies would greatly enhance the reliability of paleoceanographic reconstructions of deep-water environments, where, at the present, it is difficult to separate changes in oxygenation and organic matter flux (e.g., deposition of sapropels).

Planktic foraminifer vertical fluxes versus lateral advection at a hemipelagic site of the inner Bay of Biscay (Northeast Atlantic margin)

Tanja Kuhnt1, Hélène Howa1, Ralf Schiebel1, Sabine Schmidt2, Louis Marie3 1BIAF, Angers University, France 2EPOC, Bordeaux University; France 3LPO, Plouzané, France E-mail: [email protected] Planktic foraminifer test flux was analysed from two time-series sediment-traps deployed in the southern Bay of Biscay over two years (June 2006-June 2008). The project has been part of the French ANR FORCLIM project aimed to improve the interpretation of fossil foraminifer assemblages as a proxy for hydrological changes in the North Atlantic Ocean. The total flux of planktic foraminifers (PF) shows a strong seasonality, with maxima in spring/summer (>1700 specimens m-2d-1), and minima in autumn/winter (<100 specimens m-2d-1). A comparison of the PF flux with PF production in the overlying surface waters reveals a remarkable correspondence, suggesting that the seasonal flux signal recorded at depth represents surface

production. However, analyses of total mass flux and the presence of benthic foraminifer (BF) species captured in the traps indicate lateral advection from the outer shelf or upper continental slope. Nepheloid layers detaching from the upper slope, and lateral particle flux would readily explain these abrupt events of benthic particle fluxes recorded in the traps. Total mass flux at 1700 m was much higher and more dynamic, with abrupt increases in winter/early spring, than at 800 m. The mean annual particle flux increased from 27 to 70 g m-2 y-1 between 800 m and 1700 m. This suggests a lateral advection between the two water depth levels. Lateral flux is confirmed by 210Pb data, calculated as the ratio of the trapped 210Pb fluxes (F) to the total supply 210Pb (P) to the water column above the considered trap. At 800 m water depth, the mean particle flux is 96 mg m-2 d-1, with a F/P ratio <1, which means no lateral advection, excepted for a 12 day-long event in May 2007 when the mass flux reached 362 mg m-2 d-1 and an F/P ratio of 3. During the May 2007 event, BF peaked in abundance (172 specimens m-2 d-1). The May 2007 event occurred during a sudden change in current direction from SW towards the NNW. In summary, the complicated flux pattern analysed from two sediment traps close to the continental slope of the southern Bay of Biscay displays two interfering processes: (a) seasonality in surface water

Calcification rates of planktonic foraminifera during a seasonal cycle in the northeast Atlantic Ocean

José Kunze1, Hartmut Schulz1, David Storz2, Joanna Wanniek3, Michal Kucera1

1Institute for Geoscience Tübingen, Germany 2Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany 3Leibniz-Institut für Ostseeforschung Warnemünde E-mail: [email protected] Seasonal changes in calcification rates of two species of planktonic foraminifera (Globigerinoides ruber and Globigerina bulloides) from the Sediment trap station L1/K276 (33°N/22°W) near the Azores Front has been analyzed. The time series of 2002/2003 covers two markedly different spring blooms and one oligotrophic summer season. We used two different methods to quantify the calcification rate: the commonly used size-normalized weight (SNW) and a measure of “calcification effort” (CE) defined as the slope of the relationship between weight and size of individual specimens. Based on measurements of individual test weight and silhouette size, seasonal differences of calcification were found for both species. Temperature appears to be correlated with calcification rate in Gs. ruber, whereas high SNW values in G. bulloides appear to coincide with higher food availability and particle flux. This can be taken to indicate that higher calcification coincides with environmental optima of both species. The


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combination of CE and SNW illustrates different species-specific calcification pathways of the symbiont-bearing Gs. ruber and the symbiont-barren G. bulloides. Whereas in Gs. ruber, an increase in SNW appears to be associated with a decrease in CE, the CE in G. bulloides shows no systematic change throughout the year. In an attempt to explain the counter-intuitive link between SNW and CE in Gs. ruber, we have analyzed separately the morphotypes Gs. ruber sensu stricto, defined as specimens with a well developed, highly arched aperture and spherical final chamber and Gs. ruber sensu lato, defined by flattened compressed, asymmetrical final chamber with a relatively small primary aperture. Since both forms were found to occur at a similar abundance throughout the year, with the form “sensu lato” being significantly larger than “sensu stricto” and their CE being similar, we infer that the division into the two forms of Gs. ruber in the subtropical northeast Atlantic is artificial and reflects the late ontogenetic development of the compressed chamber morphology. This is consistent with observation on the distribution of genetic types of Gs. ruber in this region, which suggest a dominance of genetic Type IIa. The change in the CE of Gs. ruber thus needs an alternative explanation. The general difference in calcification between the two species is consistent with recent observations in the Arabian Sea and indicates that the calcification process in planktonic foraminifera is species specific and depends on multiple environmental factors.

Effect of dissolved oxygen concentration on planktonic foraminifera: Results from laboratory experiments

Azumi Kuroyanagi1, Regine E. da Rocha2, Jelle Bijma2, Howard Spero3, Ann D. Russell3, Stephen Eggins4, Steve Doo3, Hodaka Kawahata5

1Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo 2Germany, 3United States, 4Australia, 5Japan E-mail: [email protected] Planktonic foraminifera keep records of the upper ocean environments in their individual tests. During the Mid-Cretaceous (Barremian-Turonian), oceanic anoxic events (OAEs) occurred several times, and plankton turned over at or near the OAEs. Previous study suggested that planktonic foraminifera were eradicated (22% species became extinct, while 20% speciation rate for a total of 42% species turnover) during OAE2 which was likely caused by an expanded oxygen minimum zone associated with elevated productivity and/or by the decay of the thermocline due an abrupt deep-sea warming event. However, the direct effect of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration on planktonic foraminifers, which are major contributors to reconstruct the paleo-ocean environment, is still unclear. Culture experiments can investigate quantitatively the relationship between foraminiferal ecology and parameters, and provide detailed biological information under

controlled conditions. In this study, we cultured two planktonic foraminifera species (Orbulina universa and Globigerina bulloides) under six different DO conditions in USC Wrigley Marine Science Center to examine the effects of DO concentration on their growth. Experimental results suggest that both species would be resistant to low DO than expected. Both O. universa (n = 72; symbiotic species) and G. bulloides (n = 49; non-symbiotic species) exhibited more than 60% gametogenesis rate at low DO condition (DO 10%). However, the duration of making spherical chamber (final chamber) and gametogenesis of O. universa declined steeply at around DO 50%. Therefore, foraminiferal productivity would be changed markedly if DO concentration dropped to around 50%. Pore form and diameter of O. universa shell also changed with DO, it suggests that pore information could reflect the changes in DO conditions in the past.

Strontium partitioning in Ammonia tepida

Gerald Langer1, Nina Keul1, Lennart J. De Nooijer2, Gert-Jan Reichart, Jelle Bijma1

1Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Germany 2Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] Trace element to calcium ratios in foraminiferal calcite are used as proxies for various target variables, e.g. temperature. In the latter case the trace element to calcium ratio of seawater is an important secondary influence affecting foraminiferal trace element to calcium ratios. The seawater strontium to calcium ratio is a target variable in it’s own right, reconstructed from the strontium to calcium ratio of foraminiferal calcite. Such reconstruction requires knowledge of the relationship of the strontium partitioning coefficient and seawater strontium to calcium ratios. It is generally assumed that the strontium partitioning coefficient is unaffected by the seawater strontium to calcium ratio, i.e. that the relationship between calcite strontium to calcium ratio and seawater strontium to calcium ratio is linear. This has recently been confirmed experimentally. However, the range of seawater strontium to calcium ratios used in that study was rather small. Therefore we cultured the benthic foraminifer Ammonia tepida under a wide range of seawater strontium concentrations and determined, inter alia, the strontium partitioning coefficient.


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Asynchronous calcification in juvenile megalospheres: An ontogentic window into the life cycle and polymorphism of Peneroplis

Martin R. Langer1, Walid A. Makled1, Stephanie J. Pietsch2, Anna Weinmann1 1Steinmann Institut, Universität Bonn, Germany 2Museum Alexander König, Bonn, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Fully calcified megalospheric juveniles were found to be closely packed within a brood chamber of the larger symbiont-bearing foraminifer Peneroplis sp. (d’Orbigny) from Chuuk Island (Micronesia). The juveniles exhibit a notable variation in size of the proloculi and various forms of test deformations. Both the size variation of the megalospheric proloculi and the test deformations are indicative of asynchronous calcification and are a potential source of natural polymorphism in Peneroplis. The results of this study have implications for the interpretation of abnormal shell forms as bioindicators and place constraints on the classic definition of three size classes in Peneroplis.

Documenting the response of living benthic Foraminifera of the inner Louisiana continental shelf to seasonal changes in dissolved oxygen concentrations

Jennifer V Lasseigne1,2, Nancy N Rabalais2, Barun K Sen Gupta1

1Dept of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, United States 2Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, United States E-mail: [email protected] The northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) experiences an annually occurring area of hypoxia (O2 <2.0 mg/L). This persistent seasonal hypoxia typically develops in spring and summer as a result of stratification of fresher Mississippi river water over saltier nGOM water. High nutrient concentrations in surface waters fuel high primary production, from which about 50 percent is ultimately deposited on the seafloor. Decomposition of the organic matter in bottom waters depletes oxygen, and replenishment is prevented by stratification of the water column. Typically, mid-summer hypoxic waters are distributed across the Louisiana inner continental shelf west of the Mississippi River onto the upper Texas coast. The 5-year running average for July hypoxia is currently at 15,670 km2 (2005-2009). Benthic Foraminifera shells preserve well in sediments and are used as proxies of bottom-water oxygen. Historically severe oxygen stress within the Louisiana Bight has decreased their diversity and altered species proportions within the community. Foraminifera fossils are good biomarkers of paleohypoxia; whereas live foraminiferal com-

munities are representative of current environmental conditions. Documenting changes that occur within the live foraminiferal community offers insight into present-day changing environmental conditions. Live foraminiferal abundance was compared to dissolved oxygen values at two stations within the nGOM (C4, C6B) from March–August of 2008-2009. Live abundance was significantly higher in 2008 than 2009. In 2008, live counts decreased sharply each month at both stations. In 2009, live counts remained abundant and fairly constant until dropping sharply in July (station C4) and August (station C6B). Bottom-water dissolved oxygen values for 2008 and 2009 were highest in March, decreasing all year. In 2008, hypoxia developed at both stations by May. In 2009, hypoxia developed at station C4 by May, and developed at station C6B by July. Overall, live abundance decreased as expected in conjunction with dissolved oxygen values approaching hypoxic levels. The goals of this study are a better understanding of (1) foramaniferal communities in low dissolved oxygen, and (2) foraminiferal historical proxies for low oxygen.

Late Visean to Early Moscovian foraminifers from the paleo-tethyan seamount-type carbonates of the Changning-Menglian belt, West Yunnan, Southwest China

Tin Tin Latt1, Tsutomu Nakazawa2, Xiang-dong Wang3, Katsumi Ueno1

1Fukuoka University, Japan 2Geological Survey of Japan, Japan 3Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, China E-mail: [email protected] The Changning-Menglian Belt of West Yunnan, Southwest China is well-known as a closed remnant of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in the eastern part of Asia. Carboniferous-Permian massive carbonates in the Central Zone of this belt are interpreted to have a mid-oceanic seamount-atoll origin. We studied the Yutangzhai section in the northern part of this zone for a thorough understanding of foraminiferal distribution in this particular paleo-atoll within the Paleo-Tethys Ocean in Late Paleozoic time. In spite of varied degrees of structural deformation, recrystallization, and partial dolomitizaiton, seven foraminiferal assemblages, ranging from the Late Visean (Middle Mississippian) to the Moscovian (Middle Pennsylvanian), can be recognized in the lower part of this succession. The lowermost assemblage, which is considered as Late Visean-Serpukhovian, includes Glomospira, Monotaxinoides, Endostaffella, Endothyra, Endo-thyranopsis, Bradyina, Janischewskina, Eostaffella, Mediocris, Archaediscus, Howchinia, Pseudotaxis, and others. The next earliest Bashkirian assemblage is defined by the first occurrence of Millerella, and is associated with Pseudoendothyra, Endothyranopsis, Bradyina, Janischewskina, Eosta-ffella, Mediocris, and Endothyra. Overlying it is an


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assemblage characterized by the first occurrence of Pseudostaffella (Semistaffella). Many of the earliest Bashkirian forms, except Janischewskina, range up to this interval. It is succeeded by two more late Bashkirian assemblages; the lower one with the first occurence of Pseudostaffella antiqua and the upper one with that of Profusulinella. In the Moscovian, two assemblages were recognized. The older assemblage is characterized by the dominance of Profusulinella species such as P. prisca and P. pseudorhomboides. Eofusulina? also occurs in this interval. The younger one is defined by the first occurrence of Fusulinella in association with Nankinella, Staffella, Beedeina?, and others. The above-mentioned faunal succession suggests that the Yutangzhai foraminiferal fauna essentially shows a cosmopolitan affinity in the Mississippian but became more provincialized paleobiogeographically into (Paleo-)Tethyan in Pennsylvanian time.

Benthic foraminiferal change across the Cretaceous – Palaeogene boundary at Brazos River, Texas

Andrew D. Leighton1, Malcolm B. Hart1, Christopher W. Smart1, Richard Twitchett1

1School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] The Cretaceous – Palaeogene boundary (K/Pg) is one of the five major crises in the history of life on Earth. The cause is widely regarded as a combination of degassing of the Deccan Traps and a bolide impact in Chicxulub, Mexico. The Brazos area in Texas represents an area affected by the proposed “tsunami” from the impact. New samples and core material from Texas provide beautiful, fresh, fossiliferous material across the impact level and the “event bed”. While not the biggest, it is certainly the most documented of these major biotic events. However, certain aspects of this event have been overlooked by previous authors. One such aspect is the benthic foraminifera across the K/Pg boundary. At the Brazos River section, and indeed at K/Pg sections around the world, the benthic foraminifera have been widely overlooked in favour of the planktic foraminifera. This is mainly due to the greater diversity, abundance and more complex nature of the benthic taxa. Also the signal of the benthic foraminifera across the boundary is very different to that of the planktic foraminifera. While the planktic taxa demonstrate a “mass extinction” event across the boundary, the benthic foraminifera do not. Instead, the benthic foraminifera remain largely unaffected with only agglutinated taxa showing any indication of a “mass extinction” event. The benthic foraminifera were utilised to document the changing environment of the boundary interval and provided a new interpretation of the palaeoecology of the succession. Such observations and interpretations were used as an indication not just of water depth, salinity, temperate

etc., but also conditions in the benthos such as substrate variability and trophic structure for example. A revision of the benthic foraminifera taxonomy is also undertaken in this study for the Brazos River section. Subsequent refining of the biostratigraphy of the interval and correlation of the Texas succession with other locations (e.g., Denmark, N. Africa etc.) was also undertaken as part of this study. A sequence stratigraphy was developed in order to summarise the changes in sea level across the boundary for the first time. The relationship of the benthic foraminifera to the previously well documented planktic foraminifera is also achieved in this study.

Biogeography and biodiversity of Carboniferous and Permian larger foraminifera

Ursula Leppig1, Martin R. Langer2

1Universität Freiburg, Institut für Geowissenschaften – Geologie, Germany 2Steinmann Institut für Geologie, Mineralogie und Paläontologie, Universität Bonn, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The Paleozoic fusulinids constitute the earliest and widely diversified group of larger and potentially symbiont-bearing foraminifera as documented in the fossil record of the earth’s Phanerozoic history. They arose in the Lower Carboniferous and became extinct at the end of the Permian. They are abundant in shallow-water carbonates of the late Paleozoic Tethys as well as in the western parts of Northern and Southern America. They also occur around the Uralian, in Spitsbergen and Greenland. In many reefal settings larger fusulinid assemblages represent the major carbonate producers at this time and are rock-forming elements that often constitute significant and economically important hydrocarbon reservoirs. We have compiled occurrence data of selected larger and potentially symbiont-bearing fusulinid foraminifera to analyze their biogeographic distribution in time and space and to examine their latitudinal ranges within the Upper Paleozoic oceans. The latitudinal ranges of individual taxa are used to infer sea surface temperature (SST) ranges and the heat transfer regulated by the major ocean current regimes. The longitudinal range of taxa is applied as measure for dispersal capabilities as controlled by the prevailing currents and SST patterns. The biogeographic data compiled also allowed us to assess diversity patterns among assemblages of larger fusulinid foraminifera from different localities within the Carboniferous and Permian oceans and to identify hotspots of diversity. The distributional data for fusulinids compiled generally appear to exhibit four general distribution patterns: (1) global, (2) superregional , (3) regional and (4) endemic occurrences of taxa. The generic diversity increases from the Carboniferous to the Middle Permian. The Paleozoic hotspot of larger foraminiferal diversity, however, appears to remain in the northwestern Tethys. The driving forces of


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Paleozoic processes regulating both diversity and biogeographic distribution are placed in perpective when compared to other times slices such as the Upper Cretaceous and the modern ocean. The primary factors governing the dispersal and regulating the distribution of larger foraminifera appear to be comparable in both modern, Upper Cretaceous and Paleozoic oceans. For modern symbiont-bearing larger foraminifera, sea surface temperatures, size of the available area and the trophic level were considered to be the prime factors controlling diversity and distribution. In comparison, however, larger fusulinid taxa seem to have a distinctly wider latitudinal distribution thus reflecting a pronounced climate-controlled heat transfer from the poles towards higher latitudes.

Larger foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Paleogene of the Thrace Basin (NW Turkey)

György Less1, Ercan Özcan2

1University of Miskolc, Hungary 2İstanbul Technical University, Turkey E-mail: [email protected] The Paleogene marine sequence of the Thrace Basin consists of a huge amount of shallow marine carbonates lying both in situ and in deep-marine olistostromes. Their stratigraphy was, however, poorly known. The detailed biometric analysis of the full spectrum of larger benthic foraminifera (mainly nummulitids and orthophragmines) permits us to establish a high-resolution biostratigraphy in the context of the shallow benthic zonation (with SBZ Zones) of the Tethyan Paleogene since these assemblages show a very strong Western Tethyan affinity. Only two species (Heterostegina armenica and Orbitoclypeus haynesi) cannot so far be traced to the west of the Thrace Basin. The oldest zone (SBZ 5, basal Ypresian) was recognised only in olistoliths in the southern part of the basin. An old erosional remnant of a transgressive sequence with late Ypresian (SBZ 10) orthophragmines, nummulitids and alveolinids was discovered in S Thrace below the regionally most widespread (both in S and N Thrace) carbonate platform unit, the Soğucak Formation. The age of particular larger foraminiferal sites of this latter unit is determined based on (i) the occurrence and developmental stage of different species of Heterostegina, (ii) the presence/absence of giant Nummulites, (iii) the presence/absence of Spiroclypeus, (iv) the developmental stage of reticulate Nummulites, (v) the occurrence and developmental stage of orthophragmines, (vi) the occurrence of particular Operculina and radiate Nummulites. Eight larger foraminiferal horizons could be established. They correspond to (i) the late Lutetian (SBZ 15-16), (ii) the early Bartonian (SBZ 17), (iii) the vicinity of the early/late Bartonian boundary (SBZ 17/18), (iv) the middle late Bartonian (SBZ 18B), (v) the latest Bartonian (SBZ 18C), (vi) the early Priabonian (SBZ 19), (vii) the late Priabonian

(SBZ 20) and (viii) the early Rupelian (SBZ 21). The spatial distribution of platform carbonates indicates a general transgression from SSE to NW to a highly fragmented terrain. Three main shallow-water depositional environ-ments could be recognized in both the Bartonian and Priabonian: two of them took place in the inner shelf: one with low, and another with high water-energy, whereas the third one refers to the outer shelf. (This research was financed by grants OTKA K 60645 and TÜBİTAK-NKTH 106Y202.)

Late Paleogene larger foraminiferal events in the Western Tethys

György Less1, Ercan Özcan2

1University of Miskolc, Hungary 2İstanbul Technical University, Turkey E-mail: [email protected] Part of the boundaries of the Western Tethyan shallow benthic (SBZ) zones based on larger foraminifera (LF) is defined by arbitrary changes within lineages, while the other part is based on real first/last occurrence (FO/LO) data of the phyla. Our recent studies resulted in the establishment of high-resolution late Bartonian to Priabonian Heterostegina-stratigraphy and of the succession of Oligocene LF events in the field. These allow us to update the time-table of Bartonian to Chattian LF events in the Western Tethys as follows: 1. The base of the Bartonian (SBZ 16/17) is defined by the FO of the Operculina gomezi group. 2. The base of the late Bartonian (SBZ 17/18) is marked by the FO of Heterostegina (H. armenica). The LO of the Orbitoclypeus douvillei, Nummulites brongniarti, N. lorioli and Assilina exponens lineages is close to this event. 3. The latest Bartonian starts with the FO of the Heterostegina reticulata lineage and of Pellatispira (SBZ 18A/B). 4. The LO of the most widespread giant Nummulites (N. biedai, N. maximus, N. lyelli) and of Discocyclina discus during the latest Bartonian seems to have been migrated eastward. The LO of Alveolina s.s. is highly uncertain. 5. SBZ 18/19 is defined by the FO of Spiroclypeus. This event is somewhat younger than the Bartonian/Priabonian (=NP 17/18) boundary by planktic experts. 6. The late Priabonian (SBZ 20) starts with the FO of granulose Heterostegina (H. gracilis), and is preceded by the LO of some orthophragmines (Nemkovella, Discocyclina pratti Asterocyclina kecskemetii and A. alticostata). 7. The Priabonian/Rupelian (SBZ 20/21) boundary is marked by the LO of all orthophragmines, of genus Assilina, of all Eocene nummulitids with secondary chamberlets and of most radiate Nummulites. 8. The late Rupelian (SBZ 21/22A) starts with the FO of lepidocyclines.


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9. The Rupelian/Chattian (SBZ 22A/B) boundary is defined by the FO of Cycloclypeus, Nummulites kecskemetii and by the re-appearance of Heterostegina. 10. The late Chattian (SBZ 23) starts with the FO of Miogypsinoides. The LO of reticulate Nummulites is close to this event. 11. The Chattian/Aquitanian (SBZ 23/24) boundary is marked by the LO of Nummulites kecskemetii and Eulepidina, which latter re-appears, however, in the Burdigalian of Turkey. (This research was financed by grants OTKA K 60645, TÜBİTAK-CAYDAG 104Y230 and BAP-İTU 32774.)

How many foraminifera are there?

Jere H. Lipps1, Kenneth L. Finger1

1University of California Museum of Paleontology, USA. E-mail: [email protected] Biodiversity and Census of Marine Life measures require estimates of the number of living and fossil species of foraminifera. Species estimates are extremely difficult to make even for many smaller vertebrates, most invertebrates and especially microbes (protists and prokaryotes). Estimates of total number of species, excluding microbes, living on earth are 5 to 30 million of which ~2 million have been described. For foraminifera, estimates for living species range from 1000 to 10,000 and up to 80,000 for fossil species based chiefly on described species. We reevaluated these estimates by considering particular modern and fossil studies, taxonomy of common foraminifera, and genetic diversity measures. In just the Galapagos Islands, Sahul Shelf, and Mediterranean Sea, a total of 2565 species were identified by previous workers with very few in common. Elsewhere, many miliolids, common rotalids, and agglutinants have been assigned to the same species despite being in widely separated regions, yet they commonly have different morphologic details that might indicate additional species. Many habitats and regions of the oceans have not been explored for foraminifera. Allogromiids are poorly known but environmental genetic surveys indicate many more species than those described are present in just a few locations. For some morphologic species of foraminifera, another 4 or 5 species can be recognized on genetic differences. If these factors are consistent for morphologic species, the number of species could be >12,000 for the Galapagos, Sahul Shelf, and Mediterranean alone. For the entire globe, on this reasoning we estimate that ~20,000 morphologic species probably exist and that number could rise to ~100,000. Using this value to assess fossil species by conservatively assuming 100,000 species for each 10 My time slice from the end of the Cambrian to the Pleistocene suggests that the total number of foraminiferal species that have ever lived could be >5 million. A similar estimate for biodiversity in general would give 27−1600 million

species. Chances are the total number of all foraminifera will never be known simply because of the vagaries of collecting and analysis, taphonomic factors, the effect of extinctions, and sheer workload. These numbers also indicate that workers have been too conservative in their recognition of foraminiferal species. Splitters are probably more realistic than lumpers, but even they miss a huge number of species.

The effectiveness of foraminiferal assemblages as water quality indicators near pulp and paper mills in coastal Florida

Melissa Lobegeier1, Eric Coburn1, Marjorie Gombert1, Matt Young1, Holly Baker1, Jessica Tonish1

1Middle Tennessee State University, Department of Geosciences, United States E-mail: [email protected] Anthropogenic pollution of various sorts is a problem in coastal Florida. Three pulp and paper mills are dumping pollutants into streams in the panhandle region. Fenholloway River was declared an industrial river by the Florida Legislature in 1947 and in 1954 Buckeye Mill began discharging effluent into the river. This river empties into Appalachee Bay, which is heavily fished and shellfish are collected at beaches near the mouth of the river. Environmental problems, such as a decrease in crustacean diversity and the masculinization of female mosquitofish, have been observed in Fenholloway River. The first observation of masculinized female mosquitofish was from Elevenmile Creek. A pulp and paper mill, now owned by International Paper Company, discharges wastewater into Elevenmile Creek, which empties into Perdido Bay near Pensacola. A third mill, the Smurfit-Stone plant, is dumping effluent into Watson Bayou which discharges into St. Andrews Bay near Panama City Beach. Pensacola and Panama City Beach are popular tourist destinations in Florida. Three locations, Econfina River, Eightmile Creek, and the West Bay region of St. Andrews Aquatic Preserve, will serve as control sites. Econfina River, northwest of Fenholloway River, and Eightmile Creek, east of Elevenmile Creek, have drainages similar to those of the wastewater-dominated streams under consideration. Effluent is discharged into the eastern section of St. Andrews Bay adjacent to the aquatic preserve. Surface sediment samples and short cores have been taken close to each wastewater discharge location and from the control sites. Benthic and epiphytic foraminiferal assemblages from the control sites will be compared with those from the wastewater-dominated streams to see if the composition of the assemblages can be used to assess water quality in the different locations. Foraminiferal assemblages from the core samples will be used to document changes in the environment prior to the onset of pollution. The assemblages will be evaluated by quantitative analysis of population density, species diversity,


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assemblage structure and shell morphology and deformation. Preliminary results from Fenholloway River and Watson Bayou show an increased percentage of agglutinated species and decreased diversity when compared with samples from the control sites. These early results indicate that foraminiferal assemblages have potential to be used to monitor the impact of anthropogenic pollution from pulp and paper mills.

The Seabed Habitat Mosaic: Setting the Benthic Foraminiferal Paleogeochemical Record

Paul Loubere1, Dorthe K. Kristensen2, Patrycja Jernas2, Katrine Husum3

1Northern Illinois University, United States 2Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway 3University of Tromsø, Norway Email: [email protected] Benthic Foraminiferal shell geochemistry has been extensively developed for paleoceanographic tracers. Many of these proxies are sensitive to the geochemical conditions of the microhabitats selected by particular foraminiferal species. Understanding these microhabitats, then, is essential to proper interpretation of the proxies. A simple, broadly accepted, view is that foraminiferal species’ habitats are vertically stratified in the sediments due to general pore water chemical gradients which develop in response to the seabed organic carbon flux. Species are grouped into oxic, sub-oxic and anoxic zone categories, and are supposed to acquire the geochemical character of these. However, this view is at odds with the observations that individual species are often found over a range of depths and geochemical conditions, that a number of species can have significant biomass well below the sediment anoxic boundary, and that foraminiferal geochemical properties are not in accord with their apparent habitat. We present an alternative view in which foraminifera selectively inhabit microhabitats in the bio-irrigation system of the sediments created by the activities of macro/meio-fauna. This view is based on sampling over a three year time span along the western margin of Svalbard. In this setting there is a range of organic carbon flux to the seabed and it is the dominant factor controlling sedimentary chemical environments. Our sampling included micro-electrode and pore water carbon isotope measurements to quantify the chemical character of microenvironments combined with both Cell Tracker Green and rose Bengal staining to identify foraminiferal distributions in relation to the microenvironments. The distributional and geochemical data indicate that foraminiferal species seek particular geochemical conditions within the complex bio-architecture of the sediments and are not tied to particular sediment depths, or the general pore water chemistry of their apparent habitation zone. The selection of foraminifera for micro-environments linked to the sediment bio-architecture, and having pore water chemistry

different from the surrounding sediment mass, will dictate their paleochemical signatures, and may explain apparent discrepancies among paleo-chemical proxies observed in paleoceanographic research.

Revised Biostratigraphy for ODP Leg 194, Marion Plateau, NE Australia: Dating and Timing of Sea Level Events

Christopher Lowery1, R. Mark Leckie1, Emily Browning1, Cedric John2

1University of Massachusetts, Amherst, United States 2Imperial College, London, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] The middle Miocene to early late Miocene (~14-10.5 Ma) was a time of several rapid (<1 myr) cooling events that lead to the step-wise growth of Antarctic ice sheets and a corresponding fall in global sea level. Unconformities in some of the most commonly studied sections of this interval, such as the Atlantic Coastal Plain of the United States, make high-resolution study of these events impossible. The Marion Plateau, located on the Queensland margin, northeast Australia, contains a submerged carbonate platform that is composed of mixed carbonate/clastic sediments. This tectonically stable margin provides a complete sedimentary record of the Miocene with local sea-level being a combination of relatively simple and constant thermal subsidence and eustasy. ODP Leg 194 drilled at eight locations on the Marion Plateau, both on the submerged platform and in the surrounding basinal slope deposits. Prior to our study, no comprehensive, high-resolution biostratigraphic work has been published, and as a result age control remained poor. After sampling and processing the cores using standard techniques, tropical/subtropical foraminiferal and calcareous nannofossil biozones were identified based the first and last occurrences (FO, LO) of key taxa, including the FO of Orbulina universa (14.74 Ma), LO of Globorotalia fohsi (11.79 Ma), LO Paragloborotalia mayeri (10.49) and FO Neogloboquadrina Acosta-ensis (9.83 Ma). This study has allowed us to refine the shipboard age model for sites 1192, 1194, and 1195 and test previous interpretations of the sedimentology and eustatic history of the Marion Plateau based on redeposited platform debris, quartz, and glauconite in relation to benthic foraminiferal stable isotope data from ODP Sites 1192 and 1195. Specifically, we were able to improve intra-slope correlation and the enhanced age model gives us greater confidence of our interpretation of the middle Miocene Mi3 and Mi4 events, as well as the latest middle Miocene Mi5, and perhaps early late Miocene Mi6 events.


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Mid-Pliocene planktonic foraminifer assemblage of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre

Brendan P. Lutz1

1Southern Illinois University, United States E-mail: [email protected] The mid-Pliocene warm period (3.3-3.0 Ma) is the most recent interval during which sustained global temperatures were within the range expected for the end of the 21st century. Because most climatic boundary conditions were similar to today, the mid-Pliocene offers a unique opportunity to examine natural interactions and feedbacks within the climate system of a warmer world. Reduced latitudinal sea surface temperature gradients suggest that meridional overturn circulation was stronger than it is today, which may have been the primary driver of mid-Pliocene warmth. Thus, understanding the dynamics of low-latitude ocean circulation, particularly in such critical regions of mass transport as the subtropical gyres, is critical to mid-Pliocene climate reconstructions. Because the majority of planktonic foraminifers present in the mid-Pliocene are extant, this interval also provides a snapshot of biogeographic changes associated with climatic warmth and vigorous ocean circulation. In an effort to better understand low-latitude ocean circulation structure and biogeography during the mid-Pliocene, this study provides a detailed description of planktonic foraminifer distributions in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. While individual Q-mode multivariate analyses of each site reveal distinct faunal assemblages, collective analyses indicate that each limb of the gyre hosts a distinct faunal assemblage. The eastern limb (Canary Current) is dominated by Gr. puncticulata, Gr. hirsuta, N. acostaensis, G. bulloides, and Gs. ruber; the western/northwestern limb (Gulf Stream) is dominated by Gs. ruber, Gs. sacculifer, G. falconensis, Gt. glutinata, Gr. crassaformis, Gs. obliquus, G. woodi, and Gr. menardii; the southwestern limb (Florida and Antilles Currents) is dominated by Gs. sacculifer, Gs. ruber, O. universa, Gr. menardii, and Gs. obliquus. R-mode cluster analyses divide the gyre fauna into distinct low- and mid-latitude assemblages. Q-mode statistical comparison to North Atlantic core top assemblages reveal modern analog clusters which suggest that faunal provinces were fairly similar to those of the modern ocean, but were displaced to the north by ~5-10° latitude. The distribution of these core top analog clusters indicates that gyre circulation was stronger during the mid-Pliocene and also suggests that while the western boundary currents were not significantly warmer than today, the southward flow of the eastern limb carried warmer waters from the high latitude North Atlantic.

Holocene foraminiferal record from Firth of Tay, viewed from across the Antarctic Peninsula

Wojciech Majewski1

1Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Paleobiology, Poland E-mail: [email protected] The sediment sequence from Firth of Tay provides the first record of Holocene climate change from the Weddell Sea side of the Antarctic Peninsula, where benthic foraminiferal assemblages indicate progressive glacial withdraw that begun ~9400 yr BP. Two of the key taxa from that record (Globocassidulina biora and Cribroelphidium webbi) are also present in recent sediments in Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetlands) on the Bransfield Straight side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Their analysis contributes to better understanding of the Firth of Tay record, providing a good example how observation of modern foraminifera can help in paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Globocassidulina biora is a common foraminifer throughout the Antarctic shallow-water settings. In Admiralty Bay, it occurs down to at least 520 meters water-depth (mwd); however, it dominates shallow water assemblages at less than 200 mwd. Throughout the Firth of Tay section, G. biora shows episodic high-abundances. These abundances are associated with coarse sedimentation and are often accompanied by the presence of organogenic, calcareous detritus and mixed foraminiferal assemblages. Some populations of G. biora from the Firth of Tay record, retrieved from 640 mwd, show rather large average test-size, close to those found in Admiralty Bay at ~30 mwd, that could question in situ position of G. biora from Firth of Tay. However, some older studies contest the bathymetric trend in test-size observed in Admiralty Bay, implying different interpretations. The Cribroelphidium webbi was found at several locations within inner Admiralty Bay and water depths rather shallower than 100 m. In the recent setting as well as in the lowest portion of the Firth of Tay Holocene section, this foraminifer shows clear association with retreating glaciers. As such, C. webbi is an important, sensitive glacier-proximal indicator. So far, it is the only adequately described sub-recent elphidiid foraminifer from Antarctica.

Benthic foraminifera from Admiralty Bay, West Antarctica

Wojciech Majewski1, Jan Pawlowski2

1Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Paleobiology, Poland 2Department of Zoology and Animal Biology, University of Geneva, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] After intense research during the last decade, the foraminiferal fauna of Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland Islands) has become the


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most studied in West Antarctica. Actualistic data collected allow better understanding of paleoenvironmental records from this dynamically changing area. The bay was systematically sampled down to 520 m water depth, for multi-chambered and monothalamous benthic foraminifera, including soft-walled allogromiids often overlooked in former studies. Altogether, 138 taxa were identified and three new species described. Two of them are monothalamous: Bowseria arctowskii and Psammophaga magnetica. The third is the most typical among glacier-proximal foraminifera; Cribroelphidium webbi, the first member of the family Elphidiidae described from recent sediments from Antarctica. Among testate foraminifera, four assemblages were identified. They are typical for different water depths and distance from shore and can be defined by different proportions of various taxa, but only occasionally by a presence of marker species. Vertical distribution of Rose Bengal stained multi-chamber foraminifera below the sediment surface and the proportion of soft and robustly-testate forms at different sites were also investigated. Our analyses show the dominance of the shallowest and the most near-shore settings by monothalamous foraminifera.

Preferential selection of titanium-bearing minerals in agglutinated foraminifera: Ilmenite (FeTiO3) in Textularia hauerii d'Orbigny from the Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique

Walid A. Makled1, Martin R. Langer1 1Steinmann Institut für Geologie, Bonn, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The biserial agglutinated foraminifer Textularia hauerii d'Orbingy frequently occurs at shallow depths in reefal habitats off Bazaruto Island, Mozambique. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron- and light microscopy analyses show the enhanced concentration of the titanium-bearing mineral ilmenite (FeTiO3) in the agglutinated tests of this species. The mineral constitutes only an insignificant component in the surrounding sediment, but accounts for more than 26 percent of the foraminiferal test content. The concentrated accumulation of ilmenite in T. hauerii and the absence in cooccurring agglutinated foraminifera suggests the preferential selection for ilmenite. The preferential arrangement of ilmenite particles along sutures and on the apertural face provides further evidence that 1. certain foraminifera can specifically select grains and 2. implies that there exists a selective mechanism to control the timing and placement during test and chamber construction. The preferential uptake represents the first record of ilmenite selection in foraminifera. Potential driving forces controlling the selective agglutination of Ti-minerals, the preferential adsorption to Ti-surfaces and interactions between cellular compounds of the foraminiferal reticulopods and the mineral surfaces are explored.

Micropaleontological and palynological analysis of Neogene to Quaternary sediments from the Nile Delta, Egypt

Walid A. Makled1, Martin R. Langer1 1Steinmann Institut für Geologie, Bonn, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The Mediterranean Nile Delta is a major target for hydrocarbon reservoirs. The successful exploration of the Nile Delta fan depends on high resolution stratigraphy that is largely provided by benthic and planktic index foraminifera. We have examined microfossil assemblages from a well in the northern part of the submarine fan (NDOB-1). The material recovered from this well represents an exceptionally well preserved microfossil content that completely covers the Neogene to Quaternary succession (Middle Miocene to Pleistocene). This provides an intact biozonation scheme for the Nile Delta region with reliable chronostratigraphic correlations and suitable industrial applications. The stratigraphic succession of the Nile Delta region consists of seven formations: Sidi Salim Formation, Qawasim Formation, Rosetta Formations, Abu Madi Formation, Kafr El Sheikh Formation, El Wastani Formation and Mit Ghamer Formation. Examination of the planktonic foraminiferal assemblages of the NDOB-1 borehole from the deep part of the submarine fan of the Nile Delta lead to the identification of twelve biozones, which are Globorotalia inflata Interval Zone, Globorotalia aemiliana Interval Zone, Globorotalia puncticulata Interval Zone, Globorotalia puncticulata- Globorotalia margaritae Concurrent Range Zone, Globorotalia margaritae Interval Zone, Sphaeroidinellopsis seminulina Acme Zone, Non-distinctive Zone, Globorotalia suterae Interval Zone, Globoquadrina dehiscens Interval Zone, Globorotalia mayeri Interval Zone, Globorotalia fohsi peripheroronda Interval Zone and Praeorbulina glomerosa Interval Zone and two subzones in Globorotalia mayeri Interval Zone which are (Globorotalia mayeri / Globigerinoides obliquus obliquus interval subzone and Globigerinoides subquadratus interval subzone). The biozones cover the time span from the Middle Miocene to the Pleistocene. The recovered benthic foraminiferal assemblages allowed the identification of five benthic biozones in the Pliocene and Pleistocene, which are Hyalinea balthica Interval Zone, Bulimina marginata Interval Zone, Bulimina aculeata Interval Zone, Gyroidinoides laevigata Interval Zone and Uvigerina rutila Interval Zone. The palynological analysis of the samples lead to identification of miospores and dinoflagellates, which are, however, of low biostratigraphic significance. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of the previous four microfossils groups, in addition to the study of palynodebris and palynofacies shed new light on the paleoenvironmental conditions that prevailed during the deposition of the rock units of the studied succession.


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Benthic Foraminifera assemblages from the Capricorn Bunker Group, Great Barrier Reef, Australia: initial results and implications

Briony L. Mamo1, Luke Strotz1, Glenn Brock1

1Macquarie University Biological Sciences, Australia E-mail: [email protected] The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is an Australian icon yet the threat of reef deterioration is a significant challenge. Foraminiferal assemblages are sensitive to changes in environmental conditions, are easily sampled and analysed at low cost and are ideal proxies for monitoring physical and chemical changes in reef environments. For a region so intensively studied, the GBR has been subject to patchy foraminiferal studies, few of which focus on baseline taxonomic and ecologic data. Without baseline assemblages of a province it is difficult to undertake meaningful comparisons between reef systems. In an attempt to redress this problem and establish baseline data for a specific reef system, benthic foraminifera were collected over 2007-2009 from the reef environments associated with Heron and One Tree Island, Sykes and Wistari Reefs in the Capricorn Bunker Group. A total of 126 species of benthic foraminifera were identified from 69 sites; 77 taxa numerically significant (>17 specimens) for detailed taxonomic evaluation and ecological investigation. Results reveal two broad assemblages with an additional third. Assemblage 1 characterises reef flat and shallow margins of lagoons and is dominated by Calcarina hispida Brady, and Baculogypsina sphaerulata (Parker & Jones) and tends to be subject to higher energy regimes resulting in relatively coarser grain size (125µm -2mm) produced by fluctuating conditions of a tidally influenced environment. Assemblage 2 dominates slightly deeper lagoon (~2-6m); these localities are characterised by abundant patch reefs and dominance of Quinqueloculina, reflecting lower energy regime, finer grain size and more poorly sorted sediments. The diverse and significantly different Assemblage 3 characterises relatively deep (~35m) channel sediments separating Heron and Wistari Reefs; taxa from Assemblage 3 include Amphistegina lessonii d’Orbigny, Assalina ammonoides (Gronovius) and Heterostegina depressa d’Orbigny. The relationship between grain size, temperature, salinity, algal distribution and live foraminiferal assemblages were investigated using cluster analysis to establish whether significant correlation exists between assemblages and typical physio-chemical reef parameters. These results not only provide a basis for future comparison within the region but also shed light on the factors that determine foraminiferal assemblage composition within reef environments.

Deep-sea benthic foraminiferal response to Pleistocene climate changes in the SW Pacific (New Zealand): controlling factors revealed by multivariate analysis

Nicoletta Mancin1, Iacopo Trattenero1

1University of Pavia, Earth Sciences, Italy E-mail: [email protected] A high-resolution continuous record of deep-sea benthic foraminifera of the last 1Myr from the Southwest Pacific Ocean (IMAGES Site MD 97-2114; New Zealand) shows, as revealed by multivariate analyses, important variations in faunal composition probably induced by alterations of the climatic conditions linked to the mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT). Results allow reconstruction of some paleoenvironmental limiting factors, that are: the food supply, in terms of both quantity (eutrophy or mesotrophy) and quality (fresh seasonal phytodetritus or refractory organic matter stored in the sediment or transported by currents) and the periodicity of these organic supplies, as constant sustained flux or rather pulsed. These factors probably changed in response to variations in the surface primary productivity or intensification of the Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC) forced by the main climate changes occurring during the last 1 Myr. The most important perturbations were synchronously registered at the end of the MPT (ca. 620 kyr). They were represented by an important change in the food supply towards a generalized long term-trend with more changeable conditions. Those are: higher food supplies but with mostly pulsed nutrient fluxes and a marked increase of the DWBC flow strength. The variation of both environmental parameters and DWBC flow intensity was documented to be synchronously occurred just before the strong climate deterioration associated with the glacial MIS 12 (ca. 435 kyr.), which is in disagreement with the previous literature data. In synthesis, we could infer that: 1) dominant mesotrophic conditions, with mostly constant nutrient fluxes, probably occurred since about 1000 kyr to 870 kyr. A quite vigorous flow strength of the DWBC was hypothesized for the same interval. 2) Still dominant mestotrophic conditions, but with nutrient fluxes that became just more pulsed in the interglacials, were reconstructed for the following interval, to about 620 kyr. A decrease in the current flow strength was also supposed. 3) Beginning of a generalized long term-trend towards slightly eutrophic conditions but with mostly pulsed nutrient fluxes were reconstructed since about 620 kyr. The increase in the food supply were interpreted as related to changes in the surface paleoproductivity or additionally increased by the DWBC. 4) Strengthening of the nutrient supply trend towards slightly eutrophic conditions and mostly pulsed organic fluxes, since ca. 435 kyr to the present. A second increasing trend in the flow strength of the DWBC was also hypothesized.


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Multi-proxy analysis on Neogene specimens of Colominella Popescu, 1998 (Agglutinated Foraminifera): shell architecture, wall microstructure and test chemical-mineralogical characterization

Nicoletta Mancin1, Elena Basso1, Camilla Pirini1

1University of Pavia, Earth Sciences, Italy E-mail: [email protected] Specimens of Colominella Popescu, 1998, from 4 Neogene Mediterranean successions, were analyzed through a multidisciplinary approach in order to better detail their shell features and possibly to understand their relationship with the paleoenvironmental conditions. The applied method was threefold with a telescopic increasing resolution due to the use of the stereoscope microscope and the scanning electron microscope. The first step-analysis was performed on isolated specimens, in order to depict their shell architecture (chamber arrangement and internal morphological features). The second step consisted in the microscopic characterization of the wall structure; the last step included the identification of the test chemical and mineralogical composition (agglutinated granules and secreted cement). Results show that these agglutinated foraminifera develop shells with a mostly biserial chamber arrangement, but with the internal chamber lumens subdivided by vertical and sometimes horizontal plates, forming a structure of alcoves. This internal subdivision is completely masked by the rough surface. The wall microstructure is dominated by parapores, that are mainly straight and radial in the inner part of the wall and become branching and more irregular in the outer portion of the wall. They do not open onto the outer wall surface because they are externally covered by an agglutinated pavement. The mineralogical characterization of both granules and cement shows that they are strongly selective in size and shape (with the larger granules arranged closed to the external margin) and composition (the most external grains are usually quartz, whereas the inner part of the skeleton is made of dolomite) of the agglutinated grains and in the cement composition (organic or calcite). These shell features doubtlessly results fixed by a genetic disposition, more probably they are an adaptation to peculiar environmental conditions, such as deeper environments characterised by mostly oligotrophic conditions. Alcoves and true alveoles (as in Cyclammina) are, in fact, common in deep-sea agglutinated foraminifera because they should permit a better control of gas exchanges between the organism and the surrounding environment. Moreover, the occurrence of a wall structure with parapores seems to reinforce this hypothesis. The function of parapores has not so far been defined but they are usually interpreted as functional morphologies for enhancing gas exchange and also for the distribution of the organic matter inside to the test.

Planktic foraminifera during the Lohafex iron-fertilization experiment in the S-W Antarctic Circumpolar current

Margarita Marchant1, Humberto E. González2, Nathalie Gajardo1, Dharma Reyes1 1Universidad de Concepción, Department of Zoology, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile 2Universidad Austral de Chile, Institute of Marine Biology, Valdivia and COPAS Center of Oceanography, Concepción, Chile E-mail: [email protected] The iron fertilization experiment LOHAFEX was conducted in the S-W sector of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current where we spread 10 tonnes of dissolved ferrous sulphate over a patch (eddy) of 150 km2. The chemical and biological changes stimulated by iron fertilization were followed for 39 days (January-March 2009). The main objectives are: 1. To determine the planktic foraminifera species. 2. To estimate spatial distribution (horizontal, vertical), abundances and productivity of planktic foraminifera. 3. To determine the differences in abundances between a zone within and without the iron fertilization patch. Sampling devices included plankton nets (RMT, Multinets, WP2). Our results showed that planktic foraminiferofaune was dominated by the Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (40%). A total of 9 species of planktic foraminifers (>150 um in size) were identified. The investigation area is situated in subantarctic conditions, characterized by a cold water species as Globigerina bulloides, Globigerinita glutinata, G. uvula, Globorotalia truncatulinoides, Neogloboquadrina incompta. Maximum abundances of foraminifera were found at 300 m depth. The abundances of foraminifera within the fertilized patch (>9000 ind. m2) were higher that outside the patch (>6000 (ind. m2), suggesting a positive effect of Fe enrichment on forams growth rate. The possible impact of foraminifers in vertical carbonate flux will be discussed.

Biogeography of foraminifera from cold-water coral ecosystems: from active (Northern European Margin) to buried reefs (Western Mediterranean Sea)

Stephan Margreth1, Silvia Spezzaferri1, Giordana Gennari1, Andres Rüggeberg2, Claudio Stalder1, Gregory Pignat1

1University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Switzerland 2Renard Centre of Marine Geology, Ghent University, Belgium E-mail: [email protected] In the last few decades cold-water coral ecosystems have become a hot-topic in marine research and new finding of these systems have been reported from all oceans. However, they are mostly described for the European Margin, from Northern Norway


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down to Mauritania. On the Norwegian shelf widespread reefs develop on the continental margin and upper slope areas on elevated hard substrata. Along the Irish margin cold-water coral build up mounds up to a few hundreds meter of height. These mounds can be active/living or fossil. In the Gulf of Cadiz and in the Western Mediterranean buried reefs and patch reefs are often associated to mud volcanoes. These ecosystems are also important for the biodiversity of the Atlantic Ocean because they provide numerous ecological niches for marine benthic fauna in the deep-sea. We have quantitatively and statistically investigated foraminiferal assemblages from surface sediments in two key regions for cold-water coral setting (Norway, Porcupine/Rockall area) to trace their biogeography.The benthic foraminiferal assemblages associated to living cold-water corals in these areas are dominated by epibenthic-attached species like Discanomalina coronata, Cibicides refulgens, and Lobatula lobatula. Discanomalina coronata is only found in active and living reefs. Our results suggest that, although cold-water coral ecosystems occur in different latitudinal belts, the associated foraminiferal fauna is remarkably similar and is consistently associated to the various facies within the ecosystems. We have tested our model of foraminiferal distribution in two cores from the Alboran Sea and two cores from the Loppavet Reef spanning most of the Holocene sedimentary sequence. This study proves the correlation between D. coronata and cold-water corals also in this time interval. These observations hold the key to establish a link between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean assemblages offering the perspective of a comprehensive logbook of their biogeography in the geologic record. This study is funded by the Swiss National Foundation Projects 200020-117928 and 200021-111694.

Total protein and 70 kD stress protein (Hsp70) analysis in living shallow-water benthic foraminifera

Roman A. Marten1, Linshy Valiyparambil Nanappan2, Timo Haap3, Emmanuelle Geslin4, Heinz R. Köhler3, Petra Heinz1

1Institute of Geoscience, University of Tübingen, Germany 2Micropaleontology Laboratory, National Institute of Oceanography, India 3Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Germany 4Laboratoire dÈtude des Bio-indicateurs Actuels et Fossiles, University of Angers, France E-mail: [email protected] Hsp70 is a phylogenetically highly conserved protein family present in all eukaryotic organisms tested so far, and known as DnaK in numerous prokaryotic organisms. Its synthesis is induced by proteotoxic stress which makes Hsp70 very suitable as a biomarker in ecophysiology and ecotoxicology. The detection of Hsp70 in foraminifera is presented here for the first time. We introduce a standard

immunoblotting protocol modified for the detection of Hsp70 in foraminifera. Proteins were extracted from shallow water benthic foraminifera (Elphidium crispum, Massilina secans, Ammonia beccarii and Ammonia tepida) and positively tested for Hsp70. Additionally, we showed a temperature-dependent expression pattern of Hsp70 in one species (Ammonia tepida). The amount of Hsp70 was lowest at 20°C, followed by an increased level at 10°C and a maximum at 35°C. No Hsp70 was found at 45°C. Total protein contents of different tested foraminiferal species were determined for a better estimation of the number of individuals needed for immunological studies. Average masses of total protein per individual were 0.040 µg/cell in Elphidium crispum, 0.066 µg/cell in Ammonia tepida, 0.085 µg/cell in Ammonia beccarii and 0.231 µg/cell in Massilina secans.

Benthic foraminifers indicative of Quaternary water masses in the Basque Shelf (S Bay of Biscay)

Blanca Martínez García1, Ana Pascual1, Julio Rodríguez-Lázaro1

1Universidad del País Vasco/EHU, Spain E-mail: [email protected] The great ecologic diversity of modern benthic foraminifers is very useful in the palaeoceanographic and palaeoclimatic reconstructions. We present in this work the variations of benthic foraminifer assemblages of the Basque shelf during the last 50000 years (Marine Isotopic Stage 3 -MIS3- to Recent). A total of 16008 individuals belonging to 135 benthic foraminifer species have been obtained from 49 samples from core KS05 (location 43°30'597N-2°13'760W, 259 m water depth, 235 cm core depth). Three benthic foraminifer assemblages have been recognized: 1) the first one, with low richness and diversity (nF 2778-16667; Shannon-Wiever S(H) 2.3-3.03) is dominated by Cassidulina laevigata d'Orbigny and secondly by Globocassidulina subglobosa (Brady), indicative of relatively cold waters. The high ratio PF/total (40-55%) is interpreted as the entrance of cold, deep waters from the North Atlantic following the talus of this basin. This interval (243-155 cm) is representing the MIS3 (50-23 ka). 2) The second assemblage is dominated by a typical species of the North Atlantic Deep Water, Hyalinea balthica (Schröter) accompanied by Bulimina gibba Fornasini. This interval (155-145 cm) could mark the beginning of the Last Glacial Maximum. The upper interval shows higher richness and diversity and dominate Brizalina spathulata (Williamson), Brizalina pseudoplicata Heron-Allen & Earland and Gavelinopsis translucens (Phleger & Parker); as secondary species are Bulimina marginata d'Orbigny and Uvigerina peregrina Cushman. This assemblage points to a change to warmer waters during the Holocene. The ratio PF/total (18-35%) diminishes to values typical of modern ones at this depth. This is associated to the


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settlement of dynamic water masses circulating W-E parallel to the coast, as the dominant today in this shelf. Changes of δ18O and δ13C values of selected species as Lobatula lobatula (Walker & Jacob) are compared with standard Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2. Major isotopic foraminiferal changes clearly separate the MIS3 and Holocene intervals, while some minor changes of the isotopic signals can be correlated to cold Heinrich events and Dansgaar/Oeschger interstadials. (This research was granted by projects CGL2007-64428/BTE of the Spanish MEC and GIC07/124-IT-369-07 of the Basque Govern-ment. B. Martínez is granted by the MEC.)

Observations of growth of Ammonia in elevated copper concentrations: Do heavy metals really cause shell deformities?

Michael Martinez-Colon1, Pamela Hallock1

1University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, United States E-mail: [email protected] Surface and pore water samples from two bays in Puerto Rico (Torrecilla Lagoon and Jobos Bay) were analyzed for total copper (Cu) concentrations. The range of these concentrations (1.57 µM -2.59µM) was used in culture experiments using Ammonia sp. Juveniles were exposed to controlled pH, temperature, and alkalinity with Cu+2 concentrations as treatment conditions for a period of 30 days. Biological (maximum and intermediate diameters) and physicochemical parameters were measured every 4 days. Specimens were imaged at the end of each experiment to evaluate for morphological anomalies. Shell deformities in Cu treatments were not as common as anticipated, based on field observations and previous reports of increasing incidences of shell anomalies with increasing environmental stress. On the other hand, slower growth rates are an indication that environmental Cu serves as a cause and effect stressor. These experiments suggest that heavy metals are not solely responsible for shell deformities and assemblage distributions in natural environments, but likely act with other stressors, such as hypoxia or hyposalinity, such that deformities occur more commonly in stressful environments. Additionally, by slowing growth, environmental Cu may increase the time over which other stressors can act, thereby increasing the likelihood of deformities occurring.

Biogeographic morphological investigations of menardiform globorotalids in a time slice at 3.2 Ma (Late Pliocene)

Yannick Mary1, Michael W. Knappertsbusch1

1Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] The Menadella plankonic foraminifer group shows a high diversification period during its history. From Late Miocene through Pleistocene, and especially during the Pliocene, extinct menardiform species with a short range existed. At that time, two lineages, principally defined by their end members Globorotalia multicamerata and Globorotalia pertenuis, inhabited tropical Atlantic. These lineages differ from their ancestor Globorotalia menardii by including individuals with more chambers in the latest whorl. However, both lineages show very high morphological convergence with each other, leading to taxonomic and phylogenic disagreements in the literature. Thus, mostly because of recognition problems, relations between these forms and their respective biogeographic range remain unclear. We studied biogeographic variation of shell morphology in several population of Pliocene Atlantic Menardiform foraminifera using the robot AMOR (Automated Measurement system for shell mORphology), a new prototype for automated microfossil orientation and digital imaging. AMOR permitted us to analyse a large number of specimen and thus to compare statistically representative populations. We used then, simultaneously, three different morphometrical approaches to overcome intergradations problems. Firstly, linear measurements of spiral height (Delta X) and maximum diameter (Delta Y) were made, in keel view, to map the biogeographic variation of shell morphology and to exhibit identifiable populations with distinct morphological characteristics. Secondly, size dependant Eigenshape analysis and Spiral versus Umbilical concavity ratio (Delta A / Delta B) were employed to analyse shape variation through ontogeny and to enhance evolutionary relationship between populations thanks to morphology. Finally, chamber area measurements were taken to compare growth patterns to morphometric measurements. As expected, considered species strongly intergrade in an interconnected morphocline. This morphological overlap is due to allometric growth of the shell, leading to continuous intraspecific distributions in bivariate plots of morphological measurements. In comparison, however, shape analysis highlights differences : G. multicamerata appears to keep G. menardii juvenile shape aspect lately in its development. In ontogeny, furthermore, within each morphological convergent species, two ontogenetically different populations seems to appear, sharing the same specific growth trend, but showing different patterns.


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Internal waves as a mechanism to produce Nummulitic banks. An example from the upper Lutetian of the Ainsa basin (South Central Pyrenean Zone)

Guillem Mateu-Vicens1, Lluís Pomar1, Carles Ferràndez-Cañadell2

1Universitat de les Illes Balears 2Universitat de Barcelona, Spain E-mail: [email protected] Nummulites are LBF particularly abundant and diverse during Eocene and formed huge accumulations corresponding to hydrocarbon reservoirs, especially in North Africa. Due to their economical interest, these accumulations are matter of study. However, their origin is still under discussion. The absence of living Nummulites, along with the high-variability of facies, size, shape and extension of the banks that, in turn, reflect the array of processes controlling sediment production and accumulation, is behind this debate. The nummulitic banks near Santa María de Buil, Ainsa basin (South Pyrenean Foreland Basin) have recurrent facies associations within mappable bed units bounded by physical surfaces. The depositional processes that produced/generated the Nummulites deshayesi accumulations are interpreted from the critical consideration of the shape of the banks, the type of bounding surfaces, the distribution of sedimentary textures and Nummulites test shapes within the banks, and the associated skeletal components. This integrative analysis indicates nummulitic banks to have accumulated from mass flows, with very poor sediment sorting. Textural and compositional differences among banks, suggest globose Nummulites to have thrived is shallower water with abundant nummulithoclasts, whereas flat nummulitic forms to have thrived in deeper, clay-dominated settings. Interbedded with nummulitic banks, coral biostromes bearing Operculina and Discocyclina, and mounds represent in situ accumulation near the base of the photic zone. Internal waves (waves that propagate along the pycnocline) are thought to be the density flow triggering mechanism. Internal-waves and induced bottom currents are sporadic but strong enough to bring sediments into suspension. In contrast to surface waves (both fairweather and storm) whose impact is strongest near the surface and decreases with bathymetry, IWs impact is usually strongest in midshelf region and weaker in shallow water. This explains the compositional character of the nummulitic banks.

1998 Sediment contamination and foraminiferal study, Southern California, USA

Mary McGann1 1U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA, USA E-mail: [email protected] The coastal margin of much of southern California, USA is heavily contaminated. Samples taken for a 1998 monitoring survey provide the opportunity to compare sediment chemistry with foraminiferal distributions from the same samples. Numerous trace metals and organic compounds were found in the sediments in concentrations exceeding accepted sediment quality guidelines, including the Effects Range-Low (ERL) and Effects Range-Median (ERM) concentrations above which adverse biological effects are possible and probable (10% and 50%), respectively, and the Effects Range-Median Quotient (ERMQ; = mean contaminant concentration/ERM). The latter accounts for the possible additive toxic effects of chemical mixtures in sediments. At 26 of the 30 stations examined, values for one or more of the following exceeded the ERL concentration: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, silver, total DDTs, and total PCBs. ERM and ERMQ values were exceeded for silver at six sites and total chlordanes at three sites. The foraminiferal response to these sediment contaminants can be discerned by comparing the number of sediment quality exceedences/sample to the percentage abundance ranges of the species present; a low number of exceedences in an area with high species abundance suggests the species is not affected by the contaminant, whereas a high number of exceedences in an area with low species abundance suggests the species is highly affected. For instance, Eggerella advena appears to tolerate most of these trace metal and organic contaminants, comprising 20% to >40% of the assemblage where ERL concentrations are exceeded 35 times and ERM/ERMQ

Foraminiferal response to whale falls in the northeastern Pacific Ocean

Mary McGann1, Robert C. Vrijenhoek2, Shannon Johnson2, Julio Harvey2, Charles K. Paull2, William Ussler III2, Lonny Lundsten2

1U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA, United States 2Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA, United States E-mail: [email protected] Several whale falls in the northeastern Pacific Ocean have been visited during the last three years by ROVs from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. “Puppy,” a 6 m-long gray whale carcass was visited about one week after it was sunk in 381 m of water in Monterey Bay, California, USA. Visual observation of the whale fall


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documented that it was in the first stage of decomposition (i.e., the mobile-scavenger stage) with abundant hagfish and amphipods surrounding the carcass. A 21-cm push core was taken under the carcass and analyzed for foraminifera. A trend of decreasing foraminiferal abundance and species diversity was evident with depth. A Q-mode cluster analysis separated the samples from the lower three-quarters of the core and four reference sites into a Monterey Bay Baseline Assemblage, characterized by common Nonionella stella (24%), Epistominella pacifica (17%), Trochammina kelletae (17%), and Fursenkoina seminuda (12%). In contrast, the fauna from the upper 5 cm of the core was overwhelmingly dominated by E. pacifica (87%) and is referred to as the Monterey Bay Carcass-Impacted Assemblage. Another gray whale (”Pebbles”) was sunk to 632 m in Monterey Bay and visited eight months later. A 15-m push core obtained under the 10 m-long carcass was again dominated by E. pacifica (71%) in the upper 3 cm of the core compared to only 11% abundance of E. pacifica at 12-15 cm downcore. The fin or blue whale skeleton “Shannon,” thought to be <10 years old, was observed off Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada at a depth of 1288 m. Four 15-26 cm push cores were taken at the site, three directly under vertebrae that were temporarily rolled aside and one considered a baseline 15 m away. Downcore samples below 6 cm in all four cores are characterized by common Uvigerina peregrina, Epistominella pacifica, Bolivina spissa, Bulimina striata mexicana, and Cassidulina delicata, as well as rare Cassidulinoides parkeriana, and are considered to represent the Vancouver Island Baseline Assemblage. In contrast, C. parkeriana dominates (19-27%) the upper 6 cm of the three whale fall cores, but was only <1% of the 0-6 cm baseline assemblage with C. delicata dominating (45%) this interval instead.

Impact of elevated pCO2 on survival and test structure of benthic foraminifera

Anna McIntyre-Wessnig1, Joan M. Bernhard1, Daniel C. McCorkle1, Pamela Hallock2

1Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, United States 2University of South Florida, United States E-mail: [email protected] We tested the impact of predicted increases in surface ocean pCO2 on the survival and test microstructure of a suite of benthic foraminiferal species from a range of geographical regions and water depths. Ocean acidification, driven primarily by fossil fuel combustion, is likely to affect the majority of marine organisms and may have a particularly strong influence on those that produce calcium carbonate. Foraminifera are among the most ubiquitous marine calcifying organisms and are an important link the marine food web. Moreover, infaunal benthic foraminifera may be adapted to high-pCO2 / low CO3

2- pore-water

microenvironments, so their response to ocean acidification may differ from that of epibenthic forms. Species from three different regions (temperate Atlantic, 80m; temperate Pacific, 430 m; and tropical Florida reef, 1.5m to 8m) were exposed to ambient and two elevated pCO2 conditions for a period of up to six weeks. Elevated atmospheric pCO2 was maintained using a feedback controlled infrared CO2 sensor, and carbonate chemistry parameters (alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon) were determined at five time points throughout the incubation period. Specimens were harvested after one week, two weeks and six weeks. Foraminiferal survival and cellular energy levels were assessed using Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) analysis and test microstructure was evaluated using high resolution SEM. We observed little direct impact of elevated pCO2 on the survival of the temperate (Bolivina argentea, Bulimina marginata) and tropical (Amphistegina gibbosa) foraminiferal species used in our study. However, reproduction by A. gibbosa was affected; the mean number of offspring of this reef species was lower under elevated pCO2 than under ambient pCO2 . None of the other species studied reproduced in any of the three treatments (elevated pCO2 or atmospheric controls). In several species elevated pCO2 affected test microstructure, resulting in areas of test surface dissolution. Future work must determine the ecological effects of such changes in test microstructure and whether entire life cycles can be sustained in such environmental conditions.

Live benthic foraminifera distribution in the northern Gulf of Cadiz continental shelf

Isabel Mendes1, João Dias1, Joachim Schönfeld2, Óscar Ferreira1

1University of Algarve, CIMA - Center for marine and environmental research, Portugal 2IFM-GEOMAR, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The complexity of environments that occur on the continental shelf between Guadiana and Guadalquivir Rivers required a detailed study about the distribution and ecology of live (stained) benthic foraminifera, essential for the interpretation of modern and ancient environments. We investigated the distribution and abundance of the most abundant species (>5%) and related them to: water depth, sediment type, influence of rivers outflow, temperature, salinity, suspended particulate matter concentrations and primary productivity. Hierarchical classification using R- and Q-mode cluster analyses, and the individual distribution, allowed grouping of these taxa in four general groups: Group 1 is represented by Bolivina ordinaria and Hopkinsina atlantica. These species were linked with rivers discharge, associated with sediments with high mud content. They were considered the most opportunistic species in the assemblage, and they were associated with the limits of productivity.


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Group 2, with Ammonia beccarii, Eggerelloides scaber, Elphidium gerthi, Quinqueloculina laevigata and Quinqueloculina stelligera, showed a high abundance in shallow waters. They were associated with different sediments types and their distribution was influenced by the discharges of different rivers. Group 3 was dominated by Bulimina aculeata, Elphidium excavatum, Bulimina elongata, Epistominella vitrea, Rectuvigerina phlegeri and Elphidium culvilliere. These species displayed the highest abundances between 30 and 100 m water depth. They mostly prevailed in mud sediments associated with low hydrodynamic levels, low oxygenation and high contents of organic matter. Group 4 included species that were more abundant in deep stations. This group was divided in sub-group 4A, with Bolivina catanenesis, Cassidulina laevigata, Stainforthia sp., Nouria polymorphinoides, Bolivina italica, Bolivina striatula, and Nouria sp., with higher abundances in selected samples. Sub-group 4B with Brizalina dilatata, Brizalina spathulata, Bulimina marginata, Nonionella iridea, Nonionella stella and Nonionella turgida presented patchy distribution and higher abundances in distinct areas on the continental shelf. The higher abundances of Nonionella species off the Guadiana River were also related with the low temperature and salinity.

Foraminifer from the Bay of Biscay: δ18O variations in sediment trap and surface sediments

E. Michel1, H. Howa2, T. Kuhnt2, F. Lombard1, F. Dewilde1, S. Schmidt3, S. Retailleau2, R. Schiebel2, E. Cortijo1, L. Labeyrie1 1Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, France 2Laboratory of Recent and Fossil Bio-Indicators (BIAF), Angers University, France 3EPOC, UMR 5805, Bordeaux University, Talence, France E-mail: [email protected] In order to improve paleoclimatic reconstructions from foraminifer analysis, the FORCLIM program objective is i) to take into account ecological constraints of the different foraminifer species and replace empirical relationships linking environment variables to their abundances by ecophysiological ones, and ii) to estimate how the surface signal (foraminifer assemblages, geochemical composition) is modified through the water column and deposition on the ocean floor. Sediment traps were deployed in the Bay of Biscay, at a water depth of 2000 m. We present the oxygen isotope data (δ18O) for G. bulloides, N. pachyderma dextral and G. inflata for the first year of survey (June 2006 - April 2007). Specimens that developed during spring and summer, form the major flux of foraminifera at this station and exhibit stable δ18O values, with a constant difference between the species. They developed at the surface layer of a well-mixed cold water column, when the spring

bloom started. Then they migrated deeper, following the chlorophyll-a maximum, with the main population just under the seasonal thermocline (Retailleau, 2009). As a consequence of this migration, all three species have produced their tests at a constant water temperature through these seasons. During late autumn and winter, the flux of foraminifera was very small and the specimens from these foraminifer species exhibit lighter δ18O values. For N. pachyderma dex. and G. inflata, this δ18O transition coincides with an autumn bloom in November, after a storm that was recorded by a large lateral flux of sediment originating from the platform (Schmidt et al. 2009). These specimens grew in surface waters as indicated by their isotopic composition. For G. bulloides, the transition occurred earlier, one month before the autumn bloom. Summer 2006 was a particularly hot summer and sea surface temperatures decreased slowly after a maximum of 23.5°C in July. δ18O measurements indicate that G. bulloides migrated to the surface when temperature dropped below 20°C. N. pachyderma dex. and G. inflata are adapted to lower temperatures (16-18°C, Lombard et al. 2009, Cléroux et al., 2007), which explains why they migrated to the surface later in the autumn, when SST fell below this threshold. This study shows how both food and temperature constrain the habitat of these species in the Bay of Biscay. Finally, we observed that δ18O of foraminifer shells from surface sediment are coherent with the δ18O and fluxes of foraminifera collected in the traps.

Sea-level change in the Western Mediterranean Sea during the past 12.4 kyr: Quantitative reconstructions based on foraminiferal transfer functions

Yvonne Milker1, Gerhard Schmiedl1, Christian Betzler1

1University of Hamburg, Department of Geoscience, Germany E-mail: [email protected] We present results from late glacial and Holocene relative sea-level reconstructions in warm-temperate shelf carbonate environments (Alboran Platform, Oran Bight and Mallorca Shelf) of the Western Mediterranean Sea. This quantitative approach is based on the evaluation of foraminiferal data with various regression methods, including Weighted Averaging (WA), Partial Least Squares (PLS), and a combination of both (WA-PLS). Further, we applied Modern Analogue Technique (MAT), and an independent method based on counted and modified Plankton/Benthos (P/B) ratios. The transfer functions were developed on the basis of Recent benthic foraminiferal assemblages and P/B ratios in surface samples, and were then applied to fossil assemblages and P/B ratios in sediment cores from the Alboran Platform, the Oran Bight and the Mallorca Shelf. The best predicted model is provided by the WA-PLS regression method,


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resulting in an accuracy of +/- 10 m within a total sea-level rise of ~45 and ~50 m for the Alboran Platform and the shelf off Southwest Mallorca, respectively. The reconstructed relative sea-level histories in the study areas generally match the global record and regional sea-level reconstructions in the western Mediterranean Sea. Inconsistencies are attributed to the interference of the sea-level signal with redeposition processes and other environmental parameters such as substrate and food availability. Paleobathymetric estimates based on P/B ratios reflect the general sea-level development in the study areas, but exhibit a higher inaccuracy when compared to the regression methods that provides a powerful tool for sea-level reconstructions in shelf areas.

The early Holocene humid phase and its impact on shelf environments off Southwest Mallorca, western Mediterranean Sea

Yvonne Milker1, Gerhard Schmiedl1, Christian Betzler1, Nils Andersen1, Marc Theodor1

1University of Hamburg, Department of Geoscience, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Stable oxygen and carbon isotope records of different planktonic and benthic foraminifera together with other micro- and macrofossil data have been analyzed in a sediment core from the shelf off Southwest Mallorca. These records document major climatic, hydrological and trophic changes during the Holocene. Differences in the d18O signals of Globigerina bulloides and Globigerinoides ruber (white) reveal higher seasonality during the earliest Holocene. A change in sediment facies between approximately 9.6 and 5.5 kyr BP is attributed to humid conditions on Mallorca Island, resulting in increased freshwater runoff, input of terrestrial dissolved organic matter and nutrients into the coastal marine system. These hydrological changes are documented by decreased d18O and d13C values of G. ruber (white), a lowering of d13C values of Bulimina aculeata, and the appearances of the suspension feeding gastropod Turritella communis and the infaunal benthic foraminifer Rectuvigerina phlegeri. This humid interval is nearly contemporaneous to the formation of sapropel S1 in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and demonstrates that the early Holocene warm and humid phase also affected surface water hydrography, organic carbon cycling, and marine ecosystems in the western Mediterranean Sea. Comparisons with records from more open-ocean settings of different areas in the western Mediterranean Sea suggest that the climate impacts were likely restricted to near-coastal systems.

Agglutinated foraminifers as agents of textural coarsening in muddy sediments

Kitty L. Milliken1

1University of Texas at Austin, United States E-mail: [email protected] Formation of sediment aggregates by agglutinated foraminifers (and possibly other agglutinating or sediment-collecting protists) is one of several processes that cause post-depositional coarsening of sediment. Especially under conditions of low oxygenation and slow sediment accumulation, such processes may have a profound impact on the texture of muddy sediment, creating an abundance of silt- and sand-size aggregates that were not present at the time of deposition. In highly lithified, dark mudrocks, documentation of agglutinated tests and their fragments benefits from surface-imaging of polished thin sections using bright-field reflected light, back-scattered electron imaging, and scanned cathodoluminescence imaging. In many dark, organic-rich mudrocks (notably including some that are recognized as gas shales) these petrographic techniques reveal a surprising abundance and diversity of agglutinated tests and agglutinated aggregates (fragments of tests) that are not evident at the hand-specimen scale or in transmitted light observation. In some lithologies, a high percentage of the total silt-size quartz and feldspar has been gathered into aggregates by agglutinates. Other particles collected into aggregates in organic matter-rich mudrocks include dolomite crystals and the debris of sponges, radiolaria, and calcitic foraminifera. Problematic clay mineral aggregates with size, shape, and form similar to associated silt-composed agglutinate tests, raise the interesting possibility that aggregates made by protists that collect clay-size particles are also preserved. Early post-depositional sediment coarsening by agglutinated fauna has implications for the hydrodynamic meaning of particle size distributions in muds, for the modeling of mudrock compaction and cementation, and for interpretation of the environment of deposition of organic-rich mudrocks.

Using prehistoric foraminiferal assemblages to assess remediation of Halifax Harbour after 250 years of degradation

Saad A. Mohamed1, David B. Scott1

1Dalhousie, Canada E-mail: [email protected] Analysis of benthonic foraminifera in sediment cores from a domestically impacted estuary in Maritime Canada (Halifax Harbour) was helpful to reconstruct the pre-impact environment of the area to determine a “target” for remediation. High diversity, dominant calcareous record, very low deformities and association of other fossil groups (e.g. ostracods, pelecypods, echinoids, etc) characterize


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foraminiferal assemblage of pre-impact times. However large changes in the foraminiferal assemblages from prehistoric times to the present occurs as a consequence of organic enrichment from pollutants dumped in the harbour in the last 250 years. The results show a slight decrease in both foraminiferal diversity and total abundance upward in the sediment cores with the light input of organic waste. There is a dramatic change in foraminiferal record representing the transition from moderate to heavy pollutants discharge times (before1960s and 1960-present) as a result of the huge growth of the city of Halifax in the second half of 20th century. The heavy pollution rate that took place after 1960s is indicated by the dominance of high organic tolerant species such as Eggerella advena, and Reophax scottii in the upper part of sediment cores. Additionally there is a large decrease to a complete absence of calcareous tests, leaving only organic inner linings, resulting from the dissolution of carbonate due to the high OC concentration in sediments. Shell deformities with variable modes and intensities are also related to the increase of pollutants.

The allopatric distribution of Globoconella inflata cryptic species and its potential use for monitoring past movements of the Antarctic subpolar front

Raphaël Morard1, Frédéric Quillévéré1, Christophe J. Douady2, Gilles Escarguel1, Thibault de Garidel-Thoron3, Colomban de Vargas4

1Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5125 Paléoenvironments et Paléobiosphére, France 2Université de Lyon, UMR CNRS 5023 Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Fluviaux, France 3Université Aix-Marseille, CNRS/INSU, CdF, IRD, CEREGE, France

4Station biologique de Roscoff, UMR CNRS 7144 Evolution du Plancton et PaleOceans, France E-mail: [email protected] The planktonic foraminiferal morphospecies Globoconella inflata is widely used as a stratigraphic and paleoceanographic index. While G. inflata was until now regarded as a single species, we show that this morphospecies rather constitutes a complex of two cryptic species. Our study is based on sequence analyses and genotyping of ~500 individuals collected from 49 oceanic stations distributed worldwide within the entire environmental and geographical ranges of the morphospecies. Our phylogenetic analyses of ITS rDNA sequences unveil the presence of two quite divergent genotypes (TYPE I and TYPE II) that are supported by highly significant bootstrap values. Integration of data from the Brown University Foraminiferal Database (BFD) and the World Ocean Atlas (WOA) allow us to demonstrate that TYPE I inhabits the transitional and subtropical waters of both hemispheres, when TYPE II is restricted to the Antarctic subpolar waters.

Molecular analyses performed on other morphospecies of planktonic foraminifera have revealed some degree of sympatry among cryptic species. However, we find no co-occurrence between types I and II of G. inflata, suggesting that these cryptic species exhibit a strictly allopatric distribution on each side of the Antarctic subpolar front. Sediment data show that G. inflata was restricted to the transitional and subtropical environments since the early Pliocene, and finally expanded its geographic range to the southern subpolar waters ~700 kyrs ago, during oxygen isotopic stage 17. Our results suggest that this invading datum corresponds to an allopatric speciation event that led to the separation of an ancestral genotype, in two evolutionary significant units (ie the TYPES I and II). Finally, preliminary biometric measurements performed on G. inflata collected from plankton tows north and south of the Antarctic subpolar front indicate that TYPES I and II exhibit slight but recondite differences in shell morphology. Such differences may allow recognition of the cryptic species of G. inflata back into the fossil record, and contribute to monitor past movements of the Antarctic subpolar front during the middle and late Pleistocene.

Benthic Foraminifera associated with deep-water corals in the Rockall Bank (NE Atlantic): meso and microscale contrasts and comparison of stained and dead assemblages

Caterina Morigi1, Gaia Vitale2, Irene Pancotti2, Anna Sabbatini2, Roberto Danovaro2, Alessandra Negri2

1Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Stratigraphy Department, Denmark 2UNIVPM, Italy E-mail: [email protected] Cold-water corals occur in the upper part of the bathyal zone throughout the world, and they are widely distributed along European continental margins. These ecosystems might support a high biodiversity in surrounding sediments which have not yet largely investigated. In particular, information on foraminifera associated to deep coral banks is very scarce. In the framework of the HERMES (Hotspot Ecosystem Research on the Margins of European Seas) project, we collected sediment samples within areas of the NE Atlantic characterized by the presence of deep corals and in slope sediments (not influenced by the presence of corals) at increasing water depth with the aim to study living (Rose Bengal stained) and dead foraminiferal assemblages. Foraminifera abundance, assemblage structure, taxa richness and species diversity are analyzed. Abundant benthic foraminifera occur where corals colonise the sediment bottom. We identified 156 living foraminiferal species and the most representative species are: Spirillina vivipara, Allogromid sp. 1, Globocassidulina subglobosa, Adercotryma wrighti, Alabaminella weddellensis, Ehrenbergina carinata,


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Planulina ariminesis, Saccamminid sp. 5, Trochammina inflata, Paratrochammina challengeri. A very rich monothalamous component is present as well with undescribed species. Calcareous species, mainly rotaliids, accounted for 90% or more of all specimens in the dead assemblages (Cassidulina crassa, Globocassidulina subglobosa and Cassidulina laevigata where as Alabaminella weddellensis, Stainforthia fusiformis, Epistominella vitrea occur mainly in the area with deep coral). Our study provides evidence that the biodiversity of foraminifera is characterised by a high variability at the meso- and microscale, and that foraminifera are closely associated with deep-water corals, which support abundant and highly diverse foraminiferal assemblages. Conversely, living foraminifera are extremely rare in adjacent open slope areas. We suggest that the presence of cold water corals, creating a suitable substrate, mainly account for growth and diversification of deep-sea benthic foraminiferal assemblage.

Using 3-D X-ray microcomputed tomography (X-ray MCT) to analyze the building blocks, design and probable mechanical function of a foraminiferal shell

Riyad M. Mucadam1

1Victoria University Wellington, Earth Sciences/ Chemistry, New Zealand E-mail: [email protected] The calcium carbonate shell (test) of a coastal bottom dwelling large foraminifera, Marginopora v., is characterized using optical, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and 3-dimensional X-ray MCT imaging. SEM and 3-D imagery is compared; parameters and calculations from 3-d characterization are presented. We seek to abstract the principles of its hierarchical construction - to understand the relationship between its microstructures, shape and the mechanical performance of its structure. We identify efforts and difficulties in the experimental determination of the test's optical characteristics.

Morphometric analysis of the shells of the genus Bolivina of the Gulf of Gela (Sicilian Channel, Italy): a valid classification instrument?

Marianna Musco1, Angela Cuttitta1, Sergio Bonomo1, Antonio Mazzola2, Salvatrice Vizzini2, Luca Saporito1, Enza Quinci1, Salvo Mazzola1

1Institute for Marine Coastal Environment - National Research Council (IAMC-CNR), D.U. of Capo Granitola, Italy 2University of Palermo, Italy Email: [email protected] The paleontological application of benthic foraminifera, since their discovery, has determined the succession of classifications, starting from the 1826 d’Orbigny classification, until that of Loeblich and Tappan in 1992, both based on morphological features of these organisms’ shell. Difficulties in the assigning a specimens, belonging to a specific genus, to one or another species within the different classifications, makes it difficult to classify these individuals. For this reason, over the past decade, many studies have supported the morphological classification with the genetic DNA sequencing and/or the morphometric analysis of the shell, giving, and sometimes bringing, more certainty in the foraminifera classification. The purpose of this work is to assess morphometric analysis reliability as technique for the taxonomic classification (up to the species level) for the benthic foraminifera belonging to the Bolivina genus. Sediment samples were collected by box corer in the Gulf of Gela (Sicilian Channel, Italy), an area in which Bolivina genus is well represented. The first 2 cm of sediment from each box corer were analyzed to identify and isolate the specimens of Bolivina. 140 specimens were separated and grouped into 4 distinct species (B. catanensis, B. alata, B. attica and B. dilatata) through the Loeblich and Tappan (1992) classification. All individuals were photographed using an optical microscope. Morphometric characters, that include ratios, linear and angular values, were performed through multivariate statistic analyses, such as cluster analysis, box plots, discriminant analysis and Kruskal-Wallis non parametric test, in order to identify the parameters which can better discriminate the recognized species. The comparison of the different statistical analyses showed that the morphometric parameters that best distinguish the four species are: the length/width ratio (L/W), the perimeter/width ratio (P/W) and the radius ratio (R/r), which follows the perimeter/length ratio (P/L) and size width (W); the last two parameters revealed to be not effective for discriminating the species B. alata and B. dilatata, which show similar values in the size width of the shell. The morphometric analysis has revealed to be an inadequate instrument for the classification of the four species of Bolivina listed above, but very useful if coupled with genetic and/or morphological analysis (eg observation of ornamentation, etc ...).


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Salinity changes on the Southeastern Brazilian shelf during the Holocene: impact of the La Plata River discharge

Renata H. Nagai1, Poliana C. Andrade1, Cristiano M. Chiessi2, Márcia C. Bícego1, Silvia H. M. Sousa1, Michel M. Mahiques1

1Instituto Oceanográfico da universidade de São Paulo, Brazil 2Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil E-mail: [email protected] The La Plata River basin is the second largest drainage basin in South America, and its discharge to the western South Atlantic is mainly influenced by the South American Monsoon System (SAMS). Depositional processes on the southern Brazilian shelf are related to the northward penetration of the shelf waters associated with the La Plata River plume. Recent works addressed the Holocene variability of the La Plata River discharge and its impact on the depositional processes over the southern Brazilian shelf. However, none of them focused on paleosalinity changes, a more direct proxy for freshwater discharge. Here we present the first paleosalinity reconstruction (via ice volume corrected oxygen isotopic composition of seawater values - δ18Oivc-sw) for the southern Brazilian shelf during the Holocene. Therefore, we analyzed the oxygen isotopic composition of shells (δ18Oc) of the planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber (pink) from two sediment cores collected in the southern Brazilian shelf (core 7606, 26°59.28′S/48°4.56′W/60 m water depth; and core 7605, 27°6.24’S/47°48.24’W/93 m water depth). To decouple temperature and salinity effects on the δ18Oc an alkenone based sea surface temperature record, the only available for the region, was used. The δ18Oivc-sw values from both cores agree very well and will be described together. Between 7700 and 5200 cal yr BP δ18Oivc-sw values increase by approximately 0.60‰, and then show a general trend towards lighter δ18Oivc-sw values (mean decrease of approximately 0.70‰) until present time with two superimposed high frequency steps with decreases of 0.20‰ and 0.70‰. Our data suggest higher sea surface salinities during the mid Holocene and lower sea surface salinities during the late Holocene, which could be related to a changing influence of the La Plata River Plata plume over the southern Brazilian shelf. The background trend towards lower sea surface salinities is coincident to changes in February insolation at 30°S that would cause an intensification of the SAMS and higher precipitation in the La Plata River basin. This background trend is superimposed by millennial scale changes that might be related to the stepwise intensification of ENSO-like dynamics and/or to a vegetation feedback.

Benthic foraminifera assemblages as Holocene to Recent environmental indicators in Moreton Bay, South-East Queensland, Australia

Roshni Narayan1, John M. Pandolfi1

1The University of Queensland, School of Earth Sciences, Australia E-mail: [email protected] Sediment samples from mid-Holocene (~6.5 Ka) to Recent deposits from Moreton Bay, a large (1,523 km2) semi-enclosed embayment in South-East Queensland, are examined to evaluate the usefulness of foraminifera in assessing (1) substrate and water quality conditions; and (2) paleoenvironmental interpretations of sediments deposited in subtropical, estuarine, mesotidal conditions. Adjacent to Brisbane, currently the fastest growing region in Australia, the highly accessible habitats of Moreton Bay are influenced by the output of five major river catchments (21, 220 km2) and by potential degradation from rapid regional development (anthropogenic stressors). Analysis of 47 surface sediment samples reveal a strong correlation between benthic foraminifera assemblages and substrate conditions, which are indicative of an environmental gradient from an impacted western Bay (stress-tolerant Ammonia beccarii) to a hyposaline, normal estuarine central Bay (Elphidium discoidalis multiloculum) to an eastern Bay normal marine to hypersaline (Peneroplis planatus) environment. The Foram Index is a useful, single-metric and cost-effective tool for marine park managers for monitoring water quality in subtropical, marginal marine settings. When applied to Moreton Bay, it was consistent with a gradient in water and sediment quality. It can be, such as Moreton Bay. In the mid-Holocene sediments, benthic foraminifera assemblages from the western and eastern Bay environments suggest that clearer water quality conditions existed, particulary in the western Bay. The presence of a greater proportion of symbiont-bearing and reefal species of foraminifera (in the western Bay) is consistent with the prior presence of slow-growing, sensitive Acropora coral communities. Natural impacts from dropping sea level and flood events impacted communities in the western regions of the Bay towards the end of the mid-Holocene. Foraminifera provide a relatively accurate guide to the environmental conditions that have existed in Moreton Bay from the mid-Holocene to Recent.


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How do heavy metals influence Foraminifera biology? Evidences from experimental contamination

Maria P. Nardelli1, Anna Sabbatini1, Alessandra Negri1

1Polytechnic University of Marche, Department of Marine Sciences, Italy E-mail: [email protected] Many recent studies have focused on the responses of benthic Foraminifera to heavy metal environmental contamination and the correlations found until now suggest that these organisms have a great potential as indicators of the state of health for marine environments, especially the coastal areas, more often exposed to human activities. The aim of this work is explore in more detail the biological responses of foraminifera to the exposure to heavy metals, in terms of life cycle, cellular responses and in particular accumulation of contaminants in the calcareous shells of foraminiferal species. For these reasons the project includes some experimental studies on cultures of benthic Foraminifera of three genera: Quinqueloculina, Ammonia and Psammophaga, exposed to different concentrations of two essential metals, Cu and Zn, and a non-essential metal, Cd, and a mixture of the three. The aim of the experiment is to observe how the presence of these contaminants can influence the life cycle of these species, how the metals interact between themselves, how they are accumulated in the shell (when present) and if there is a preferential uptake of the different metals. Preliminary results will be shown.

Biogeography and diversity gradients of Oligocene larger foraminiferal assemblages from the Western Tethys

James H. Nebelsick1, Davide Bassi2, Salvatore Cirillo2, Lukas Hottinger3, Johannes S. Pignatti4, Alistair McGowan5 1University of Tübingen, Germany 2Università di Ferrara, Italy, 3Natural History Museum Basel, Switzerland 4Università di Roma "La Sapienza", Italy 5University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] This study represents a first order analysis of the palaeobiogeographic distribution of Oligocene larger foraminifera of the Western Tethys area. This study is based on an extensive literature survey and is based on species level distributions of larger foraminiferal assemblages from 23 distinct areas of the Western Tethys as well as neighbouring areas in the Indo-Pacific, Northern Atlantic, Paratethys and North Sea Basin. We aim to discern basic palaeogeographic patterns and diversity gradients and relate these to palaeoclimate, trophic regimes and further ecological parameters such as facies restrictions, especially pertaining to carbonate

environments where these larger foraminifera thrive. An occurrence matrix of (X taxa Y localities) was used to calculate diversity coefficients and multivariate ordination techniques using Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity were applied to quantify the distributional patterns. Taxon distributions are compared including those of higher taxonomic units such as porcellaneous imperforate versus hyaline perforate larger foraminiferal assemblages. The results are analysed with respect to the evolution of larger foraminifera during the Palaeogene and possible dispersal routes (gateways). The biogeography of these larger foraminifera is compared to that of other key benthic organisms (marine invertebrates) and the palaeobiographic concepts of Tethyan and Mediterranean areas based on these. First results show that the distribution of larger foraminiferal species is related to the ecological tolerances of each taxa; this has previously been hypothesized, but not rigorously tested for larger foraminifera in this region. Decreasing diversity gradients are observed, for example, from the southern Mediterranean–Tethyan margin to the northern Paratethys region.

Experiments on differential dissolution susceptibility of Paleocene-Eocene planktic foraminifera from the North Pacific Ocean (Allison Guyot, ODP Site 865 and Shatsky Rise, ODP Sites 1209, 1210 and 1212)

Thi Minh Phuong Nguyen1, Maria Rose Petrizzo2, Peter Stassen1, Robert Pieter Speijer1

1K.U.Leuven, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Belgium 2Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy E-mail: [email protected] We investigated the differential dissolution susceptibility and differential shell structure for planktic foraminiferal taxa derived from Paleocene-lowermost Eocene sequences in the deep-sea environment, ODP Sites 865, 1209B, 1210B and 1212A. The purposes of this study are: 1/ find out which planktic taxa suffered most severely from dissolution and propose a ranking scheme for these taxa with respect to dissolution resistance; 2/ investigate the differences in their shell structure; 3/ examine the connection between the shell structural parameters and the dissolution robustness of taxa and 4/ understand which parameter plays the most important role in the dissolution susceptibility of foraminifera taxa. Our results confirm previous experimental results on the differential dissolution susceptibility among taxa at genera level. Accordingly, the large muricate Acarinina and Morozovella are most resistant, followed by the cancellate Subbotina and the small muricate Igorina. At species level, the thick-walled A. soldadoensis and A. subsphaerica, the large M. subbotinae and the vigorous M. aragonensis showed to be the most resistant species. Most of the large Morozovella species such as M. aequa, M. formosa-gracilis, M. velascoensis and M.


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pasionensis, together with A. nitida show average dissolution robustness. Small muricate Igorina species, together with the cancellate S. velascoensis, the fragile M. acuta and M. occlusa are the most dissolution vulnerable species. Among the shell structural parameters, shell wall thickness plays the most important role on the dissolution robustness of species. The dissolution vulnerability of planktic species is directly controlled by their shell wall thickness, implying that mild dissolution leads to a relative enrichment of thick-walled species. This finding is completely in agreement with in-situ experimental observations as well as natural quantitative/qualitative records, for both benthic and planktic species, suggesting that our experiments well reflect natural processes and experimental results are meaningful for interpretations of foraminiferal dissolution in natural environments. With this approach, dissolution vulnerability ranking for any foraminiferal assemblages can easily be achieved. This enables the dissolution evaluation based on changes in proportion of thick shell taxa in any quantitative foraminiferal studies.

Onboard and in situ incubation experiments for understanding deep-sea benthic foraminiferal ecologies

Hidetaka Nomaki1, Takashi Toyofuku1, Lennart J. de Nooijer2, Hisami Suga1, Hiroshi Kitazato1

1Institute of Biogeosciences, JAMSTEC, Japan 2Utrecht University, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] Deep-sea benthic foraminifera play significant roles on biogeochemical cycles at the deep-sea floor. Since the deep-sea organisms often shows suppressed metabolism under atmospheric pressure, it is preferable to investigate their ecologies in situ. However, detailed in situ research on foraminiferal ecologies is difficult to operate because of limited access to the deep-sea floor. We carried out a series of onboard incubation experiments and compared the results to those obtained in situ. Both feeding ecologies and metabolic activities in relation to chemical profiles in the porewater were investigated. Undisturbed sediment cores were collected with multiple corer from the central part of Sagami Bay, Japan (water depth of 1420m), during KT08-06 Tansei-maru cruise. Sediment cores were gently transferred into small subcores and the subcores were kept cool in incubators. Some subcores were fed with either 13C-labelled Chlorella or 13C-labeled glucose and incubated for 2, 4 (only for glucose incubation), 6, 12 hours, 1, 2, 4, and 6 days intervals to investigate feeding ecologies of the deep-sea benthic communities. The other subcores were treated with a tetrazolium salt to investigate vital activities in different sediment layers under atmospheric pressure. At the end of the incubation, oxygen, nitrate+nitrite, and ammonium concentrations in the porewater were determined through the core. Total

mineralization of Chlorella and glucose by benthic community increased dramatically between 6 to 24 hours and increased gradually afterward. The mineralization rates were ~4 fold higher than that measured in situ, suggesting an activation of barotolerance bacteria under atmospheric pressure. Ingestion rates of Chlorella by benthic foraminifera were generally lower than those of in situ. The results suggest a change in hydraulic pressure invoke a contrast effects on different types of deep-sea organisms. Metabolically active foraminiferal specimens distributed in relatively narrow depth ranges in the sediments, where corresponding specific chemical property of porewater in the sediments. Detailed onboard experiments in conjunction with in situ measurements further suggest the foraminiferal adaptation to chemical environments.

Eastern Mediterranean planktonic foraminifera assemblage dynamics during MIS 11

Lea D. Numberger1, Michal Kucera1, Hartmut Schulz1

1Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen E-mail: [email protected] Marine isotope stage 11 (MIS 11), ~400,000 years ago, is often considered as the closest analogue to the Holocene (MIS 1) in terms of the configuration of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. This has often been used as an argument to investigate climate trends of MIS 11 reconstructed from natural geological archives in order to evaluate current and future climate developments. Proxies based on planktonic foraminifer assemblages are one of the main investigation tools for paleoclimatic reconstructions in this context. However, the MIS11 interglacial is known to have been anomalously long compared to other late Quaternary interglacials, it was the first interglacial after the mid-Brunhes carbon-cycle event and the first of the “warm” interglacials of the last 1 Ma. Given these observations, it is important to consider the possibility that MIS11 planktonic foraminifera have not yet evolved the same ecological preferences and tolerance as the extant fauna. Therefore, it is essential to critically evaluate the ecology of planktonic foraminifera and their reactions to climatic forcing during MIS11 as revealed by multiple alternative proxies. To this end, two eastern Mediterranean marine cores (ODP Site 964 and GeoTü-SL96) have been selected to investigate patterns in planktonic foraminifera assemblage composition throughout MIS 11 at a centennial resolution. We document an unexpected faunal development in the eastern Mediterranean with an early MIS11 dominated by glacial-like fauna and the late MIS11 showing strong cycles in the abundance of G. inflata and G. truncatulinoides. The fauna of the peaking phases of these two species in MIS11 resemble assemblages associated with some late Quaternary sapropels, indicating that the strong reaction of planktonic foraminifera may have been


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related to insolation variability in late MIS11 with the three conspicuous phases corresponding to late MIS11 earliest MIS10 precession-driven insolation maxima. The planktonic foraminifera assemblages of the three MIS11 phases are comparable to compositions during the sapropels S1, S5 and S6. This variability is superimposed on a gradual trend of increasing abundance of G. ruber throughout MIS 11, which reaches peak values of ~ 80 % in both cores in MIS 10. Our planktonic foramninifera assemblage data add to the concept of MIS 11 as a more complex interglacial in the eastern Mediterranean region than expected, with several near-sapropel events affecting the basin during the exceptionally long peak warm phase of this interglacial.

Deep-sea benthic foraminifers off Northern Chile during the last 1 myr

Samuel Guillermo Nuñez-Ricardo1, Margarita Marchant1,2, Raul Tapia3, Bruce Hayward4, Dierk Hebbeln5

1Department of Zoology, University of Concepción, Chile 2Center for Oceanographic Research in the Eastern South Pacific (COPAS), Chile 3Department of Earth Sciences, University of Concepción, Chile 4GeoMarine Research, Auckland, New Zealand 5Research Center Ocean Margins, Bremen University, Germany E-mail: [email protected] We analyzed 284 samples of benthic foraminifers from gravity core GeoB 3388 (25º13,2’S; 75º31,5’W) recovered at 3.5 km depth off northern Chile. The core was 9 m long with an age of 1 Myr. We found along core 6 orders: Miliolida (30%), Rotaliida (27), Buliminida (20%) Lagenida (18%), Textulariida (4%) and Trochamminida (2%). We determine 144 morphotypes from which 14 recent species were the most abundant. Three species: Oridorsalis umbonatus (15%), Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi (14%), Uvigerina peregrina (11%) account for ~40% of the total abundancel, followed by Epistominella exigua (7%), Pullenia bulloides (6%), Globocassidulina subglobosa (5%), Gyroidina soldanii (4%) and Ehrenbergina bradyi (3%). We also found 7 extant species from the Stilostomella Group (Pleurostomella pleurostomella (Silvestri 1904), Myllostomella sp. Hayward 2002, Myllostomella costai (Schwager 1866), Myllosto-mella hyugaensis (Ishizaki 1943), Siphonodosaria sagrinensis (Bagg 1912), and Siphonodosaria spinea (Cushman 1939). The Epifaunal/Infaunal ratio based on the total specimens counted was ~28% indicating that on average the deep sea conditions off northern Chile moves from eutrophic to mesotrophic. However, among the most abundant species the dominance was at epifaunal habits (O. umbonatus y C. wuellerstorfi), with 40% of relative abundante along almost every Marine Isotope stages (MIS), over the

infaunal U. peregrina (specially during MIS 9), suggesting low and/or pulsating flux of organic matter to the sea-floor.

Deep-sea benthic foraminifers off Southern Chile during the last 500.000 years

Samuel Guillermo Nuñez-Ricardo1, Margarita Marchant1,2, Raul Tapia3, Bruce Hayward4, Dierk Hebbeln5

1Department of Zoology, University of Concepción, Chile 2Center for Oceanographic Research in the Eastern South Pacific (COPAS), Chile 3Department of Earth Sciences, University of Concepción, Chile 4GeoMarine Research, Auckland, New Zealand 5Research Center Ocean Margins, Bremen University, Germany E-mail: [email protected] We analyzed 360 samples of benthic foraminifers from gravity core GeoB 3327, 43º14,5’S; 79º59,5’W) recovered at 3.5 km depth off southern Chile. The core was 7m length with an age of 0.5 Myr. Along core we found 6 orders: Rotaliida (34), Lagenida (27%), Miliolida (12%), Buliminida (20%), Textulariida (4%) and Trochamminida (2%). We found 137 morphotypes from which eight species account for more than the 80% of the total abundance, Uvigerina peregrina (25%), Oridorsalis umbonatus (16%), Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi (11%), Epistominella exigua (9%), Globocassidulina subglobosa (8%), Pullenia bulloides (7%), Gyroidina soldanii (7%) and Ehrenbergina bradyi (3%). There were no differences between the Epifaunal/Infaunal (E/I) ratio (40%) calculated using the total specimens or the most abundant species. This E/I of ~40% indicates the dominance of mesotrophic conditions along the core. We recognize two main condition controlling the foraminifera abundance along the core, 1) where the higher presence of infaunal species during Glacial Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) MIS10, MIS2-4, MIS12, 8, 6 and the Interglacial MIS7 (Interglacial), suggest a high and/or more stable influx of organic matter to the sea floor;2) while, the high presence of epifaunal organisms during Interglacial MIS13-11 and MIS5, indicates lower and/or more pulsating organic matter fluxes than during Glacial conditions.


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Oceanographic history on the connection between the southern Japan Sea and the northern East China Sea since the last Glacial

Takeshi Oi1, Masao Ushida1, Takuya Itaki1, Shiro Hasegawa1

1Kumamoto University, Kurokami, Japan E-mail: [email protected] The Tsushima Warm Current (TWC) is the only current that flows into the Japan Sea. It is a branch of the Kuroshio water in the East China Sea. In the northern Japan Sea, the present TWC water sinks by winter cooling and forms oxic Japan Sea Proper Water. To the contrary, the Tsushima Strait was closed during the Last Glacial, and the basin-bottom deeper than 500m became anoxic caused by stopping deep ventilation. Afterwards, the cold surface water (Oyashio) might inflow from the Tsugaru Strait in the northern Japan Sea during the degalciation. Such dynamic oceanographic changes have strongly influenced benthic fauna in the Japan Sea. We are analyzing faunal transition of benthic foraminifera based on several cores to recognize a process for establishing the present faunal distribution pattern in the Japan Sea. In this presentation, we will delineate faunal succession during the last 42 thousand years based on each two cores from upper slope in the southern Japan Sea (329m, 283m deep) and from the Danjo Basin in the northern East China Sea (758m, 738m deep). In the northern East China Sea, a major faunal change of benthic foraminifera occurred at 14ka. It corresponds to the intensification of the Kuroshio Current estimated by planktonic foraminiferal analysis. After the occasional changes of dominant species, such as Bulimina marginata at 13-12ka and 8-5ka, and Hyalinea balthica at 10-7.6 ka, the modern fauna characterized by Chilostomella cushmani has been occupied at 4.8ka. In the southern Japan Sea, the assemblage characterized by low number of foraminifera during the last glacial age was replaced by the assemblage dominated by Pseudoparrella takayanagii, accompanied with Elphidium excavatum forma clavata and Nonionellina labradrica in 18ka. Such species indicate the occupation of a lower saline and cold subarctic water similar to the present northern shallow Sea of Okhotsk. In 14-8ka, Cassidulina norvangi,which distributes in the present southern shallow Sea of Okhotsk, was abundant. This fauna has been replaced by the modern fauna composed by Bolivina decussata and Angulogerina ikebei in 8ka, but Pullenia apertura, which does not live in the present Japan Sea,continued to distribute after 8ka. Finally, P. apertura disappearsin 5ka, and the modern condition is established in the southern Japan Sea. These faunal changes both in the East China Sea and the Japan Sea occur almost contemporaneously at the two horizons. These correspond to eustatic sea level changes at MWP1a and just after the Holocene Climatic Optimum, respectively.

Biostratigraphy and Paleoenvironment of the Cenomanian-Turonian Interval based on foraminifera from the West Valles–San Luis Potosí Platform, Mexico

Lourdes Omaña1, Ruben Lopez-Doncel2, Ramon Torres2, Gloria Alencaster1

1UNAM; Mexico 2UASLP, Mexico E-mail: [email protected] Lithology and foraminiferal analysis of the two sections from the western part of the Valles–San Luis Potosí Platform reflect sea level rise suggesting that the platform was drowned in the Cenomanian-Turonian Boundary Interval as result of changing environmental conditions which coincides with a globally recognized Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE2). The benthic and planktic foraminiferal biostratigraphy has been developed in order to establish the transition from the Cenomanian carbonate deposit with abundant large benthic foraminifera, algae, rudists and other mollusks, corals, echinoderms, worms, to the deposit of the pelagic sediments that contains the opportunistic planktic forms as heterohelicids, hedbergellids and whitenellids (r-strategists). The limestone El Abra Formation represents the mid-late Cenomanian (Pseudolituonella reicheli Zone) deposited in a warm shallow-marine epeiric platform. The predominant textures of these rocks are peloidal-bioclastic packstone-grainstone with minor wackestone. Lithological variations, and increased detritical influx followed by a major transgression occurred in the lower part of the Soyatal Formation laminated wackestone deposits that display the transition to open marine deeper environments in the latest Cenomanian-earliest Turonian (Whiteinella archaeocretacea Zone) characterized by low species diversity low with tolerance of low oxygen and salinity. The Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica Zone of the early-mid Turonian age represents the recovery of the oligotrophic conditions, with the occurrence of the keeled forms (k strategists). (This work was supported by DGAPA-PAPIIT IN 119208 PROJECT grants.)

Monitoring the benthic foraminiferal response to the removal of aquaculture fishcages in the Gulf of Aqaba-Eilat

Shai Oron1, Gily Markado1, Sigal Abramovich1, Dror Angel2, Beverly Goodman2 1Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel 2Haifa University, Israel E-mail: [email protected] Worldwide, a significant part of the finfish industry is based upon rearing fish in cages, usually at areas close to shore. This coastal activity may have a significant influence on the immediate environment, especially on the underlying benthos due to the


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release of organic material and nutrients that may create hypoxic-anoxic conditions in the sediment. For about 18 years, finfish net cages were located at the northern end of the Gulf of Eilat, about 300m offshore and very close to the Israeli-Jordanian border. Increasing concerns about the potential damage inflicted on the Gulf’s ecosystem was the center of a heated scientific, legal and public debate that ended with the Israeli National Council of Planning and Construction ordering their complete removal by June 2008. The cessation of finfish cage aquaculture operations in the Gulf of Eilat created a unique opportunity to monitor the process and assess the time required for the benthic environment to recover. The goal of this research was to monitor temporal and spatial changes in the benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the area where the fish cages were located, and use these data as a measure of benthic recovery. One cm thick slices of sediment cores sampled by SCUBA divers were stained with Rose-Bengal to distinguish between living and dead foraminifera at the time of collection. Changes in diversity and abundances of the living assemblages in the top 1 cm of cores from stations located 20 and 80m from the "cage" location were monitored and correlated to organic matter concentration, sediment oxygen demand, and grain size distribution in the same samples. Our preliminary results show that the benthic environment below the active fish cages was severely influenced by organic matter loading, resulting in an environment with almost no living foraminifera. About one year after the removal of the cages there was an increase in the abundance of living benthic foraminifera in the sediment, dominated by Assilina ammonoides, a species previously known to be abundant in water depths greater than 60m. A. ammonoides appearance was concurrent with the reappearance of the endemic seagrass Halophilastipulacea, an indication of environmental recovery for epiphytic species.

New foraminiferal criteria to pinpoint the newly defined GSSP for the Mid-Paleocene Selandian Stage in the Zumaia Section (Basque Country)

Xabier Orue-Etxebarria1, Estibaliz Apellaniz1, Silvia Ortiz1, Victoriano Pujalte1, Juan I. Baceta1, Fernando Caballero1

1University of the Basque Country, Stratigraphy and Paleontology, Spain E-mail: [email protected] The Zumaia section, in the Basque Country, is an easily accessible cliff section that provides an expanded and continuous record of the Paleocene in open marine hemipelagic facies. Zumaia was approved as the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Selandian Stage, a proposal now ratified by the International Union of Geological Sciences. We here present the results of a high-resolution analysis of planktic and benthic foraminifera from a 20 m thick interval of the section

spanning the uppermost Danian-lowermost Selandian interval. Nearly all marly beds of this interval were sampled, totalling 60 samples. No significant first or last occurrences of planktic foraminifera have been observed at this boundary, a fact that some specialists considered a shortcoming of the designated GSSP. However, the boundary is characterised by foraminiferal events that may provide additional criteria for interregional correlation of the Danian/Selandian boundary. One of those events is a noticeable decrease in the proportion of morozovellids, from 20/25% of the total assemblage in the Danian samples, to 10% or less in the Selandian samples. Another potentially important criterion, fist noticed in this study, is a progressive but systematic change in the coiling direction of the species Morozovella occlusa, which evolves from having a proportionate coiling in Danian samples (approximately 50% sinistral and dextral individuals) to progressively becoming dominated by a dextral population in the lower few meters of the Selandian succession. Last, but not least, benthic foraminiferal assemblages show an abrupt increase in opportunistic taxa (trochamminids and Karrerulina species) just across the Danian/Selandian boundary. It is well established, from regional data, that an important sea-level fall occurred in connection with this boundary. We therefore hypothesize that the aforementioned foraminiferal events may be related to a coeval change in climate and paleoceanography.

Planktonic Foraminifera in surface sediments from the Thukela Shelf, South Africa

Maria N. Ovechkina1, Marina E. Bylinskaya2, Ron Uken1

1University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 2Geological Institute, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Twenty-five species of planktonic Foraminifera have been identified from surface sediments on the Thukela Shelf (KwaZulu-Natal Bight). The assemblage is dominated by warm-water species Orbulina universa, Globigerinoides ruber and Neogloboquadrina dutertrei, and subdominated by Globigerinoides trilobus and Hastigerina aequilateralis, and is referred to the tropical–subtropical areas. A single specimen of Globigerina quinqueloba and a single specimen of right-coiling Neogloboquadrina pachydermarepresent isolated elements of a cold-water subpolar assemblage. Surface-water species dominate over deep-water species. The assemblage is characterized by a high proportion of G. ruber (over 20%), with G. trilobus, G. sacculifer and G. conglobatus being less abundant. These species prefer the upper part of the euphotic zone. Deep-water species—Globorotalia menardii, G. tumida, G. inflata, N. pachyderma, Spaeroidinella dehiscens—are generally exceptionally scarce, with the exception of N. dutertrei that reaches over 11%.The taxonomic


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diversity of the planktonic foraminifers generally increases toward the outer shelf across the Thukela Shelf. In general, the planktonic foraminiferal assemblage of the Thukela Shelf agrees with the distributional pattern of species drawn by Bé & Hutson (1977), with several insignificant exceptions. The most striking oddity is a proportion of O. universa, which constitutes over 32% of the total Thukela Shelf assemblage. Earlier researchers reported much lower occurrences of this species east of South Africa, with its share not exceeding 5% in sediment (‘fossil’) assemblages. Our results may reflect changes in ocean conditions over the past 30 years, or show the influence of the Agulhas Current, which brings pools of O. universa to the KwaZulu-Natal waters. O. universa is substantially more abundant at sampling sites on the outer Thukela Shelf away from fresh water influx. This agrees with ecological requirements of the species, preferring cooler temperatures and normal/elevated salinities, and again, may reflect the direct influence of the Agulhas Current. The Agulhas Current may also be responsible for the appearance of G. menardii on the Thukela Shelf, although as isolated specimens.

Late Saalian–Early Eemian marine environments of the northeastern White Sea region inferred from fossil foraminifers

Yaroslav S. Ovsepyan1, Ekaterina Taldenkova1, Henning Bauch2

1Moscow State University, Russian Federation 2Mainz Academy for Sciences, Humanities and Literature, c/o IFM-GEOMAR, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Reconstruction of paleoenvironmental changes in subpolar regions during past interglacial epochs helps understanding possible consequences of ongoing climate warming. The intention of this investigation is to perform a high-resolution reconstruction of environmental changes in the northeastern White Sea Region in relation to water circulation in the adjacent North Atlantic and Arctic during the late Saalian-early Eemian transition. For this purpose a 4.5 meter thick section of marine late Saalian–early Eemian sediments near Bychye settlement on the Pyoza River was sampled for micropaleontological investigations with 5 cm intervals. Marine beds in this section directly overlie Saalian moraine. Calcareous benthic foraminifers are perfectly preserved and represent the most abundant and taxonomically diverse group of microfossils. In total, 35 species are identified. Environmental changes could be traced through the succession of benthic assemblages and ecological groups distinguished in the arctic marginal seas in dependence to offshore changes in water depth and river runoff influence (river-proximal, -intermediate, -distal). Three intervals of distinct changes in the composition of benthic foraminifers are recorded. The lower interval corresponds to the early stage of

inundation. Foraminiferal assemblage is poor being dominated by Elphidium clavatum and Cassidulina reniforme. In combination with the high percentage of river-distal arctic foraminifers this gives evidence for a relatively deep, but fluvial-affected coastal setting with cold turbid waters, probably high sedimentation rates and heavy seasonal sea-ice cover. The middle interval also corresponds to a relatively deep but warmer marine environment with less seasonal ice cover as inferred from high relative abundance of Nonion labradoricum and Islandiella norcrossi/helenae. These species are indicative of high seasonal productivity at the sea-ice margin and surface water warming which could be due to enhanced influence of Atlantic waters. The final regressive interval is characterized by the predominance of E. clavatum and river-proximal species indicating shallow-water fluvial-affected environment with seasonal sea ice cover.

Reconstruction of bottom water ventilation and export production based on benthic foraminiferal assemblages from the Shirshov Ridge (Bering Sea) during MIS1-2

Ekaterina A. Ovsepyan1, Elena V. Ivanova1, Lars Max2, Jan Riethdorf3, Ralf Tiedemann2, Dirk Nürnberg3 1Shirshov Institute of Oceanology RAS, Moscow, Russia 2AWI, Bremerhaven, Germany 3IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany, E-mail: [email protected] The 18m-long core SO201-2-85KL (57°30.30 N, 170°24.79 E, w.d. 968 m) was retrieved from the Shirshov Ridge, western Bering Sea. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages have been studied in the size fractions 63-100 µm and >100 µm through the upper 3 m of the core that recovered MIS 1-2 according to the oxygen isotope stratigraphy and AMS- 14C dates. Three foraminiferal assemblages are distinguished based on the faunal portions (%) and abundance (tests/g of dry sediment) of the relevant species. The oldest assemblage corresponding to the early MIS 2 consists of several common species including Islandiella norcrossi, Trifarina angulosa, Uvigerina peregrina, Alabaminella weddellensis and Cassidulina reniforme. It indicates relatively high seasonal bioproductivity and moderate bottom water hydrodynamics. The latter seems to increase prior to the LGM as follows from the very high percent of T. angulosa. The next assemblage characterizes low-productivity conditions of the LGM with decreased benthic and planktic foraminiferal abundance. Benthic and planktic assemblages are dominated by I. norcrossi, A. weddellensis and Neogloboquadrina pachyderma sin, respectively. This fauna points to cold conditions with rather low productivity related to the seasonal phytoplankton bloom with a pulsed phytodetritus flux. Low values of T. angulosa and a lack of epifaunal species ascertain weak bottom currents and restricted


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ventilation. The youngest assemblage contains much more abundant fauna compared to two older ones. Along with the numerous I. norcrossi and A. weddellensis it consists of noticeable amount of T. angulosa, U. peregrina, Elphidium batialis and Epistominella exigua. Very high abundance of planktic and benthic foraminifera, enhanced faunal portion of phytodetritus feeding A. weddellensis and E. exigua, productivity-related U. peregrina, E. batialis and planktic species Globigerina bulloides collectively suggest a considerable increase in bioproductivity over the termination, most likely at the Bølling-Allerød warming. The Holocene interval of the core contains much more siliceous microfossils while planktic and benthic foraminifera are remarkably less abundant.

Late Rupelian to Burdigalian larger foraminifera in Turkey: the appraisal of new taxonomic, biometric and biostratigraphic data

Ercan Özcan1, György Less2

1Istanbul Technical University, Geology, ITÜ Maden Fak., Jeoloji Böl., Maslak, 34469 Turkey 2University of Miskolc, Hungary E-mail: [email protected] Larger foraminifera taxa such as Miogypsina, Miogypsinoides, Nephrolepidina, Eulepidina, Nummulites, Cycloclypeus, Heterostegina, Operculina and Spiroclypeus are the major faunal components of late Rupelian to Burdigalian carbonate/clastic shelves in Turkey. As opposed to our current knowledge from Western Tethys, our new data from different sections of the W Taurides, Sivas Basin and E Anatolia suggest that representatives of Miogypsinoides, Eulepidina, Nephrolepidina and Cycloclypeus can be grouped into more than one lineage during this time interval. Some new taxa such as, Miogypsinoides sivasensis, Nephrolepidina musensis, Eulepidina anatolica and Cycloclypeus pseudocarpenteri are introduced. The stratigraphic position of Eulepidina elephantina, highly disputed in previous works, was re-evaluated based on its occurrence in the late Chattian. We demonstrate the parallel evolution of Miogypsina and Miogypsinoides in the late Chattian of the eastern Mediterranean region, which is only known from some localities in the western Tethys. Our data suggest that the N. praemarginata-morgani-tournoueri group does not serve as a high-resolution biostratigraphic tool since all Aquitanian assemblages are referable to N. morgani or a transitional stage to N. tournoueri (N. ex. interc. morgani-tournoueri - type 1), although stratigraphically lowest samples have more primitive features. The second distinct assemblage of this group, identified in association with early Burdigalian M. globulina, is referred to N. ex. interc. morgani-tournoueri (type 2), which has more primitive features than those described from the Aquitanian. The Burdigalian taxa at three different localities (W Taurides, Sivas Basin and the vicinity of Lake Van) contain distinct assemblages of

western Tethyan and Indo-Pacific elements. These latter include the specimens of Cycloclypeus, Eulepidina and ‘ribbed’ Nephrolepidina occurring only in the lower Miocene deposits of SE Asia and Australia, and which were not yet recorded from the age-equivalent deposits of the western Tethys. (This research was supported by grants TÜBİTAK-CAYDAG 104Y230, BAP-İTU, project no: 32774 and OTKA K 60645)

Benthic Foraminifera from Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea: who, how many and what differences?

Irene Pancotti1, Anna Sabbatini1, Caterina Morigi2, J. Andrew Gooday3, Roberto Danovaro1, Alessandra Negri1

1Polytechnic University of Marche, Italy 2Stratigraphy Department, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Denmark 3National Oceanography Centre, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] Studies on deep modern benthic foraminifera in the Mediterranean Sea are not abundant and generally focused on the fossilizing polythalamous component of the assemblage. We present preliminary results of living (Rose Bengal stained) benthic foraminiferal faunas in bathyal and abyssal sediment samples. Density, species composition and biomass of this protists are determined at 19 sites across a transect from the Atlantic (Seine Abyssal Plain) to the eastern Mediterranean Sea from 1850 to 4345 m water depth. In this framework we investigated the 63-150µm and >150µm fractions of two replicate samples in the first 5 cm of sediment including also the analysis of monothalamous taxa (both hard and soft-shelled). Our results evidence that the Atlantic samples show a generally high abundance with respect to the Mediterranean samples whereas in the Mediterranean basin is evidenced an overall relatively low density and an eastward decreasing abundance trend. In the foraminiferal assemblage the soft-shelled monothalamous taxa represent the most important element that in the deepest site (Ierapetra, eastern Mediterranean) becomes the only component of the benthic fauna. This is mainly represented by Nodellum membranaceum, “Nodellum-like” forms and Resigella moniliforme, which have been reported from Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Ocean, but are not common in the Mediterranean Sea. All monothalamous taxa described in this work are reported for the first time in this environment. Polythalamous agglutinated and calcareous taxa are in general more abundant in the coarser fraction and in addition their abundance increase in the Atlantic Ocean and in the Tyrrhenian Sea respectively. Moreover the Atlantic foraminiferal samples are extremely rich in fragments of tubular forms belonging to genera Rhabdammina and Rhizammina and Komokiaceans specimens.


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Finally, the biomass values (in the fraction >63µm) based on the volumetric method (Altenbach, 1985) range from 68.41 mgC m-2 at the sites of the Alboran region to 0.48 mgC m-2 at the Ierapetra station, south of Crete. Our data represent a starting point for future comparison between foraminifera and metazoan meiofauna biomass.

Benthic foraminifera as proxy of methane emissions in the marine environment

Giuliana Panieri1, Angelo Camerlenghi2

ISMAR-CNR, Italy ICREA and University of Barcelona, Spain E-mail: [email protected] Methane emissions have been related to global climate change in the recent geological history of the Earth. However, intensity, duration, episodicity, and areal distribution of methane emissions are particularly poorly understood from the marine environment. One of the problems in the investigation of emissions in the marine sedimentary record is the scarcity of well-defined proxies that can be used to establish the timing of events. Macro benthic faunas and authigenic mineral concretions are commonly used proxies on the modern seafloor. However, their identification in the stratigraphic record from sediment cores is often problematic. The combination of geochemical and micropaleontological investigations represents a strategic approach that offers the advantage of using microfossils that are nearly ubiquitous in the stratigraphic record of marine sediment cores, and well-established and easily-accessible analytical techniques. Negative δ13C anomalies in the cytoplasm and in the test of benthic foraminifera occur when the organisms live in the presence of methane. In addition, changes in benthic foraminiferal assemblages have been noted in the presence of methane emissions from the seabed. We present an overview of the results from a series of case studies from varying geological settings and stratigraphic positions: Miocene foreland basin of the Northern Apennine; Pleistocene mud volcanoes of the Adriatic continental shelf; continental margin of the Balearic Promontory and associates Pleistocene submarine landslides; Holocene sediments of Blake Ridge gas hydrate reservoir (offshore Florida); Post Messinian salt-structures of the Western Mediterranean. With no doubts the geochemical and micropaleontological signal of methane emission can be preserved in the stratigraphic record. However, diagenesis may induce authigenic carbonate overgrowths or recrystallization of foraminiferal tests due to temperature and/or isotopic composition changes in the water. In cold seep, such changes are commonly induced by the fluid flow through the sediments. Any contamination or overgrowth on biogenic carbonate due to precipitation of authigenic carbonates produced by bicarbonate from methane-enriched fluids in seeps

would alter the isotopic signature toward more negative δ13C values. The diagenetic alteration possibly indicated by very negative δ13C values would retain the value of benthic foraminifera as proxies of paleo-methane seeps in marine sediments, but reduce the stratigraphic significance of such proxies.

Taphonomic index and transportation in nummulite banks and in nummulitic limestones

Cesare A. Papazzoni1

1Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy E-mail: [email protected] Fossil nummulite tests are hardly found as complete tests. In 2004 Beavington-Penney pointed out that their state of preservation gives precious taphonomic information, especially about their degree of transportation. He built a scale of taphonomic features (numbered 0 to 3) easy to apply to the observation on thin sections. In this scale, from here on referred to as Beavington Taphonomic Index (BTI) the 0 category is the only one allowing an in situ interpretation; categories 1 to 3 could be interpreted either as transportation or as wave reworking. The current debate on the interpretation of nummulite banks as autochthonous or allochthonous sedimentary bodies can take advantage of information about the taphonomic features, so an examination of thin sections from nummulite banks and from “normal” nummulitic limestones has started. The BTI has been applied to thin sections made on samples from the Pederiva di Grancona nummulite bank (SBZ 17, lower Bartonian) and from the nummulitic limestones (in “normal” facies) from the Mossano section (SBZ 18, upper Bartonian). Both localities are in the Berici Mts. (Northern Italy), less than 10 km from each other. The Pederiva bank has been previously interpreted as relatively deep environment on the basis of the foraminiferal assemblage, which contains among others flat nummulites (such as the large Nummulites lyelli B), assilinas, operculinas, and orthophragminids. On the other hand, the upper Bartonian part of the Mossano section has been considered as quite shallow middle-inner platform subjected to the wave action (“shoal” facies). The taphonomic observations support this interpretation, giving a mean BTI between 1 and 2 for both samples, but a lower value has been calculated for Pederiva than for Mossano. Therefore, it seems that this index has a good correlation with the intensity of wave energy on the bottom. If we consider the bank as allochthonous, the low value of BTI could mean that it gives little information about the lateral transportation of the tests. On the contrary, if we assume the bank is the product of autochthonous deposition, we can consider the BTI as a useful tool to estimate the


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relative intensity of wave energy and possibly the depth.

Isotope stratigraphy as a tool to improve chronostratigraphic dating of shallow benthic biozones: integrate bio-chemostratigraphy of Cretaceous platform carbonates of the Southern Apennines (Italy).

Mariano Parente1, Alberto Trecalli1, Matteo Di Lucia2, Gianluca Frijia2

1Università di Napoli "Federico II", Italy 2Institut für Erd- und Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Potsdam, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The biostratigraphy of Mesozoic carbonate platform shallow-water successions is mainly based on benthic larger foraminifera and calcareous algae. Correlation with coeval deep-water successions of oceanic and epicontinental basins is often problematic, especially for inner platform facies. A case in point are the biostratigraphic schemes developed for the Mesozoic carbonate platforms of the southern margin of the Tethyan ocean: the succession of the biozones is generally well established but their chronostratigraphic age is often only tentatively inferred. In very few cases direct correlation is constrained by intercalations with deep-water facies bearing ammonites, planktic foraminifers or nannofossils. The lack of precise correlations with deep water standard biozonations and with the chronostratigraphic scale severely limits the possibility of fully exploiting the high resolution archive of palaeoenvironmental changes and sea-level oscillations recorded by carbonate platforms. This is particularly disappointing because the geological record might hold the key to answer relevant questions on present and future global change. During the last few years we have studied the record of Cretaceous oceanic anoxic events and related episodes of ocean acidification in the carbonate platforms of the southern Apennines. In order to bracket with precision the intervals corresponding to the OAEs and to overcome the limitations imposed by the low biostratigraphic resolution of shallow water benthic biozonations, we used isotope stratigraphy. Carbon isotope stratigraphy proved particularly successful for the Barremian−Albian and late Cenomanian−early Turonian intervals. For the middle Turonian−Campanian rudist limestones the best results were attained by integrating the data of strontium- and carbon isotope stratigraphy. Isotope stratigraphy allowed us to constrain the chronostratigraphic age of many biostratigraphic events used in the shallow benthic biozonations and to correlate them with the standard biozonations based on ammonites and calcareous plankton and nannoplankton. We are now applying the same research strategy to the early Toarcian anoxic event

and to the extinction of Early Jurassic agglutinated larger foraminifers.

Biodiversity and assemblage changes of foraminifera from coral reef terraces, Late Pleistocene to Holocene, South Sinai

Justin Parker1, Eberhard Gischler2

1Institute for Biodiversity and Climate Change, Germany, 2Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Uplifted coral reef terraces in south Sinai formed during interglacial highstands in the Late Pleistocene. The youngest terraces formed between MIS 9 (350 – 270 ka) and MIS 5 (140-60 ka) and are exceptionally well preserved due to the arid environment (Strasser et al. 1992). Many of the corals in these terraces are in life position and the preserved fringing-reef morphologies are identical to the modern reefs in the area. This suggests that modern sea conditions (warm, oligotrophic, hypersaline and microtidal) existed during interglacial episodes. This allows us to compare similar tropical shallow-water environments over the past 350 ky. Foraminifera are used to investigate changes in biodiversity and community structure. Foraminifera are a minor component of the Sinai reef terraces, constituting < 5% of the modern sediment and < 3% of the Pleistocene sediment. Amphistegina (A. lessoni and A. lobifera) dominates the Pleistocene foraminiferal assemblages. The genus is more abundant in the Pleistocene than in the modern due to the high preservation potential of the heavily calcified tests. Arborescent and incrusting perforate foraminifera are the other dominant group. It appears that the arborescent foraminifera, Homotrema and Minicina, were more common in the Pleistocene than in the modern. Encrusting taxa (Gypsina, Planogypsina, Planorbulina, and Placopsilina) are common in Pleistocene and modern samples. The Larger miliolid taxa Amphisorus, Borelis, Sorites and Peneroplis are much more abundant in the modern, and it is likely that the Pleistocene habitats were not exposed or sampled. Biodiversity of the southern Sinai foraminifera is relatively low, with 180 species identified in total and species richness varying from 30 to 60 in samples. Of these species, 120 are also found in the Pleistocene. Several taxa are only found in the modern samples, and others only in the Pleistocene. Since these taxa are rare (< 1% of the foraminifera), their presence/absence is considered insignificant. Variation in biodiversity is much higher between different habitats than between similar habitats in the Pleistocene and Holocene. The slightly lower biodiversity of Pleistocene faunas may be related to taphonomic effects. Despite some small changes in community structure, it appears that biodiversity and species composition of tropical foraminifera in the Red Sea are comparable


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between interglacial episodes of the Late Pleistocene.

Inter-tidal Foraminifera of West and East Coasts of India – A Comparative Study

Rajashekhar K. Patil1, Subhadra Devi Gadi2

1Department of Applied Zoology, Mangalore University, Mangalore- 574 199, Karnataka, India 2Department of Zoology, Carmel College for Women, India E-mail:[email protected] To correlate oceanographic conditions with assemblages of forams the present study was undertaken. Distribution and diversity of foraminifera of West- and East Coast of India were surveyed from 9 sites on the West- and at 8 sites on the East Coast of India. The intertidal sediment samples collected during October 2004 to September 2006. Samples were analysed for foraminiferal diversity and sediment characteristics by standard methods. High densities and diversities were observed at all the sites of the West coast as compared to the East coast of India. Total Foraminiferal Number (TFN) of samples from various sites on West Coast varied between 156 to 19,400/g, while that of East Coast ranged from 37 to 214/g. In the present study, a total of 98 (94 benthic and 4 planktonic) species of foraminifera were recorded from West and East coasts of India. Out of which 74 species of foraminifera, belonging to 39 genera, 27 families and 7 suborders were recorded from the intertidal sediments of West Coast and 57 species of foraminifera were observed from the sediment samples of East Coast. They belonged to 32 genera, 23 families and 5 suborders. Thirty three species were common to both the coasts of India. Forty one and 24 species were found to be unique to West and East Coast of India, respectively. Spiroloculina communis, Globigerina bulloides, Bolivina striatula, Nonion boueanum, Nonion scaphum, Ammonia beccarii, Ammonia tepida, and Rotalidium annectans, were dominant species on the West Coast. Bolivina striatula, Nonion boueanum, Nonion scaphum, Ammonia beccarri, Ammonia dentata, Asterorotalia trispinosa, and Elphidium discoidale were the dominant species of East Coast. The foraminiferal species similarity was 33.67% between West and East Coasts of India. There is significant difference in the TFN, Species Richness and Shannon Diversity (H’) between the west and east coast of India. It is evident from Bray – Curtis cluster analysis that the sites of West and East-Coasts form distinct clusters indicating distinctly different foraminiferal assemblages.

Hidden diversity of early Foraminifera unveiled by environmental DNA surveys

Jan Pawlowski1, Béatrice Lecroq1, Franck Lejzerowicz1

1University of Geneva, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] New high throughput DNA sequencing techniques applied to environmental DNA samples revealed unexpectedly high taxonomic richness of microbial and meiofaunal communities. To test the usefulness of these techniques to assess the diversity of foraminifera we have specifically amplified foraminiferal rRNA genes from DNA and RNA extracted from sediment samples and sequenced the amplicons using 454 pyrosequencing and Illumina massive sequencing technologies. The first results of these studies are very promising. We have been able to assign many sequences to well known morphospecies. However, we also found a large number of undetermined sequences, particularly abundant and diverse in the deep-sea sediments and soil samples. Phylogenetic analyses show that most of these undetermined sequences belong to new lineages branching at the base of foraminiferal tree within the radiation of early, monothalamous foraminifera. Nothing is known about the organisms, to which these environmental sequences belong. We can only speculate that they are tiny, naked or thecate species, very common in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Our study gives a glimpse into the astonishing diversity of these enigmatic foraminiferans but it is a challenge for the future studies to learn more about their biology and ecology.

Forams Barcoding Database

Jan Pawlowski1, Maria Holzmann1

1University of Geneva, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] DNA barcoding refers to identification of species using short DNA sequences. Divers molecular markers are used as DNA barcodes for different taxonomic groups. In the case of Foraminifera, there are about 3000 rRNA gene sequences deposited in the GenBank database. These genes are known to contain variable regions appropriate for distinction of foraminiferal species. However, only small part of foraminiferal diversity is well represented in this database, biased towards some taxonomic groups and geographic regions. Moreover, there is no morphological documentation for the sequences deposited in the GenBank. Our aim is to create the Forams Barcoding Database (FBD), which will combine DNA and morphological data for all taxonomic groups of Foraminifera. Everyone can contribute to the FBD by providing molecular and morphological data or by sending specimens or DNA extracts together with their detailed description to the Molecular Systematics Laboratory in Geneva.


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The DNA sequences obtained there and the information about sequenced specimens, including their photographic documentation, will be available at the FBD website. The FBD project will contribute to more accurate assessment of diversity and biogeography of Recent Foraminifera, will help to revise the taxonomy of particular foraminiferal species and will facilitate the use of Foraminifera in environmental DNA surveys.

Sea-level reconstruction based on foraminifera: a case study from the Late Neogene in the Guadalquivir Basin (SW Spain)

José N. Pérez Asensio1, Julio Aguirre1, Jorge Civis2, Gerhard Schmiedl3

1Universidad de Granada, Spain 2Salamanca University, Spain 3Hamburg University, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The sea-level trend during the Late Tortonian-Early Pliocene is analysed using qualitative and quantitative methods. We studied the Montemayor-1 core, 260 m thick, located close to Huelva (NW Guadalquivir Basin). The qualitative methods are: (1) the relative abundance of benthic foraminiferal species, (2) the benthic foraminiferal assemblages based on Q-mode PCA, and (3) the planktic-to-benthic ratio (P/B ratio). The quantitative methods are 3 transfer functions: (1) the equation of van der Zwaan and others for the P/B ratio, (2) the function based on depth ranges proposed by Hohenegger, and (3) a modified version of the Hohenegger´s formula. Both qualitative and quantitative results using the different methods show a very rapid sea-level rise from inner shelf to upper slope during the latest Tortonian-lowest Messinian. A very low sedimentation rate, favouring the deposition of a glauconite-rich bed at the base of the study interval accounts for this dramatic sea-level increase. During the Messinian, coinciding with the onset of the Messinian salinity crisis in the Mediterranean, a sea-level drop of ~200 m took place, passing from upper slope to outer shelf settings. The sea level stabilized during most of the upper Messinian. This sustained stabilization is related with an increase in the sedimentation rate in this time interval. By the end of the Messinian the sea level progressively fell. Finally, during the Early Pliocene the sea level decreased abruptly passing to mid, and lastly inner shelf settings at the top of the core. This change in the environmental conditions is very sharp due to the presence of a discontinuity close to the Messinian-Pliocene boundary. The curves of sea-level trends using the three quantitative metrics are statistically similar as indicated by high Pearson correlation coefficients (at p < 0.001). Of the three metrics, the van der Zwaan function shows the most different sea-level curve, as it has the lowest correlation coefficient. Comparing the quantitative data and the benthic foraminiferal assemblages we conclude that the

modified Hohenegger´s formula is the best method for quantitative sea-level reconstructions in this case study and that the sea-level curve derived from the van der Zwaan function is the less representative.

Late Holocene oceanographic changes reconstructed from benthic foraminifera in southern Disko Bugt, West Greenland

Kerstin Perner1, Matthias Moros2, Jerry Lloyd3, Marit Solveig Seidenkrantz4, Karen Luise Knudsen4, Antoon Kuijkers5, Jan Harff6

1Institute for Baltic Sea Research (IOW), Marine Geology, Germany 2Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Norway 3Durham University, United Kingdom 4University of Aarhus, Denmark 5Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Denmark 6University of Szczecin, Poland E-mail: [email protected] The general late Holocene climate development of central West Greenland (Disko Bugt) is closely linked to broader scale climatic and oceanographic variations in the Northern Hemisphere. The Disko Bugt area is strongly influenced by the West Greenland Current (WGC), and constitutes a key region to reconstruct late Holocene WGC property variations. In general, the relatively warm WGC dominates the present day oceanography of West Greenland and constitutes a mixture of (mainly subsurface) Atlantic-sourced relatively warm and saline water from the Irminger Current (IC) and Arctic-sourced cold, low-salinity water from the East Greenland Current (EGC). To reconstruct these climatic and oceanographic changes we performed analysis of benthic foraminifera, on a 9.39 m sediment core covering the past 3.6 ka BP, obtained in approximately 900 m water depth from Egedesminde Dyb (southern Disko Bugt). Samples for foraminiferal analyses were wet-sieved at 63 µm and counted at 4 cm intervals, which equals a resolution of 12 to 16 years. The absolute abundance ranges between 400 and > 500 specimens per 5 ml of sediment. The fauna is characterized by a diverse calcareous and agglutinated assemblage. Dominant species of the calcareous fauna are Cassidulina reniforme, Elphidium excavatum f. clavata and Nonionellina labradorica. A number of accessory species such as; Buccella frigida, Pullenia osloensis and Globobulimina auriculata arctica point to a general relatively high food availability (i.e. high nutrient input). The agglutinated fauna is characterized by the high percentage of Deuterammina ochrachea, Cuneata arctica and Eggerella advena. Our data show marked changes in the distribution of agglutinated and calcareous foraminifera. From about 3.6 ka BP to 2.8 ka BP the calcareous fauna dominates the total assemblage. At approximately 2.5 ka BP the assemblage is characterized by a


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marked increase in agglutinated taxa and low abundance of calcareous taxa, respectively. A further shift from a primarily agglutinated to a calcareous fauna is found between 2 ka BP and 1.9 ka BP. From about 1.8 ka BP towards the present, percentages of agglutinated taxa increases gradually and the modern benthic assemblage is mainly composed of agglutinated species. Periods characterized by a dominance of calcareous fauna (Atlantic water indicators) reflect a possible warmer / stronger WGC, while those dominated by agglutinated foraminifera point to a possible freshening of the WGC. Variations in oceanographic conditions reconstructed from the fauna will be presented.

Foraminiferal record of environmental changes preceding the Middle Miocene Badenian salinity crisis in central Paratethys

Danuta Peryt1

1Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland E-mail: [email protected] The Middle Miocene salinity crisis in the Paratethys resulted in deposition of evaporites in the Red Sea, Middle East and the Carpathian region ca. 13.6 Ma ago. In the Carpathian Foredeep Basin, the evaporites are Late Badenian in age and are underlain by deep-water deposits in more central basin locations. I have studied marls (2 m thick interval) underlying giant gypsum intergrowth unit (c. 5 m thick) in one key section of the Badenian evaporites (Borków in southern Poland) aiming to reconstruct environmental changes at the transition from marine to evaporitic conditions. The benthic foraminiferal assemblages from the lowermost part of the studied interval are dominated by epifaunal and shallow infaunal morphogroups. Deep infauna forms about 30% of the assemblage. A rapid change in the composition of benthic foraminiferal assemblages is recorded starting from the 1.25 m below the giant gypsum intergrowth unit upwards. Deep infauna becomes a dominant group in this interval. The stress species form there from 75 to 95% of the assemblages. Planktonic foraminifers are very abundant in the lowermost part of the studied interval where they are represented by cold and cool-temperate forms. Up the section their contribution to the assemblages rapidly decreases. The recorded changes are interpreted to reflect decreasing of oxygenation of the bottom waters and increasing salinity coupled with a significant decrease of water depth. Foraminiferal record of environmental changes leading to the Badenian Salinity Crisis has much in common with the record of changes predating the Messinian Salinity Crisis in the Mediterranean although the pattern of changes in the Badenian is somewhat different due to two factors. The first factor is a different general geographical position of evaporite basins in the Badenian (peripheral location and thus greater local control) and the Messinian (mostly basin-centered evaporites) what

in turn implies various circulation patterns of water masses in both basins. The second factor is the difference in scale – the Badenian basin of the Carpathian Foredeep was of much smaller area than the Messinian basin of the Mediterranean. The environmental changes in the Badenian pre-evaporite and evaporite basins of the Carpathian Foredeep had a step-like nature, in contrast to gradual environmental changes in the Messinian.

The Globotruncana ventricosa Zone: comments on reliability and global correlations

Maria Rose Petrizzo1, Francesca Falzoni1, Isabella Premoli Silva1

1Università degli studi di Milano, Italy E-mail: [email protected] The reliability of the first appearance datum of Globotruncana ventricosa as biozonal marker for the Campanian is discussed. The taxonomy and species concept of G. ventricosa and of Globotruncana tricarinata, that has been either regarded as junior synonym of Globotruncana linneiana or of G. ventricosa, are examined to avoid misidentifications, and one species is here formally described as new, Globotruncana neotricarinata nov. sp. The tropical and subtropical planktonic foraminiferal assemblages from the Bottaccione section (Gubbio, Italy), Site 146 (Caribbean Sea, central Atlantic Ocean), and Hole 1210B (Shatsky Rise, northwestern Pacific Ocean) are analysed for the presence of biostratigraphic markers. First and last appearance data have been checked in thin sections and washed residues in the Bottaccione section. The comparative biostratigraphic analysis of the planktonic foraminiferal distribution highlights: 1) the rarity or absence of G. ventricosa at the stratigraphic level at which it is supposed to first occur in the Tethyan area, 2) the presence of transitional specimens resembling G. ventricosa and thus erroneously used to identify the Globotruncana ventricosa Zone, 3) the presence of a good sequence of first and last occurrences data that appear to be promising for regional and global correlations such as the appearance of Globotruncanita atlantica, Contusotruncana plummerae and the disappearance of Heterohelix carinata. The correlation potential of these bioevents has been verified across latitudes by studying the Campanian planktonic foraminifera assemblage in pelagic sediments drilled on coastal Tanzania (western Indian Ocean), and at the deep-sea Hole 762C (Exmouth Plateau, western Indian Ocean), that were located at 30°S and 47°S in the Late Cretaceous, respectively. Besides the known diachronous first occurrence of G. ventricosa in the Southern Ocean sites, results confirm the difficulty in using G. ventricosa as zonal marker in the tropical and subtropical area, and the validity of the first occurrence datum of C. plummerae for global correlations.


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Paleoenvironmental dynamics in Southern Pannonian Basin during Middle Miocene marine flooding

Durdica Pezelj1, Oleg Mandic2, Jasenka Sremac3

1University of Zagreb, Croatia 2Natural History Museum, Austria 3Faculty of Science, Croatia E-mail: [email protected] Quantitative analysis has been carried out on 42 bulk sediment samples from the coal pit Ugljevik in NE Bosnia and Herzegovina. The outcrop displays the initial transgression of the Central Paratethys Sea in the southern Pannonian Basin. About 60 m thick section starts with Oligocene lacustrine deposits. Initial marine sediments superpose the angular disconformity. They bear assemblages of late Early Badenian Upper Lagenidae Ecozone passing upward into Middle Badenian Spirorutilus carinatus Ecozone, correlating thus with the late Langhian. Data distinguishing 84 benthic foraminifera species were processed by multivariate statistics. Results supported the definition of 5 upward gradually alternating assemblages. Hence the initial marine deposits comprise Cibicidoides ungerianus - Asterigerinata planorbis assemblage that inhabited high oxic environment of the inner shelf. Upward gradual deepening trend and ongoing transgression affected the increase in planctonic foraminifera contributions, the increase of infaunal and opportunistic benthic foraminifera species, and the decrease of bottom water oxygen content. Stable medium oxic conditions on middle to outer shelf install soon. They display the highly diversified Valvulineria complanata - C. ungerianus assemblage. The occasional organic matter input, triggering oxygen fluctuations along with the nutrient quantity and quality variation, is furthermore marked by alternations of V. complanata and V. complanata – Globocassidulina oblonga assemblages. Intensive lamination together with almost continuous presence of low oxic conditions indicates increase in organic matter input during Middle Badenian. The stratification in water column was possibly triggered by fresh water feed likely responsible for increased redeposition of shallow water species. Environmental stress is strongly suggested by increase of dominance and decrease of diversity recorded from Bulimina subulata - B. elongata - Valvulineria complanata - Bolivina dilatata assemblage. The studied marine flooding cycle shows pattern of initial upward deepening, followed by stabile high stand conditions. The small scale environmental disturbances recorded therein, turn than finally to continuously stressed low oxic bottom water conditions.

Live benthic foraminiferal faunas along a bathymetrical transect (280-4800 m) on Portuguese Margin Open Slope (NE Atlantic)

Mark D. Phipps1, Frans J. Jorissen1, Henko C. de Stigter2, Antonio Pusceddu3

1University of Angers BIAF, France 2NIOZ, The Netherlands 3Polytechnic University of Marche, Italy E-mail: [email protected] Rose Bengal stained benthic foraminifera were studied from 8 cores collected along a depth transect ranging from 280 to 4806 m water depth near Cape Sines, on the Portuguese continental slope. Total standing stocks (TSS) and species assemblages from both 63-150 µm and >150 µm fractions are compared between stations along the transect and with previous live foraminiferal studies from the Bay of Biscay and Western Iberian margin. Standing stocks generally decreased with water depth, with highest TSS for both size fractions on the outer shelf and upper slope and lowest TSS on the abyssal plain. For both sized fractions, three groups of stations are recognised: (1) A eutrophic group on the upper continental slope (280-1000 m) dominated by Uvigerina mediterranea/elongatastriata, Melonis barleeanus, Trifarina bradyi, Epistominella vitrea and Cribrostomoides bradyi. (2) A mesotrophic group on the middle to lower slope (1338-2492 m), dominated by Uvigerina peregrina, Globobulimina affinis and Repmanina charoides. (3) An oligotrophic group on the lower slope and abyssal plain (2924-4806 m) which is in the larger size fraction characterised by Cibicides kullenbergi and agglutinated species such a Reophax fusiformi and Recurvoides sp 1. The smaller size fraction is dominated by opportunistic calcareous species such as Bulimina translucens, Epistominella exigua and Nuttallides pussilus along with Reophax fusiformis and Chitinosaccus sp. However, most of these taxa are rare or absent at 4806 m, where Reophax fusiformis, Pullenia okinawaensis and various monothalamous agglutinates are dominant. Our conclusion that this bathymetrical species succession is mainly a response to a diminishing trophic resources is corroborated by; 1) the clear bathymetrical trend of lower TSS at greater water depth, and 2) the decreasing sediment phytopigment (CPE) concentrations towards deeper sites. The decreasing percentage of perforate calcareous taxa, and increasing percentage of agglutinated taxa with water depth, strongly suggests that in general, perforate calcareous taxa have higher trophic requirements than agglutinated taxa. Our description of small-sized living foraminifera (63-150 µm) is new for the Portuguese margin; the inferred trophic requirements of these taxa may provide additional arguments for the use of benthic foraminiferal assemblage compositions as paleoproductivity proxies.


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Fathoming the diversity of foraminifers: how many species are there?

Johannes Pignatti1, Andrea Benedetti1, Massimo Di Carlo1, Giovanni Gerbasi1, Maria Cristina Succi1

1La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy E-mail: [email protected] The assessment of the taxonomic diversity of marine protists is an important unresolved issue in the International Year of Biodiversity 2010 and its (paleo)biological implications are manifold. Estimates of the number of species of extant foraminifers are largely conjectural and range from a minimum of ~4,000 to a maximum of ~15,000 estimated species. The main aims of the present contributions are threefold. First, to provide a baseline for the number of nominal extant foraminiferal species-group taxa (including also planktonic and organic-walled taxa) that have been formally described as yet. To do so, different sources have been integrated, starting from the Ellis & Messina Catalogue of Foraminifera and the Zoological Record. The number of taxa counted by us is 6,281, including 103 presumably living taxa, for which insufficient data as to their exact type locality are given. This figure increases to 6,390, adding 109 taxa which were originally based on both fossil and recent material. However, many described extant species-group taxa are not yet included in the Catalogue: summing these ~2,175 missing taxa to those listed in the Catalogue (6,390), we obtain a minimum figure of 8,565. Second, to discuss the novel approach by Murray (2007), based on counts from rose Bengal-stained benthic assemblages, leading to an estimate of ~3210 to ~4280 species. We show with detailed data from various regions that this approach of making up global estimates by scaling up local studies fails to take into account a vast amount of available systematic evidence and does not lead to a realistic estimate of the number of extant species: most taxa are rare, many rare taxa occur at lower latitudes, and many regions and habitats are insufficiently sampled. Third, to provide an estimate of the number of extant foraminiferal species. Models hinge on different assumptions (e.g., different estimates of overall synonymy; endemicity; species as yet in open nomenclature; extant species first described as fossils; spatial scaling of species richness; genetic and molecular measures). Our models suggest that the total number of extant species has been generally underestimated by one order of magnitude, and that there are no shortcuts for this issue but basic taxonomic work. In contrast, there is an exponential decrease in new species-group taxa described from 1988 to 2007 (n=704).

Widespread occurrence of nitrate storage and denitrification among Foraminifera

Elisa Piña-Ochoa1, Sign Høgslund, Emmanuelle Geslin, Thomas Cedhagen, Niels Peter Revsbech, Søren Rysgaard, Magali Schweizer, Nils Risgaard-Petersen 1Center for Geomicrobiology, 2Aarhus University, Denmark E-mail: [email protected] Benthic foraminifers inhabit a wide range of marine environments from shallow brackish waters to the deepest parts of the ocean. Previous works demonstated that 2 species of benthic foraminifera (Globobulimina turgida and Nonionella cf stella) are able to store nitrate and to carry out complete denitrification of nitrate to N2 (Risgaard-Petersen et al., 2006, Hoegslund et al., 2008). This character allows them to survive under anoxic conditions. We have subsequently studied the occurrence of nitrate storage and denitrification capacity in 65 species of benthic foraminifera inhabiting various marine environments. The results show that several different and diverse foraminiferal groups (miliolids, rotaliids, textulariids, and Rhizaria) accumulate and respire nitrate through denitrification. The widespread occurrence among distantly related organisms suggests an ancient origin of the trait. The unique metabolic capacity of these organisms, which enables them to respire with oxygen and nitrate and to sustain respiratory activity, even when electron acceptors are absent from the environment, may be one of the reasons for their successful colonization of diverse marine sediment environments. The contribution of eukaryotes in ocean sediments to the removal of fixed nitrogen by respiration may in some areas equal the importance of bacterial denitrification.

Molecular characterization of kleptoplastidy in foraminifera

Loic Pillet1, Jan Pawlowski1

1University of Geneva, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] Kleptoplastidy is the ability of heterotrophic organisms to preserve chloroplasts of algal preys they eat and partially digest. As the sequestered chloroplasts stay functional for months, the "host" becomes photosynthetically active. Although remaining marginal, this process was observed in different protist lineages, including foraminifera. Previous and present studies show that Haynesina and Elphidium are particularly apt to perform kleptoplastidy as 12 species of these genera have been shown to bear kleptochloroplasts. In order to characterize more precisely the origin of kleptochloroplasts in these genera, we obtained 1027 chloroplastic 16S rDNA sequences from 13 specimens of two Haynesina and five Elphidium species. We identified the foraminiferal


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kleptochloroplasts using a reference phylogeny made of chloroplastic sequences of known species of diatoms and brown algae. All the specimens were performing kleptoplastidy and according to our phylogenetical analyses they seem to retain exclusively chloroplasts of diatom origin. There is no apparent specificity for the type of diatom from which chloroplasts originated, however some foraminiferal species seem to accept a wider range of diatoms than the others. We can speculate that the ancestor of elphidiids and Haynesina probably feed on diatoms and that possibly some of diatoms genes have been transferred to foraminiferal nucleus. This has enabled the functioning of diatom chloroplasts inside foraminiferal cells and gave origin to kleptoplastidy in this group. The analysis of Elphidium ESTs should help to identify these genes and should contribute to further elucidation of the process leading to kleptoplastidy. Preliminary results will be showed, however, we can already say that the acquisition of diatoms kleptochloroplasts had immense impact on the evolution of Elphidium, contributing to the successful radiation of this most abundant and diverse benthic foraminiferal genus in inner-shelf environment throughout temperate and subtropical parts of the world.

Occurrences of Holocene Haplophragmoides canariensis (D’ORBIGNY, 1839) (Haplophrag-miina, Foraminifera) in Central Germany and its significance for the identification of athalassic sediments

Anna Pint1, Peter Frenzel1

1Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The first publication of foraminifer occurrence in athalassic waters concerns the agglutinated foraminifer Haplophragmoides canariensis (dÒrbigny, 1839) from Central Germany, more than 300 km away from the coasts of North and Baltic Sea. Erich Triebel found tests of this species in surface sediments of four smaller lakes between Erfurt and Gotha (including the Siebleber Teich) and gave this material to Ludwig Rhumbler for taxonomic identification (Rhumbler 1938). Bartenstein (1939) used this material again and assumed, (relying on the good preservation) the foraminifers to be living in these athalassic waters. Since Bartenstein’s publication, the occurrence of foraminifers in sediments far from the coast has been controversially discussed by geologists and palaeontologists. Often such findings were used to reconstruct marine straits connecting present day athalassic waters and the oceans of the past (i.e. the Aral Sea). Meanwhile, most micropalaeontolo-gists agree that the colonization of athalassic waters by foraminifers using avian mediated pathways is a common phenomenon. Within the context of studying micropalaeontological halobiont indicators from Quaternary sediments of Central Germany, we checked the references for

Holocene foraminifers within the Thuringian Basin. Empty tests of H. canariensis from the shore of Siebleber Teich were found again in 2005. The present day salinity of the small lake is 0.5; and the water is SO4

2- dominated. Other locations with H. canariensis are the karstic spring Gründelsloch in Kindelbrück (salinity 0.6) and brooks in the nearby carr Ellernholz in Bilzingsleben (salinity 0.7). Both waters are Ca2+ dominated. No other foraminifer taxa were found. The rate of test malformations shows a mean of about 10 %. We suggest the use of monospecific or very low diversity brackish water foraminifer associations with a high proportion of malformations (>>5 %) and lacking other marine fossils as indicators for sediments of athalassic saline waters. Smaller water bodies are driven by short time changes of salinity and should therefore show sudden appearances and perishing of mostly monospecific foraminifer associations in sediment successions of the geological past. The foraminiferal colonization proceeds very fast in geological time scales.

Test malformations in Holocene and Recent Foraminifera from athalassic and marginal marine environments

Anna Pint1, Peter Frenzel1

1Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Test malformations in foraminifers have been known for a long time and are often described in the scientific literature. Discussed reasons for test malformations are naturally induced environmental stress, infections and anthropogenic impacts. One of the important natural factors causing test malformation are salinity values that are close to the tolerance limits of the considered species or a high variability of salinity. Studying Holocene athalassic foraminiferal associations from the Aral Sea, Central Germany and Saudi Arabia, we found high rates of malformations. At least 10 % of the tests proved to be malformatted, often much more. Frequent are the deformations of chambers, multiple tests and changes of growth directions. Extreme salinity values and non-marine ionic composition of the water are the probable causes for this pathological pattern. To examine if the malformation pattern is the same for marginal marine brackish water environments, we analyzed foraminiferal associations from ten sites (alpha-mesohaline to polyhaline) at the southern Baltic Sea coast as a reference. The proportions of malformatted tests from sites without distinct anthropogenic impact were between 1.4 and 2.6 %, those of the sites influenced by habitat disturbance, eutrophication or toxic substances between 0.9 and 9.9 %. The variability of salinity and its absolute value seem to be less important for malformations than oxygen deficiency or toxic substances.


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The generally higher proportion of malformatted tests in athalassic in comparison to marginal marine settings implies environmental conditions at the limits of specific ecological tolerance in absence of competition with taxa occupying a similar ecological niche. The extraordinary high proportion of malformatted tests can be used as an indicator for the identification of athalassic foraminiferal associations in the fossil record.

The evolution of Early Ypresian microfossil assemblages and stable isotopes during a distinct plankton peak in the Corbières (Aude, France) continental margin record

Claudius Pirkenseer1, Etienne Steurbaut1, Robert Speijer1

1University of Leuven, Belgium E-mail: [email protected] The Corbières Foreland Basin represents the southeastern-most extension of the Aquitaine Basin. During the Ypresian a succession of marine carbonates, marine marls, brackish marls to sandstones and subsequent fluvio-lacustrine sediments were deposited in the Corbières (Aude, France) area in several sequences. The present study focuses on the middle and upper part of the neritic „Blue Marls“ close to Pradelles-en-Val. Samples from the studied section contained poorly preserved nannofossils indicating the nanno-plankton zone NP11 and a fully marine, nearshore depositional environment. The lower half of the section is characterized by a strongly variable (1-85% plankton), plankton/ benthos-ratio. A last pronounced peak in plankton occurrence in association with the near disappearance of all larger faunal elements (except pteropods) and a change in the ostracod assemblage was chosen for a more detailed sample campaign. The detailed section (46 samples in 15cm intervals) pinpoints the correlation between rising P/B-ratio and abundance and composition of the ostracod assemblage. Variations in the assemblages of the planktic and small benthic Foraminifera taxa suggest rapidly changing conditions. During the depleted interval ostracoda and foraminifera numbers decrease, Pseudo-uvigerina wilcoxensis is nearly absent and buliminids, Pulsiphonina wilcoxsensis as well as echinoderm spines peak. The depleted inteval is slightly preceded by the first occurrence of the planktic taxa Subbotina hornibrooki and Globoturborotalites bassriverensis, the latter being a PETM-excursion taxon. The subsequent interval is characterized by rapidly increasing P/B-ratio, a dominance of Globoturborotalites bassriverensis and Pseudohastigerina wilcoxensis as well as a shifted ostracod assemblage composition. Sedi-mentation of clastic material larger than 63µm increases approximately 100%. Bulk δ13C values generally drop from around -1,0‰ to around 1,5‰ and then increase to -0.8‰ after the plankton peak.

Through further sample analyses in context with the isotopic and paleoenvironmental evolution of the overview profile we aim at identifying anomalous environmental conditions that might be associated with an Early Eocene hyperthermal. In contrast to the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum, which has been recorded in deep-sea to non-marine depositional settings the subsequent hyperthermals, however, have until now only been demonstrated in deep-sea sequences. (This project is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (project-nr. PBFR22-116947) and supported by the K.U.Leuven Research Fund.)

A reevaluation of the lineage development of Pararotalia and Praepararotalia including new material from the Rupelian of the southern Upper Rhine Graben

Claudius Pirkenseer1, Spezzaferri Silvia2

1University of Leuven, Belgium 2University of Fribourg, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] The lineage of the benthic Foraminifera Praepararotalia and Pararotalia has a known record since the Late Cretaceous to recent. The genus Praepararotalia was recently erected as a “simple” predecessor-taxon with generally round, smooth to pustulated chambers of slowly increasing diameter, very low to flat spiral side and small overall size. Wall texture and aperture are identical in both genera. The separation of the two genera took place in the Late Cretaceous or Earliest Paleogene. We present here a reevaluation of the morphogroups based on material from the Rupelian of the southern Upper Rhine Graben and the analysis of the record from literature. Four different groups can be separated in terms of external morphology. The first group represents the Praepararotalia-habitus of small size. New material from the Rupelian of the southern Upper Rhine Graben may be attributed to this group. It differs in a higher number of chambers in the last whorl and total chamber numbers, a much larger size and a higher trochospire. The necessity of a new genus is in discussion. The second group includes the small intermediate species as Pararotalia ishamae, characterized by inflated globular chambers, a general absence of a keel, partial development of small pseudospines and umbilical plugs. This group can be traced up to recent, as is indicated by the occurrence of small sized Pararotalia cananeiaensis. Material from the research area, though of generally larger size is attributed to the Rupelian P. curryi. It however shows variation in the development of pseudospines, the lateral profile and umbilicus. The third group consists only of Pararotalia spinigera (Lutetian) and Pararotalia canui (Rupelian) with an inflated angular lateral profile and a relatively large size. Material from the research area shows massive well-developed peripheral


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pseudospines, a strong umbilical plug and a rounded keel. The apertural lip is heavily toothed. The fourth group consists of species with a very angular lateral profile, conical chambers, distinct umbilical plug and a moderate to very large size, ranging from the Thanetian at least to the Pliocene. This reevaluation indicates the perseverance of the “primitive” group of Pararotalia macneilli until today. It thus contradicts a gradual development of the genus Pararotalia to more spineous, angular and larger forms. The latter morphogroup exists well defined since the Paleocene with representatives throughout the Paleogene and Neogene. (This study was partly funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation projects 109457 and 118025.)

The Significance of Foraminifera for the Paleogene Biostratigraphy of Western Siberia

Vera M. Podobina1

1Tomsk State University, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] The Paleogene deposits widespread in Western Siberia compose the Talitskian and Lyulinvorskian horizons of the regional stratigraphic subdivisions. Recent data on the Paleocene and Eocene foraminiferal assemblages from the holes penetrating the south-eastern areas made it possible to specify the age of the stated horizons containing predominantly the agglutinated foraminifera. The assemblages encountered in the borehole T-29 section comprise siliceous agglutinated foraminifera and calcareous secreted forms (Podobina, 2009). Of interest are finds of calcareous benthic and planktonic forms in the Lower Eocene deposits (depth 227.5-224.0 m, lower beds of the Lyulinvorskian Horizon). Here, species Planorotalites aff. planoconicus Subbotina, P. pseudoscitulus (Glaessner) were encountered along with Textularia cf. sibirica Podobina, Anomalinoides ypresiensis (ten Dam) ovatus Podobina and others. These beds are correlatable with the Ypresian Textularia sibirica - Anomalinoides ypresiensis ovatus Zone of the central district. The species Cibicides carinatus Terquem, Rotalia discoides Orbigny, Bolivina crenulata Cushman compose the Eponides candidulus - Cibicides tenellus Assemblage met from the overlying yellowish-grey clays (218.4-214.6 m, the middle part of the Lyulinvorskian Horizon). This assemblage is corresponding to that from the Lutetian Stage of Northern Europe (Doppert and Neele, 1983; Murray and Wright, 1974). Its position in the section corresponds to that of the Bolivinopsis spectabilis Assemblage from the middle beds of the Lyulinvorskian Horizon of the central district of Western Siberia. The upper dark-grey silty clays (214.6-206.0 m) enclose diverse secreted calcareous foraminifera and their numerous pseudomorphs. The species Cibicidoides ungerianus (Orbigny), Pararotalia spinigera (Le Calvez) are the most characteristic, so

they are the index species. In the central district this assemblage corresponds to the Gaudryinopsis subbotinae Assemblage composed of the agglutinated forms. Pseudomorphs of rotaliids, nonionids, elphidiids and other forms were recorded from the uppermost beds of grey siltstones and sandstones (depth 206.0-197.0 m). The systematic composition of the pseudomorphs and their position within the section are indicative of their confinement to the Upper Eocene. The gradual general uplifting of territories of Northern Europe and Western Siberia along with the shallowing of basins occurred, which resulted in the impoverishment of the systematic and numeric compositions of foraminifera.

Paleozoogeography of Western Siberia in the Late Cretaceous (Based on Foraminifera)

Vera M. Podobina1, Tatyana G. Kseneva1

1Tomsk State University, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Paleozoogeographical zoning of the Late Cretaceous basins of Western Siberia was carried out basing on the analysis of benthic foraminifera. The areals of diverse species and the composition of foraminiferal assemblages were taken into consideration in establishing districts within the West-Siberian Province during separate ages of the Late Cretaceous. The local and widely occurring species were distinguished in the assemblages. The proportion of the widespread species in the total amount provided a basis for dividing the territory into districts. The benthic foraminifera are closely connected with facies, so the borders of the districts almost coincide with those of facies on paleogeographical schemes. The initial phase of the Turonian sedimentation is marked for the spacious transgression spreading over the territory of Western Siberia from the north. The relatively deep-water, shallow and coastal facies were recognized within this basin. The Gaudryinopsis аngustus Association composed of species occurring throughout all facies was established in the Early Turonian rocks. The poor species diversity, almost an utter absence of calcareous forms, along with the significant accumulation of haplophragmiids, trochamminas and the index species in the central district of the basin are indicative of some deviation from the normal salinity and predomination of the reducing habitat conditions. The distribution of this Early Turonian assemblage specified the position of the central district of the province. Both Early Turonian and Coniacian-Santonian marginal districts were established according to the cardinal points. The similar zoning was fulfilled for the Early Maastrichtian, of which foraminifera, along with the Campanian, were referred to the second group (secreted calcareous). The great similarity between the Cenomanian-Turonian foraminiferal assemblages from Western Siberia, Canada and Northern Alaska indicates the


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existence of an epicontinental basin in the beginning of the Late Cretaceous at the location of the modern Arctic Ocean. In the Coniacian-Santonian, the onset of the separation of the West-Siberian and Canadian basins is evidenced. So, the assemblages diverge considerably in the generic composition and have numerous endemic species. In the Campanian-Maastrichtian, uplifting of the whole Arctic territory was occurring, thus resulting in its partial dewatering and also in the predominance of the transgression from the south through the Turgay Strait.

Foraminiferal record of climate and land use changes during the last centuries in Marennes-Oléron Bay (Atlantic coast of France)

Clement Poirier1, Evelyne Goubert2, Eric Chaumillon1

1LIENSs, Universite de La Rochelle, CNRS, France 2Geo-Architecture, France E-mail: [email protected] Since they act as sediment sinks, estuaries provide good opportunities to study Holocene natural and anthropogenic environmental changes occurring at the land/ocean interface with a high resolution. A rapid siltation was recorded in many coastal environments throughout the world, in response to increased soil erosion triggered by deforestation on watersheds, and/or climate changes of the last millennium. These two hypotheses have been proposed to explain a similar change in Marennes-Oléron Bay (Atlantic coast of France), which consists in the sudden deposition of a 1.3 meters thick mud drape on basal mixed mud and sand bodies, associated with a regional unconformity. In this study, the response of foraminiferal assemblages to this major environmental change was investigated. Two sediment cores that recover the mud drape were selected. The geomorphology of the bay controls the composition of the assemblages. In the UC01 intertidal core, species richness is low, and Haynesina germanica and Elphidium gunteri represent more than 90% of the total assemblage. This uneven assemblage is typical of that found on intertidal mudflats, where environmental stress related to immersion/emersion tidal cycles is high. In the VC46 subtidal core, cross-comparison of sedimentological and foraminiferal data evidence two sub-units within the mud drape. The lower sub-unit is composed of mixed sand and mud, and deposited from 610-470 yr cal. BP (1 sigma range) to 350-150 yr cal. BP. Open marine conditions prevailed (globigerinids), with a high salinity (Quinqueloculina sp., Milionella sp.) and a dense macroalgal cover (abundant epiphytic species). The upper sub-unit is strictly composed of mud, and deposited since 350-150 yr cal. BP. Because of increasing fine sediment input, mud-dwelling species like Nonionella turgida and Elphidium excavatum are predominant. Species richness decreases, with more hypoxia tolerant species like

Pseudononion atlanticum. Increasing water turbidity is probable, as the abudance of epiphytic species decreases. This foraminiferal record shows some similarities with that of Grenfell et al. (2007, Marine and Freshwater Research 58). The comparison between the two might provide insights into the impact of recent climate and/or land use changes on ecosystems.

High resolution foraminiferal stratigraphy and climatic variations over the last 2500 years: evidence from Gullmar Fjord and the Skagerrak-Kattegat area of the North Sea.

Irina Polovodova1, Kjell Nordberg1, Helena Filipsson2

1Gothenburg University, Department of Earth Sciences, Sweden 2Lund University, GeoBiosphere Science Centre, Sweden E-mail: [email protected] Sediment cores from Gullmar Fjord (Swedish west coast) and the Skagerrak-Kattegat area were analysed for benthic foraminifera and stable δ13C isotope data. We obtained high-resolution records encompassing climatic variations over the last 2,500 years. In Gullmar Fjord, the δ13C curve shows distinctly negative values during Roman, Medieval, and Recent warm periods, but also during the Little Ice Age. Benthic foraminifera show profound changes in the record characterized by the decline of Nonionella iridea, Adercotryma glomerata and Cassidulina laevigata and the establishment of Hyalinea balthica and Stainforthia fusiformis. Roman and Medieval warm periods are characterized by similar foraminiferal assemblages, whereas Little Ice Age and Recent warming show significantly different faunal compositions. The data are compared to records from Skagerrak and Kattegat in order to see if there are regional signals for these climatic events.

Assessment of Amphistegina lessonii on reef rubble habitats from coral communities at Fernando de Noronha (Northeastern Brazil)

Martina de Freitas Prazeres1, Samantha Eslava Martins1, Adalto Bianchini1

1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Brazil E-mail: [email protected] The study of symbiont-bearing foraminifers from reef environments provides a low-cost assessment to evaluate the water quality. More recently, several cellular biomarkers have been used as a new approach to elucidate different mechanisms of stress response. Therefore, our goal was to study


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the population of symbiont-bearing foraminifera Amphistegina lessonii from “Fernando de Noronha” Archipelago (Northeastern Brazil). Field populations and cellular biomarkers were evaluated to assess the local water quality. Hence, reef-rubble samples containing A. lessonii were collected by SCUBA at five sampling sites in the leeward side of the main island. Three sites were located inside the “Fernando de Noronha” National Marine Park (FNNMP) area (“Baía dos Porcos: BP; “Lage Dois Irmãos”: LI; Buracão: BU). The other two sites were located outside the FNNMP (“Porto Santo Antônio”: PSA; “Praia da Biboca”: PB) in an urban area. Reef rubbles were brushed and had their bottom area estimated. Sediment residues were examined under a stereomicroscope. Individuals were counted and analyzed regarding the degree of bleaching. Visually healthy adults were separated for further analysis of total oxygen scavenging capacity (TOSC) and lipid peroxidation (LPO). Density of A. lessonii was lower in the sites located outside the FNNMP, whereas density in those located inside the FNNMP was higher, reaching a maximum average value at BU (159 ± 29 individuals/100 cm2). In individuals from these sites, bleaching frequency was above 10%, reaching 25.2% at PB. In contrast, bleaching was very low at FNNMP sites, showing values lower than 1.8%. TOSC was higher (2-fold) in individuals collected at the FNNMP sites, which showed lower LPO levels. These findings indicate that individuals from sites located outside the FNNMP are subjected to oxidative stress. Although bleaching is usually caused by salinity changes or elevated light incidence, these parameters seems not to be affecting the individuals studied, since salinity is quite stable in the study area and A. lessoniiis usually found in shaded microhabitats on reef rubbles. Considering results presented here, oxidative stress can thus be suggested as a possible cause of bleaching in individuals collected at the sites located outside the FNNMP. The physiological condition of these individuals could be associated with the lower water quality at those sites, likely due to human influences, such as domestic sewage disposal and harbor activities.

Symbiont-bearing foraminifers from Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

Martina de Freitas Prazeres1, Samantha Eslava Martins1, Adalto Bianchini1

1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Brazil E-mail: [email protected] Symbiont-bearing foraminifers, also referred as larger benthic foraminifer (LBF), host algal endosymbionts and are common members of the meiobenthos that contribute to carbonate sand formation on tropical reefs worldwide. The goal of this study was to present the first data of shallow water LBF from the Fernando de Noronha Island, northeastern Brazil. Samples of reef-rubble were haphazardly collected on eight stations located at

the leeward side of Fernando de Noronha Island in September 2009. These eight stations comprised three depth ranges (I-6 to 10, II-11 to 15 and III-16 to 20 m), and at each station three replicate samples of reef-rubble were collected, and living symbiont-bearing individuals were counted and analyzed. 13 species were found, they are: Amphistegina gibbosa, A. lessonii, A. lobifera, A. papilosa, Archaias angulatus, Asterigerina carinata, Assilina ammonoides, Borelis pulchra, Heterostegina depressa, Laevipeneroplis proteus, Peneroplis pertusus, P. planatus and Sorites marginalis. A. lessonii dominated the assemblages from all three strata, with population densities as high as 733 individuals/100 cm2 at stratum III. SIMPER routine analysis revealed that A. lessonii showed a broad range distribution along depths strata analyzed. The highest contribution was observed at stratum II, with 31.9%, but not much higher than the other two strata, which presented a contribution of 24 and 22.6%, for stratum I and III, respectively. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant difference between stations analyzed regarding species density (P<0.001). It demonstrates that despite species were found in every depth range, the density of each one of them vary along the stations. Chlorophyte-bearers were more abundant in shallow stations from I stratum, such as P. planatus and L. proteus, while the diatom-bearers B. pulchra e H. depressa were found at stratum II and III. A. angulatus were poorly represented since it is more abundant on phytal substrates. In general, diatom-bearers dominated the reef-rubble samples and were more frequent than other types of symbiont-bearing species. These first data help elucidating some depth distributional patterns of symbiont-bearing foraminifers, therefore improving the study field of foraminifers regarding their use as tools in assessment of water quality on coral reefs in future studies in this region.

The biostratigraphy and stable isotope paleoecology of the late Middle Eocene planktonic foraminifera (North Adriatic Sea, Croatia)

Vlasta Premec Fucek1, Paul N. Pearson2, Morana Hernitz Kucenjak1 1Exploration & Production BD, E&P Research Laboratory Department, Zagreb, Croatia 2Cardiff University, School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] The Middle and Late Eocene sediments in the North Adriatic Sea consist of hemipelagic deposits of marls and clayey marls with rich, moderately diversified and exceptionally well preserved planktonic foraminiferal assemblages. The succession studied was deposited on the eastern edge of the Venetian Basin in a slope to basinal environment. Significant biotic turnover occurs in planktonic foraminifera at the E13/ E14 Zones boundary. High-


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resolution biostratigraphic and multi-species isotopes analyses have been conducted on a 6 m cored interval from Istra more-5 well (1170-1176m). Two extinction horizons of the muricate species have been recorded. The first extinction level is at 1172.6 m, where large acarininids (Acarinina mcgowrani) abruptly disappeared. Only small acarininids persisted into the Late Eocene. Morozovelloides crassatus occurs in the fine fraction up to the depth of 1171.80 m. The 80 cm interval between two extinction horizons corresponds to approximately 10 kyr, according to the long-term average sedimentation rate of 8 cm per 1 kyr. Multi-species oxygen and carbon stable isotope analyses are used to define their relative depth habitats in the water column. Acarinina mcgowrani is species with the lightest δ18O and heaviest δ13C, suggesting calcification in the warmest surface water and temperatures of about 24-25°C. Slightly lighter δ13C signals show spinose species Globigerinatheka index and G. barri which most probably occupied mixed layer with temperatures of about 20-22°C. Numerous oxygen and carbon isotopic analyses of the Turborotalia pomeroli and T. cerroazulensis suggest upper thermocline habitat and temperatures in range of about 19-22°C. Subbotina eocaena., S. corpulenta, S. gortanii, Dentoglobigerina pseudovenezuelana and D. galavisi constantly show the heavier δ13C values and indicate thermocline habitat with temperatures of about 19-21°C. Lower thermocline waters inhabited only Subbotina linaperta and Catapsydrax unicavus. Fluctuation in both δ18O and δ13C values at all mentioned species, except Subbotina linaperta, near and between two extinction levels could imply changes of ocean circulation and instability of the water column, possibly indicating a period of increased ecological stress for surface dwelling planktonic foraminifera. After both extinction events the δ13C values show less variability suggesting a period of stability in ocean circulation. All biostratigraphical and isotopic data indicate well stratified water column and changeable warm to temperate climate conditions in the late Middle Eocene.

Paleoenvironmental and paleoecological reconstructions of the marine condition during the last 13 750 cal yr B.P. in the European Arctic (Hornsund, Spitsbergen)

Joanna Ewa Przytarska1

1Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Science, Poland E-mail: [email protected] The growing interest in climate changes is the background for paleoclimate studies, which uses foraminifera as bio-indicators of environmental variability. Therefore, detailed foraminiferal records can be used to improve predictions of the future climate condition and the consequences of human activities, as well as for the understanding of the natural climate changes.

The sediment core was taken at the entrance to the Hornsund Fjord (West Spitsbergen) and has been investigated for paleoceanographic proxies, including benthic foraminifera, benthic foraminiferal stable isotopes and ice rafted debris. The age model was created on the basis of C14 ages measured on the carbonate material, and the age of the bottom core age was estimated to 13 750 cal yr B.P. During the Younger Dryas, the lowest abundance and the number of foraminifers’ species was recorded, and the lowest foraminiferal flux values were observed. However, a significantly increased number of Elphidium excavatum f. clavata during this period leads to the conclusion that the transport of fresher and cold Arctic/Polar water to this area was intensified. After this period, there was an inflow of relatively warm water, as suggested by an increased number of Nonionellina labradorica. However, the highest foraminiferal abundance and species richness were found during the period between 8000 to 7000 cal yr B.P. Furthermore, species richness reflects greater food availability and also less coverage of sea-ice. During this period, an increased number of Cassidulina reniforme, Buccella spp. planktonic species and IRD as well as foraminiferal flux values, the occurrence of this kind of marine bottom environment. The interval between 5000 to 500 cal yr B.P. seems to be a very homogenous period, with a stable flow of Atlantic water. Significant changes were noticed in the last 500 cal yr B.P., when there was an increase in the number of foraminifera and in foraminiferal and IRD flux values. This observation seems to indicate that the south-western Spitsbergen continental margin was a productive and nutrient rich area and that transport of Atlantic water to the margin was intensified during this interval. The West Spitsbergen continental margin is a climatically sensitive zone, mostly due to the oceanographic regime and, this area is recognized as suitable place to detect changes in the foraminiferal fauna as bio-indicators respond to environmental variability.

Truncorotalia truncatulinoides and the value of direct morpho-genetic comparisons in planktonic foraminifera

Frédéric Quillévéré1, Raphaël Morard1, Colomban de Vargas2, Christophe J. Douady1, Yurika Ujiié3, Thibault de Garidel-Thoron4, Gilles Escarguel1

1Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France 2Station Biologique de Roscoff, France 3Shinshu University, Japan 4CEREGE, France E-mail: [email protected] Molecular phylogenetic studies have challenged morphospecies concept in planktonic foraminifera, revealing an extensive cryptic (genetic) diversity in all cosmopolitan morphospecies analyzed so far. It has been suggested that the subtle morphological differences known within morphospecies and


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classically treated as ecophenotypic variants may differentiate cryptic species adapted to different environments. In this context, it is crucial to distinguish the morphological variability resulting from genetic isolation from that due ecophenotypy in order to interpret the paleoceanographic meaning of the planktonic foraminiferal fossil record. DNA extraction methods applied on skeleton-bearing organisms are mostly destructive for the calcareous shells, and do not allow direct morpho-genetic comparisons. Here, we present a case study of single-cell combined genetic and morphological analyses performed on Truncorotalia truncatulinoides collected from large geographic ranges in the world ocean. Thanks to the use of a DNA extraction protocol that retains the shells, we detect the existence of five cryptic species (Types I-V) and statistically analyse shape variations among them. We then reveal the biogeographic patterns of morpho-genetic diversity within T. truncatulinoides.Types I, II and V inhabit the warm subtropical waters of the south hemisphere, Atlantic and NW Pacific, respectively. Types III and IV are restricted to the productive subtropical and the cold subpolar frontal zones of the Southern Ocean, respectively. Our analyses qualify highly significant differences in shell morphology among most of the genotypes of T. truncatulinoides. These differences are especially obvious when comparing clusters of genotypes that inhabit on each side of the subtropical front in the southern Ocean, with large, highly conical left (Indian Ocean) or right-coiled (Pacific Ocean) specimens north of the subtropical front (Type I), and small, axially compressed and biconvex left-coiled specimens south of the front (Types III-IV). Such observations bring additional evidence for the late Pleistocene invasion of the southern Ocean by new genotypes, which adapted to cold water masses. We incidentally build a model based upon shell outline analyses, which correctly assigns most of the specimens to their corresponding cluster of genotypes. Application of this model to surface sediment and fossil samples may contribute to monitor past movements of the subtropical frontal zone during the late Pleistocene.

Late Neogene biostratigraphy of Southwestern Atlantic based on planktonic foraminifera

Rodrigo Portilho Ramos1, Cátia Fernandes Barbosa1

1Universidade federal Fluminense, Brazil E-mail: [email protected] The bioestratigraphic characterization of the upper Neogene (Pleistocene/Holocene) planktonic foraminifera enabled to construct a chronostratigraphic framework to the south Brazilian continental slope margin deposits useful on paleoceanographic and geological studies. The aim of the present work was to analyze the uppermost 7.7 m of the piston core JPC-17 (270 52,73’ S and 460 55,25’ W), retrieved from Santos basin during cruise on the R/V KNORR 159-5 from Woods Hole

Oceanographic Institution (WHOI,EUA). At the laboratory, samples were washed through meshes sieves of 62µm, dried and splitted through mesh sieves of 125 µm and 250 µm. The picking was performed based on 300 specimens per sample, in which significant paleoceanographical species were selected. Two 14C AMS datings performed on JPC17 core samples 60-61cm and 190-191cm indicated ages of 11.2 and 38.4 ka cal. BP respectively. These ages were correlated with 14C dated intervals of the core GeoB-2107 (27°10,6’S, 46°27,1’W - close to JPC-17), as well as the stack LR04 de Lisiecki e Raymo (2005). The absence (70cm to 770cm) and presence (0 to 61cm) of menardiforme plexus allowed to recognize the subzones Y and Z (Pleistocene/Holocene; Ericson and Wolling, 1968) respectively, which boundaries are positioned between 61-70cm in agreement with the 14C AMS age of 11.2ka cal. BP. The frequency of Pulleniatina plexus during the last glacial allowed the subdivision of biozone Y into subzone Y5 to Y1. The limit of Y4-Y3 is characterized by the second regional level of disappearance of Pulleniatina obliquiloculata (biohorizon YP2), which occurred between 67-74ka BP, while the limit of Y2-Y1 was characterized by the third regional level of disappearance of Pulleniatina obliquiloculata (biohorizon YP3) at 42ka cal. BP. These results allowed the bioestratigraphical resolution to the upper Neogene interval of South Brazilian continental margin defining a stratigraphical sequence without gaps on the sedimentation. Sea surface temperature (SST) and salinity (SSS) estimated through Mg/Ca ratio and d18O in Globigerinoides ruber suggested close relation with these bioestratigraphical events in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.

Biofacies and palaeoenvironments of the Oxfordian Hanifa Formation, Saudi Arabia

Samir Hussain Rashid1

1Geological Technical Services Department, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia E-mail: [email protected] The Hanifa Formation in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia consists of a succession of carbonates deposited on the west flank of the Neo-Tethys Ocean. It consists of a lower Hawtah Member, of Early to Mid-Oxfordian age, and the upper Ulayyah Member of Late Oxfordian age. Both members represent third order sequences with each terminating in a shallowing upward, grainstone dominated lithofacies of reservoir significance. Semiquantitative micropalaeontological analysis of cored sections from eastern Saudi Arabian subsurface has revealed varying proportions of benthic foraminifera, bivalves, echinoids, calcareous algae, sponge spicules and stromatoporoid fragments. The biocomponents are organized into stacked successions of palaeoenvironmentally significant biofacies that can be related to high frequency


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depositional sequences. A foraminiferal biofacies repreents a shallow lagoon, a foraminiferal-Clypeina biofacies represents a deep, low energy lagoon and a sponge spicules biofacies represents an intrashelf basin setting. The most restricted intrashelf basin is represented by abiotic, laminated mudstones and associated submarine evaporates. Successive palaeoenvironmentally-controlled biofacies represent retrograding and prograding trends related to sequence-linked marine transgressive and regressive events across a southerly deepening basin margin that spans shallow lagoon to intrashelf basin environments. The study has provided a high-resolution sequence framework for the Hanifa to provide intra-reservoir correlative events of flow-layer significance.

Distribution patterns and isotopic signatures of benthic foraminifera from methane seep clam beds: using Rose Bengal and Celltracker Green to evaluate stable isotopic disequilibrium

Anthony E. Rathburn1, Jonathan B. Martin2, Jason D. Waggoner1, Ronald D. Taylor1, M. Elena Perez3, Joan M. Bernhard4

1Indiana State University, United States 2University of Florida, United States 3Natural History Museum, United Kingdom 4Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, United States E-mail: [email protected] The discovery of a significant isotopic disequilibrium between carbon isotopic values of foraminiferal carbonate in modern seeps and those of ambient pore water Dissolved Inorganic Carbon raises questions about our understanding of the factors that influence the isotopic composition of foraminifera. In this light, it is critical that we determine why protoplasm-containing specimens of foraminifera found at seeps have carbon isotope values an order of magnitude different from the pore water DIC that envelops them. As part of an ongoing effort to understand isotopic disequilibrium in seep foraminifera, we examined Rose Bengal (RB) stained and CellTracker Green (CTG) labeled foraminifera collected from methane seep clam beds and nearby non-seep habitats in Monterey Bay California. We present the first isotope data for seep specimens labeled with CTG. Most species found in seep clam beds also occurred in nearby non-seep environments, though vertical distribution patterns showed greater infaunal densities in clam beds. Comparisons of seep and non-seep assemblages revealed differences in abundances of several dominant species, including Cibicides wuellerstorfi. Carbon isotope signatures of foraminiferal carbonate showed wide ranges within and between dominant species, but generally specimens labeled with CTG had similar carbon isotope values of conspecifics stained with RB. Stable isotope data from the CTG labeled and RB stained specimens were typically within the range of isotope values reported previously for conspecific species found in

seep and non-seep environments. Results confirm that the range of carbon isotope values may be useful for assessments of methane seepage, and highlight the need for more information about the factors responsible for the observed isotopic disequilibrium in foraminifera found in methane seeps.

Planktonic foraminifera as indicators of water masses north and south of the Azores Front/Current: Evidence from abundance and stable isotopes data

Andreia Seia Rebotim1, Antje H. Volker1, Joanna Waniek2

1LNEG/ CIMAR, Portugal 2IOW, Germany Email: [email protected] The study of the dynamic interaction between pteropods and planktonic foraminifera and the abiotic and biotic components of the marine environment is of extreme importance in understanding their ecology and consequently the ecosystems where they live(d). Here we present data from plankton tows collected from the upper 2000 m along two transects (22ºW; 20ºW) across the Azores Front between 38ºN and 31ºN in different seasons (April 2007; December 2008). The abundance of pteropods and planktonic foraminifera was determined, as well as, percentages of planktonic foraminifera species. Furthermore, stable isotope measurements were done in several foraminifera species: Globorotalia scitula, Globigerinoides ruber, Globorotalia hirsuta, Globigerinella siphonifera, Globorotalia inflata, Hastigerina pelagica, Globorotalia truncatulinoides, and Orbulina universa. In April 2007, the differences in pteropod and planktonic foraminifera abundances and in the prevailing foraminifera species north and south of the Azores Front, seem to be related to the spring bloom. According to the fluorescence data, pteropods were present mostly above the fluorescence maximum (100 m) while planktonic foraminifera occurred mostly below this depth. Although the hydrographic conditions were similar in both transects, the abundances were higher in the 22ºW transect. Comparing the data from April 2007 and December 2008 at the same coordinates, seasonal differences are evident with pteropods and planktonic foraminifera being more abundant in spring. Also the faunal composition seems to be more diverse in April 2007. Alive G. ruber, O. universa and G. siphonifera occurred in the upper 200 m. H. pelagica, G. inflata and G. truncatulinoides (dextral) were mainly found in the upper 400 m and G. truncatulinoides (sinistral), G. scitula and G. hirsuta down to 1200 m. The more abundant species were G. scitula and G. hirsuta. From the north of the Front to the south, abundance of G. scitula starts to decrease and of G. hirsuta to increase.


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Stable isotope values of living specimens of planktonic foraminifera generally reflect the environmental parameters of the waters in which the carbonate shell was calcified. Surface to thermocline dwelling species like G. ruber, G, siphonifera and O. universa seem to reflect conditions of the upper ocean, without significant differences in the north and south of the Azores Front values. Deep-dwelling species G. truncatulinoides, G. scitula and G. hirsuta seem to be good indicators for the water masses in which they occur, especially the Azores Front.

Mg/Ca ratios of planktonic foraminifera as a proxy for calcite-saturation states of bottom waters

Marcus Regenberg1, Anke Dürkop1, Dieter Garbe-Schönberg1

1Institute of Geosciences, CAU Kiel, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Planktonic foraminiferal species inhabit various depth levels within the upper water column. During calcification, enhanced Mg incorporation into their tests with increasing ambient seawater temperature results in temperature-dependent Mg/Ca ratios. This remarkable capacity makes Mg/Ca ratios of planktonic foraminifera a commonly used proxy for reconstructing past ocean temperatures. Systematic field approaches on tests from sediment-surface samples over the last fifteen years, however, showed that the initial Mg/Ca ratios decrease with increasing water depth of deposition. The preservation of Mg/Ca ratios is dependent on the calcite-saturation state of bottom waters, which is defined as difference between the in situ carbonate-ion concentration and the carbonate-ion concentration at saturation. A further step in understanding the dissolution effects on Mg/Ca ratios needs to address the following questions: Are there differences in the Mg/Ca declines of different species? Is the preservation pattern the same for different regions of the world ocean? At which state of calcite saturation do Mg/Ca ratios actually start to decrease? Is there a proper estimation of the Mg/Ca decline? To answer these pending questions, we measured Mg/Ca ratios of eight planktonic foraminiferal species from South China Sea sediment-surface samples and combined them with published core-top data sets from tropical Pacific and Atlantic regions. As a major outcome of our study, Mg/Ca ratios of various species are unaffected by dissolution down to calcite-saturation states of 23 µmol per kg. Below this critical threshold, a Mg/Ca decline of 0.056 µmol per mol and µmol per kg is valid for all species studied.

Glacial-interglacial changes in lysocline depth as revealed by planktonic foraminiferal Mg/Ca ratios

Marcus Regenberg1

1Institute of Geosciences, CAU Kiel, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Planktonic foraminiferal Mg/Ca ratios are commonly used as a temperature proxy. However, the initial temperature-dependent Mg/Ca ratio may be modified after deposition of a test by the calcite-saturation state of bottom water, which is defined as difference between the in situ carbonate-ion concentration and the carbonate-ion concentration at saturation. As revealed by our new South China Sea Mg/Ca data from sediment-surface samples in combination with published core-top data sets from the tropical Pacific and Atlantic, an initial Mg/Ca ratio remains unaltered as long as a test is exposed to fairly supersaturated waters above 23 mol per kg. Below this critical calcite-saturation threshold, a linear Mg/Ca decline of 0.056 µmol per mol and µmol per kg is observed. We found that the threshold for the onset of dissolution effects and the Mg/Ca decline is similar for all planktonic foraminiferal species and independent of the ocean region. Based on this preservation model, we show how Mg/Ca ratios can be applied to trace changes in the position of the threshold for the onset of dissolution effects on Mg/Ca ratios. Furthermore, we present first insights into the quantification of the vertical movement of the lysocline depth on glacial-interglacial time scales.

The dynamic past of biodiversity: the foraminiferal genus Cycloclypeus as an example

Willem Renema1

1Nationaal Center voor Biodiversiteit Naturalis, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] Large scale biodiversity patterns are widely debated, often in terms that a single process or model should be the dominant process leading to these patterns. The discussions zoomed in on the contributions of migration, origination and to a lesser extent extinction. In this study I describe the variation spatio-temporal geographic distribution and morphological change in a single genus of large benthic foraminifera. I found that depending on the lineage, time interval and area different rates in morphological evolution could be detected. Allopatric, parapetric and sympatric (sensu latu) is documented. For the extant species it is argued that its area of origination is outside the current range of the genus, and that this cannot be reconstructed using molecular tools alone. Although morphological evolution was consistent over large geographical areas in most cases, speciation occurred in geographically restricted areas in two cases. The


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most marked example show that while looking within the centre of the distribution replacement of a species seemed punctuated, in a marginal area morphological change was gradual. This study documents the highly dynamic nature of biodiversity, which provides new insights into the pitfalls when only restricted aspects of the evolution of a taxon are taken into account.

Neritic planktic foraminiferal communities in the SE Bay of Biscay: influence of the Capbreton Canyon and the Adour river plume

Sophie Retailleau1, Fréderique Eynaud2, Hélène Howa1, Yannick Mary3, Ralf Schiebel1

1University of Angers (BIAF), France 2University of Bordeaux, France 3University of Basel, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] Planktic foraminifera are often rare or absent in neritic environments. The present study aims to document and compare the distribution of living planktic foraminiferal fauna between offshore stations and stations located in the Capbreton submarine canyon, near the Adour River mouth, Plateau des Landes in the southeastern Bay of Biscay. The morphology of submarine canyons has been reported to affect the hydrography of surface waters, and playing an important role for the regional ecosystem. Seven sites were investigated in the south-eastern Bay of Biscay. Four site were sampled along an onshore-offshore transect at water depth from 145 m to 2000 m. The three other sites were located at the head of the Capbreton canyon. Each site was sampled with a plankton net (>100 µm) down to 100 m depth at 20-m sampling intervals, and 700 m at 100-m and 200-m intervals, during three cruises in November 2007, March 2008, and July 2008, with the R/V “Côtes de la Manche”. The five major species during the different seasons were Globigerina bulloides, Globigerinella calida, Neogloboquadrina pachyderma dextral, Globorotalia inflata and Globorotalia scitula. No significant differences in planktic foraminiferal assemblages between the canyon head and the open shelf stations were observed in March and July. However, G. scitula was less frequent at the conyon-head sites than at the open shelf sites. Lowest standing stocks occurred during strong stratification of the water column in July. In July, T. quinqueloba was abundant both at canyon head and open shelf stations at low surface water salinity. In November, standing stocks of planktic foraminifers were much higher at the onshore and canyon stations than at the offshore stations, and the fauna was dominated by G. bulloides and G. calida. The change in planktic foraminiferal faunas is correlated to changing trophic conditions affected by (1) nutrient input derived from the Adour river discharge, and (2) sporadic upwelling events at the head of Capbreton canyon, supporting the production of opportunistic species.

Historical ecology and modern biology of benthic foraminiferal communities from the inshore central Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia

Claire Reymond1,2, George Roff1,2, Sven Uthicke3, Jian-xin Zhao4 and John Pandolfi1,2 1ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, Australia 2School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia 3Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia 5Radio Isotope Facility, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: Substantial land use changes have occurred within the catchment area of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia, due to extensive clearing for crop and grazing since European settlement in the mid-18th century. We aim to reconstruct centennial-millennial trends to determine natural ecological variability prior to large-scale catchment modifications. To do this, historical benthic foraminiferal communities from inshore coral reefs in the Palm Islands region (central inshore GBR) were collected from 8 sediment cores using a modified hand percussion technique. Core chronologies from the last millennium were constructed from dating coral rubble throughout the cores using a high-precision TIMS U-Series technique. Sediment sub samples were taken at 50 yr intervals from which 200 individual foraminifera were identified to genus level. Through time series analysis we observed sustained community persistence (>200 yrs) with shifts in community structure occurring in the modern samples. This study provides the first continuous record of foraminifera communities from the Palm Island group and its response to recent terrestrial impacts. In addition to the temporal response of benthic foraminfera, we also show how water quality influences calcification rates of Marginopora vertebralis. Our study repeatedly shows calcification rates of M. vertebralis to decrease in response to eutrophication in both in situ and aquarium experiments. Alterations in water quality due to terrestrial runoff in the last century show substantial impacts to the biology and ecology of benthic foraminifera. From a management perspective, the results from this study can be used to establish a baseline of foraminiferal growth and community structure from historically low anthropogenic impacted reefs.


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Foraminiferal paleobathymetry and biofacies analysis at the Pleistocene-Pliocene boundary, Canterbury Basin continental shelf, New Zealand. Preliminary results from IODP Exp. 317

Mathieu Richaud1

1Fresno State, Earth and Environmental Sciences, United States E-mail: [email protected] Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 317 (Nov. 2009 – Jan. 2010)was devoted to understanding the relative importance of global sea levelversus local tectonic and sedimentary processes in controlling continental-margin sedimentary cycles. The expedition recovered sediments dating fromthe Eocene to Recent, when global sea-level change was dominated by glacio-eustasy. The Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary was biostratigraphically pickedby calcareous nannofossils between Samples U1354C-9X-CC and 10X-CC(122.20-133.37 m). This pick correlated nicely to a sharp lithological bound-ary noted in Core U1354C-10X and is believed to be the only expeditionshelf site to have recovered this boundary. Census of benthic and planktonicforaminifera are interpreted with reference to known modern foraminiferaldistributions on the Canterbury Basin shelf. The principale objective is touse benthic foraminiferal biofacies to estimate paleo-water depths both aboveand below the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary. Major and minor elementgeochemistry, grain-size data, and XRF/XRD data are used to investigatethe facies, paleoenvironments and depositional processes associated with thestratigraphic boundary.

Foraminiferal analyses, sea-level fluctuations and depositional dynamics of a modern deep-water lobe complex in Campos Basin

Aristóteles M. Rios-Netto1, Isabella L. Antunes1, David Bentes1, Carlos J. Abreu1

1Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil E-mail: [email protected] Nowadays, most of the oil production in Brazil, about 90%, comes from Campos Basin and is associated with deep-water turbidite reservoirs. The modern analogue Almirante Câmara System is located in the central Campos Basin, Southeastern Brazilian continental margin, and consists of a canyon connected to deep-water channel and lobe complexes. This work aims at improving the understanding of the late Quaternary sedimentary dynamics in this area, using biostratigraphic interpretation based on planktic foraminifera as an efficient tool to enlighten the Eocene–Miocene economically significant deposits. To achieve this goal, we analysed 176 samples of clays and sands, from six piston cores collected in sites with water depth ranging from 700 to 2,400 meters, being three from the canyon, and three from

the lobe complex. In addition to the foraminiferal analyses, we have constructed a digital elevation model (DEM) of the ocean floor. Cold and warm taxa percentages, planktic/benthic ratio, number of planktic individuals, the planktic species diversity led us to recognize part of the last interglacial, the last glacial (latest Late Pleistocene) and the post-glacial (Holocene) intervals. Biostratigraphic analyses indicated lack of Holocene sediments in the upper part of the canyon, probably due to remobilization of sediments by debris flow from canyon walls or erosion by gravity currents. Also, a latest Late Pleistocene hiatus was identified in one of the distal lobe complex cores, probably due to erosion by gravity current flows. This hiatus and the decrease of the planktic/benthic ratio observed in the lower part of the same core were correlated to the sea level falls of ca. 60–70 and 84–92 Ka B.P., respectively. The sea floor DEM enabled us to explain sedimentation rates in distinct sites based on their geomorphologic context, as deposition areas protected by salt domes presented higher rates than unprotected ones.

Recent benthic foraminifera in a Brazilian subtropical coastal environment (Flamengo Inlet, Ubatuba, sp)

André Rosch Rodrigues1, Teresa Lima Díaz1, Beatriz Beck Eichler1, Vivian Pellizari1

1Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico, Brazil E-mail: [email protected] The aim of the present study is determine the recent benthic foraminifera fauna in the Flamengo Inlet, a subtropical inlet placed in Ubatuba a city from São Paulo State northern coast in Brazil. The tide currents that penetrate in this inlet make this environment relatively preserved from antropogenic impact even though in its inner part, an area called “Saco do Ribeira”, there are several marinas and the water circulation in this areas is restrict and human activity is constant. The Flamengo inlet was sampled during the 2010 austral summer (March), 34 surface sediment samples were collected with a Van Veen grab sampler, environmental factors as temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, total organic matter in sediment and grain size were also collected. The preliminary results show a Foraminifera fauna composed mainly by calcareous taxa, from the 83 found taxa about 80% were calcareous. The agglutinated species represented 16% of the total richness. Few planktonic specimens were found, mainly Globigerina spp. and Globigerinoides spp.. Living foraminifera represent 16% of total fauna (dead and alive); values of richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity and evenness were high. The most representative species were the calcareous species Ammonia beccarii and Buliminella eligantissima. Species such as Uvigerina striata, Ammonia parkinsoniana, Elphidium articulatum, Pseudononion atlanticum, Discorbis williansoni and


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Elphidium excavatum were common all over the studied area. The most frequent agglutinated species found were Textularia foliacea and Ammotium salsum. The presence of calcareous species such as Ammonia spp., Elphidium spp. and Bulliminella elegantissima in an inlet where the average value of depth was 7.8 m, the temperature was 25.7°C, the salinity was 34.2, the pH was 7.0 and the dissolved oxygen was 4.0 mg·l-1 shows that Flamengo Inlet has a typical benthic foraminiferal fauna to subtropical coastal environments. The high values of diversity, evenness and richness revealed that the studied area is not intensilly affected by antropogenic impact even though samples near the marinas in “Saco do Ribeira” showed the lowest richness and highest values of dominance.

Biostratigraphic challenges in offshore wells from the Dunlin Group, North Sea

Thomas A. Ronge1, Jens M. Thissen1, Martin Langer1

1Steinmann Institut, Universität Bonn, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Biostratigraphic analyses of the Lower Jurassic Dunlin Group in the Gullfaks field area have traditionally been conducted by using palynologic microfossils. The aim of this study is to provide a revised high-resolution biostratigraphy of the Dunlin group using foraminifera as index fossils. The Amundsen, Cook and Drake Formations were analysed in detail. Samples examined were washed and dried directly after drilling, to reduce the influence of drilling chemicals or hydrocarbons on the microfaunal assemblages. The analysis showed great differences between the Amundsen, Drake and Cook Formations. The Amundsen Formation is dominated by benthic foraminifera and shows a prominent influx of ostracods. Within the Cook and Drake Formations the ostracods vanish and are replaced by an enormous occurrence of planktonic foraminifera like Rugoglobigerina and Heterohelix. The foraminiferal faunal content indicates a prodelta environment in a depth of 200 – 300 for the Amundsen Formation and open marine conditions for the Cook and Drake Formations. This represents a massive influx of Cretaceous planktic taxa and suggests a Cretaceous age for the sedimentary deposits. The biostratigraphic age (Cretaceous) contrast with previous Jurassic assignments but is supported by similar findings in an associated well. This study examines the potential sources of the contradictory biostratigraphic assignments and focuses on the challenges related massive caving and selective preservation.

Biometric analysis on planktonic foraminifera: application to the sediments of the Southern Indian Ocean.

Linda Rossignol1, Thibaut Caley1, Damien Gil1, Frédérique Eynaud1, Nicolas Caillon2, Angéline Ragougneau3, Alexandre Torneberg4

1Laboratory EPOC, University Bordeaux 1, France 2LSCE, France 3Université d'Orléans, France 4EPHE, Université Bordeaux 1, France E-mail: [email protected] Fossil foraminifera shells are among the best most used paleoceanographic proxies. They are the basic material of numerous approaches (dating, geochemical analysis, assemblage analysis…) but their biometric variations are rarely considered and investigated. Nevertheless, it has been demonstrated that some sea-surface parameters could act as limiting factors of specimen maturation and development and are therefore imprinted in the size-structure of the population. According Schimdt (2002), on global scale, the size spectra of assemblages triple from the poles to the tropics. More regionally, in the Indian Ocean, Bé (1976) showed correlation between the mean size of Orbulina universa specimens and sea-surface temperature (SST) variations. We investigated the size variation of planktonic foraminifera shells along core MD96-2048 retrieved in the modern Agulhas current (Southern Indian Ocean) in order to test this ecological relation throughout time (the last 182 kyr). This work presents results of measurements conducted on G. ruber alba sensu stricto and on the total population by an automated system composed of a digital camera and a motorized microscope LEICA DM 6000 controlled by a computer. Our size results, length for G. ruber and mean surface for total assemblage were compared to SST reconstructions obtained on the same core on the basis of Mg/Ca measurements (G. ruber alba sensu stricto specimen). Preliminary results (Caley et al., 2009) have shown that O. universa mean diameter is relatively well correlated with SST in agreement with Bé (1976). Our new and complementary observations show that this simple relation needs to be modulated regarding the species considered. Actually, size variation of G. ruber seems non-linearly correlated with SST, as only some time intervals depict a positive correlation. The same is also observed regarding the size variations of the total assemblage. These results open new perspectives of methodological development: each species seems to bring an independent signal that the investigation of additional geographic areas could help to understand and may be generalise.


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Planktonic foraminiferal Mg/Ca-thermometry in the Mediterranean Sea: Assessing the influence of salinity and diagenetic Mg-rich calcite

Anna Sabbatini1, Franck Bassinot2, Soumaya Bousseta3, Hélène Rebaubier2, Caterina Morigi4, Alessandra Negri1

1Polytechnic University of Marche, Department of Marine Sciences, Italy 2Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (CNRS/CEA/UVSQ), France 3University of Sfax, FSS, Lab. GEOGLOB, Tunisia 4Stratigraphy Department, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Denmark Email: [email protected] Over the past decade, the Mg/Ca ratio of foraminiferal tests has emerged as a valuable paleotemperature proxy. However, rather large uncertainties remain in the relationships between planktonic foraminiferal Mg/Ca and calcification temperature. Discrepancies are likely due to the involvement of other physical factors during the foraminifer calcification (i.e. salinity, pH) or post-mortem (i.e. dissolution at the seafloor). In the Mediterranean Sea, core top planktonic foraminiferal Mg/Ca values are anomalously high and cannot be explained by sea surface temperatures alone. Several studies suggested that these Mg/Ca anomalies could result from a salinity bias. But a recent work also pointed out the deposition of Mg-rich calcite overgrowth on foraminiferal tests during early diagenesis, particularly in the eastern basin. In the present study, we analysed Mg/Ca ratios of the planktonic species Globigerinoides ruber (white) picked from 50 core top samples spanning the whole Mediterranean Sea. Over the entire data set, we found no significant correlation between Mg/Ca and d18O-derived calcification temperatures. As suggested by these authors this lack of correlation is chiefly due to the presence of post-mortem Mg-rich (~10-12%) overgrowth, which can constitute up to 20% of the foraminiferal calcite in the eastern Mediterranean basin. In the western Mediterranean basin those diagenetic effects are much less pronounced. Over this area, we performed a calibration exercise, which suggests that G. ruber Mg/Ca is significantly affected by sea surface salinity, with a +1 psu change in SSS resulting in a + 1.7°C temperature bias. This result is in good agreement with G. ruber Mg/Ca sensitivity to salinity deduced from a recent study on open ocean core top material.

Planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and behaviour during the Late Campanian-Early Maastrichtian at the oued Necham (On) section (Kalaat Senan, Central Tunisia)

Ezzedine Saïdi1, Dalila Zaghbib-Turki1

1University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Sciences, Tunisia E-mail: [email protected] Based on planktonic foraminifers and applying a high resolution sampling throughout the Campanian-Maastrichtian (C-M) transition interval, high resolution biostratigraphic and quantitative analysis are realised at the Oued Necham (ON) section (Kalâat Senan, central Tunisia). In accordance with the recommendations applied at the Tercis section, considered during the Brussels meeting on Cretaceous stage boundaries (in 1995) as the GSSP for the C/M boundary, we consider that the FAD of Rugoglobigerina scotti is the most appropriate foraminiferal bioevent to mark the C/M boundary as it occurs with that of the ammonite species Pachydiscus neubergicus. Consequently, the use of the LAD of Globotruncanita calcarata is no longer valid to mark the assumed boundary. The relative abundances of morphotypes, morpho-groups, genera and species are analysed in order to learn about planktonic foraminiferal behaviour and palaeoecological conditions at the ON location. Quantitative data revealed that late Campanian assemblages are essentially dominated by globotruncanids and large heterohelicids. These large and heavily ornamented taxa supposed to inhabit deeper mass water indicate the settling of meso to oligotrophic conditions. At the C/M boundary these specialist species dropped in relative abundances in cosmopolite species favour (e.g., Heterohelix, Rugoglobigerina, Globigerin-elloides representatives). The relative abundances increase of these latter coinciding with the FAD of Rg. scotti suggests cooler conditions at the base of the Maastrichtian. Being for most small and simply developed these taxa colonised surface-subsurface microhabitats. Above the C/M boundary and towards the Early/Late Maastrichtian boundary (coinciding with the FAD of Abathomphalus mayaroensis) heterohelicids show a quite stable behaviour remaining highly abundant and more diversified. They showed denser ornamentation and well developed growth pattern expressed by chamber proliferation and sets number raise. However, globotruncanids showed antagonist behaviour in comparison with that of Rugoglobigerina and Globigerinelloides represent-atives. These antagonist behaviours more pro-nounced close to the Early/Late Maastrichtian boundary denote the resumption of meso to oligotrophic conditions during a climate warming pulse. This warming pulse is strengthened by Guembelitria species thriving. Otherwise, the planktonic/benthic ratio exceeding 85 % throughout the whole studied series suggests an upper to middle bathyal palaeoenvironment.


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Temperature and Productivity Gradients within the Western Iberian Upwelling System in Response to Glacial and Heinrich-event Climate Forcing

Emília Salgueiro1, Lúcia De Abreu2, Antje Voelker1, C.N. Prabhu1, Sandra Vaqueiro1, Fátima Abrantes1, Josette Duprat3, Jean-Louis Turon3

1CIMAR / LNEG, Unidade de Geologia Marinha, Portugal 2Former collaborator of CIMAR / LNEG, Unidade de Geologia Marinha, Rua dos Bragas, 289 Portugal 3Environnements et Paléoenvironments Océaniques (UMR CNRS 5805 EPOC), Université Bordeaux 1, France E-mail: [email protected] The western Iberian margin is characterized by seasonal coastal upwelling associated with cold waters and high primary productivity, which leaves an imprint in the sediments beneath these areas. Fourteen sediment cores (SU92-03, MD95-2039, MD95-2040, MD95-2041, MD95-2042, MD03-2699, PO200/10-28-1, OMEXII-5K, OMEXII-9K, N3KF24, D1195-7P, MD03-2697, MD99-2331, MD99-2339) located along the Iberian coast, between 43º12Ń and 35º89Ń, were investigated to reconstruct spatial and temporal gradients in temperature and productivity conditions during the Holocene, the last glacial maximum (LGM), and Heinrich events (HE) 1-3. Planktonic foraminifera census counts were used to estimate summer sea surface temperature (SST) and export productivity (Pexp) using the modern analog technique SIMMAX 28 and the extended North Atlantic modern analog data base, currently with 1066 and 1039 modern analogs for SST and Pexp, respectively. During the Holocene all sites exhibit estimated mean SST and Pexp values similar to modern satellite data, including the North to South and East to West temperature increase (from 17 to 21 ºC) and productivity decrease (from 110 to 30gC m-2 yr-1). This demonstrates the accuracy of the transfer function calibration used. During the LGM the estimated SST were relatively warm (~17ºC) along the Iberian margin, similar to the present-day conditions and consistent with other reconstructions for the Portuguese margin using planktonic foraminifera, alkenones, and pollen data. The warm SST are equally in agreement with the GLAMAP results. While, the Pexp increased at nearly all sites, particularly within the filament off Porto (MD95-2039, MD95-2040). The increase of productivity could be attributed to strong winds in synchrony with other upwelling regions around the world. During HE 1 - 3, the short-term cooling periods associated with extreme iceberg discharges into the North Atlantic during the last 30 cal kyr BP, temperature increased from North to South (on average 4ºC), marking the decreasing influence of melting icebergs along the Iberian margin, with HE 1 being the coldest one. Productivity shows a more complex pattern: productivity in the areas under modern upwelling influence was reduced, but not terminated, and highest/increased Pexp occurred in those areas with lowest modern productivity, most likely linked to frontal upwelling.

MIS 11c and Holocene temperature on the Portuguese Margin as revealed by Mg/Ca and oxygen stable isotopes

Emília Salgueiro1, Pamela Martin2, Antje Voelker1, C. N. Prabhu1, Fátima Abrantes1

1CIMAR / LNEG, Unidade de Geologia Marinha, Portugal 2Geophysical Sciences Department, The University of Chicago, United States E-mail: [email protected] To understand the natural present-day climate variability and to predict the future it is important to find past analogues to our current interglacial period. Since long, the interglacial marine isotope stage (MIS) 11c was considered a good analogue candidate for the Holocene in terms of orbital parameters and greenhouse gas concentrations. Some studies in the North Atlantic revealed rather similar conditions during these two periods, while others showed significant differences. In order to investigate this problem from the upper water column temperature point of view, we have generated Mg/Ca and δ18O records of 3 planktonic foraminifera species (G. ruber (white), G. bulloides, G. inflata), for Portuguese margin site MD03-2699 (39ºN; 10.7ºW). Mg/Ca and δ18O derived temperatures were estimated using the insights gained from the high resolution top-cores study in the study region. During MIS 11c, temperatures were slightly warmer than during the Holocene with values around 19ºC based on Mg/Ca G. ruber (white). The warmer Mg/Ca temperatures of G. ruber (white) and G. inflata during early MIS 11c (426–412 ka) were most likely related to an intensification of the wintertime, warm subtropical Portugal Coastal Countercurrent (PCCC) indicating enhanced northward heat flux from the North Atlantic's subtropical gyre. Considering the same proxies, during the early Holocene (4 ka-Present) the same PCCC intensification seems to have occurred. Additionally, the δ18O curves of G. bulloides and G. inflata show similar values during most of the early Holocene period, indicating that both species calcified in similar source waters, but probably in different season. Apparently during the summer there was an intensification of upwelling and G. bulloides calcified at temperatures lower 1.2 ºC (0.5 ‰) then during late Holocene.


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Integrated stratigraphy across the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary at the El Chorro section, Southern Spain

Carlos A. Sánchez-Quiñónez1,2, Laia Alegret1, Roque Aguado3, Antonio Delgado4, Juan C. Larrasoaña5, Agustin Martín-Algarra6, Luis O´Dogherthy7, Eustoquio Molina1

1Dept. Ciencias de la Tierra & IUCA, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain 2Dept. Geociencias. Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia 3Dept. Geología. Universidad de Jaén, Spain 4Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, CSIC, Spain 5Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Zaragoza, Spain 6Dept. Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Universidad de Granada, Spain 7Dept. Geología. Universidad de Cádiz. Spain E-mail: [email protected] A climatic, geological and biological global event resulted in sedimentation of black shales at the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary, coinciding with the Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2) or Bonarelli Event. We present an interdisciplinary research of the C/T transition at the Spanish El Chorro section (Betic Cordillera), and show the results of studies on planktic and benthic foraminifera, calcareous nannoplancton, radiolaria, stable isotopes and environmental magnetic properties. The OAE2 event at El Chorro consists of a 2 m thick interval of siliceous black shales interbedded with radiolarian-rich levels, and is almost devoid of carbonates and calcareous microfossils. Marls, marly limestones, limestones with chert nodules occur below and above the OAE2 interval. Environmental magnetic properties indicate low concentrations of magnetic minerals likely in response to reductive dissolution under anoxic conditions. The increase in magnetic susceptibility through the OAE2 event indicates a sharp decrease in carbonate production The planktic foraminiferal biozones Rotalipora cushmani, Whiteinella archaeocretacea and Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica and the calcareous nannoplancton biozones NC11, NC12 and NC13 have been recognized. Diversity of the radiolarian assemblages gradually decreases from the upper Cenomanian towards the middle part of the OAE2 interval, where it reaches the lowest values, and recovers above the OAE2. Oxygenation of the sea-bottom waters decreased towards the late Cenomanian, as inferred from benthic foraminifera: a decrease in the percentage of infaunal taxa and in species size is observed 40 cm below the OAE2. Assemblages from the upper part of the section contain abundant and tiny epifaunal, trochospiral species and representatives of Tappanina, Pleurostomella and small buliminids. These data indicate low oxygen conditions at the top of the section, 370 cm above the top of the OAE2 black shales.

Stable isotopic composition of modern larger foraminifera and its connotation as palaeobiological proxy

Pratul Kumar Saraswati1

1Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay, India E-mail: [email protected] The larger foraminifera inhabit the shallow seas of tropical-subtropical regions. They harbour endosymbionts that provide energy to the organism and enhance calcification of the test through photosymbiosis. They were also abundant and diverse in the geologic past. While some of the fossil larger foraminifera have living representatives, most others are extinct. Knowing the palaeobiology of extinct taxa is challenging in absence of modern analogues. The stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon could be potential proxies provided the effects of environment and life processes on stable isotopic composition of skeletal carbonates are understood in natural habitats or laboratory culture. In the present study oxygen and carbon isotopic analysis was carried out on 15 species of larger foraminifera collected live from the known environments. The data were obtained for the whole test of most species and at different ontogenic stages of selected species. It is attempted to relate δ18O and δ13C variation with depths of habitat, seasons of reproduction, life span and symbiosis. It is found that miliolid foraminifera have distinctly higher δ13C as compared with the rotaliid foraminifera. There is no distinct trend in whole-test δ18O with depth of habitat but δ18O variation with ontogeny distinctly distinguishes a shallow water species, Marginopora kudakajimaensis, from a deep water species, Cycloclypeus carpenteri. δ18O variation along the growth profile of Marginopora kudakajimaensis also indicates the life span and season of reproduction of the species, which are consistent with field observations. There is a poor correlation between δ18O and δ13C in larger foraminifera, similar to the trend reported in symbiont-bearing planktonic foraminifera. It is also of significance that higher the rate of calcium carbonate accretion, lower is the value of δ13C. The isotopic variations observed in modern foraminifera demonstrate that δ18O and δ13C of fossil larger foraminifera are likely to be important source of palaeobiological information. The equilibrium fractionation of isotopes in foraminiferal carbonates and suitable sampling are critical requirements for reliable interpretations and hence modern larger foraminifera should be investigated further for oxygen and carbon isotopic composition in relation to environment and life processes.


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Larger Benthic Foraminifers in the Late Paleozoic and Paleogene: intrinsic evolution or profiteers of extreme climates?

Christian Scheibner1, Holger Forke2

1Universität Bremen, Germany 2Museum of Natural History Berlin, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The carbonate platforms of the Late Paleozoic and Early Paleogene both evolved during times of opposed extreme climates. Despite this dichotomy, they not only share, but also are characterized by one organism group, the Larger Benthic Foraminifers (LBF). While the Late Paleozoic is dominated by fusulinids, in the Early Paleogene several groups of LBF (alveolinids, nummulitids, discocyclinids) thrived. Is this concordance just coincidence or do both time intervals share factors, which favor the growth and dominance of LBF on carbonate platforms? First of all, the evolution of LBF in these two time intervals is closely tied to the onset of two extreme climate periods, the Late Paleozoic Ice Age (LPIA) and the Early Paleogene Climate Optimum. During both climate extremes the diversity of LBF strongly increased, while the diversity of other organism groups decreased. The LPIA led to a niche reduction within the tropics, an overall increase in extinction/origination rates, and thus a decrease in diversity. During the Early Paleogene Climate Optimum coral reefs were strongly diminished. Apparently, the effects leading to diversity decrease in several other organism groups during both climate intervals were not efficient for the LBF. Thus, it appears that they were more tolerant to temperature, salinity or nutrient changes, leading to a somewhat opportunistic life style. Although this would be in contrast to their attribution as K-strategists, which generally prefer stable conditions. The intrinsic evolution is supposed to be controlled in the Paleogene LBF by the global community maturation cycle. For the Paleozoic fusulinids such an intrinsic control mechanism is suggested here for the first time. Similar to the Paleogene LBF the fusulinids show cycles of repeated growth increase with a comparable duration of 25 my. But would this intrinsic evolution have been that successful, if extrinsic factors were not also in favor for the evolution of larger foraminifers? As a working hypothesis it is proposed, that without the intrinsic evolution Larger Benthic Foraminifers probably would not have evolved at all, but only the favorable extrinsic factors led to their success in the Late Paleozoic and Early Paleogene.

Planktic foraminiferal test size variation as a measure of ecologic conditions along an open offshore-onshore transect

Ralf Schiebel1, Sophie Retailleau1, Dewi Langlet1, Hélène Howa1

1University of Angers, Laboratoire des Bio-Indicateurs Actuels et Fossiles (BIAF), France E-mail: [email protected] Test size variation of planktic foraminifers across an offshore-onshore gradient from the hemi-pelagic Bay of Biscay onto the shelf is discussed as a consequence of ecologic demands and autecologic prerequisites. Samples were obtained during different seasons with a 100-µm multinet from four sites at 2000 m, 1000 m, 550 m, and 145 m water depth, and 50 km distance from the shelf break onto the shelf. The six most abundant planktic foraminiferal species were scanned with an automated incident light microscope, and analysed for different two-dimensional measures of form and size. Variations of form and size are discussed for different depth habitats in surface waters, and settling test assemblages in subsurface waters. Ontogenetic changes in test size are taken into consideration according to the timing with the synodic lunar cycle, and display no systematic change with water depth or proximity to the coast. Population dynamics of the total planktic foraminiferal fauna, and on the species level invariably changes across an offshore-onshore gradient. Standing stocks at two onshore sites were lower than offshore, and composed of a more even amount of small and large tests. Test assemblages at two deep-water sites in spring were dominated by the smallest tests, and quasi-exponential decrease in individuals towards larger specimens. In autumn, standing stocks were patchy, with low and medium standing stocks at the deep-water and the onshore stations. Comparing test size patterns with ecological measures, i.e., temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll concentration, the availability of food correlates with the test size distribution of live assemblages. Water depth and distance from the coast per se were not correlated to the size distribution of tests of any of the analysed species. Fossil assemblages of two out of the six species analysed, i.e., Globorotalia inflata and G. scitula, are formed by smaller tests at the onshore than offshore locations. Smallest tests at the shelf station are interpreted as expatriated specimens that did not grow to full mature size due to unfavourable environmental conditions.


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Physiological effects of temperature stress on selected larger benthic foraminifera

Christiane Schmidt1, Nikolas Vogel2, Michal Kucera1, Petra Heinz1, Sven Uthicke3

1Institute for Geoscience, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tuebingen, Germany 2Institute of Ecology, Ludwig- Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany 3Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia E-mail:[email protected] Environmental stressors such as increasing sea surface temperatures (SST) are known to cause coral bleaching. However, the response of larger benthic Foraminifera, an important element of coral reef ecosystems, to SST change remains poorly understood. In the present study, two species hosting endosymbiotic diatoms, Amphistegina radiata and Heterostegina depressa, have been exposed to increasing temperatures in incubator experiments (five treatments at 23 to 33°C, six days exposure) as well as a flow-through aquaria study (SST increase in three treatments from 26 to 31°C, 30 days exposure). In the temperature incubator experiments, photophysiological response (measured by PAM fluorometry) decreased significantly after 48 h of exposure to 32°C compared to the 23° and 28°C treatments. Chl α contents were significantly reduced in the 32 to 33°C treatments compared to lower temperatures. Motility in A. radiata was reduced by 42% and in H. depressa by 29% at temperatures of 32°C. The month-long flow-through aquaria study confirmed reduced photosynthetic yields at higher temperatures; these were significantly reduced in H. depressa in the 31°C treatment. In both foraminiferan species chl α content was significantly reduced at 31°C compared to the 26° treatment. Growth in A. radiata was significantly reduced from 29 to 31°C. In addition to chlorophyll measurements, bleaching was documented by digital photography. The experiments show that heat stress led to a reduction in photosynthetic yield and damage to PS II. Similar to corals we suggest that when photosynthesis of the symbionts does not deliver carbohydrates to the host, the foram-diatom endosymbiosis looses its advantage which may lead to subsequent bleaching of the host. This study is the first to document changes in photosynthesis, pigment content, motility and growth associated with temperature stress in larger benthic Foraminifers. Given that a 2-3°C increase in SST on top of seasonal maxima leads to rapid bleaching of these important protists we propose that, similar to corals, these species are threatened by near future SST increase predicted for the GBR.

Distribution of recent benthic foraminifera in the Southern Florida Straits

Joachim Schönfeld1

1IFM-GEOMAR, Paleoceanography, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The benthic environment in the Florida Straits is strongly affected by the Florida Current, a main constituent of the Gulf Stream. The impact of bottom-near currents on benthic communities was studied on transects between between Cay Sal (Bahamas) and Sombrero Key (Florida), to the South of Dry Tortugas (Florida), and to the west of Great Bahama Bank. Foraminiferal census data from 30 surface samples and the examination of hard substrates revealed a close correlation of the assemblages with current intensities as reported from previous hydrographic surveys. Epibenthic species constituted up to 84 % of the living assemblage at sites shallower than 600 m under bottom-near current velocities of >30 cm s-1. Their proportion was only 5 to 16 % at greater depths and flow strengths of <6 cm s-1. The epibenthic assemblage comprised 40 species. Microhabitat observations inferred a subdivision into elevated epibenthics, shallow epibenthic and facultatively attached species. The elevated community was dominated by Discanomalina semipunctata, Planulina ariminensis, Textularia pseudogramen, and Aggerostramen rusticum. Their epibenthic lifestyle has been described from the eastern North Atlantic, but the latter is hitherto not reported from elevated habitats. Cibicides lobatulus was very rare in the southern Florida Straits, and Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi preferred a shallow epibenthic to endobenthic lifestyle. The population density of epibenthic species is up to 4 times higher on the substrates than on the ambient sediment surface. No living elevated epibenthic species were found below 800 m. Corroborating evidence from the velocity structure of the Florida Current and sedimentological features suggest the lower limit of the current at that depth. Factor analyses of living faunas including the endobenthic species revealed that the assemblages were structured with depth and western longitude. A correlation of factor scores with environmental parameters indicated that not only the near-bottom flow regime, but also the pelagic flux rate of particular organic matter, and substrate properties exerted influences on benthic foraminiferal assemblage composition and species distribution in the southern Florida Straits.


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Influence of sediment transport dynamics and ocean floor morphology on benthic foraminifera, offshore Fraser Island, Australia

Claudia J. Schröder-Adams1, Ron Boyd2

1Carleton University, Earth Sciences, Canada 2ConocoPhillips, United States E-mail: [email protected] Existing geological models predict that deep-water sands are mainly supplied from rivers during times of low sea level, or by incision of canyons into the shelf to tap river or longshore-transport sand sources. Here, we demonstrate that at high sea level, southeast Australian deep-water sands are delivered by a wave-driven coastal transport system, interacting with estuarine ebb tidal flows that transports sand over the shelf edge. Benthic foraminifera become proxies for sediment transport. The extensive longshore sediment transport system along the SE margin of Australia transports yearly 500 000 m3 of sand from the Gold Coast of southern Queensland north towards Fraser Island. Fraser Island, which consists of 203 km3 of quartz sand, is presently not increasing in size and quartz sand gives away to carbonate sand north of the island. Recent multibeam sonar seafloor imagery and sediment analysis has established that the transported sand is being diverted by strong ebb tidal flow over the continental shelf edge onto the Tasman Abyssal Plain through a series of active gullies that incised the continental slope. Foraminiferal distribution patterns on the shelf and slope are closely linked to the variable ocean floor morphology and associated physical processes. In sample locations outside the continental slope gullies, areas unaffected by downslope sediment transport, foraminiferal assemblages gradually change in accordance with bathymetric zones and their prevailing ecological parameters. Species diversity, evenness, the proportion of infaunal species and the abundance of agglutinated taxa all increase with depth. Assemblages within gullies of the clastic sand transport route are significantly different. Estuarine and shelf species are transported over the shelf break and mix with typical slope species along the transport path, resulting in continued high species diversities. As the sediment and faunal load enters the abyssal plain, a faunal portion continues to travel within the Capricorn Sea Valley to over 4000 m depth. The erosional nature of gullies results in reduction of agglutinated species. Subtle topographic features such as ridges or levees within the canyon and deep-sea valley act as protection from the main erosional sand transport pathway and support the presence of fragile and erect suspension feeders. Foraminiferal distribution patterns would have received an entirely different biofacies interpretation without linking them to ocean floor processes as revealed through multibeam sonar imagery.

Ontogenetic effects on stable isotopes in tests of live (Rose Bengal stained) benthic foraminifera from the Pakistan continental margin

Stefanie Schumacher1, Frans J. Jorissen2, Andreas Mackensen1, Andrew J. Gooday2

1Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Germany 2University of Angers, France 3National Oceanography Centre, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] Stable oxygen and carbon isotope records of calcareous tests of benthic foraminifera are widely used as proxies for paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic reconstruction. Several studies of the isotopic composition of deep-sea benthic foraminifera have shown that there is an offset in the isotopic signal between the foraminiferal test and the theoretical composition of calcite formed in equilibrium with the ambient sea water. Such offsets are present in the d18O as well as in the d13C signal and may be caused by several poorly known factors, such as the concentration of the various carbonate species (carbonate ion effect), the episodic introduction of isotopically light detritus (Mackensen effect), or changing metabolic rates during the foraminiferal life history (ontogenetic effect). To better constrain the ontogenetic effect, we determined the stable oxygen and carbon isotopic composition of tests of different sizes for live (Rose Bengal stained) specimens of Uvigerina ex gr. U. semiornata and Bolivina aff. B. dilatata from the Pakistan continental margin. Samples were taken during monsoon and intermonsoon time from 133/136 m and 250 to 306 m water depth; corresponding to the upper boundary and the upper part of the oxygen minimum zone. Live foraminiferal densities show a clear maximum in the first half centimetre of the sediment; only few specimens are found down to 4 cm depth. The fauna is dominated by the both species Uvigerina ex gr. U. semiornata and Bolivina aff. B. dilatata. For the isotopic investigation, we measured specimens from the first sediment centimetre. We observed increasing d13C and d18O values with increasing test sizes of both species. For tests of Uvigerina ex gr. U. semiornata and Bolivina aff. B. dilatata, d13C increases by about 0.10 ‰ for each 100-µm increment in test size, whereas d18O increases by half this value. Also a strong positive correlation exists between d18O and d13C values of both taxa. A ratio of d18O and d13C values close to 2:1 suggests that the strong ontogenetic effect is caused by the fact that with increasing age, and decreasing growth rate and metabolic activity, kinetic isotope fractionation during CO2 uptake decreases. Our data underline the necessity to base longer isotope records of benthic foraminifera, both for d18O and d13C, on narrow size classes.


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Phylogeographic and morphological study of North East Atlantic benthic foraminifers

Magali Schweizer1, Kate F. Darling1, Bill Austin2

1University of Edinburgh, School of GeoSciences, United Kingdom 2University of St Andrews, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] The marine fossil record of benthic foraminifers is an important tool for quantitative faunal and geochemical reconstructions of past environments. Numerical data from assemblage counts can be used to infer bathymetry, ecosystem temperature/salinity conditions, productivity and deep water formation and shell calcitic signatures record the palaeo-environmental conditions of the benthos. The integrity of this approach is based upon the assumption that living communities are similar to their fossil counterparts. It is therefore vitally important to fully understand the relationship between present day environmental conditions and the living foraminiferal assemblages in conjunction with their shell geochemistry. All such numerical and geochemical proxies rely on strict recognition of taxonomic units, yet the morphological taxonomy of benthic foraminifera remains poorly constrained. This is partly due to the application of regional taxonomic systems by different workers, but a newly recognised problem has come to light. Recent genetic characterisation of major benthic foraminiferal groups indicates high levels of cryptic species diversity, compounding these taxonomic issues. Many individual morphospecies have been shown to represent several different genetic types with potentially distinct ecologies. Here we present the first results of a study combining phylogeography and morphology of common neritic and bathyal benthic foraminifers from the North East Atlantic. The aims are to unify the taxonomy of benthic foraminifers from that region and to detect cryptic species.

Catching an earthquake in progress: the January 9, 2010, 6.5 earthquake in Northern California

David B. Scott1, Jere H. Lipps2, Thomas E. Duffett1

1Dalhousie University, Canada 2University of California, Berkeley, United States E-mail: [email protected] The Cascadian Subduction Zone is a convergent boundary in which, the Pacific, small Juan de Fuca and Gorda Oceanic Plates and the Nazca Plate are presently being subducted under the large American continental plates. These subduction zones generate earthquake and related seismic effects of considerable magnitude. The oceanic plates are being subducted beneath the North American plates at a rate of 2.5-6 cm per year. Sediments in coastal environments of the Cascadia Subduction Zone from Alaska to Northern California contain a long

history of episodic occurrences of great earthquakes and tsunamis. The primary evidence for prehistoric earthquakes at the Cascadia convergent boundary consists of coastal sediment sequences indicative of sudden land subsidence. These subsidence levels are often associated with tsunami deposits and less frequently with shaking, identified through evidence of liquefaction. In 2003 there were foraminiferal records of "precursors" of these quakes (5-10yrs ahead of time. However until now no one had a real time record in a sediment core indicating the events only months before an earthquake: the January 9, 2010 magnitude 6.5 earthquake in the Eel River estuary, California. Here we have the record both just before and just after the event the January 2010 quake, as indicated by marsh foraminifera.

Remediation of Halifax Harbor after 250 yrs of pollution: reconstruction of environments over 5000yrs

David B. Scott1, Saad Mohammed1, Julie Griffiths1

1Dalhousie University, Canada E-mail: [email protected] Halifax Harbor (Nova Scotia, Canada) has been impacted by a continuous flow of untreated sewage for over 250 yrs. However in the last 2 years a treatment plant has been in place and we have been investigating how the foraminifera responded to the improvement of the environment. As the plant became operative, the harbour fauna changed from a totally agglutinated foraminiferal population to a calcareous one as the oxygen deficit was decreased in the very organic sediments within 2 months. Unfortunately the plant broke down and soon after the fauna reverted back to its previous non-calcareous state. However cores that penetrated past the human impact zone had a calcareous fauna that indicated conditions were different before the pollution started. These data suggest that 1) foraminifera react quickly to negative impacts and 2) can recover equally quickly once the impact has been mitigated.

Foraminiferal assemblage changes over the last 15,000 years on the Beaufort Shelf: Implications for past sea ice conditions

David B. Scott1, Trecia Schell1, Guillaume St-Onge2, Andre Rochon2, Steve Blasco3

1Dalhousie University, Canada 2University of Quebec-Rimouski, Canada 3NRCan-BIO, Canada E-mail: [email protected] Two cores, one from the Beaufort Sea Slope at 1000 m water depth (core 750) and one from the Amundsen


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Gulf at 426 m (core 124), were collected to help determine paleo–ice cover in the Holocene and late glacial of this area. Site 750 is particularly sensitive to changes in paleo–ice cover because it rests beneath the present ice margin of the permanent Arctic ice pack. Core 124 was sampled just in front of the former glacier that moved out into theAmundsen Gulf and started to recede about 13 ka B.P. Both cores have a strong occurrence of calcareous foraminifera in the upper few centimeters, but these disappear throughout most of the Holocene, suggesting more open water in that time period than present. In the sediments representing the end of the last glacial period (dated at 11,500–14,000 calibrated years B.P. (cal B.P.) a calcareous fauna with an abundant planktic foraminiferal fauna suggests a return to almost permanent ice cover, much like the central Arctic today. Together with the foraminifera there was also abundant ice-rafted debris (IRD) in both cores between 12,000 cal B.P. and 14,000 cal B.P., but those units are of different ages between cores, suggesting different events. The IRD in both cores appear to have the same magnetic and chemical signals, but their origins cannot be determined exactly until clay mineralogy is completed. There is abundant organic debris in both cores below the IRD units: the organics in core 750 are very diffuse and not visually identifiable, but the organic material in core 124 is clearly identifiable with terrestrial root fragments; these are 14C dated at over 37,000 years B.P. This is a marine unit as it also has glacial front foraminifera in the sediment with the organic debris that must have been originating from subglacial streams. The seismic and multibeam data both indicate glaciers did not cross the core 124 site.

Preliminary quantitative data on a Middle Eocene Nummulites lyelli-dominated bank from Pederiva di Grancona (Veneto, Northern Italy): implications for the paleoenvironmental reconstruction

Mona Seddighi1, Cesare A. Papazzoni1

1Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy E-mail: [email protected] The “nummulite bank” is an accumulation of nummulite tests, mainly monospecific, with both microspheric and megalospheric generations of the same species. Moreover, it usually contains more tests of larger B forms as compared with the normal nummulite-bearing limestones. Previous works on nummulite banks have resulted in the proposition of two models. The first, by Arni, suggests that nummulite test accumulations form autochthonous or in-situ banks acting as an effective barrier, analogous to present-day coral reefs. On the other hand Aigner, based upon several evidences of physical transportation shown in sedimentary structure and biofabrics of Nummulites deposits, considered them as allochthonous.

So far there is no quantitative data available about the taxonomic composition of nummulite banks. Here we present the preliminary results of a quantitative examination on a case-study from the Middle Eocene of Northern Italy. The samples were collected in Pederiva di Grancona (Vicenza Province, Veneto area). The Nummulites lyelli from this well-known site were described and figured by Schaub in his monograph. The present work is based upon the preliminary examination of 50 grams from a washed sample of the nummulite bank. In this fraction, 509 individuals (A forms) of Nummulites have been counted. The dominant species is N. lyelli accounting for approximately 77.1%, followed by N. striatus with 10.5%. The rest are the accessory species including N. biarritzensis (5.9%), N. discorbinus (4.9%), and N. beaumonti (1.6%). According to the dominance of N. lyelli and the stratigraphic distribution of the other Nummulites species the sample is assigned to the SBZ 17 (early Bartonian). N. lyelli A in this sample has a mean diameter of 5.75 mm, whereas that of N. striatus Ais 4.20 mm. The two most abundant species display a clear difference in size: N. lyelli mean diameter exceeds about +37% in comparison with N. striatus. Given that N. lyelli is also more inflated than N. striatus, they probably had a quite different hydrodynamic behaviour. The taxonomic composition of the bank in this case study shows that it is not strictly monospecific, as in the models from the literature: even if there is a strong dominance of N. lyelli, N. striatus cannot be discarded as negligible. Moreover, there are three more species of the same genus which are present in significant percentages, pointing to an unexpectedly rich nummulite assemblage. This in turn casts serious doubts on the allochthonous model for nummulite bank accumulations.

Faunal affinity of Late Cretaceous deep-water agglutinated foraminifera of the Barents Sea with the Arctic, Atlantic-Tethyan and Siberian faunas - palaeobiogeographic and palaeoceano-graphic implications

Eiichi Setoyama1, Jarosław Tyszka1, Michael A. Kaminski2, Claudia G. Cetean3

1Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Geological Sciences, Poland 2Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom 3Palaeontology Department, The Natural History Museum, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] For the first time, we compared Late Cretaceous deep-water agglutinated foraminiferal (DWAF) assemblages of southwestern Barents Sea with the Arctic, proto-North Atlantic, Tethyan and Western Siberian faunas. The data set is composed of our own taxonomic data of assemblages from the Campanian-Maastrichtian strata of SW Barents Sea, Lomonosov Ridge (IODP 302, ACEX), Indian


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Harbour (Nova Scotia), Contessa (Italy) and Romania, and data from literature on foraminifera of the Canadian Arctic, Western Siberia, Polish Carpathian, Zumaya (Spain) and other North Atlantic regions. The taxonomic composition of Barents Sea assemblages is quite similar to the proto-North Atlantic and Tethyan faunas, while they are less similar to the Arctic and Western Siberian faunas. For example, 36 common genera are identified between the Barents Sea and Foula Sub-basin, west of the Shetland Islands, whereas the Western Siberian fauna shares only 14 genera with the Barents Sea. A cluster analysis of the assemblages based on the presence/absence data of agglutinated genera grouped the Barents Sea fauna with those of the proto-North Atlantic and Tethys, and put the Arctic and Western Siberian faunas outside this cluster. A close faunal communication between the Barents Sea and the Tethys through the proto-North Atlantic during the Campanian-Maastrichtian period is very likely according to a strong affinity of DWAF assemblages of these regions. A low faunal similarity between the “proto-North Atlantic-Tethyan” realm and Western Siberia indicates that faunal communication of Western Siberia to the Barents Sea through the Kara and Pechora seas and to the Tethys was restricted. Although the palaeoenvironments of the areas range from the shelf to slope, a weak affinity between the Barents Sea, Arctic and Western Siberia suggests that there were either physical or physiochemical barriers between these high-latitude regions which prohibited migration of DWAF.

Biostratigraphy of bluish marl succession (Maastrichtian) in Sulaimanyia, Area, Kurdistan Region NE- Iraq

Khalid Mahmood Ismael Sharbazheri, Polla Azad Khanaqa, Kamal Haji Karim E-mail: [email protected] Recently a new lithology is found at the middle part of Tanjero Formation (Maastrichtian) and consists of a bluish marl succession about 100m thick. This succession is lithologically similar to the Shiranish Formation and has nearly the same color and stacking pattern which was not described in the original description in the type section. Geographically it can be seen in Piramagroon and Sharazoor plains, Chaqchaq Valley (Northwest of Sulaimanyia city) and Dokan area. The biostratigraphy of this succession indicates Early Maastrichtian to Early Late Maastrichtian which includes four interval zones of: Gansserina gansseri Interval Zone (CF7) (Early Maastrichtian), Contusotruncana contusa Interval Zone (CF6) (Early Maastrichtian), Pseudotextularia intermedia Interval Zone (CF5) (Early Maastrichtian), Racemiguem-belina fructicosa Interval Zone (CF4) (Early late Maastrichtian)

What concerns the affinity of this succession two possibilities can be discussed: 1 - Middle part of the Tanjero Formation 2 - Lentils in the Shiranish Formation/ inside the Tanjero Formation This study prefers the assignment to the Tanjero formation as the foraminiferal assemblages show that the marly succession is not belonging to Shiranish which has, in the studied area, the age of Campanian. Another reason for this designation is that the environment, sequence stratigraphy, and tectonics of the Tanjero Formation is more plausible (when included in the Shiranish Formation). The record of this new lithology and submergence of the type section of the formation (which is under the water of the Darbandikhan Dam) argue for the selection of a new type section or a supplementary type section for the formation either in the Dokan or the Chwarta areas, where there are representatives of the new lithology inside the Tanjero Formation.

Biostratigraphy of sedimentary strata relating to the Asmari Fm. down to the Sarvak Fm. in Palangan well

Mohammad Saeid Shariatzadeh1

1N.I.O.C, Paleontological and Geochemical Research, Islamic Republic of Iran E-mail: [email protected] The Palangan well # 1 was drilled in 1981 by the National Iranian Oil Company. A detailed paleontological study was carried out on the cutting samples of drilled sequence of this well. The study was undertaken in order to establish the well-known biozones of the Zagros basin throughout the drilled sequence of Palangan well # 1. A total of 871 thin-sections were prepared from the drilled sequence of this well and they studied under microscope . As a result, 79 microfauna and microflora were identified and they were arranged in fourteen biozones as the followings: 1- Neoalveolina melo crdica zone # 61 2-Austrotrillina howchini-Peneroplis evolutus assem-blage zone # 59 3-Lepidocyclina-operculina-Ditrupa assemblage zone # 56 4- Globigeina spp. assemblage zone # 55 5-Globorotalia cerro-azulensis/Hantkenina assem-blage zone # 52 6-Turuncorotaloides-Porticulasphaera-Globorotalia spinulosa assemblage zone # 47 7-Globorotalia rex/Globorotalia aragonensis, Globorotalia formosa assemb;age zone # 45 8-Globorotalia velascoensis-Globorotalia pseudo-menardii assemblage zone # 42 9-Globorotalia Globigerina-Globigerina daujergensis assemblage zone # 41 10- Globotruncana stuarti, Pseudotextularia varians assemblage zone # 39 11-Globotruncana elevata elevata zone # 33 12-Globotruncana ventricosa concavata/carinata assemblage zone # 32 13-Valvulammina-Dicyclina assemblage zone # 29


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14-Nezzazata-Alveolonid assemblage zone # 25 Based on the above-mentioned biozones, the drilled sequence of Palangan well # 1, in dencending stratigraphical order can be divided into the Asmari, Pabdeh, Gurpi, Ilam and Sarvak formations. Beside of the biozones, the electrical logs (gamma & sonic logs) were also used for differenciation of the above-mentioned rock units, in order to determine the true thickness each rock unit and to estimate the real amount of hydrocarbon in reservoir rocks. Likewise, the lithological and paleontological data of Palangan well # 1 were correlation with those of Qaleh - Nar well # 2 and Lab-e-Sefid well # 1, resulting in trend of lithological and paleontological changes. Based on the above-mentioned biozones, there are two hiata throughout the drilled sequence of Palangan well # 1, Qaleh - Nar well # 2 and Lab-e-Sefid well # 1. The first hiatus occurs between the Pabdeh and Gurpi formations, encompassing the Late Maestrichtian and Early Paleocene sediments. The second hiatus is present between the Ilam and Sarvak formations, including the Coniacian-Toronian strata.

Day-to-day changes in planktic foraminifer test flux during a phytoplankton spring bloom in the Bay of Biscay

Michael Siccha1,2, Hélène Howa1,2, Sabine Schmidt3, Ralf Schiebel1,2

1Laboratory of Recent and Fossil Bio-Indicators (BIAF), Angers University, France 2Laboratory of Marine Bio-Indicators (LEBIM), Ker Chalon, 85350 Ile d’Yeu, France 3EPOC, UMR 5805, Bordeaux University, Talence, France E-mail: [email protected] To investigate the faunal succession during a phytoplankton spring bloom, planktic foraminifera were sampled from the 7th to 19th of April 2009 in the outer Bay of Biscay. The offshore bloom was tracked by information from actual satellite images and sampled by three consecutive deployments of a drifting sediment trap (PPS5 TECHNICAP, sampling area 1 m2) at 200 m water depth. In total, 65 samples with a temporal resolution of 3 hours were obtained Particulate mass fluxes present well contrasted levels during the different deployments, validating the collection of the bloom at different stages. Planktic foraminifera of the >100 µm size fraction were identified to the species level and morphometrically analysed by digital imaging. Foraminifer fluxes were highly correlated with total particulate mass fluxes. The obtained assemblage and size class data show pronounced differences between samples over short distances and short time intervals, corresponding to changes in multiple biotic and environmental parameters. Dominant constituents in the collected foraminifer assemblages were living individuals of the species Globorotalia inflata and Globorotalia scitula. The species Orbulina universa and Globigerinella calida

were not present in any samples, indicating an absence of tropical and subtropical faunal elements, which have been reported from the southeastern Bay of Biscay in earlier studies. We do hence assume that the foraminifera assemblages sampled with the drifting sediment trap experiment in April 2009 illustrate the autochthonous faunal development during a phytoplankton spring bloom.

Annotation of transcripts and comparative EST analysis from different foraminiferan species

Roberto M. Sierra1, Jan Pawlowski1

1University of Geneva, Zoology and Animal Biology, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] To date, little is known about foraminiferan gene expression or their molecular biology. A few efforts have been made towards the understanding of their genomes through the analysis of expressed transcripts but it is still very limited. More than 55,000 sequences from cDNA libraries from four different species (Reticulomyxa filosa, Elphidium sp., Globobulimina sp., Quinqueloculina sp.) have been obtained. These have been analyzed through sequence similarity searches against publicly available databases for general annotation of the obtained sequences and against manually curated databases for specific gene identification. According to preliminary results, approximately 30% of the resulting sequences in every library have homology to other sequences in public databases while almost 70% remain unclassified. Interestingly, we have identified actin and tubulin sequences as well as others involved in motor activity and cell projection organization according its molecular function and biological process as described in Gene Ontology (GO). Close to 1,500 sequences were selected as preliminary candidate genes involved in any of the four steps of the denitrification process. All the annotated libraries are being compared among them in order to identify genes in common for the different species. The most relevant genes in providing insights into the foraminiferan biology will be selected for further analyses.

Diversity and ecology of deep-sea benthic foraminifera in the southern Baffin Bay

Margit Simon1, Petra Heinz1, Hartmut Schulz1, Marit Solveig Seidenkrantz2, Michal Kucera1

1Institute of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Germany 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of Aarhus, Denmark E-mail: Two multicorer profiles from the eastern and western sides of the southern Baffin Bay were


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analysed for benthic foraminifera to unravel faunal distribution patterns, ecological preferences, microhabitats and biogeographic affinity of benthic foraminifera in the deep bathyal environment of the Baffin Bay. Both core locations are at present exposed to the Baffin Bay Deep Water (BBDW). They record similar surface water productivity regimes, but potentially different sedimentation regimes and due to their slight difference in depth (western Baffin Bay MUC 694: 1550 m water depth and eastern Baffin Bay MUC 690: 1338 m water depth) also different water chemistry. The diversity, ecology and distribution of benthic foraminifera at both locations were studied with high resolution for living (Rose Bengal stained) and dead assemblages. Both faunas mainly consist of agglutinated and organic-walled species, while calcareous species are concentrated in discrete intervals. Dominant taxa in the live assemblage are Adercotryma glomerata, different types of soft-shelled saccamminids, as well as various Reophax species and Recurvoides turbinatus. Additionally, Trochammina spp., Textularia spp., and the miliolid Quinqueloculina spp. were observed. The benthic foraminiferal fauna as a whole has more affinities with Arctic continental slope faunas than with North Atlantic faunas. In both cores a substantial portion of the living benthic foraminifera standing stock was found below the sediment surface, with living benthic foraminifera encountered as deep as 8 cm in the sediment. Individual species in the assemblage clearly show different habitat preferences. The corresponding dead assemblage does not differ significantly from the biocoenosis, apart from strong variation in the preservation of foraminifera with calcite shells, which appears to be caused by carbonate dissolution at the sediment water interface. The most striking feature of the fauna is the high abundance of the soft-shelled saccamminids, which persist in the sediment, particularly in the eastern Baffin Bay, where higher sedimentation rates could explain their better preservation. Despite the general taphonomic signal of decreasing abundances of benthic foraminifera down-core, the dead assemblages show systematic changes in the preservation of calcareous-shelled benthic and planktonic foraminifera. The record of the eastern Baffin Bay exhibits shifts between nearly carbonate free intervals and intervals with high amounts of calcareous shelled individuals. These fluctuations represent changes in the corrosive nature of Baffin Bay Bottom Waters over time. Based on sedimentation rate estimates from AMS-dating of long cores, these switches may have occurred within time scales of a few centuries.

High abundances of biserial planktic foraminifera in the early Miocene of the NE Atlantic Ocean: palaeoceanography and evolution

Christopher W. Smart1, Ellen Thomas2

1University of Plymouth, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, United Kingdom 2Yale University, United States E-mail: [email protected] Small biserial planktic foraminifera were abundant in the early Miocene (calcareous nannofossil Zone NN3 above the lowermost occurrence of Sphenolithus belemnos into lower NN4, ~19-17 Ma) in the eastern Atlantic and western Indian Oceans, but absent in the western equatorial Atlantic Ocean, Weddell Sea, eastern Indian Ocean, and equatorial Pacific Ocean. These foraminifera had been assigned to the benthic genus Bolivina, but accumulation rates and isotopic composition of the tests show that they were planktic. They were assigned to the genus Streptochilus, although one recent Streptochilus species (S. globigerus) is genetically identical to a Bolivina species (B. variabilis). This species can survive in both planktic and benthic domains (tychopelagic). Tychopelagic taxa could have evolved into true planktic species in the past, and this occurrence may indicate multiple evolutionary origins of biserial planktic species. The distribution of Streptochilus in the modern ocean is not well known, but they occur in variable, highly productive, commonly coastal waters with intermittent upwelling conditions. We present new data on the abundance of Streptochilus in the lower Miocene of DSDP Site 608, NE Atlantic Ocean, where the highest abundances of this taxon have been reported to date. High abundances of S. rockallkiddensis occur between ~19-17 Ma, coeval with abundant sphenoliths in nannofloral assemblages and high values of the carbon isotopic composition of alkenones, indicating high growth rates of haptophyte algae. The widespread, but not global, early Miocene high Streptochilus abundances may reflect vigorous but intermittent upwelling of nutrient-rich waters, inducing high growth rates of phytoplankton. Export production, as estimated from benthic foraminiferal accumulation rates, however, was low, suggesting high regeneration rates of organic matter, possibly in an expanded thermocline. In this food-rich, deep-thermocline niche benthic species exported from shelf regions may have survived and evolved into true planktic species. The coeval but independent evolution of these species and their relatively short survival may indicate vigorous vertical mixing in the Southern Oceans, bringing nutrients into the ocean regions where they could trigger high productivity during upwelling of SubAntarctic-Mode like waters.


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Benthic foraminiferal abundance and stable isotope changes in the southeastern Indian Ocean during the last 20 kyr: palaeoceanographic implications

Christopher W. Smart1, Claire Waelbroeck2, Elisabeth Michel2, Alain Mazaud2

1University of Plymouth, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, United Kingdom 2LSCE/ISPL, France E-mail: [email protected] Benthic foraminiferal faunas and benthic stable isotopes during the last 20 kyr have been studied in core MD02-2488 (46º28’8 S, 88º01’3 E, 3420 m water depth) from the southeast Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean in order to document palaeoceanographic changes from the last glacial, through deglaciation and into the Holocene. Variations occurred in the accumulation rates, species composition, diversity, and stable isotopes during the last 20 kyr. The benthic δ 18O and δ 13C records during the last ~28 kyr show that no significant deep water circulation changes took place before ~15.6 calendar kyr (ka). The δ 13C increase at 15.6 ka is interpreted as reflecting the arrival of better ventilated deep waters at the site and is associated with the progressive increase in % of miliolids from ~15 ka to 0 ka, an interval (~16-15 ka) of low benthic foraminiferal accumulation rates (BFARs) and an increase in the relative abundance of Stainforthia complanata. Deep waters were ~2.2 ± 0.4 ºC colder during the last glacial than at present. Carbonate dissolution proxies indicate that carbonate dissolution was higher during the last glacial than during the last deglacial and Holocene. BFARs and the percentage of species indicative of high-productivity suggest that the flux of organic matter resulting from surface water productivity was generally higher between ~20 and 13 ka than between ~12 and 0 ka, consistent with the observed higher proportion of biosiliceous sediment at ~20-14 ka and published records. The combined percentages of the two most abundant species, Alabaminella weddellensis and Epistominella exigua (‘phytodetritus species’), suggest that seasonality of productivity (intermittency of primary productivity) fluctuated over the last 20 kyr and was higher during the last glacial and deglaciation (20-10 ka) compared with the Holocene (10-0 ka). The relative abundances of A. weddellensis and E. exigua do not covary over the last 20 kyr, an observation also reported from other areas.

Recent foraminifera from sedimentary beds of Bandar-e-Lenghe coastline, Persian Gulf

Masoomeh Sohrabi-Mollayousefi1, Maryam Sahba2

1Islamic Azad University, Islamshahr Branch, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran 2Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran E-mail: [email protected] Bandar-e-Lenghe is one of the important Iranian ports in northern coast of Persian Gulf. According to structural geology divisions, it belongs to folded Zagross. In the studied region outcrops of Cenozoic formations is available and the oldest is Hormoz formation beside of salt domes. Granulometric studies of bed's sediments are showed silty to silty- muddy bed. Surface of coastline beds covered with algal mats. Sampling of sediments is done from surface up to 5 centimeters depth. The mineralogical studies were showed two phase: major phase with calcite, aragonite and dolomite, but in the minor phase albite is determined. The faunal studies were accomplished by measurement of physicochemical properties of water. Physico-chemical properties included the salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen and acidity of water was measured on board. Eighteen foraminiferal species identified in fourteen sediment samples. The identified foraminiferal fauna consists of 40% hyaline forms, 53% porcellaneous forms and 7% agglutinated forms. The most foraminiferal occurrences at studied region includes : Ammonia beccarrii, Ammonia tepida, Bulimina marginata, Elphidium Craticulatum, Sagrinella lobata, Cornuspira involvens, Miliolinella subrotunda, Pseudohauerinella dissidens, Quinqueloculina seminulum, Quinqueloculina costata, Quinque-loculina agglutinans, Spiroloculina depressa, Spiro-loculina excavate, Triloculina tricarinata, Clavulina angularis, clavulina parisiensis, Textularia bocki. Our results infer that species with hylaine tests have more abundance than the porcelanose or aglutina tests. Abundance of living individuals (or biocenosis) more than dead forms of foraminifera (or taphocenosis). Investigation on test size of foraminifera showed living individuals is smaller than normal size.


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Phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of the Early Paleogene genus Igorina through parsimony analysis

Dario M. Soldan1, Maria Rose Petrizzo1, Isabella Premoli Silva1, Andrea Cau2

1Universita' degli studi di Milano, Department of Earth Sciences "A. Desio", Italy 2Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Italy E-mail: [email protected] The evolution of planktonic foraminifera in the Paleocene-Eocene time interval is characterized by a high rate of diversification after the major extinction event observed at the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary. The accelerated speciation rate resulted in the appearance of several new genera. Phylogenetic relationships within many genera are still poor understood including the origin and phylogeny of the genus Igorina. This group, characterized by a thick, nonspinose and incrusted wall, appears in Subzone P3a (early late Paleocene) and disappears in Zone P11 (middle Eocene). To date, nine species have been assigned to the genus Igorina (I. pusilla, I. trichotrocha, I. tadjikistanensis, I. convexa, I. albeari, I. laevigata, I. lodoensis, I. broedermanni and I. anapetes) based on both wall texture and morphologic similarities. However, the taxonomic identification at species level is affected by several problems, mainly related to poor descriptions and illustrations of the type-material of several species. This study is aimed to reconstruct the phylogeny and evolution of the igorinid species through cladistic analysis by applying the method of parsimony. Phylogenetic relationships of the species assigned to Igorina are determined through stratocladistic analysis by using a data matrix of 23 taxa (including key species belonging to the genus Acarinina), 31 morphological characters (unordered) and a stratigraphic character (ordered) mapping the first occurrence of the taxa under investigation. Morphotypes of uncertain taxonomic identification have been coded and analysed separately as morphotypes A, B, C, D, E and F to determine their ancestor-descendant relationships and evaluate their validity as discrete species. The matrix has been processed with the software PAUP* 4.0b10 by using the heuristic search option to discover the most parsimonious trees. Results suggest that Igorina pusilla is the first representatives of the Igorina lineage and is subsequently followed by I. laevigata, I. albeari, and I. convexa that are closely relate to I. morphotype A. Morphotypes A, E, F and C may be new species, B and D are probably morphotypes of well-know species. Moreover, our analysis provides evidence that I. lodoensis, I. broedermanni and I. anapetes are more closely related to the genus Acarinina than to Igorina and clearly belong to a different lineage. The analysis of the wall texture architectures of these specimens are also presented to assess their ancestor-descendant relationships and to evaluate the possibility to place them in a discrete new genus.

Ecological controlling factors for the distribution of living benthic foraminifera in an oligothrophic area

Silvia Mello Sousa1, Leticia Burone2, Áurea Ciotti3, Thaisa Vicente1, Cíntia Yamashita1, Michel Mahiques1, Eduardo Koutsoukos4

1University of São Paulo/Oceanographic Institute, Brazil 2Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay 3Universidade Estadual Paulista, Brazil 4PETROBRAS/CENPES, Brazil E-mail: [email protected] Living benthic foraminifera were quantified in superficial sediment samples, collected from 750 m to 1950m, in the southeastern Brazilian margin (21.8°S to 22.8°S) during the Austral winter of 2003. Our main objectives were (1) to discuss spatial variability of benthic foraminifera, in relation to some possible ecological controlling factors, and (2) to access the influence of organic carbon fluxes on benthic foraminifera distribution. This study is a contribution to the “OceanProf II Project - Campos Basin Deep Sea Environmental Project coordinated by CENPES/PETROBRAS”. Sedimentological (grain size) and geochemical variables (calcium carbonate, organic carbon and total nitrogen and Ba concentrations) were measured on surface sediments, and ortophosphate, nitrate and silicate concentrations were measured in the bottom waters. Density, species richness and diversity of the living benthic foraminifera were computed. Primary productivity rates for the euphotic zone (using ocean color data) and associated fluxes of organic carbon to the sea floor were also estimated. A spatial gradient was evidenced by nMDS and PCA analyses, which formed two major groups of sampled stations: one (G1) in the middle slope stations, with higher values of ecological parameters, and the other (G2) grouping lower slope stations. G1 was positively correlated with total organic carbon flux and total Ba concentrations while G2 was positively correlated with the percentage of mud, carbonate, organic carbon and total nitrogen contents. The Pearson Correlation analysis revealed that the ecological parameters were positively correlated with nutrient concentrations in bottom water, chlorophyll a, primary productivity in the euphotic zone and the organic carbon flux to the sea floor. The presence in the middle slope of high densities of Bolivina, Bulimina and Uvigerina, considered proxies of food supply, clearly suggest the existence of pulses of food supply in this reported oligotrophic region of the continental Brazilian margin that are probably associated with cyclonic meanders of the Brazil Current.


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The distribution of living deep-sea benthic foraminifera in the Southeastern Brazilian margin: faunal response to eddy-induced upwelling?

Silvia Mello Sousa1, Cíntia Yamashita1, Vírginia Martins2, Thaisa Vicente1, Leticia Burone3, Michel Mahiques1, Eduardo Koutsoukos4

1University of São Paulo/Oceanographic Institute, Brazil 2GeoBiotec Research Centre, Aveiro University, Portugal 3Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay 4PETROBRAS/CENPES, Brazil E-mail: [email protected] This study presents an analysis of the distribution of the living benthic foraminifera assemblages along a bathymetric gradient in the continental slope of the Southeastern Brazilian margin (20.5°S to 24°S), considered to be an oligotrophic region. This study is a contribution to the “Habitats Project – Campos Basin Environmental Heterogeneity by CENPES/ PETROBRAS”. Sediment samples were collected along transects, ranging from 400 m to 3000 m water depth, in the Austral autumn and winter seasons of 2008. Analyses of benthic foraminifera were performed in 150 cc of wet sediment, and ecological parameters were calculated. Four groups were identified by the R-mode cluster analysis. Group I includes upper slope samples, with high density (from 490 to 834 specimens/150 cc) and diversity (3.8) values. Group II comprises middle and lower slope samples, showing intermediate density (from 94 to 186 specimens/150 cc) and diversity (from 2.9 to 3.8) values. Group III includes the lower slope samples, exhibiting low density (from 43 to 57 specimens/150 cc) and diversity values (from 2.8 to 3). Finally, Group IV comprises the lower slope samples and displays the lowest ecological parameters (from 5 to 26 specimens/150 cc and diversity ranging from 1.6 to 3). High productivity indicators species (i.e., Bolivina spp., Bulimina spp., Cassidulina spp., Islandiella norcrossi, Nonionella spp.) are predominant in the upper slope, and decrease in abundance towards the lower slope, revealing changes in nutrients availability along the bathymetric gradient. In the northern region of the study area, the ecological parameters and the Benthic Foraminifera High Productivity Index change gradually from the upper to the lower slope, with Cassidulina spp. still occurring in the lower slope. In the southern region, epifaunal species are abundant even in the middle slope. The latitudinal difference in benthic foraminifera distribution is probably related to the occurrence of eddy-induced upwelling off Cape São Tomé (located in the northern sector of the area-22°S), promoting nutrient input to deeper waters.

Opportunities and pitfalls of the use of planktic/benthic ratios in paleodepth reconstructions

Robert P. Speijer1, Tanja J. Kouwenhoven1, Thi Minh Phuong Nguyen1

1K.U.Leuven, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Belgium E-mail: [email protected] The foraminiferal planktic/benthic ratio, often expressed as %P (100% * P/(P+B)), is widely used for paleodepth estimates. Based on modern P/B-ratio distributions on several continental margins van der Zwaan et al. (1990; Mar. Geol. 95:1-16) developed a formula for calculating paleodepths from foraminiferal assemblages: Depth = e(3.58732 +

0.03534*%P) including confidence limits. This formula can be a valuable tool to quantify foraminiferal data, especially for reconstructing Quaternary and Neogene paleodepth and sea-level changes. However, the conversion of P/B ratios into paleodepths is often applied uncritically. At least four recurrent abuses of the depth model can be observed in published literature: 1) uncritical application to pre-Neogene epicontinental assemblages; 2) neglecting of error margins; 3) ignorance of the depth limitations of the method; and 4) lack of quality assessment of the foraminiferal assemblages. 1) Paleogene and Cretaceous foraminiferal assemblages from Tethyan epicontinental basins often consist of >90%P. Employing the depth model, this would suggest unrealistic paleodepths in excess of 850 m. Apparently, the relative production of planktic versus benthic tests in epicontinental basins differed considerably from the present day production, which may learn us something about differences in the functioning of planktic and benthic food webs and bentho-pelagic coupling in deep time. 2) The depth model also provides error margins. Because of the rather large uncertainty of the estimates the model primarily allows for identification of large depth trends (uplift/subsidence), but cannot discern short-term sea-level fluctuations of some tens of meters or less. 3) The mathematics of the depth formula only allows for estimates within the depth range from 36 m (0%P) and 1238 m (100%P). Most deep-sea deposits cannot be assessed in this way. 4) Using P/B ratios as a tool for depth estimates relies on careful consideration of the quality of the foraminiferal assemblage. Fossil foraminiferal assemblages often show signs of dissolution and because of the differential susceptibility of planktics and benthics, the P/B ratios may be strongly offset. Our experimental studies confirm this observation. This paper will highlight the opportunities and pitfalls of using P/B ratios in paleoenvironmental studies.


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Use of high-resolution X-ray CT in biometric and phylogenetic studies of foraminifera

Robert P. Speijer1, Denis Van Loo2, Veerle Cnudde2, Patric Jacobs2

1K.U.Leuven, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Belgium 2Ghent University, Belgium E-mail: [email protected] High-resolution X-ray CT (HRXCT) enables 3D-imaging and biometric quantification of foraminifera. In this paper we exemplify the basic possibilities and opportunities of this technique by means of analyses on various planktic and benthic taxa. The X-ray scan consists of 1200 individual radiographs which, after reconstruction with Octopus software, provides virtual cross sections each <1 µm apart perpendicular to the coiling axis or in any other preferred direction. These cross sections can be used for the 3D depiction with VGStudioMax, showing an exterior view and interior structures. Due to the high density contrast between the hollow chambers and the test’s calcite and by using Morpho+ and Mimics software the chambers can be accurately segmented. The segmentation also provides the numeric key information on ontogenetic growth, as the volume of each chamber can be accurately measured in cubic micrometers. Several 3D parameters can be determined with this technique, such as volume, surface area of the aperture and equivalent radius. The equivalent radius (i.e. the radius of a sphere corresponding to the measured volume) is independent of shape and is a particularly useful parameter for visualizing the exponential growth patterns in foraminifera. The use of HRXCT could open up a new era in fundamental biometric-evolutionary research on foraminifera. In particular, intraspecific variation and phylogenetic relationships between species can be assessed on the basis of measured shapes and sizes. Such data also provide a new means of morphologic evaluation of molecular phylogenies and cryptic species that are widely used in paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic research, and provide testing ground for theoretical growth models of foraminifera.

Human-induced euthrophication in the tourism-free Island of Magoodhoo, Nilhande Atoll, Republic of Maldives: benthic foraminiferal evidence

Silvia Spezzaferri1, Giordana Gennari1, Stephan Margreth1, Claudio Stalder1, Gregory Pignat1, Daniela Basso2, Annalisa Caragnano2, Loic Pillet3, Christoph Neururer1

1Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Switzerland 2Department of Geological Sciences and Geotechnologies, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy 3Department of Zoology and Animal Biology, University of Geneva, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected]

In February 2010 the University of Fribourg was hosted at the outpost of the University of Milano-Bicocca in the Island of Magoodhoo, Nilhande Atoll, Republic of Maldives for a short course and excursion devoted to tropical marine ecology. The Island of Magoodhoo does not host touristic resorts, but only a small village with few hundred people and, therefore it can be considered as uncontaminated. Several samples were collected at different sites and from different substrata (e.g., coral rubbles, sandy substrata among living coral branches, phanerogams roots and leaves). Samples were quantitatively investigated for their benthic foraminiferal content at generic and specific level. Samples collected in the northern and southern reefs show dominance of small heterotrophic benthic foraminifera such as Rosalina, miliolids, Cymbaloporetta and agglutinated species, whereas, symbiont bearing Amphistegina and Sorites are rare. Phanerogam prairies in the inner lagoons show very similar assemblages, with dominance of miliolids. Samples collected near the dump receiving the domestic wastes of the village show the lower biodiversity. In this area benthic foraminiferal assemblages are very poor and specimens are generally small-sized. In this area, many branches of Acropora are colonized by green algae. Samples collected in the outer lagoon of the Magoodhoo-Bodufinholu small sandy island adjacent to Magoodhoo, contain a richer fauna dominated by symbiont bearing Sorites. This small island was strongly impacted by the 2004 tsunami and is now recovering. Our observations indicate that the most impacted site is in front of the dump of the village. The phanerogams prairies are partly eutrophicated because affected by currents transporting more euthrophicated waters from the dump.The southern and northern reefs also show some degree of eutrophication. The healthiest area is the external lagoon of the Magoodhoo-Bodufinholu island, not influenced by the currents flowing around the main island. Our observation indicate that, coral reefs are generally healthy in Magoodhoo, however, although the island can be considered non-contaminated by tourism, foraminifera shows some degree of human-induced eutrophication. Where corals are visibly recovering after the 2004 tsunami, foraminifera already thrive very well indicating a healthy environment. (The Conférence Universitaire de Suisse Occidentale (CUSO) and the Swiss National Science Foundation projects 200020-117928 and 200020-126367 sponsored the excursion.)


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Neritic foraminiferal response to a runaway greenhouse during the PETM

Peter Stassen1, Ellen Thomas2, Etienne Steuerbaut3, Robert Pieter Speijer1

1K.U.Leuven, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Belgium 2Yale University, United States 3Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Belgium E-mail: [email protected] The Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM) is characterized by a worldwide 5-8°C warming of Earth’s surface as well as the deep oceans, major global faunal and floral turnovers and large changes in ocean chemistry. In order to establish clear biogeographical patterns of how shallow benthic foraminiferal communities responded and contributed to these climatic changes, we compare three shallow marine settings in Tunisia, Egypt and the New Jersey Coastal Plain (USA). In Egypt, dysoxic to anoxic conditions prevailed during the early part of the PETM, leading to the collapse of the Paleocene outer neritic ecosystems. Saprolitic beds were formed as the result of increased upwelling. Faunal changes in shallower middle neritic settings were less abrupt, but significant. This anoxic event triggered a basin wide downslope migration of pioneering shallow water taxa. Diversity increased gradually during the PETM but benthic foraminiferal assemblages indicate a continuation of lowered oxygen levels during the early Eocene. In Tunisia, the PETM is not marked by distinct dysoxia or anoxia, yet, a sharp faunal turnover is observed with the (temporary?) replacement of the prevailing coastal assemblage by a more diverse fauna composed of deeper dwelling infaunal species. The onset of the PETM in the New Jersey Coastal Plain is placed at the transition from glauconitic sands to silty clay and shows a change from a diverse middle neritic Paleocene benthic foraminiferal assemblage to an opportunistic outer neritic assemblage. Environmental parameters point toward a drop in ocean current strength, elevated sedimentation rates, increase in water depth and more stressed eutrophic low-oxygen environments. Diversity trends indicate a gradual recovery during the PETM. An unconformity truncates the upper part of the PETM interval. The overlying Eocene glauconitic sandy clays contain a fauna comparable to the upper Paleocene fauna and indicate persistent high primary production and a return to more vigorous currents. In all studied settings, stable latest Paleocene foraminiferal assemblages are suddenly replaced by more opportunistic faunas at the onset of the PETM, reflecting more stressed low-oxygen environments and rising sea level. This also implies that the continental margins became major carbon sinks during the PETM.

Seasonal and interannual variability of planktonic foraminifera flux in the southwestern South China Sea

Juliane Steinhardt1, Hartmut Schulz1, Martin Wiesner2, Birgit Gaye2, Leopoldo de Silva2, Michal Kucera1

1Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen, Germany 2University of Hamburg, Germany E-mail: [email protected] The South China Sea (SCS) is the largest marginal sea in the tropical Pacific. As a semi-enclosed basin, its surface oceanography is largely dictated by three factors: basin topography, lateral advection of suspended matter and atmospheric circulation. The surface circulation modulates the vertical flux of matter in the ocean. The weaker south-westerly summer monsoon winds from June to September result in a northwards directed coastal jet off Vietnam and an anticyclonic circulation in the SCS. From October to April, stronger northeasterly winter monsoon winds prevail, causing upwelling induced by an intensified southward directed jet that moves along the coast of Vietnam and drives a basin-wide cyclonic circulation. The atmospheric pressure system that is driving these circulation patterns is affecting large-scale climatic phenomena such as the East Asian Monsoons, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and the ENSO. The variability of these climatic phenomena should thus be reflected in the vertical particle fluxes in the SCS and it should be possible to find traces of this variability in the sediments. The complex climatology and its interannual variations in the SCS have great impact on the ecology of marine plankton, which remains poorly understood. This study is based on four sediment traps off central Vietnam, located 130km off the continental shelf. We investigated the variability of the flux of planktonic foraminifera as recorded in sediment traps SCS-SC-01 in 900 and 1700m depth during May 2005 to April 2006 and SCS-SC-02 during May 2006 to April 2007, placed in 900 and 1700m depth. The four traps were positioned at 11°24`N, 111°17È, which allowed us to draw a realistic comparison of changes of foraminiferal composition and fluxes during two succeeding years at different water depth. Based on bulk flux sediment estimates, lateral advection might play an important role off Vietnam. We aim to investigate the appearances of the various morphotypes of G. ruber (white) and the menardiiform species, in order to confirm hypotheses from isotopic data, suggesting different habitat preferences among individual morphotypes. Sediment arrival through lateral advection is indicated by higher fluxes of bulk sediment in the deeper traps compared to the shallow traps. Preliminary results show that the total flux of foraminifers >250 µm is related to the flux of suspended sediment, indicating changes in the hydrographic regime. The faunal composition shows great variations during short intervals.


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Foraminiferal signature of the September 2009 South Pacific Tsunami

Luke Strotz1, Briony Mamo1, Kate Wilson2, Catherine Chague-Goff3, James Goff3, Dale Dominey-Howes3, Bruce Richmond4, Mark Buckley4, Samuel Etienne5

1Macquarie University, Australia 2GNS, New Zealand 3University of New South Wales, Australia 4USGS, United States 5Universite De La Polynesie Francaise, Tahiti E-mail: [email protected] Foraminifera have often been reported as present within known tsunamigenic sediments and have an enormous capacity to provide meaningful data about tsunami events. Foraminifera can provide information on tsunami sediment source and deposition style, and also represent an important tool that can be used in the identification of paleotsunami in the geologic record. Detailed documentation of the characteristics of the foraminiferal assemblage present in recent tsunami deposits (faunal composition, size range, taphonomic grade) provide valuable criteria in the discriminating between palaeotsunami deposits and those formed by other processes, such as extreme storms. Unfortunately, foraminifera are currently under utilised in tsunami science and little is currently known about the character of foraminiferal material present in tsunamigenic sediments. Foraminifera recovered from tsunami deposits, generated by the South Pacific tsunami of September 2009, are examined from two locations along the southern coast of the island of Upolu, part of the nation of Samoa. All of the examined deposits consist of light-coloured medium and coarse sand, ranging from very thin patches (< 1 cm) to sand sheets up to 30cm in thickness. All contacts between the pre-tsunami and tsunami sediment are distinct, with the underlying sediment consisting of dark, organic rich sands. Multiple laminations with varying degrees of particle segregation are identified in the thicker tsunami deposited layers. Foraminifera are present in all tsunamigenic material and the assemblage, in all deposits, is dominated by larger reef taxa, likely derived from the fringing reef that borders the southern coastline of the island. The recovered assemblages provides important information about the character of the wave and source of the sediment and also represent a potential ‘fingerprint assemblage’, that can be used to identify palaeotsunami activity in the sub-recent and geological past for both the Samoan region as well as throughout the South Pacific.

Morphological abnormalities in benthic foraminifera from the highly anthropized Orbetello Lagoon (Tuscany, Italy)

Maria Cristina Succi1, Elena Romano2, Luisa Bergamin2, Maria Celia Magno2, Maria Gabriella Carboni1

1Earth Sciences Department, Sapienza University, Italy 2ISPRA Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Italy E-mail: [email protected] In the last years, several studies reported percentages of abnormal foraminifera above natural background levels in polluted marine coastal areas. Some of these studies highlighted that geochemical composition of abnormal tests is modified by the presence of foreign elements. Because in some cases the correlation between abnormality percentage and pollutant concentration was demonstrated, this value may be considered index of environmental quality. However, high percentages of abnormal tests may be found in unpolluted transitional areas, like as lagoon, due to the natural stress determined by instability of environmental parameters. The Orbetello lagoon (Tuscany, Italy) is a brackish to hypersaline basin where geomorphological features have been deeply modified by human intervention and very limited water exchange with open sea exists. The present research is a first attempt to investigate the origin of abnormal foraminifera in a coastal lagoon affected by anthropogenic impact, where considerable percentages of abnormalities (up to 13%) were recorded, but no correlation with pollutant concentrations was found. Material analysed for this study was collected close to an industrial plant which produced granular fertilizers from 1908 to 1985 and which contaminated sediments with heavy metals (Cu, Pb and Zn). Geochemistry of selected specimens (mainly Ammonia parkinsoniana, A. tepida, Haynesina germanica and Miliolacea) was investigated through Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS) and the results of normal and abnormal tests from the same sediment sample were compared. On the whole, 70% of abnormal tests showed anomalous inclusions of elements such as Al, Fe, K, S, Si, and increased Mg/Ca rate, while no inclusions were found in normal specimens. Abnormal tests with inclusions were interpreted as the effect of toxicity due to sediment contamination, while no inclusion abnormal tests were attributed to natural environmental stress. To better support these conclusions, more specimens from different polluted lagoons should be analysed and geochemistry of foraminifera from laboratory cultures under controlled polluted and unpolluted conditions should be compared. Another observation worthy to be noticed is the presence of bioerosion, probably due to infestation by microbial communities, on the test of some foraminifera.


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Advantages and limits Of Micro-CT application in foraminifera studies

Balázs Szinger1, Emőke Tóth2, Ágnes Görög3, János Viszkok4

1MOL Plc, Hungary 2HAS-HNHM, Hungary 3Eötvös University, Hungary 4Central Geo Ltd, Hungary E-mail: [email protected] Since the first use of scanning electron microscope in micropalaeontological study, no new methods or technological innovations for observation and illustration of microfossils were introduced. The SEM images give information only about the external morphology and as a result of sample preparation the further study of the specimens is limited. For the observation of internal morphological features conventional method is the transmitted light microscopic investigation of thin sections of rocks or of isolated specimens. There are some disadvantages of this method: to be destructive concerning the sample and time consuming and to demand professional skills. These facts led us to test a new method which is non-destructive and allows simultaneous study of internal and external morphologies of foraminifera test. Research focused on the application of the micro-CT device in micropalaeontology reviewing its advantages and limits. First, the procedure of stable, oriented and removable fixing of the isolated specimen or rock in the device was developed which is fast, cheap, non-destructive and the sample remains re-usable for further investigation. Moreover, a process was elaborated to reach the aim of the foraminifera investigation in the shortest and simplest way. In several foraminifera groups the external and internal characteristics together determined the species, even the genera. Additionally, there are several foraminifera which could have never been extracted from the rocks. The micro-CT was found as a unique tool for real 3D microscopy to present the characteristic morphological features when the free movement, rotation or sectioning of the models of the specimens can be performed by interpretation software. However, the outmost advantage of this method is its non-destructive property which makes it capable to measure the valuable materials such as holotypes. The relative small volume studied and the lack of the different micropalaeontological group focused software are the limits of this method. This visualization technique gives new perspectives in taxonomical studies and in applied micropaleontology. The procedure is demonstrated on the morphological evolution of the Orbulina universa from the Tortonian to Recent from different localities of Morocco and Fiji Island.

Long-term quality, preservation and artifacts in microfaunal samples from the North Sea Gullfaks field

Jens M. Thissen1, Thomas A. Ronge1, Martin Langer1

1Steinmann Institut, Universität Bonn, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Microfossils were examined from different wells in the northern North Sea Gullfaks field. In the course of this study, the microfaunal content of four wells were compared and analysed for preservational quality. Two wells were washed immediately after the drilling process by using standard micropaleontological sieving techniques; the other two wells were stored without being washed. The microfaunal content of all wells has been stored for almost 23 years. The aim of this study is to document different stages of preservation in foraminiferal tests, the effect of drilling fluids on microfossils and the impact of preservation on identification and paleoenvironmental reconstructions. In the course of the analysis various categories of preservation ranging from 1 (excellent) to 3 (very poor) occurred. While the washed samples showed a “normal” foraminiferal assemblage, the unwashed samples were almost barren of microfossils. The drilling chemicals, contained in the unwashed samples appeared to affect the preservation and dissolve most of the microfossils during long-term storage. In addition, broken or partially dissolved tests characterize the washed sample material. A comparison of Mesozoic and Cenozoic specimen shows that the preservational quality decreases with increasing geological age. Sample-age and drilling fluids were identified as the main reasons for the state of preservation of the microfaunal assemblage.

2-D pH observation on foraminiferal cell under stable environmental condition

Takashi Toyofuku1, Lennart de Nooijer2, Hidetaka Nomaki1, Masashi Tsuchiya1, Hiroshi Kitazato1

1Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Japan 2Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] Foraminifera have been considered as one of the important organism as a major carbonate producer in marine environment. Their calcareous tests are broadly utilized as paleo-environmental indicators in various studies of earth science. Foraminifers can precipitate a well-decorated precise test, even though they are unicellular organisms. Their calcification mechanisms must be strongly controlled by biological activity. The knowledge about the cytological process on carbonate precipitation has been accumulated recently. In


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particular, mechanisms of calcium and carbonate ion uptake into foraminiferal cells from ambient seawater are of great interest, since these may have implications for a broad field of studies in paleoceanography. Our previous studies showed the potential to understanding the biomineralization of foraminifera by the application of fluorescent indicators. The development of fluorescent indicators allow us to visualize the 2-D distributions of cytological chemistry (e.g. pH and calcium concentrations) and organelles in living foraminiferal cell. Observed results show that foraminifera operate their biomineralization by fine controlling of intracellular environments. In this presentation, we will show a recent observational results by laboratory culture experiments with living foraminifers have been kept under pH-stat condition. Calcification process (chamber formations and thickening) has been observed under stable controlled pH conditions. The seawater pH can be adjusted from 5.5 to 8.4 in this system by the addition of CO2. This system will give us the unique opportunity to reveal the environmental effect such as seawater pH on foraminiferal biology including their calcification strategies.

Life cycle of symbiont-bearing foraminifer Amphistegina lobifera in coastal ecosystems of Aegean Sea (Greece, E. Mediterranean)

Maria V. Triantaphyllou1, Margarita D. Dimiza1, Olga Koukousioura1, Dimitris Katsis1, Pamela Hallock2

1University of Athens, Greece 2University of South Florida, United States E-mail: [email protected] In this work, we explore the annual population dynamics of Amphistegina lobifera, a successful immigrant from the Red Sea that has become a significant part of the epiphytic foraminiferal fauna in the Aegean coastal ecosystems.Sampling was carried out monthly from February 2009 to January 2010. Duplicate samples of foraminifera-bearing Jania (coralline red algae) were collected from the coastal ecosystems of Vravron (central Aegean Sea). The modern Aegean Sea is one of the most oligotrophic parts in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. During the samplings the highest surface water temperature was observed in July (26.2 oC) and the lowest (13.8 oC) in January. Sea surface salinity varied between 38.2 psu and 38.8 psu, whereas pH values ranged from >7.97 to

Sensitive response of planktonic foraminifera to oceanographic forcing during Marine Isotope Stage 5e in the central Red Sea

Gabriele Trommer1, Ulrike Baranowski2, Michael Siccha3, Eelco J. Rohling4, Michal Kucera2

1Europol Mer, European Institute for Marine Research, France 2Eberhard-Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany 3Laboratoire des Bio-Indicateurs actuels et fossils, France 4National Oceanography Centre, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] Investigations of planktonic foraminifera faunal assemblages and oxygen isotopes of Globigerinoides ruber in two nearby central Red Sea cores after Termination II, revealed a remarkable spatial and temporal decoupling of faunal and isotopic records. The cores are situated only 180 km apart (with KL9 north of KL11), which result in very similar planktonic foraminifera fauna at present day. In Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e sediments, the general trend in the development of the foraminiferal fauna was also similar in both cores. The glacial fauna of late MIS 6 was dominated by Globigerinita glutinata and G. ruber, followed by a short Globigerinoides sacculifer maximum in early MIS 5e (5 ka in KL9, 3 ka in KL11) and a distinct G. glutinata-dominated period. However, the correlation of oxygen isotope curves of the investigated cores implies a time lag of about 5 ka until the planktonic foraminifera assemblage of KL9 in MIS 5e reached the same composition as in KL11. Abundances of the planktonic foraminifera species in the Red Sea resemble the primary productivity patterns of the basin, which are directly related to its circulation system and the water exchange with the Indian Ocean. The simultaneous development of the oxygen isotopes in both cores in MIS 5e but the successive development of their planktonic foraminifera faunas indicate a time-transgressive gradual change in the circulation system of the Red Sea independent from sea level changes during that time. Based on the fact that the northern core lags behind the southern core in its faunal development, a gradual change in the water exchange with the Indian Ocean must be considered. Originating from the southern end of the basin, circulation changes manifest earlier in KL11 and intrude further into the Red Sea. Since the Indian Monsoon system is the driving mechanism of circulation patterns in the central and southern basin, a gradual change from a SW Monsoon dominated to a NE Monsoon dominated system could account for the observed pattern.


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Self-organization of foraminiferal morpho-genesis

Jarosław Tyszka1, Samuel S. Bowser2, Jeffray L. Travis3, Paweł Topa4

1Instytut Nauk Geologicznych PAN, Poland 2Wadsworth Center, NYS Department of Health, United States 3Dept. of Biological Sci., University at Albany, United States 4AGH – University of Science and Technology, Poland E-mail: [email protected] Living and fossil foraminifera include a great variety of test shapes and patterns. We do not know why foraminiferal morphologies are so extremely diversified and how these complex shapes are created. There are plenty of questions that puzzle all of us, identifying foraminifera and searching for general morphologic trends. One approach to answer these questions is to build an adequate theoretical and computer model based on empirical observations, which is able to mimic foraminiferal morphogenesis. There are two basic models describing multilocular shells based on the fixed- and moving-reference approach. The latter model gives better results and is based on a local reference system linked to the foraminiferal aperture and minimization of the distance between two successive apertures. Nevertheless, it is still too simple to express the whole complexity of foraminiferal patterns. We are working on a new “in depth” model which would simulate complexity of real morphogenesis. Shapes of foraminiferal tests emerge from the cascade of morphogenetic processes, basically controlled by genetic information. We assume that reticulopodia build the shell and the key structure responsible for pseudopodial and shell morphogenesis is the cytoskeleton. We want to construct an emergent model describing self-organization of granuloreticulopodia in order to understand morphogenesis of foraminiferal tests. We focus on the membrane scaffold plus the two cytoskeleton filament systems, i.e. microtubules, actin filaments, powered by motor proteins. The role of extracellular anchoring points is also considered. This talk gives an overview of observations, problems and new ideas based on a series of empirical studies on Allogromia laticollaris Arnold which is treated as a model organism for studying complex pseudopodial networks. This research is supported by the Kosciuszko Foundation and the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

Changes in SE Atlantic watermass distribution and upwelling intensity during the last 1.1 million years

Els Ufkes1, Dick Kroon2

1VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2University of Edinburgh, School of GeoSciences, Scotland, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] The 'late Pleistocene climate state' with large amplitudinal climate cycles driven mainly by ice volume changes developed in the period between about 900 ky and 600 ky, the Mid-Pleistocene Transition. We infer variations in SE Atlantic water mass responses and upwelling intensity from fossil planktonic foraminiferal fauna composition changes in response to this transitional climate period. We were interested in the specific responses of the upwelling intensity versus the gyre conditions, the shifts in the location of the Angola-Benguela Front, and the thermocline waters to the development of the large climate cycles. The most pronounced paleoclimatic changes correspond to the time of about 950 ky, 800 ky, 600 ky and 400 ky. Water mass changes related to shifts in Angola-Benguela Front have a strong impact on the local planktonic foraminiferal distribution. The period prior to 800 ky is marked by increased upwelling intensity during warm periods opposed to cool periods today. During this era left-coiled G. truncatulinoides reveals a tropical habitat. The distribution of left-coiled G. truncatulinoides, marked by a regional period of near-absence from 960 ky to 610 ky, is influenced by changes in stratification of the watercolumn induced by deep-water cooling at around 960 ky and surface-water cooling around 610 ky as well as the development of new habitats. Around this time interocean transfer had increased to a point to allow the development of Eastern South Atlantic Central Water, the current habitat of left-coiled G. truncatulinoides. Further, from this point on increased upwelling is related to glacial periods. Prior to MIS 11, the Angola-Benguela Front is located several degrees further south hindering eastward extent of the subtropical gyre during interglacials. Around MIS 11 the SE Atlantic circulation system reaches its 'late Pleistocene state': warm water input from the north strongly diminished and only sporadically occurred during periods of strong southward frontal shifts.


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History of carbonate dissolution as evidenced in shells of planktonic foraminifera in a Walvis Ridge bore hole during the Pleistocene

Els Ufkes1, Dick Kroon2

1VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2University of Edinburgh, School of GeoSciences, Scotland, United Kingdom E-mail: [email protected] Planktonic foraminiferal based dissolution proxies are influenced by their sensitivity to carbonate dissolution, geochemistry of the oceans and deep-sea circulation. Here we study the carbonate dissolution history of the deep SE-Atlantic as evidenced in proxy records in Core T89-40 from the Walvis Ridge, spanning the last 1.1 million years. All dissolution proxy records (fragmentation index, ratio of planktonic and benthic foraminifera, sand fraction and number of planktonic foraminifera per gram sediment) show similar patterns, unique events, and these proxy records are strongly correlated with each other. These carbonate dissolution records are marked by enhanced amplitudinal variability during the early part of the Mid-Pleistocene Transition around 960 ky, driven by increased interglacial preservation and enhanced glacial dissolution respectively. This pattern of global climate driven interglacial-glacial dissolution cycles became very pronounced during the last 600 ky. The higher frequency of the orbital cycle of obliquity, however, was also persistent in the carbonate dissolution proxy records. The presence of the orbital obliquity cycles in the dissolution proxy records of the SE-Atlantic shows that the intensity of dissolution may be linked, at least partly, to high-latitude processes of deep-sea circulation and sea-ice extent. A strong interglacial dissolution event occurred during stage 13.11 within the so-called Mid-Brunhes Dissolution Interval. The preservation history of planktonic foraminiferal shells was little influenced by dissolution except for those shells within MIS 12 and MIS 13.11.

Drivers of foraminiferal evolution and extinction in the deep sea

Liesbeth Van Kerckhoven1, Bruce W. Hayward2

1University of Auckland, Geology, New Zealand 2Geomarine Research, New Zealand E-mail: [email protected] This PhD research aims to increase understanding of the causes of global evolution and extinction in the deep sea. This is addressed by focusing on the enigmatic extinction of a distinctive group of cosmopolitan deep-sea benthic foraminifera during the late Pliocene-Middle Pleistocene “Last Global Extinction” (LGE) (3 – 0.12 Ma). This so-called “Extinction Group”, comprising nearly 100 species from among others the Pleurostomellidae, Stilostomellidae, Plectofrondiculariidae, Glandulonodosariidae families (c. 25% of deep-sea

foraminiferal diversity at that time) all shared a similar morphology of elongate, cylindrical and uniserial tests with small, specialised apertures. To find out what type of change could have been so all-encompassing to decimate and wipe out this major group of foraminifera, we are documenting the history of the “Extinction Group” through the Cenozoic in a number of oceans. In this study, we present the results on the occurrence and abundance of the “Extinction Group” species at ODP Sites 689 (Southern Ocean) and 1211 (North Pacific Ocean). The data indicate good adaptation of the “Extinction Group” to the warm and less-oxygenated Greenhouse World oceans (65 – 33.5 Ma), and a gradual decrease in relative abundance and diversity towards Icehouse World conditions (33.5 Ma – present). The LGE itself was coeval with the pulsed expansion of the northern hemisphere ice cap, rendering deep-sea conditions colder and more oxygenated during increasingly severe glacials. The dominant hypothesis therefore, states that the decimation and final extinction of the “Extinction Group” was caused by the inability of the extinct taxa and/or their food supply, to cope with these large and rapid changes in the deep-sea environment. We use proxies to investigate the relative roles of a number of palaeoenvironmental factors in determining the abundance and taxonomic turnovers of our species within the “Extinction Group”.

Amoco Cadiz Oil Spill and Foraminifera Thirty Years Later

Marie-Thérèse Vénec-Peyré1, Jere H. Lipps2, Michele Weber2, Annachiara Bartolini3

1Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, France 2University of California Museum of Paleontology, United States 3Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, France E-mail: [email protected] The oil tanker Amoco Cadiz broke apart on the north coast of Brittany, France, on 16 March 1978, eventually polluting 360 km of coastal rocks, bays, marshes, and estuaries, as well as offshore subsurface areas. Living foraminifera, Protoelphidium paralium (Tintant), collected from the Morlaix estuary eight months after the spill, revealed deformations of the tests, defects in calcification, growth irregularities, and parasitism. Some tests were deformed by additional chambers, or calcified protrusions such as knobs or swellings. Hiatuses in crystallization or decreased growth rates in the chamber walls resulted in undersized chambers, which broke the regularity of the spire. Moreover, many foraminifera were attacked by parasites attached to the test. Monthly samples collected from November 1978 to June 1980 were compared to a reference sample collected before the spread of the slick reached the Morlaix estuary showed that test modifications increased and growth rates decreased for a year following the oil spill. Within one year after the spill


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21% of tests showed decreased growth rates, 8% were deformed and 50% were parasitized; these numbers declined to near pre-oiling levels two years after the wreck, suggesting a probable effect of the oil pollution. Exactly which mechanism (toxic compounds in the oil, oxygen depletion and decreased nutrients resulting from the slick, among others) caused these effects is unknown. Like many other groups of marine organisms, foraminifera probably recovered from the oil spill within a few years. A survey undertaken in 2010, 32 years after the spill, revealed that live P. paralium still occur at the same site in the Morlaix estuary, but the percentages of deformed specimens (3%) and specimens showing evidence of slow growth (2%) have decreased and are comparable to pre-oil levels. Parasitism occurs at 15%, higher than pre-oil levels (4%), but decreased since the year following the oil spill (50%). Parasitism may indicate compromised fitness which could be due to stress. Morphologic abnormalities and parasitism observed in 2010 could be the result of pollutants (oil, toxic chemicals, etc.) entering the Morlaix estuary from daily activities such as boating and agriculture and may not be due to the lingering effects of the Amoco Cadiz spilled oil.

Benthic foraminifera assemblages as responses to climate variations during MIS 14 to 9 on the mid-depth Portuguese margin

Cristina Ventura1, Antje H. L. Voelker1, Francisco Fatela2

1LNEG/CIMAR, Portugal 2FCUL, Portugal E-mail: [email protected] Benthic foraminifera are a very important group of the deep-sea-bottom biota and the faunal composition reflects their living conditions, namely salinity, temperature and productivity. In this work the benthic foraminifera are used to characterize the deep water and productivity conditions during the glacial/interglacial cycles from Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS) 14 to MIS 9 (314.88 ka to 554.58 ka). We produced high resolution foraminifera data from Core MD03 – 2699 retrieved from the slope of the western Portuguese continental margin, off Peniche, from a water depth of 1895 m. We examined 202 samples to characterize the glacial and the interglacial periods from MIS 14 to MIS 9, and we will consider just the most abundant and frequent species Globocassidulina subglobosa (Brady), Epistominella exigua (Brady), Eilohedra levicula (Resig), Fursenkoina fusiformis (Williamson), Uvigerina peregrina (Cushman) and Cassidulina laevigata (dÓrbigny). The dominant species during the stable interglacial periods (MIS 11c and MIS 9e) were Globocassidulina subglobosa, Epistominella exigua and Eilohedra levicula. Uvigerina peregrina and Cassidulina laevigata were associated with the cold periods, probably related to the phases of

permanent upwelling. Cassidulina laevigata had its highest abundance during MIS 14 and 12, where it reached values of 12% and 19%, respectively. Uvigerina peregrina, was also very important in these periods but did not 10%. During MIS 10 dominance of the population is ensured by U. peregrina reaching 15%, while C. laevigata became less abundant (max. 9%). Fursenkoina fusiformis marked the transitions from the glacial to the interglacial periods when an increased supply of organic matter of continental origin may have existed. Overall, the benthic foraminifera fauna at this site seems move to be driven by food supply than by the bottom currents.

The Rhapydioninds as biostratigraphical markers in the Late Cretaceous restricted, shallow carbonate sediments

Vicent Vicedo1

1Universitat Autònoma De Barcelona, Spain E-mail: [email protected] Rhapydioninids are a group of porcelaneous, larger benthic foraminifera with lenticular-to-discoidal axially compressed shells. Their chambers are spirally arranged and subdivided into numerous chamberlets by septula and floors. The former separate cortical, peripheral chamberlets, while the latter subdivide the central part of the chamber in different levels of medular chamberlets. The cortical chamberlets of the same chamber communicate by the preseptal passage. The representatives of the group are very abundant and diverse in the Late Cretaceous shallow, restricted carbonate deposits. In this type of facies, biostratigraphic markers are rare or absent, therefore the rhapydioninids may become an extremely useful group for high resolution biostratigraphy. They originated in the Mid-Cretaceous global community maturation cycle in the Tethyan realm. No rhapydioninids are found in America at that time. During the Late Cretaceous global community maturation cycle, the genera of the Rhapydioninidae family colonized both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. The chubbinas and its allies spread over the shores of the Caribbean Sea, and several different groups of rhapydioninids occupied the restricted environments of the carbonate platforms from the Iberian Peninsula to the Middle East. However, at the present, the detailed distribution of rhapydioninids is poorly known. This could be due to the difficulties of the correct identification of each taxon. The different genera within this group may develop similar shell architecture (for instance Cuvillierinella and Murciella) and only a detailed structural analysis in three dimensions avoids misinterpretations. Moreover, the restricted carbonate facies are usually represented by hard limestones where fossils cannot be separated from the rock. Therefore, the micropaleontological study


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must be performed in a great number of random sections. The aim of this talk is to show the potentiality of the rhapydioninids to date restricted shallow carbonates sediments. Nevertheless, many taxa have to be revised before using them for biostratigraphic purpose, in order to clarify the diagnostic criteria of generic and specific rank.

A new Alveolininacean from the Cenomanian of Socotra (Yemen)

Vicent Vicedo1, Josep Serra-Kiel2, Philippe Razin3, Cécile Robin4

1Universitat Autònoma De Barcelona, Spain 2Universitat De Barcelona, Spain 3EGID-Institute, France 4Université De Rennes1, France E-mail: [email protected] The Cenomanian shallow carbonate deposits of the Socotra Island (Yemen) in the Arabian Sea yield abundant porcelaneous larger foraminifera belonging to the Alveolinidae family. These sediments consist of about 100 m thick of wackestone-packstone limestones and marls and have been attributed to the Dhaqut Formation, which has been widely studied in the south of Oman (Dhofar area). The Socotra deposits have been considered equivalent to those of the Dhofar area because they were deposited in a pre-rift tectonic phase, before the separation of the Socotra Island from the Arabian Peninsula. The new alveolininacean shows subglobular to slightly fusiform shells with two rows of chamberlets per chamber. The upper row consists of large size chamberlets, while the lower row exhibits small chamberlets. These two rows of chamberlets remain constant in the equatorial and polar regions during ontogeny. Sporadically, further polewards additional rows of supplementary chamberlets may appear. Such structure seems to be related either to Sellialveolina or to Praealveolina.

Biotope patterns based on the distribution of recent benthic foraminifera in the eastern Adriatic Sea

Jelena Vidović1, Vlasta Ćosović1, Mladen Juračić1

1Faculty of Science, Croatia E-mail: [email protected] The distribution of recent benthic foraminifera in 129 samples from four bays in the eastern Adriatic Sea has been studied. Sediment samples were taken with a corer or by hand collecting, during the spring and fall seasons of the years 2006, 2007 and 2008. Samples were treated with Rose Bengal and washed over a 63µ sieve; granulometrical analysis was done using the method of wet sieving, and

organic matter concentration (OM) was determined gravimetrically. All interpretations are based on total assemblages (living and dead specimens). Using cluster analysis, two main foraminiferal associations were identified reflecting different ecological conditions. The first, Haynesina-Ammonia association, described from Nin and Soline Bay (Krk Island), developed in a OM poor sediments down to 20 m water depth. Characteristic species are Haynesina germanica, Ammonia beccarii, Elphidium macellum, Ammonia tepida, Neoconorbina terquemi, Asterigerinata mamilla, Elphidium depressulum, Haynesina depressula and Ammonia inflata. The second, Haynesina-Epistominella association, in Mala Luka (Drvenik Island) and Boka Kotorska Bay, characterizes sediments with >5% of OM and water depths between 13 and 108 m, dominated by specimens of Bulimina aculeata, H. germanica, Stomatorbina concentrica, Nonionella opima, A. inflata, Brizalina striatula, H. depressula, Epistominella exigua, Bulimina marginata, Elphidium translucens, Brizalina dilitata and Globocassidulina subglobosa. Foraminiferal associations span through environments with different hydrological conditions, represented by biotopes. Haynesina-Ammonia association comprises two biotopes: Ammonia inflata biotope, inhabiting the enclosed lagoon (Nin Bay), and Ammonia tepida biotope, occupying the lagoon with entrance channel and distinct water circulation (Soline Bay). Samples from Soline Say taken in 2008 are classified into Ammonia inflata biotope, as a consequence of seasonal and annual changes in meteorological and hydrological conditions in the Bay. Haynesina-Epistominella associationen encloses Epistominella-Neoconorbina biotope, spread in bay with wide channel (Mala Luka Bay), and Brizalina-Bulimina biotope, inhabiting restricted lagoon (Boka Kotorska Bay). Each biotope has varieties due to differences in sediment type and OM; sandy substrates with low OM are characterized by epifaunal species, whereas infaunal species dominate assemblages at muddy bottoms with higher OM. Established associations and biotopes have good correspondence with biofacial units, associations and biotopes, previously defined in the Adriatic.

Foraminiferal assemblages and paleoenviron-mental reconstruction in the Messinian of Tertiary Piedmont Basin (Northwestern Italy)

Donata Violanti1, Elisa Bernardi1, Francesca Lozar1, Francesco Dela Pierre1, Pierangelo Clari1

1Turin University, Italy E-mail: [email protected] The Messinian Salinity Crisis was a major event in the Mediterranean geological history and has been preceded by progressive changes in water chemico-physical parameters as well as in marine assemblages, culminating in the deposition of evaporitic deposits. Multidisciplinary studies are in progress on the Messinian succession cropping out


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in the surrounding of Alba (Tertiary Piedmont Basin, NO Italy). The analyses allow the correlation of the TPB Messinian deposits with the well known coeval successions of the Mediterranean area. Foraminiferal assemblages of the pre-evaporitic Sant’Agata Fossili Marls (SAF), represented by a cyclic alternation of homogeneous marls and laminated euxinic shales, are referable to the Early Messinian Globorotalia conomiozea zone and part of them pertain to the distribution interval of Globorotalia nicolae (FO 6.82 Ma – LO 6.72 Ma).They document the transition from upper epibathyal and oxigenated bottoms to a shallower, restricted basin. The water column shallowing and increasing eutrophy are suggested by the progressive decrease of the P/(P+B) ratio, of the planktonic and benthic specific diversity, by the disapperance of benthic deep taxa and by the abundance increase of both inner neritic (Ammonia etc.) and stress-tolerant infaunal taxa (Bolivinids, Buliminids). Upper SAF cycles are progressively devoid of planktonic and benthic foraminifers. Quantitative data on planktonic foraminifers show cyclical variations in abundance of warm water oligotrophic forms (Orbulina universa and Globigerinoides sp.) and of cold watereutrophictaxa (mainly fitophagous Neogloboquadrinids). Moreover, an abundance peak of Neogloboquadrina atlantica (Mediterranean Messinian FCO 6.65 Ma) occurs in the middle-upper SAF and documents an influx of Atlantic cool waters, as well as eutrophic conditions, or seasonal upwelling, just before the basin isolation. Calcareus nannofossils add other data about the paleoenvironment and appear less affected by environmental stress than foraminifers. Cyclic eutrophic conditions are also supported by peak of “small” Reticulofenestra and Helicosphaera carteri and by the progressive decrease of oligotrophic Discoaster spp. The sharp increase in surface salinity is testified in the uppermost SAF by the Sphenolithus abies peak abundance.

Mediterranean outflow water activity on the Western Iberian Margin: evidence from a benthic foraminifer trace element study

Antje H. L. Voelker1, Pamela Martin2, Susana M. Lebreiro3

1LNEG, Unidade de Geologia Marinha, Portugal 2University of Chicago, United States 3IGME; Spain E-mail: [email protected] In the eastern North Atlantic basin, the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) is a prominent water mass between 500 and 1500 m, distinguished by its comparably higher temperature and salinity. Because of the high salinity and thus potential to increase a water mass’ density the MOW is thought to enhance convection in the North Atlantic. Previous studies (e.g., Schoenfeld & Zahn, 2000) have shown that MOW settled deeper (2000m) in the water column during the last glacial maximum

(LGM). Here we use proxy records for Calypso piston core MD03-2699 (39° 2.2'N; 10° 39.6' W; 1895 m.w.d.), today bathed by NEADW, to reconstruct oscillations in the MOW/ NEADW interface during Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 15 to 9 (580–300 ka) including MIS 11c, one of the longest Pleistocene interglacials. Benthic foraminifer stable isotope and trace element records reveal deep-water properties and are combined with mean grain size data reflecting bottom current intensity. Planktonic δ18O values indicate changes in the surface water hydrography and the presence of lithic grains ice-rafting events. One of the caveats in estimating bottom water temperatures (BWT) from the Mg/ Ca ratio was choosing the correct calibration equation. Until a regional calibration is available we are using Cacho et al.’s (2006) western Mediterranean Sea one being aware that our BWT might be overestimated. All records reveal changes on orbital to millennial timescales. Grain size maxima during glacial MIS 14, 12 and 10 and periodic increases during the glacial inceptions coincided with warmer BWT indicating that MOW replaced NEADW. On the other hand, lower bottom current intensities and BWT revealing NEADW presence were observed during interglacial MIS 11c and 9e. The warm intervals of MIS 13, i.e. 13c and 13a, show BWT mostly warmer than today indicating either a strong admixing of MOW into the NEADW or even the lower edge of the MOW itself. Cd/ Ca and Ba/ Ca reveal changes in synchrony with the BWT whereby Ba/ Ca mimicks benthic δ13C. REE/ Ca ratios, such as Nd/ Ca, also increased during times when BWT indicate MOW presence but their timing differed (shorter) from the BWT signal raising the question if their signal is MOW related or derives from eroded glacial material. Overall our records reveal that deep-water dynamics on the mid-depth western Iberian margin were as variable during earlier glacial and stadial periods as they were during the last glacial cycle and experienced millennial-scale oscillations, mostly related to the MOW’s response to changes in the Atlantic overturning circulation.

Mid-Brunhes surface water changes in the mid-latitude North Atlantic revealed by G. inflata trace element records

Antje H. L. Voelker1, Catarina Caveleiro1, Andreia Rebotim1, Pamela Martin2

1LNEG, Unidade de Geologia Marinha, Portugal 2University of Chicago, United States E-mail: [email protected] Climate records from IODP Site U1313 (41°N, 33°W; 3412 m w.d.) from the mid-latitude North Atlantic were used to reconstruct surface and deep-water changes during the mid-Brunhes glacial/ interglacial cycles of Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 10 to 16 (340 – 640 ka) including MIS 11c, one of the longest interglacials of the Pleistocene. The records reveal Heinrich-type ice-rafting events during the glacial MIS 16, 12 and 10 that led to a


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reduction in the Atlantic overturning circulation. Here we focus on the conditions in the surface waters, namely the winter mixed layer/ spring thermocline, using G. inflata stable isotope and trace element records. Today the site is influenced by the North Atlantic Drift, the northward extension of the Gulf Stream. Past surface water changes therefore reflect conditions in this current and its southward displacement due to incursions of iceberg-laden subpolar waters. Thermocline temperatures were estimated from the Mg/ Ca ratio using the equation of Elderfield and Ganssen (2000). The overall temperature range varied between 1.4 and 12.8°C with the colder temperatures related to the Heinrich-type ice-rafting events. Interglacial and often also interstadial temperatures were similar, but – with the current equation – slightly colder than modern levels. MIS 11 experienced millennial-scale oscillations with maximum interstadial temperatures declining towards MIS 10. The interglacial section, i.e. MIS 11c, was associated with an early warming lasting from 426 to 396 ka, but temperatures started to cool already after 400 ka indicating that subpolar subsurface water might have started to penetrate further south after 400 ka. Interglacial MIS 13a temperatures were in the range or even warmer than those of MIS 11c revealing that at least in the thermocline waters this interglacial was not colder than its younger counterpart. Glacial MIS 12 experienced several temperature oscillations with thermocline temperatures being colder in the first half of the glacial. During late MIS 12 maximum temperatures even reached interglacial levels raising the question if warm core rings might have reached the site or if G. inflata values then reflected a different growth season. Cd/ Ca values were highly variable and no clear relationship between thermocline temperature and nutrient levels can be seen. REE/ Ca ratios increased during glacial inceptions and glacials raising the possibility that these values reflect glacial erosion more than a water mass signal such as Antarctic Intermediate Water.

Elphidiidae of the western White Sea, European Arctic

Ivan Voltsky1, Sergei Korsun2

1St.Petersburg State University, Russian Federation 2Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Elphidiids are diverse and abundant on the Arctic shelves, and thus they are key foraminiferal markers in Quaternary paleoecological reconstructions for these areas. However their value as markers is hindered by the species-level taxonomy insufficiently resolved and poorly understood ecological preferences. The White Sea is a marginal basin with salinities of 24 to 31‰. The study area was off the Keret’ River mouth in the western White Sea, and it embraced a

range of habitats from the intertidal zone to c. 100mwd. We sampled soft bottom sediments and hard substrates (algae, shells), documented comprehensively the morphology of all elphidiid taxa, and estimated semi-quantitatively the abundance of live specimens (discernable by their pseudopodial activity and bright cytoplasm) during summer months. We recorded a total of 10 elphidiid species (genera Elphidium and Haynesina) in the study area as compared to 12 known for the White Sea and to 15 to 17 for all seas adjacent to the Arctic Basin. Two species, H.cf.nevea and E.margaritaceum, were recorded in the White Sea for the first time. Both were found attached to shallow subtidal kelp, a substrate that local studies on foraminifers have ignored. Both are probably boreal species restricted in this cold sea to the seasonally warmed layer. E.albiumbilicatum has been commonly misidentified. This was a good morphospecies in the study area, abundant in the tidal zone and also occurring a few meters below zero depth. E.williamsoni was a dominant foraminifer in the littoral zone and eventually clung to the overgrowth of shallow subtidal kelp. E.excavatum clavatum consisted of two morphs with disjoint depth ranges; one occurred in the tidal zone, the other in soft sediments at >50mwd. E.frigidum (we argue it should be placed in Elphidiella) invariably clung to protruding substrate: red algae, hydroid stems, shells, etc. The rare specimens found in soft sediments differed morphologically. The latter probably belong to a different species, perhaps E.subarcticum; data are insufficient. E.incertum differed clearly from E.asklundi, but there were transitional morphotypes. E.incertum, E.asklundi, H.orbiculare and E.bartletti inhabited soft sediments; they never climbed protruding substrate (except a dubious E.incertum/asklundi morph). E.asklundi most frequently occurred in fine mud of enclosed shallow basins whereas E.incertum seemed to prefer sandy areas below the phytal zone. E.bartletti occurred at depths >30m. Nearshore sampling of live foraminifers extends the understanding of biotopic preferences of the elphidiids.

Neogene foraminiferal assemblages from the Pacific Equatorial Age transect: IODP sites U1337 and U1338

Bridget Wade1, Ann Holbourn2, Hiroki Hayashi3

1University of Leeds, United Kingdom 2Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel 3Shimane University, Japan E-mail: [email protected] The Pacific Equatorial Age Transect (PEAT; IODP Expeditions 320 and 321) recovered a continuous and expanded Miocene succession at Sites U1337 and U1338. Lower bathyal to abyssal benthic foraminifers occur throughout the early Miocene to


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Pleistocene in Sites U1337 and U1338 and show relatively good preservation. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages are predominantly composed of calcareous taxa and with rare agglutinated forms. Distinct fluctuations in the abundance and species distribution of benthic foraminifera reflect major variations in global climate linked to fluctuations in ice volume and re-organization of Pacific Ocean circulation during the Neogene. Organic flux–sensitive taxa track substantial changes in equatorial Pacific Ocean surface productivity throughout the latest Miocene to Pleistocene. Diversified assemblages, including high numbers of epifaunal or near surface dwellers, indicate a marked improvement in deep ocean ventilation following the middle Miocene cooling. Early to early middle Miocene assemblages exhibit significant fluctuations in abundance and diversity, hinting at major changes in upper ocean structure and deep water ventilation at the onset of and during the Miocene climate optimum. Planktonic foraminiferal assemblages are diverse and typical of open ocean eutrophic environments. Distinct changes in assemblage composition occur throughout the Miocene, reflecting preservational and evolutionary changes, fluctuations in the water column structure, and the position of each site relative to the paleoequator. At Site U1338, a high diversity of planktonic foraminifera are recorded in Zone M5 which may be related to higher sea surface temperatures and increased stratification associated with the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum. The late Miocene “carbonate crash” has been widely recorded throughout the eastern Pacific Ocean. At Sites U1337 and U1338 it is expressed by the disappearance of planktonic foraminifera, high planktonic to benthic foraminifera ratios and a significant drop in percent carbonate. These records provide the opportunity to document foraminiferal evolution and assemblage response to climate variations in the Miocene and calibrate the planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy to the magneto- and cyclo-stratigraphy. We present initial results of the shipboard foraminiferal biostratigraphy and abundance fluctuations for the Neogene.

Taxon rich approaches to elucidating the evolutionary history of eukaryotes

Laura Wegener Parfrey1, Jessica Grant2, Laura A. Katz2

1University of Massachusetts – Amherst, United States 2Smith College, United States E-mail: [email protected] A well-resolved eukaryotic tree of life is key for interpreting the evolutionary history of Foraminifera. Here, we use a taxon-rich strategy to assess eukaryotic relationships and the timing of the eukaryotic radiation. We show that analyses of 16 concatenated genes that emphasize broad taxonomic sampling (up to 451 taxa representing 72 major lineages) yield a well-resolved eukaryotic tree

of life. The consistency across analyses with varying numbers of taxa (88-451) and levels of missing data (17-69%) supports the accuracy of the resulting topologies. Several major groups are stable and strongly supported in these analyses (Opisthokonta, SAR, Rhizaria, and Excavata), while the proposed supergroup ‘Chromalveolata’ is rejected. These groups also emerge from gene tree/species tree reconciliation analyses of an expanded dataset, providing further support for their validity. Further, gene tree/species tree reconciliation methods reveal that the root of eukaryotes lies between Opisthokonta and the rest of eukaryotes. Our analyses demonstrate that stable topologies of ancient evolutionary relationships can be achieved with broad taxonomic sampling and a moderate number of genes. Finally, the use of broad taxon sampling allows us to take advantage of the rich fossil record of many eukaryotic lineages, including Foraminifera, to elucidate the timing of the radiation of eukaryotes.

Genome dynamics are influenced by food source in allogromia laticollaris strain CSH (foraminifera)

Laura Wegener Parfrey1 1University of Massachusetts – Amherst, United States E-mail: [email protected] Across the eukaryotic tree of life, genomes vary within populations and within individuals during their life cycle. Understanding intraspecific genome variation in diverse eukaryotes is key to elucidating the factors that underlie this variation. Here we characterize the nuclear and genome dynamics during the complex life cycle of the foraminifer Allogromia laticollaris strain CSH, using fluorescence microscopy. This work reveals extensive variation in nuclear size and content. Nuclear size and DNA content are tightly correlated with cell size across a 700-fold range in cell volume. In contrast to models of nuclear size regulation developed in yeast, this relationship differs according to both life cycle stage and food source. Feeding A. laticollaris CSH a diet that includes algae results in a two fold increase in DNA content in reproductive cells compared to a diet of bacteria alone. This difference in DNA content likely corresponds to increased fecundity, and perhaps fitness, as reproduction occurs through segregation of the polyploid nucleus into numerous daughter nuclei. We hypothesize that DNA content is influenced by environmental factors in the numerous single-celled eukaryotes with ploidy cycles, including Foraminifera. The ability to vary DNA content in response to the environment may be a widespread mechanism for maximizing fitness in single celled eukaryotes.


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Molecular phylogeny of Hastigerina pelagica and Hastigerinella digitata and their phylogeography in the Mediterranean Sea

Agnes K. M. Weiner1, Ralf Aurahs1, Michal Kucera1

1Eberhard-Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Among the modern planktonic foraminifera, the spinose Hastigerinidae stand out by a different mode of calcification and a lack of fossil record. Either the Hastigerinidae have secondarily developed a reduced calcification, preventing their preservation, or they have evolved independently from a benthic ancestor. The former hypothesis implies that the Hastigerinidae should cluster within the spinose clade in genetic trees, whereas the latter hypothesis implies that they should cluster outside of the spinose clade. Here we present new SSU rDNA sequences of Hastigerina pelagica and Hastigerinella digitata. Phylogenetically, both species share a common ancestor, but are so derived that they consistently cluster on the basis of the spinose clade. The sequences of H. pelagica revealed the presence of two distinct lineages, genetically more divergent than most of the “cryptic” species in other planktonic foraminifera. This means that the molecular evolution in the Hastigerinidae could have been hugely accelerated. Although we cannot test this directly, we have attempted to investigate the distribution of the two genetic types of H. pelagica and H. digitata in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic, to determine whether the observed patterns are similar to those in other clades of planktonic foraminifera. The specimens of H. pelagica and H. digitata show a tendency for spatial and vertical separation. H. digitata is only found in the Western Mediterranean below 300 m water depth, whereas individuals of H. pelagica are mainly found in the upper water column in this region. The two lineages within H. pelagica show a clear vertical separation. Whereas one genotype was only found in waters deeper 100 m, the other occurred independent of season and locality almost exclusively in samples shallower than 100-200 m. The distribution of the genetic types of H. pelagica and H. digitata follows the hypothesis of niche partioning based on earlier findings on the genetic types of G. ruber from the same region. Instead of a geographical separation between genotypes as found in two sister types of G. ruber, the genotypes of H. pelagica have partitioned their niche vertically. Such a niche partitioning in the analysed Hastigerinidae would imply a much closer ecological similarity than the degree of molecular divergence suggests. These results indicate that the molecular evolution in the Hastigerinidae was most likely accelerated and that their position in the molecular phylogeny cannot be properly resolved.

A fauna offshore - Reef Foraminifera from Fernando de Noronha and Abrolhos (Brazil)

Anna E. Weinmann1, Catia F. Barbosa2, Martin R. Langer1

1Steinmann Institut für Geologie, Mineralogie und Paläontologie, Universität Bonn, Germany 2Departamento de Geoquímica, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro E-mail: [email protected] The islands of Fernando de Noronha and Abrolhos are among the very few reefs off Brazil that house assemblages of true tropical foraminifera. The remote island groups off Brazil are marine nature reserves where foraminiferal assemblages have remained virtually unexplored. While Abrolhos is located on the Brazilian shelf 55 km offshore, the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha is situated in the open ocean 350 km off the coast of Rio Grande do Norte. We have conducted a large-scale research study to compare the foraminiferal assemblages from both reefal sites to examine similarities and differences in communities that are related to specific ecological parameters that characterize "nearshore" Abrolhos and offshore Fernando de Noronha reefs. By using independent lines of evidence (abundance-, ecological- and cluster analysis), we document the influence of coastal systems on the composition of foraminiferal communities and their diversity in shallow-water habitats. Our study leads to the following principal conclusions: 1.) The shallow waters of Fernando de Noronha and Abrolhos house diverse assemblages of foraminifera that include 119 species. 2.) Fernando de Noronha is mostly dominated by a diverse assemblage of hyaline and porcellaneous taxa. The symbiont-bearing Amphistegina gibbosa is the dominant species in this region. Associated taxa with significant abundances include larger soritids and alveolinids as well as encrusting forms like Homotrema rubrum. The assemblages of Fernando de Noronha also contain numerically significant abundances of planktonic taxa and thus represent typical reef assemblages that are exposed to the energy of the open ocean. 3.) The Abrolhos region is characterized by a high amount of small milioline taxa with Quinqueloculina cf. Q. lamarckiana being the dominant species. Other important species include larger soritids and Amphistegina gibbosa. This assemblage is well adapted to slightly restricted carbonate shelf or platform regimes and compares well with faunal associations from environmentally similar sites in the central Caribbean. 4.) Foraminiferal assemblages from Fernando de Noronha and Abrolhos contain similar faunal constituents but differ in numerical abundances and cluster assemblages. Assemblages from Abrolhos indicate the influence of "nearshore" coastal systems and are reflected in the abundance of opportunistic versus symbionts-bearing taxa. Faunal differences between Fernando de Noronha and Abrolhos thus reflect the exposition to either coastal or open ocean ecosystems.


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Diversity patterns of larger foraminifera within the tropical Western Atlantic Ocean

Anna E. Weinmann1, Martin R. Langer1

1Steinmann Institut für Geologie, Mineralogie und Paläontologie, Universität Bonn, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Larger symbiont-bearing foraminifera are reliable biogeographic proxies, since they are abundant and widely distributed and their distribution patterns are indicative of global biogeographic patterns (LANGER & HOTTINGER, 2000). Within this study, the diversity and distribution of larger foraminiferal genera in the Caribbean region and along the coast of Brazil have been studied to illustrate distributional trends and diversity hotspots. A selection of presence/absence data in addition to our own sample material has been taken into account. This selection covers the West Indian faunal province from Bermuda (32° N) to Cabo Frio, Brazil (21° S). 12 genera of larger foraminifera have been studied: Amphistegina spp., Heterostegina spp., Borelis spp., Euthymonacha polita, Peneroplis spp., Spirolina spp., Laevipeneroplis spp., Archaias angulatus, Cyclorbiculina spp., Broeckina spp., Amphisorus hemprichii and Sorites spp. The biogeographic analysis of these taxa revealed a distinct pattern for the Western Atlantic region. Based on distributional patterns and trends of diversity, 4 biogeographic subprovinces can be distinguished among larger foraminifera from the western Atlantic Ocean: The Gulf of Mexico, which comprises a low diversity (2-3 genera) The Caribbean island arc from Bermuda to Tobago, including the Belize shelf with a medium to high diversity (8-12 genera) The Southern Caribbean region along the South American coast (including Grenada), which shows a low to medium diversity (0-8 genera), and The Brazilian region with a medium diversity (7-10 genera, excluding Cabo Frio with 2 genera) The biogeographic patterns observed refine previously established biogeographic studies that were based on occurrences of foraminiferal taxa (BOLTOVSKOY, 1976; BOLTOVSKOY & WRIGHT, 1976) and other marine faunas (BRIGGS, 1996). The Gulf of Mexico and the Southern Caribbean region display significantly lower diversities of symbiont-bearing foraminifera than other areas of the Western Atlantic. This pattern is strongly regulated by the runoff from major rivers (Mississippi, Amazon and Orinoco), increased continental influence, and upwelling zones, especially along the northern coast of South America. The Caribbean island arc and the Brazilian coast south of the Orinoco delta are characterized by tropical carbonate and reef environments, which are well suited for flourishing populations and diverse assemblages of larger foraminifera.

Turonian pristine benthic foraminifera from the Tanzania Drilling Project - stable isotopes and shell carbonate geochemistry

Ines Wendler1, Brian T. Huber1, Kenneth G. MacLeod2, Jens E. Wendler1

1Smithsonian Institution, Paleobiology, United States 2University of Missouri, United States E-mail: [email protected] Upper Cretaceous sediments recovered during the Tanzania Drilling Project in 2007 to 2009 reveal long intervals with exceptionally well preserved planktic and benthic foraminifera, allowing for single species carbon and oxygen isotope and geochemical analyses. We present results of an ongoing study in which we focus on the Turonian period and the paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic history during the transition from stagnant conditions of the oceanic anoxic event at the Cenomanian / Turonian boundary to well oxygenated oceans in the Middle Turonian. The mechanisms driving sea-level fluctuations during the Middle Cretaceous ‘Super-Greenhouse’ are still not clear. We use detailed analysis of changes in benthic foraminifera associations combined with stable isotope analysis and sedimentological data to assess relative sea-level changes and temperature development at low latitudes in the Turonian. The studied material contains abundant and well diversified benthic foraminifera faunas indicating an outer shelf to upper slope position. Agglutinated forms constitute about 20 to 50 percent of the association. Consistently present calcareous species are used for carbon and oxygen isotope measurements. We study intra-species offsets and their relation to carbonate geochemistry of the shells, by applying a combination of light-microscope and SEM imaging with microprobe and cathodoluminescence-based geochemical analyses. For example, various aragonitic-shelled species of the genus Epistomina show a striking offset in carbon isotopes while displaying similar values in oxygen isotopes, as compared to other benthic species. Cross plots of carbon and oxygen isotopes show distinct clustering of data points for individual benthic species, pointing to species-specific fractionation during the foraminifer’s life time or possibly species-specific alteration related to the shells primary mineralogical composition. The influence of diagenetic alteration is studied by comparing isotope data and geochemical composition of the shells from samples with different degrees of preservation. Our study aims at providing important information for selecting species that are suitable for studies of stable isotopes and temperature reconstructions in the Cretaceous. Furthermore, we compare single species measurements of pristine shells with isotope data from bulk sediments to assess the reliability of bulk sediment data, as they are increasingly used for chemostratigraphic correlation and reconstruction of relative temperature trends in the Cretaceous.


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A complete high-resolution Paleocene benthic stable isotope record for the Central Pacific (ODP Site 1209)

Thomas Westerhold1, Ursula Röhl1, Barbara Donner1, Heather McCarren2, James Zachos2

1MARUM, Bremen University, Germany 2Earth Sciences, University of California, United States E-mail: [email protected] The late Cretaceous and Paleogene paleoclimate reveals a rather complex history of gradual as well as rapid warming and cooling transitions and events. In particular, the early Paleogene is thought to contain unique and critical records of greenhouse conditions that could provide valuable insights into past as well as future greenhouse worlds. The Zachos et al. (2001) benthic isotope compilation includes data from more than 40 DSDP and ODP sites, from which the Paleocene interval is a combined record of mainly Atlantic Ocean, S Ocean, and Indian Ocean sites. Detailed insight into the Paleocene climate record was hampered until the first continuous and complete records covering the entire early Paleogene have been retrieved from the equatorial Pacific (ODP Leg 198, Shatsky Rise) and the South Atlantic (ODP Leg 208, Walvis Ridge). Here we present a complete high-resolution benthic carbon and oxygen isotope record from one single location in the central Pacific (ODP Site 1209) covering the entire Paleocene, a timespan of ~11 Ma. The benthic oligotrophic indicator species Nuttalides truempyi, analyzed in 756 samples, made it possible. N. truempyi is a cosmopolitan representative in the post extinction (K/Pg) fauna. Specimens used here are relatively well preserved, optical signs of diagenetic alterations were not observed. The record provides unprecedented insight into the sensitivity of climate system and carbon cycle over the entire Paleocene including detailed characteristics of the Latest Danian Thermal Event (LDTM). This event took place 61.75 Ma ago and is characterized by a clear negative excursion in delta13C and delta18O. The abrupt warming of 2°C in the deep equatorial Pacific supports the hypothesis that this event represents an early Paleocene hyperthermal. The duration of the event is comparable to the PETM but of smaller magnitude.

Initial results on Methane seepage-emulating culture experiments on barophilic deep-sea foraminifera

Jutta Wollenburg1, Ralf Tiedemann1

1Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Marine Geology, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Large negative excursions in the d13Ctest record of benthic foraminifera have been invoked to

document sudden releases of large amounts of CH4 from methane clathrate deposits. However, from the assembled data collected at modern methane seepage sites a constant relationship between bottom water dissolved inorganic carbon and benthic foraminiferal shell d13C is disputable. Thus, culture experiments on signal carrier foraminifera are needed to shed light on the confusing modern observations and to test one of our most important paleodeep-water proxies. Because the solubility of methane is pressure dependent and some deep-water foraminifera exhibit a barophilic behavior we used a newly developed autoclave technique to culture benthic seep foraminifers under in situ (high-pressure) conditions. For several months the systems were flushed with heavily methane-enriched, calcein-tagged seawater. Isotope analyses on the experimental offspring revealed that experimentally depleted d13CDIC induces depleted d13Ctest values, however, surprisingly not in the ratio we would have expected.

Novel autoclave aquaria facilitates high-pressure culture experiments on deep-sea benthic foraminifera

Jutta Wollenburg1, Ralf Tiedemann1

1Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Marine Geology, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Our understanding on palaeodeep-water circulation modes, and deep-water renewal in the world’s oceans are essentially based on isotopic and geochemical ratios recorded in tests of Fontbotia wuellerstorfi or related barophilic calcareous benthic foraminifera that precipitate their tests in equilibrium or with a constant offset to the respective ratio of the surrounding water mass. In this context the d13Ctest value of F. wuellerstorfi is postulated to reflect the bottom water dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations in a 1:1 ratio. The bulk of palaeodeep-water circulation models depend on the reliability of the 1:1 ratio. However, as more data are assembled there are more and more exceptions of this rule. Culture experiments on deep-sea benthic foraminifera are needed to test the established hypotheses. However, to our knowledge and own experiences, F. wuellerstorfi neither formed new chambers nor reproduced in mesocosms kept at 1 bar. Here we show for the first time that of long-lasting high-pressure culture experiments on undepressurized deep-sea sediments lead to successful reproduction of barophilic benthic foraminifera. Our culture experiments demonstrate the importance of pressure for the survival and normal biological behavior of certain barophilic deep-sea benthic foraminifera. Ongoing and future culture experiment under in situ pressure will enable us to test and verify the bundle of palaeoproxies linked to the isotopic and geochemical composition of calcareous tests of barophilic species like F. wuellerstorfi.


202

P/E warming impact on the benthic foraminifera in the Tethyan and north-eastern Atlantic realms

Dalila Zaghbib-Turki1, Lamia Zili1

1University of Tunis el Manar, Tunisia E-mail: [email protected] Based on high resolution sampling and quantitative data regarding the benthic foraminifera from three Tunisian sections: at Jebel Kharouda (Kh) in northern Tunisia, Wadi Smara (OS) and Wadi Kharoub (OK) in central Tunisia and from two Spanish sections: at Zumaya in northern Spain and Caravaca in southern Spain, we attempt to elucidate the warming impact on the benthic foraminifera and to propose extinctions pattern in this species microfauna group. Our results are supported by high resolution biostratigraphic analyse based on planktonic foraminifera. At the P/E boundary coinciding with the base of the Acarinina sibayaensis Zone (synonym of E1 Zone by Pearson et al., 2006), different bioevents are recorded, e.g., double rise of (1) Acarinina representatives among the planktonic foraminifera, (2) small benthic foraminifera having Agglutinated tests (AApeak). The behaviour of small benthic foraminiferal species having calcareous tests as a response to the P/E warming was not worldwide unitary or homologous. Therefore, gradual species “mass extinctions” of benthic foraminifera prevailed in the eastern part of the north-western part of the Atlantic realm as well as in the eastern part of the Tethyan realm. In contrast, in the eastern part of the Tethyan realm few species are really extinct and otherwise the assemblages show obvious disturbance. Therefore many benthic foraminiferal species became temporary disappeared.

New data about nummulitids and orthophragmines in Black Sea Lowland and Platformian Ukraine

Elena Yurievna Zakrevskaya1

1Vernadsky State Geological Museum RAS, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] The Paleogene larger Foraminifera in territory of Black Sea Lowland and Platformian Ukraine are found mostly in boreholes in separated levels of Eocene and were monographic studied in 1960-s by Zernetsky and Jarzeva. Following to the modern stratigraphy the lower Eocene larger Foraminiferalassemblages arranged for Black Sea Lowland, the middle Eocene poor assemblages of small nummulites are distributed in southern slope of Ukrainian crystalline massif, the upper Eocene larger Foraminifera is characteristic for western part of Black Sea Lowland and for the northern slope of Ukrainian crystalline massif. The analysis of nummulitids and orthophragmines from two new locations and orthophragmines from well known upper Eocene foraminiferal “Mandrykovka

assemblage”, given for the first time, increases our knowledge about taxonomy and biostratigraphy, as well as biogeography of this group. Nummulitids from 6 boreholes, situated nearby of Snegirevka village of Nikolaev district are represented by abundant Nummulites rotularius, N. aff. leupoldi, N. leupoldi, N. cf. tauricus, N. archiaci, Assilina maior, rare N. distans, Discocyclina archiaci bartholomei, D. fortisi simferopolensis. The zonal affiliation of this assemblage is determined by the presence of Assilina maior characteristic for SBZ12 zone. In one borehole this assemblage co-occur with lowermost Lutetian N perplexus, Assilina spira abrardi. In other borehole on smallest deepness larger Foraminifera represent only by discocyclinids, including the lower Lutetian Nemkovella evae karitensis. Generally these assemblages are closed to the Crimean ones and determine the Upper Ypresian and Upper Ypresian - Lower Lutetian levels. The upper Eocene Larger Foraminifera of Central Ukraine are of great interest owing to largest for North Peritethian realm diversity of nummulites and presence of orthophragmines. The nummulites assemblage consist of non granulose, mainly with free spire forms: N. prestwichianus, N orbignyi, N. concinnus, N. litoralis, N. rectus, N. variolarius. The upper Eocene zonal-species from N. fabianii group, typical for Tethian realm, absent here. In north-western shelf of Black Sea in three boreholes the abundant N. prestwichianus, rare N orbignyi and N. litoralis were found above the deposits with Upper Eocene planktonic foraminifera. Two stratigraphic horizons are followed in beds with N prestwichianus: the lower one, characterized by forms with compressed spire as in Wemmelian type forms and the upper one characterized by forms with free spire as in Schönewalde upper Eocene forms. The upper Eocene larger Foraminifera from Dnepropetrovsk area in northern slope of Ukrainian crystalline massif are most diverse. Here in “Mandrykovka beds”, characterized by nannoplankton of NP19-20 zones already in 1960-s nummulites species N orbignyi, N. prestwichianus, N. concinnus, N. rectus, N. incrassatus were described. The taxonomic analysis of rare orthophragmines allowed us to establish in these beds typical upper Eocene Discocyclina trabayensis vicenzensis, Nemkovella strophiolata tenella, as well as Asterocyclina stella cf. stella, Orbitoclypeus chudeaui cf. pannonicus. Therefore the longitudinal subdivision of Peri-Tethyan basins in Early Eocene is confirmed by studied material. The granulated nummulites and assilinas from Assilina spira и Assilina exponens group are widely distributed only in western Black Sea Lowland, being evidence of such subdivision At the same time no biogeographic differenciation is observed for middle-late Eocene for this area.


203

Late Cretaceous larger foraminifera in Donetsk Basin (South-eastern part of East European Platform, Ukraine, Russia)

Elena Yurievna Zakrevskaya1

1Vernadsky State Geological Museum RAS, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] The Campanian-Maastrichtian Larger Foraminifera (LF) are widely distributed in Central Tethyan domains as well as in North-Western Peritethys (European province), where use for stratigraphic zonation. In East European platform larger foraminiferal genus Pseudosiderolites were found in 1960-s in the north and west of Eastern Donbass (Donetsk basin). The new records of three larger foraminifera genera is represented in this paper. Three areas and correspondingly three types of LF assemblages are established in Eastern Donbass and its south-eastern margin. The first one, represented by abundant large Pseudosiderolites vidali, small Pseudosiderolites vidali muschketovi and usual Lepidorbitoides sp. from late Campanian distributed in the north and west of Eastern Donbass. Only small Pseudosiderolites vidali muschketovi were found in the central part of Eastern Donbass (Tuzlov-Manych trough). These beds were date by Maastrichtian according to small foraminiferal assemblage. The new locality is discovered in last time in south-eastern margin of Donbass (East Azov area), where in two stratigraphic levels Pseudosiderolites vidali (lower beds) and Helicorbitoides cf. longispiralis (upper beds) were identified. The age of unit with Helicorbitoides is problematic as this genus has been recorded only from Campanian of Sweden, Switzerland and Austria, but in East Azov area it found together with Maastrichtian foraminifera Abathomphalus intermedius and Anomalina ekblomi. The beds with LF in all areas are composed by shallow-water biogenic sandy limestones or carbonate sands. Rather strong latitudinal subdivision of assemblages may be connected with sublatitudinal Donbass structure, provoking the latitudinal currents. The new founds of LF provide evidence of connection among Alpine-Carpathian and Donetsk basins. During the studied time span, LF faunas show the diversity gradient from the Tethyan margins to the northern Peritethys as well as from western to eastern part of the last one.

The Paleocene-Early Eocene larger foraminiferal biostratigraphy in the Eastern Tethys of Tibet, China

Qinghai Zhang1, Helmut Willems1, Lin Ding2 1Bremen University, Germany 2Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China E-mail: [email protected] The Paleocene-Early Eocene shallow marine carbonate sequence of the Zongpu Formation in Tibet is ~ 350 m thick, and contains plenty of well-preserved larger benthic foraminifera, possibly representing the evolution of larger foraminifera in the easternmost Tethys Ocean. The larger foraminifera in the Zongpu Formation spaned roughly from SBZ 2 to SBZ 5 or 6, constrained at the base and the top by planktonic foraminiferal marl layers with the age of ~ P3a and P5, respectively. The larger foraminiferal assemblages of SBZ2 are characterised by Lockhartia diversa and Lockhartia prehaimei, and the assemblages of SBZ3 include Daviesina khatiyahi, Miscellanits primitiva, Keramosphaera tergestina, Sphaerogypsina globu-lus and Lockhartia altispira. SBZ4 is dominated by Miscellanea complanata, Miscellanea minor, Setia tibetica, Lockhartia hunti, Lockhartia daviesi, Operculina subsalsa, Operculina jiwani, Ranikothalia sindensis, and Kathina selveri. In the SBZ5, the assemblages are divided into two parts, with Miscellanea miscella, Ranikothalia nuttalli, Ranikothalia thalica, and (Glom-)Alveolina gambaensis at the base and Alveolina subtilus, Alveolina subsolanus, Alveolina vredenburgi, Orbitolites longjiangicus, and Nummulites globulus var. indicus at the top. In addition, Rotalia trochidiformis, Rotalia hensoni, and Smoutina cruysi are ranging from SBZ2 to SBZ4, and Lockhartia haimei, Lockhartia conditi, and Lockhartia conditi var. roeae thrived in the SBZ3 and SBZ4. The larger foraminiferal assemblages and their evolution in Tibet are identical with those in Pakistan, India and even with the Qatar peninsula, characterized by a high diversity of Lockhartia. The Zongpu Fm in the Gamba area is equal to the Lockhart Fm and the Patala Fm in Pakistan and the Ranikot Fm in India. Compared with those in the western Tethys, the larger foraminifera in Gamba are similar to (for example, the co-occurance of Rotalia trochidiformis, Miscellanits primitiva, Keramosphaera tergestina, Sphaerogypsina globulus and Alveolina subtilis in Europe and Tibet) but not identical (for example, most species from Lockhartia, Kathina, Operculina and Ranikothalia are restricted in the eastern Tethys), and biostratigraphic correlation in the whole Tethys may be feasible. In addition, the precise position of the LFT in Gamba lies at the boundary between the assemblages of Miscellanea-Ranikothalia-(Glom-) Alveolina and Alveolina-Orbitolites-Nummulites in the SBZ5. The PETM was confirmed to have ~4 m thickness in Gamba by carbon isotopic measure-ments. The LFT in Gamba occurs after the begin-ning of the PETM but slightly before the termination


204

of PETM. The disappearance of Miscellanea miscella and the first appearance of Alveolina-Orbitolites-Nummulites assemblage indicate the Paleocene-Eocene boundary.


205

Index of Authors


206

A

Abramovich, Sigal 13, 15, 34, 39, 42, 49, 50, 150

Abrantes, Fátima 4, 16, 174 Abreu, Carlos J. 5, 171 Abu Tair, Nasir K. 38, 42 Abu-Zied, Ramadan H. 14, 42 Accordi, Giovanni 10, 43 Adatte, Thierry 21, 34, 53, 59 Aguado, Roque 40, 175 Aguirre, Julio 5, 157 Ahmadi, Vahid 12, 43 Aigner, Thomas 34, 85 Albrich, Sergi 29, 44 Alegret, Laia 40, 175 Alencaster, Gloria 35, 150 Almeida, Fabiana K. 20, 45 Almeida, Carine M. 3, 44 Almogi-Labin, Ahuva 13, 34, 49, 50 Al-Salameen, Muna 37, 45 Altin-Ballero, Deniz Z. 24, 46 Aluizio, Rodrigo 6, 32, 77 Alve, Elisabeth 13, 15, 46, 61, 106 Alveirnho Dias, João Manuel 13, 20, 47 Alves Martins, Maria Virgínia 13, 20, 32, 47, 186 Andersen, Nils 19, 143 Andrade, Poliana C. 19, 146 Andral, Bruno 13, 53 Angel, Dror 15, 150 Anjos-Zerfass, Geise S. 18, 48 Antunes, Isabella L. 5, 171 Apellaniz, Estibaliz 40, 151 Aranda da Silva, Ana A. 31, 32, 48, 97 Arce, Maria Noelia 37, 48 Arenillas, Ignacio 39, 40, 91 Arieli, Ruthie Nina 13, 49 Armynot du Châtelet, Eric 6, 13, 15, 49, 50,

65 Arnaud-Vanneau, Annie 34, 59 Arz, José Antonio 39, 40, 91 Ashckenazi-Polivoda, Sarit 34, 50 Ashoeby, Arafat 37, 45 Asioli, Alessandra 3, 51 Atwater, Brian 6, 115 Auch, Alexander 24, 126 Aurahs, Ralf 24, 51, 126, 299 Austin, William E.N. 16, 33, 36, 52, 120,

179 Aze, Tracy 39, 52

B

Baceta, Juan I. 40, 151 Bailey, Zakary 23, 56 Bajpai, Sunil 21, 53 Baker, Holly 13, 132 Baker, Joel 27, 58 Bantan, Rashad A. 14, 42 Baptista-Neto, José Antônio 6, 63 Baranowski, Ulrike 26, 191 Barbosa, Catia Fernandes 3, 12, 21, 32, 44,

52, 167, 199 Barras, Christine 13, 15, 53, 57 Bartels-Jónsdóttir, Helga Bára 18, 122 Bartolini, Annachiara 13, 21, 53, 193

Basavaiah, Nathani 22, 115 Bassi, Davide 36, 147 Bassinot, Franck 3, 173 Basso, Daniela 14, 187 Basso, Elena 7, 137 Bastide, Fanny 28, 54 Bastos, Alex C. 20, 45 Bauch, Henning 16, 19, 118, 152 Bauerfeind, Eduard 27, 85 Beaudoin, David J. 30, 55 Beck Eichler, Beatriz 15, 32, 76, 171 Beer, Christopher 5, 87 Bellott, Piero 6, 76 Bendias, Daniel 34, 85 Benedetti, Andrea 11, 160 Benjamini, Chaim 39, 42 Bentes, David 5, 171 Bergamin, Luisa 15, 22, 55, 189 Bernardi, Elisa 6, 195 Berner, Zsolt 39, 42 Bernhard, Joan M. 7, 23, 30, 33, 36,

55, 56, 83, 96, 141, 168

Berrocoso, Alvaro Jiménez 39, 111 Bertoldi Gaspar, Ana Lidia 21, 52 Bessho, Kazuhiro 33, 113 Betzler, Christian 5, 19, 142, 143 Bianchelli, Silvia 37, 58 Bianchini, Adalto 21, 22, 164, 165 Bicchi, Erica 15, 57 Bícego, Márcia C. 19, 146 Bickert, Torsten 7, 99 Bijma, Jelle 2, 3, 8, 89, 120,

128 Bilton, Nina M. 3, 44 Biondo, Manuela 15, 65 Birch, Heather 2, 57 Blaha, Ulrich 22, 115 Blasco, Steve 4, 179 Blomeier, Dierk 29, 86 Bogner, Danijela 8, 60 Boissery, Pierre 13, 53 Boix, Carme 29, 44, 58 Bolton, Annette 27, 58 Bolton, Clara T. 5, 87 Bonatto, Sonia 37, 58 Bonin, Aurelie 34, 59 Bonnin, Jerome 18, 59 Bonomo, Sergio 8, 145 Bonvallet, Lucie 28, 54 Borcic, Adriana 8, 60 Bordelon, Laura 33, 60 Bornemann, André 31, 75 Borrelli, Chiara 8, 61 Bosko, Tomasz 18, 67 Bouchet, Vincent M.P. 13, 61 Bou-Dagher-Fader, Marcelle 9, 62 Bousseta, Soumaya 3, 173 Bowser, Samuel S. 7, 24, 62,192 Boyd, Ron 16, 178 Brachfeld, Stefanie 18, 114 Briguglio, Antonino 10, 21, 62, 63 Brink, Uri ten 6, 115


207

Brock, Glenn 37, 136 Browning, Emily 6, 133 Brummer, Geert-Jan 17, 82 Bruno, Regina Lucia 3, 6, 63, 64 Bubenshchikova, Natalia 18, 64 Bubík, Miroslav 31, 64 Buckley, Mark 6, 19, 115, 189 Buosi, Carla 15, 65 Burhol, Anne 26, 112 Burkett, Ashley M. 23, 66 Burone, Leticia 32, 185, 186 Buscail, Roselyne 2, 95 Buzas, Martin A. 18, 104 Bylinskaya, Marina E. 26, 40, 66, 151 Byrne, Robert 22, 71

C

Caballero, Fernando 40, 151 Cage, Alix G. 16, 52 Caillon, Nicolas 26, 172 Caley, Thibaut 26, 172 Calosi, Piero 33, 113 Calvo-Marcilese, Lydia 37, 67 Camacho da Encarnação, Sarita 18, 67 Camerlenghi, Angelo 23, 154 Camillo Jr., Edmondo 18, 67 Campbell, Robert J. 34, 68 Caragnano, Annalisa 14, 187 Carapito Krausshar, Cristina 34, 68 Carbone, Federico 10, 43 Carboni, Maria Gabriella 15, 22, 55, 189 Cardich, Jorge C. 3, 44, 69 Caromel, Aude G. M. 39, 69 Carroll, JoLynn 15, 77 Carter, Lionel 16, 27, 58, 72 Casciotti, Karen L. 30, 55 Castaneda, Isla 17, 82 Cathalot, Cécile 2, 95 Cau, Andrea 40, 185 Caus, Esmeralda 28, 29, 44, 58, 70 Caveleiro, Catarina 25, 196 Cearreta, Alejandro 5, 92 Cedhagen, Thomas 30, 160 Cesbron, Florian 3, 80 Cetean, Claudia G. 12, 34, 70, 117,

180 Chague-Goff, Catherine 19, 189 Chaumillon, Eric 17, 164 Cherchi, Antonietta 15, 59, 65 Chiaverini, Ana Paula 32, 77 Chiessi, Cristiano M. 19, 146 Chistyakova, Natalia O. 36, 114 Ciotti, Áurea 32, 185 Cirillo, Salvatore 36, 147 Civis, Jorge 5, 157 Clari, Pierangelo 6, 195 Cnudde, Veerle 24, 187 Coburn, Eric 13, 132 Cooper, Matthew 26, 88 Cordiero, Renato C. 3, 44 Cortijo, E. 2, 142 Ćosović, Vlasta 9, 17, 29, 70, 78,

195

Costa, Karen B. 18, 67 Cotton, Laura J. 9, 71 Coxall, Helen 2, 57 Crevison Souder, Heidi 22, 71 Crundwell, Martin P. 16, 40, 72 Curtis, Jason 23, 56 Cuttitta, Angela 8, 145

D

D’haenens, Simon 31, 75 Da Pelo, Stefania 15, 65 da Rocha, Regine E. 8, 128 da Silva, Eduardo Ferreira 13, 20, 47 Dakrory, Ahmed 37, 45 Daneshian, Jahanbakhsh 12, 73 Danilewsky, Andreas 22, 100 Danovaro, Roberto 3, 8, 37, 61, 80,

144, 153 Darling, Kate F. 36, 40, 73, 74, 179 De Abreu, Lúcia 16, 174 de Garidel-Thoron, Thibault 25, 144, 166 de Nooijer, Lennart J. 2, 3, 7, 21, 33, 75,

89, 94, 120, 128, 148, 190

de Silva, Leopoldo 26, 188 de Stigter, Henko C. 3, 36, 80, 159 de Vargas, Colomban 25, 144, 166 Del Rio, Myriam 15, 65 Dela Pierre, Francesco 6, 195 Delgado, Antonio 40, 175 Denoyelle, Mariéva 15, 57, 75 Desiage, Pierre-Arnaud 18, 59 Devi Gadi, Subhadra 23, 36, 90, 156 Dewilde, F. 2, 142 Di Bella, Letizia 6, 76 Di Carlo, Massimo 10, 11, 43, 160 Di Lucia, Matteo 28, 155 Dias, Bruna B. 33, 101 Dias, João 36, 141 Dijkstra, Noortje 15, 77 Dimiza, Margarita D. 32, 38, 124, 191 Ding, Lin 28, 103 Dolven, Jane K.L. 13, 46 Domack, Eugene 18, 114 Dominey-Howes, Dale 19, 189 Domitsu, Hanako 27, 78 Donner, Barbara 4, 201 Doo, Steve 8, 128 Douady, Christophe J. 25, 144, 166 Drobne, Katica 9, 29, 70, 78 Drysdale, Russell 2, 90 Dubicka, Zofia 6, 79 Duffett, Thomas E. 6, 179 Dunbar, Gavin B. 27, 58 Duprat, Josette 16, 174 Dürkop, Anke 2, 25, 79, 169 Duros, Pauline 3, 80

E

Edgcomb, Virginia P. 30, 36, 55, 96 Eggins, Stephen 8, 128 Eiríksson, Jón 18, 122 Eisenhauer, Anton 30, 94


208

Enezy, Saleh 12, 112 Enge, Annekatrin J. 7, 80 Enríquez, Edgardo 3, 69 Erbs-Hansen, Dorthe R. 18, 81 Erlenkeuser, Helmut 27, 85 Escarguel, Gilles 25, 144, 166 Eslava Martins, Samantha 21, 22, 164, 165 Etienne, Samuel 19, 189 Evans, D. 10, 81 Eynaud, Frédérique 18, 26, 59, 170,

172 Ezard, Thomas H.G. 39, 52

F

Fahl, Kirsten 16, 118 Falcão, Ana Paula 32, 77 Fallet, Ulrike 17, 82 Falzoni, Francesca 39, 40, 82, 158 Fatela, Francisco 20, 194 Feinstein, Simon 34, 50 Fermino, Gerson M. 3, 44 Ferràndez-Cañadell, Carles 8, 10, 83, 140 Ferreira, Óscar 36, 141 Figueira, Rubens 13, 47 Filipsson, Helena L. 3, 7, 16, 83, 98,

164 Findlay, Helen S. 33, 113 Finger, Kenneth L. 11, 84, 132 Fiorini, Flavia 5, 32, 84, 85 Fisher, Jodie K. 18, 102 Fittkau, Peter 27, 85 Flores, José A. 18, 48 Fonseca Araújo, Tânia 3, 64 Fontanier, Christophe 2, 3, 80, 95 Forke, Holger C. 29, 34, 85, 86, 176 Fox, Lyndsey 26, 92 Fraas, Andrew 12, 39, 86, 87 Frederick, Daniel L. 31, 87 Freiwald, André 5, 117 Frenzel, Peter 19, 22, 161 Friedrich, Oliver 5, 19, 26, 35, 87,

88, 92, 122, 126 Frijia, Gianluca 28, 29, 44, 58, 155 Fujita, Kazuhiko 6, 13, 33, 88, 89,

107 Funcke, Antje 3, 89

G

Gajardo, Nathalie 2, 137 Galgani, François 15, 75 Gallagher, Stephen J. 2, 16, 90, 108 Gallala, Njoud 39, 40, 91 Garbe-Schönberg, Dieter 2, 169 García-Artola, Ane 5, 92 Gardin, Silvia 21, 53 Gavriloff, Igor J. C. 37, 48 Gaye, Birgit 26, 188 Gebhardt, Holger 26, 92 Gebhardt, Kristina 13, 49 Gennari, Giordana 14, 36, 137, 187 Gerbasi, Giovanni 11, 160 Geslin, Emmanuelle 7, 8, 13, 15, 30, 53,

75, 93, 123, 138, 160

Ghasemi-Nejad, Ebrahim 34, 121 Gil, Damien 26, 172 Gischler, Eberhard 16, 118, 155 Glas, Martin 21, 94 Glock, Nicolaas 30, 94 Godoi, Maria A. 18, 95 Goff, James 19, 189 Goineau, Aurelie 2, 95 Goldstein, Susan T. 22, 24, 36, 46, 62,

96 Golikova, Elena 15, 96 Gombert, Marjorie 13, 132 González, Humberto E. 2, 137 Goodarzi, Mohammed 34, 123 Gooday, Andrew J. 8, 31, 32, 37, 48,

97, 153, 178 Goodman, Beverly 15, 150 Görög, Ágnes 24, 39, 97, 190 Gosh, Anupam 3, 93 Goubert, Evelyne 17, 164 Grant, Jessica 24, 198 Grenfell, Hugh R 5, 18, 36, 98, 103,

104, 164 Grimalt, Joan O. 18, 48 Groeneveld, Jeroen 7, 99 Grove, Craig 17, 82 Gusev, Evgeny 18, 120 Gussone, Nikolaus 3, 98 Gutiérrez, Dimitri 3, 69

H

H., Ghanem, 12, 93 Haap, Timo 8, 138 Haarmann, Tim 7, 99 Habura, Andrea 24, 46 Haji Karim, Kamal 12, 181 Hald, Morten 15, 26, 77, 112 Haller, Christian 22, 100 Hallock-Muller, Pamela 21, 22, 32, 33, 71,

100, 139, 141, 191 Hall-Spencer, Jason M. 33, 101 Hanslik, Daniela 25, 101 Harff, Jan 19, 157 Hart, Malcolm B. 18, 26, 33, 35, 92,

101, 102, 130, Harvey, Julio 32, 140 Hasegawa, Shiro 27, 37, 38, 78, 102,

125, 150 Hathorne, Ed C. 7, 99 Hayashi, Hiroki 25, 197 Haynert, Kristin 33, 103 Hayward, Bruce W 5, 11, 18, 19, 20,

31, 36, 98, 103, 104, 149, 193

Hebbeln, Dierk 19, 20, 149 Heinz, Petra 7, 8, 17, 22, 80,

115, 138, 177, 182 Helmke, Jan 16, 118 Hensen, Christian 30, 94 Herkat, Missoum 5, 104 Hernitz Kucenjak, Morena 39, 40, 105, 165 Herrle, Jens O. 19, 126 Herut, Barak 13, 49 Hesemann, Michael 11, 105 Hess, Silvia 13, 15, 66, 106


209

Hikami, Mana 33, 107 Hoentzsch, Stefan 10, 107 Høgslund, Sign 30, 160 Hohenegger, Johann 10, 21, 24, 62, 63,

108 Hoiles, Peter W. 16, 108 Holbourn, Ann 25, 97 Holcová, Katarína 22, 34, 109 Holzmann, Maria 24, 110, 156 Hottinger, Lukas C. 11, 28, 36, 70, 110,

147 Howa, Hélène 2, 25, 26, 127, 142,

170, 176, 182 Hromic, Tatiana 18, 36, 95, 110 Huber, Brian T. 34, 39, 111, 200 Hughes, Geraint Wyn 12, 34, 111, 112 Humler, Eric 21, 53 Husum, Katrine 2, 15, 16, 26, 77,

112, 119, 133

I

Ide, Yoichi 13, 88 Iguchi, Akira 33, 107 Ikehara, Minoru 27, 78 Irie, Takahiro 33, 113 Iryu, Yasufumi 6, 89 Ishman, Scott 18, 36, 113, 114 Itaki, Takuya 37, 150 Ivanova, Elena V. 19, 36, 114, 152

J

Jacobs, Patric 24, 187 Jaffe, Bruce 6, 115 Jehle, Sofie L. C. 22, 115 Jernas, Patrycja 2, 3, 116, 133 John, Cedric 6, 133 Johnson, Shannon 32, 140 Jones, Robert Wynn 12, 116 Jorissen, Frans J. 2, 3, 7, 8, 13, 15,

36, 53, 57, 75, 80, 93, 95, 116, 159,

178 Joseph, Nina V. 5, 117 Junttila, Juho 15, 77 Juračić, Mladen 17, 95

K

Kaminski, Michael A. 12, 16, 18, 34, 70, 95, 117

Kandiano, Evgenia 16, 118 Kasemann, Simone 40, 74 Katsis, Dimitris 32, 191 Katz, Laura A. 24, 198 Katz, Miriam E. 4, 124 Kawagata, Shungo 36, 103 Kawahata, Hodaka 8, 33, 107, 128 Kay, Jon 5, 98 Kayanne, Hajime 13, 88 Kechid-Benkherouf, F. 5, 119 Keller, Gerta 21, 53 Kelly, Clay 39, 86 Kender, Sev 16, 119 Kerhervé, Philippe 2, 95 Keul, Nina 2, 3, 21, 37, 89, 94,

120, 128

Khalaj, Hakimeh 12, 73 Khanaqa, Polla Azad 12, 181 Khanna, Nikki 33, 120 Khomenko, Liza 18, 120 Khoshkhabar, Narges 34, 121 Kilian, R. 18, 95 Kitamura, Akihisa 16, 108 Kitazato, Hiroshi 7, 8, 80, 121, 148,

190 Klitgaard-Kristensen, Dorthe 2, 3, 15, 77, 116,

133 Knappertsbusch, Michael W. 39, 40, 121, 139 Knudsen, Karen-Luise 18, 19, 81, 122,

125, 157 Koc, Nalan 3, 116 Koch, Mirjam C. 35, 122 Koehrer, Bastian 34, 85 Köhler, Heinz R. 8, 138 Koho, Karoliina A. 30, 123 Kolodka, Christophe 34, 123 Korsun, Sergei 15, 37, 77, 96, 197 Kotthoff, Ulrich 5, 124 Koukousioura, Olga 32, 38, 124, 191 Koutsoukos, Eduardo A. M. 25, 32,77, 125,

185, 186 Kouwenhoven, Tanja J. 6, 186 Koyanagi, Masako 37, 125 Kroon, Dick 25, 27, 192, 193 Kseneva, Tatyana G. 36, 163 Kubischta, Frauke 18, 125 Kucera, Michal 7, 17, 22, 24, 26,

33, 51, 80, 115, 126, 127, 148, 177, 182, 188, 191, 199

Kuhnert, Henning 3, 98 Kuhnt, Tanja 2, 19, 25, 126, 127,

142 Kuijkers, Antoon 19, 157 Kunze, José 33, 127 Kuroyanagi, Azumi 8, 33, 107, 128 Kuss, Jochen 10, 12, 93, 107

L

Labeyrie, L. 2, 142 Lang, Darin M. 23, 56 Langer, Martin R. 12, 13, 22, 32, 37,

38, 42, 49, 67, 129, 130, 135, 172, 190,

199, 200 Langer, Gerald 2, 3, 120, 128 Langlet, Dewi 7, 25, 93, 176 Langone, Leonardo 3, 51 Larrasoaña, Juan C. 40, 175 Lasseigne, Jennifer V 15, 129 Latif, Mojib 36, 114 Latt, Tin Tin 34, 129 Lavik, Gaute 7, 80 Lebreiro, Susana M. 4, 196 Leckie, Mark R. 6, 12, 74, 87, 133 Lecroq, Béatrice 24, 156 Leighton, Andrew D. 35, 130 Lejzerowicz, Franck 24, 156 Lembke-Jene, Lester 18, 64 Leorri, Eduardo 5, 92 Leppig, Ursula 22, 37, 100, 130 Less, György 9, 10, 131, 153


210

Levchenko, Snezhana 18, 120 Leventer, Amy 18, 114 Levin, Lisa A. 23, 66 Liebetrau, Volker 30, 94 Lima Díaz, Teresa 15, 32, 76, 171 Lincoln, Sara A. 7, 83 Lipps, Jere H. 6, 11, 13, 132, 179,

193 Lloyd, Jerry 19, 157 Lobegeier, Melissa 13, 132 Lombard, Fabien 2, 7, 93, 142 Loncarek, Jadranka 24, 62 Lopez-Doncel, Ruben 35, 150 Loubere, Paul 2, 133 Lowery, Christopher 6, 133 Lozar, Francesca 6, 195 Luna, Gian Marco 8, 61 Lundsten, Lonny 32, 140 Lutz, Brendan P. 27, 134

M

M.S, Mushthak 23, 90 Machado, Altair Jesus 3, 64 Mackensen, Andreas 8, 20, 47, 178 MacLeod, Kenneth G. 34, 39, 111, 200 Magno, Maria Celia 22, 189 Mahiques, Michel M. 13, 19, 32, 47, 146,

185, 186 Majewski, Wojciech 16, 19, 134 Makled, Walid A. 12, 22, 37, 129,

135 Maksimov, Fedor 18, 120 Mallon, Jürgen 30, 94 Mamo, Briony L. 19, 37, 136, 189 Mana, Davide 15, 65 Mancin, Nicoletta 7, 8, 136, 137 Mandic, Oleg 6, 159 Marchant, Margarita 2, 19, 20, 137, 149 Margreth, Stephan 14, 36, 137, 187 Marie, Louis 25, 127 Markado, Gily 15, 150 Marquina, Robert 3, 69 Marten, Roman A. 8, 138 Martin, Pamela 4, 25, 174, 196 Martin, Jonathan B. 23, 56, 66, 168 Martín-Algarra, Agustin 40, 174 Martínez García, Blanca 6, 138 Martinez-Colon, Michael 21, 139 Mary, Yannick 26, 39, 40, 121,

139, 170 Masuda, Yuumi 38, 102 Mateu-Vicens, Guillem 10, 140 Matteucci, Ruggero 10, 43 Max, Lars 19, 152 Mazaud, Alain 20, 184 Mazzola, Salvo 8, 145 Mazzola, Antonio 8, 145 McCarren, Heather 4, 201 McCarthy, Francine M. G. 5, 124 McCloskey, Bryan 22, 71 McCorkle, Daniel C. 7, 33, 83, 141 McGann, Mary 6, 13, 32, 115, 140 McGowan, Alistair 36, 147 McIlvin, Matthew R. 30, 55

McIntyre-Wessnig, Anna 33, 141 Mello, Renata M. 20, 45 Mendes, Isabel P. P. 36, 141 Metzger, Edouard 3, 7, 80, 93 Michel, Elisabeth 2, 20, 184 Milker, Yvonne 5, 19, 30, 94, 142,

143 Milliken, Kitty L. 31, 143 Miné, Jacques 15, 57, 75 Miyajima, Tishihiro 13, 88 Moeseneder, Markus M. 7, 80 Moghadam, Kourosh Haddadi 10, 99 Mohamed, Saad A. 13, 143 Mohtadi, Mahyar 7, 99 Mojtahid, Meryem 15, 57 Molina, Eustoquio 39, 40, 91, 175 Mombasawala, L. S. 3, 93 Moncef Turki, Mohamed 39, 40, 91 Morales, Maria C. 3, 44, 69 Morard, Raphaël 25, 144, 166 Morigi, Caterina 3, 37, 58, 144, 153,

173 Moro, Alan 9, 70 Moros, Matthias 19, 157 Mossadegh, Zahra Karimi 16, 118 Motaharian, Asma 12, 43 Moura, Delminda 18, 67 Mouty, Mikhail 12, 93 Mucadam, Riyad M. 21, 145 Müller, W. 10, 81 Musco, Marianna 8, 145

N

Nagai, Renata H. 19, 146 Naish, Timothy 16, 72 Nakazawa, Tsutomu 34, 129 Narayan, Roshni 19, 146 Nardelli, Maria P. 8, 147 Nebelsick, James H. 36, 147 Negri, Alessandra 3, 8, 37, 58, 61,

144, 147, 153, 173 Neil, Helen 18, 104 Nguyen, Thi Minh Phuong 6, 7, 147, 186 Nishi, Hirosh 27, 78 Nomaki, Hidetaka 7, 8, 80, 121, 148,

190 Nordberg, Kjell 16, 164 Numberger, Lea D. 26, 148 Nuñez-Ricardo, Samuel Guillermo 19, 20, 149 Nürnberg, Dirk 18, 19, 64, 152

O

O´Dogherthy, Luis 40, 175 Oda, Motoyosho 27, 78 Ogane, Kaoru 27, 78 Ogawa, Nanako O. 7, 80 Ohkuchi, Naohiko 7, 80 Oi, Takeshi 37, 38, 102, 150 Ojala, Antti E.K. 18, 125 Oliveira Lima, Francisco H. 20, 45 Oliveira Silva, Patricia 21, 52 Omaña, Lourdes 35, 150 Omori, Akitoshi 6, 89 Oron, Shai 15, 150


211

Orphan, Victoria J. 23, 66 Ortiz, Silvia 40, 151 Orue-Etxebarria, Xabier 40, 151 Osawa, Yoko 13, 88 Oschmann, Wolfgang 16, 118 Ovechkina, Maria N. 26, 151 Ovsepyan, Ekaterina A. 19, 36, 114, 152 Ovsepyan, Yaroslav S. 19, 152 Özcan, Ercan 19, 131, 153

P

Padovani Ferreira, Beatrice 21, 52 Pajand, Zabiholah 10, 99 Pancotti, Irene 37, 58, 144, 153 Pande, Kanchan 3, 93 Pandolfi, John M. 14, 19, 146, 170 Panieri, Giuliana 23, 154 Papazzoni, Cesare A. 9, 154, 180 Parente, Mariano 28, 29, 44, 58, 70,

155 Park, Wonsun 36, 114 Parker, Justin 16, 118, 155 Pascual, Ana 6, 138 Paterson, David M. 33, 120 Patil, Rajashekhar K. 36, 156 Patterson, Molly 36, 113 Paull, Charles K. 32, 140 Pawlowski, Jan 8, 19, 24, 32, 97,

110, 134, 156, 160, 182

Pearson, Paul N. 2, 9, 39, 52, 57, 71, 165

Pellizari, Vivian 15, 171 Penaud, Aurélie 18, 59 Pereira, Laura 18, 67 Pérez Asensio, José Noel 5, 157 Perez, M. Elena 23, 66, 168 Perner, Kerstin 19, 157 Peryt, Danuta 6, 19, 79, 158 Peters, Shanan 39, 86 Petrizzo, Maria Rose 7, 39, 40, 82, 111,

147, 158, 185 Pezelj, Durdica 6, 159 Phillips, Jeremy C. 39, 69 Phipps, Mark D. 36, 159 Pierfranceschi, Giancarlo 15, 55 Pietsch, Stephanie J. 22, 129 Pignat, Gregory 14, 36, 137, 187 Pignatti, Johannes S. 10, 11, 36, 43, 147,

160 Pillet, Loic 8, 14, 160, 187 Piña-Ochoa, Elisa 30, 123, 160 Pint, Anna 19, 22, 161 Pirini, Camilla 7, 137 Pirkenseer, Claudius 4, 32, 162 Podobina, Vera M. 36, 37, 163 Poirier, Clement 17, 164 Polovodova, Irina 16, 164 Pomar, Lluís 10, 140 Popadic, Sinisa 8, 60 Pöppelreiter, Michael C. 34, 85 Porcu, Anna Maria 15, 65 Prabhu, C. N. 4, 16, 174 Prazeres, Martina de Freitas 21, 22, 164, 165

Premec Fucek, Vlasta 39, 40, 105, 165 Premoli Silva, Isabella 39, 40, 158, 185 Pruski, Audrey 2, 95 Przytarska, Joanna Ewa 19, 166 Pucéat, Emmanuelle 34, 59 Pujalte, Victoriano 40, 151 Pupo, Daniel Vicente 32, 77 Purvis, Andy 39, 52 Pusceddu, Antonio 3, 36, 37, 58, 80,

159

Q

Qianyu, Li 2, 90 Quadros, Juliana P. 18, 67 Quezada, L. 18, 95 Quillévéré, Frédéric 25, 144, 166 Quinci, Enza 8, 145 Quipuzcoa, Luis 3, 69

R

Rabalais, Nancy N 15, 129 Rabouille, Christophe 2, 95 Ragougneau, Angéline 26, 172 Rak, Carmi 39, 42 Ramos, Rodrigo Portilho 12, 167 Rashid, Samir Hussain 12, 35, 112, 167 Rathburn, Anthony E. 23, 56, 66, 168 Rayfield, Emily J. 39, 69 Razin, Philippe 29, 195 Rebaubier, Hélène 3, 173 Rebotim, Andreia Seia 25, 26, 168, 196 Recourt, Philippe 6, 50 Regenberg, Marcus 2, 26, 169 Reichart, Gert-Jan 3, 128 Renema, Willem 9, 10, 24, 81, 110,

169 Retailleau, Sophie 2, 21, 25, 26, 53,

142, 170, 176 Reuss, Nina 13, 61 Revsbech, Niels Peter 30, 160 Rey, D. 20, 47 Reyes, Dharma 2, 137 Reymond, Claire 14, 170 Ribas, Elis Regina 32, 77 Richaud, Mathieu 6, 171 Richmond, Bruce 19, 189 Riethdorf, Jan 19, 152 Rios-Netto, Aristóteles M. 5, 171 Risebrobakker, Bjørg 36, 114 Risgaard-Petersen, Nils 7, 30, 93, 123, 160 Robin, Cécile 29, 195 Rocha, F. 20, 47 Rochon, Andre 4, 179 Rodriguez Tellez, Ingrid 32, 77 Rodríguez-Lázaro, Julio 6, 138 Roff, George 14, 170 Röhl, Ursula 4, 31, 75, 201 Rohling, Eelco J. 26, 191 Romano, Elena 15, 22, 55, 189 Ronge, Thomas A. 12, 172, 190 Rosch Rodrigues, André 15, 32, 76, 171 Rossignol, Linda 26, 172 Rouse, Greg W. 23, 66


212

Rubio, B. 20, 47 Rüggeberg, Andres 36, 137 Russell, Ann D. 8, 128 Russo, Antonio 10, 43 Rygg, Brage 13, 61, 106 Rysgaard, Søren 30, 160

S

Sabaa, Ashwaq T. 5, 18, 36, 98, 103, 104

Sabbatini, Anna 3, 8, 37, 58, 61, 144, 147, 153, 173

Sahba, Maryam 32, 184 Saïdi, Ezzedine 34, 173 Sakai, Kazuhiko 33, 107 Sakai, Saburo 6, 89 Salgueiro, Emília 4, 16, 174 Salonen, Veli-Pekka 18, 125 Salvatteci, Renato 3, 44 Sánchez-Quiñónez, Carlos A. 40, 175 Saporito, Luca 8, 145 Saraswati, Pratul Kumar 3, 9, 93, 175 Sato, Tokiyuki 27, 78 Scheibner, Christian 10, 29, 86, 107,

176 Schell, Trecia 4, 179 Schenk, Bettina 26, 92 Schiebel, Ralf 2, 5, 25, 26, 87, 88,

127, 142, 170, 176, 182

Schmidt, Christiane 7, 177 Schmidt, Daniela N. 2, 39, 57, 69 Schmidt, Sabine 25, 26, 127, 182 Schmidt, S. 2, 142 Schmiedl, Gerhard 5, 19, 117, 126,

142, 143, 157 Schneider, Birgit 25, 33, 60, 79 Schneider-Mor, Aya 34, 50 Schönfeld, Joachim 30, 31, 33, 36, 94,

103, 141, 177 Schouten, Stefan 17, 82 Schröder-Adams, Claudia J. 16, 178 Schulz, Hartmut 17, 22, 26, 27, 33,

36, 73, 85, 115, 127, 148, 182, 188

Schumacher, Stefanie 8, 178 Schweizer, Magali 30, 36, 160, 179 Scott, George H. 16, 72 Scott, David B. 4, 6, 13, 143, 179 Seddighi, Mona 9, 180 Seears, Heidi 40, 74 Seidenkrantz, Marit Solveig 17, 19, 157, 182 Semenov, Vladimir 36, 114 Sen Gupta, Barun K 15, 129 Serra-Kiel, Josep 29, 195 Setoyama, Eiichi 34, 180 Sharbazheri, Khalid Mahmood Ismael

12, 181

Shariatzadeh, Mohammad Saeid 28, 181 Siccha, Michael 26, 182, 191 Sicoli Seoane, Jose Carlos 3, 21, 44, 52 Sierra, Roberto M. 24, 182 Sierro Sánchez, Francisco J. 18, 48 Sifeddine, Abdelfettah 3, 44, 69 Silva, Patricia O. 3, 44 Simon, Margit 17, 182

Slavkovic, Renata 40, 105 Smart, Christopher W. 18, 20, 26, 33, 35,

40, 74, 101, 102, 130, 183, 184

Sohabi-Mollayousefi, Masoomeh 32, 34, 121, 184 Soldan, Dario M. 40, 185 Solís, Juana 3, 69 Sommer, Stefan 30, 94 Sousa, Silvia H. M. 13, 19, 32, 47, 146,

185, 186 Speijer, Robert Pieter 4, 6, 7, 24, 31, 75,

147, 162, 186, 187, 188

Spero, Howard 8, 128 Spezzaferri, Silvia 14, 32, 36, 137,

162, 187 Sremac, Jasenka 6, 159 Stalder, Claudio 14, 36, 137, 187 Stassen, Peter 7, 31, 75, 147, 188 Steinhardt, Juliane 26, 188 Steurbaut, Etienne 4, 31, 162, 188 St-Onge, Guillaume 4, 179 Storz, David 33, 127 Strotz, Luke 19, 37, 136, 189 Succi, Maria Cristina 11, 15, 22, 55, 160,

189 Suga, Hisami 7, 148 Suzuki, Atsushi 33, 107 Szinger, Balázs 24, 39, 97, 190

T

Taldenkova, Ekaterina 19, 152 Tapia, Raul 19, 20, 149 Tavakolo, Mahmoud 10, 99 Taylor, Ronald D. 23, 168 Telford, Richard J. 13, 61, 106 Theodor, Marc 19, 143 Thissen, Jens 12, 172, 190 Thomas, Ellen 26, 31, 40, 74, 183,

188 Tiedemann, Ralf 7, 18, 19, 23, 64,

152, 201 Titschack, Jürgen 5, 117 Toledo, Felipe A. L. 18, 67 Tonish, Jessica 13, 132 Topa, Paweł 7, 192 Torneberg, Alexandre 26, 172 Torres, Ramon 35, 150 Totah, Violeta 32, 77 Tóth, Emőke 24, 190 Toyofuku, Takashi 7, 8, 121, 148, 190 Trannum, Hilde Cecilie 15, 106 Trattenero, Iacopo 8, 136 Travis, Jeffrey L. 7, 24, 62, 192 Trebini, Felicina 15, 65 Trecalli, Alberto 28, 155 Treis, Yvonne 24, 51 Trentesaux, Alain 6, 50 Trevisan Disaró, Sibelle 6, 32, 77 Triantaphyllou, Maria V. 32, 38, 124, 191 Trocme, Vincent 34, 123 Trommer, Gabriele 26, 191 Tsuchiya, Masashi 7, 190 Turcq, Bruno J. 3, 44 Turon, Jean-Louis 16, 174


213

Tverber, Vigdis 3, 116 Twitchett, Richard 35, 130 Tyszka, Jarosław 7, 34, 180, 192

U

Uchida, Jun-ichi 27, 78 Ueno, Katsumi 34, 129 Ufkes, Els 25, 27, 192, 193 Ujiié, Yurika 25, 166 Uken, Ron 26, 151 Umezawa, Yu 13, 88 Ushida, Masao 37, 150 Ussler III, William 32, 140 Uthicke, Sven 7, 14, 170, 177

V

Vachard, Daniel 34, 123 Valiyparambil Nanappan, Linshy 8, 138 Van Kerckhoven, Liesbeth 31, 193 Van Loo, Denis 24, 187 Vaqueiro, Sandra 16, 174 Vénec-Peyré, Marie-Thérèse 13, 21, 53, 193 Vennin, Emmanuelle 34, 59, 123 Ventura, Cristina 20, 194 Verducci, Marina 40, 72 Vicedo, Vicent 28, 29, 44, 58, 194,

195 Vicente, Thaisa 32, 185, 186 Vidović, Jelena 9, 17, 70, 195 Vilela, Claudia Gutterres 6, 20, 45, 63 Villa, Giulina 2, 90 Violanti, Donata 6, 195 Viszkok, János 24, 190 Vitale, Gaia 37, 144 Vizzini, Salvatrice 8, 145 Voelker, Antje H. L. 4, 16, 20, 25, 174,

194, 196 Vogel, Nikolas 7, 177 Voltsky, Ivan 37, 197 Vrijenhoek, Robert C. 32, 140

W

Wade, Christopher 36, 40, 73, 74 Wade, Bridget 25, 197 Waelbroeck, Claire 20, 184 Waggoner, Jason D. 23, 168 Wagreich, Michael 26, 92 Wallace, Malcolm W. 2, 90 Wall-Palmer, Deborah 18, 102 Walz, Lisa 34, 85 Wang, Xiang-dong 34, 129 Waniek, Joanna 26, 33, 127, 168 Watanabe, Silvia 32, 77 Watt, Steven 6, 115 Weber, Michele 13, 193 Wegener Parfrey, Laura 8, 24, 198 Weiner, Agnes K. M. 24, 199 Weinmann, Anna E. 22, 32, 37, 129,

199, 200 Weldeab, Syee 26, 88 Wendler, Jens E. 34, 200 Wendler, Ines 34, 200 Wernli, Roland 39, 97

Westerhold, Thomas 4, 201 Wiesner, Martin 26, 188 Willems, Helmut 28, 203 Wilson, Kate 19, 189 Wilson, Paul A. 5, 26, 87, 88 Witte, Ursula 7, 80 Wizemann, André 24, 51 Wollenburg, Jutta 7, 23, 201 Wright, Paul 9, 71 Wrightsman, Brian 23, 66

Y

Yamano, Hiroya 13, 88 Yamashita, Cíntia 13, 32, 47, 185,

186 Yokoyama, Yusuke 6, 89 Young, Matt 13, 132

Z

Zachos, James 4, 201 Zaghbib-Turki, Dalila 9, 34, 39, 40, 91,

173, 202 Zagonel Serafini, Leonardo 6, 77 Zakrevskaya, Elena Yurievna 9, 35, 202, 203 Zarikian, Carlos Alvarez- 16, 119 Zhang, Qinghai 28, 203 Zhao, Jian-xin 14, 170 Zili, Lamia 9, 202 Zinke, Jens 17, 82

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