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Temporal variability in foraminiferal morphology and geochemistry at the West Antarctic Peninsula: a sediment trap study

Mikis, Anna; Hendry, Katharine R.; Pike, Jennifer; Schmidt, Daniela N.; Edgar, Kirsty M.; Peck, Victoria; Peeters, Frank J. C.; Leng, Melanie J.; Meredith, Michael P.; Todd, Chloe L.; Stammerjohn, Sharon; Ducklow, Hugh

Temporal variability in foraminiferal morphology and geochemistry at the West Antarctic Peninsula: a sediment trap study Thumbnail


Authors

Anna Mikis

Katharine R. Hendry

Jennifer Pike

Daniela N. Schmidt

Kirsty M. Edgar

Victoria Peck

Frank J. C. Peeters

Michael P. Meredith

Chloe L. Todd

Sharon Stammerjohn

Hugh Ducklow



Abstract

The West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) exhibits strong spatial and temporal oceanographic variability, resulting in highly heterogeneous biological productivity. Calcifying organisms that live in the waters off the WAP respond to temporal and spatial variations in ocean temperature and chemistry. These marine calcifiers are potentially threatened by regional climate change with waters already naturally close to carbonate undersaturation. Future projections of carbonate production in the Southern Ocean are challenging due to the lack of historical data collection and complex, decadal climate variability. Here we present a 6-year-long record of the shell fluxes, morphology and stable isotope variability of the polar planktic foraminifera Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (sensu stricto) from near Palmer Station, Antarctica. This species is fundamental to Southern Ocean planktic carbonate production as it is one of the very few planktic foraminifer species adapted to the marine polar environments. We use these new data to obtain insights into its ecology and to derive a robust assessment of the response of this polar species to environmental change. Morphology and stable isotope composition reveal the presence of different growth stages within this tightly defined species. Inter- and intra-annual variability of foraminiferal flux and size is evident and driven by a combination of environmental forcing parameters, most importantly food availability, temperature and sea ice duration and extent. Foraminiferal growth occurs throughout the austral year and is influenced by environmental change, a large portion of which is driven by the Southern Annular Mode and El Niño–Southern Oscillation. A distinct seasonal production is observed, with the highest shell fluxes during the warmest and most productive months of the year. The sensitivity of calcifying foraminifera to environmental variability in this region, from weeks to decades, has implications both for their response to future climatic change and for their use as palaeoclimate indicators. A longer ice-free season could increase carbonate production in this region at least while carbonate saturation is still high enough to allow for thick tests to grow.

Citation

Mikis, A., Hendry, K. R., Pike, J., Schmidt, D. N., Edgar, K. M., Peck, V., …Ducklow, H. (2019). Temporal variability in foraminiferal morphology and geochemistry at the West Antarctic Peninsula: a sediment trap study. Biogeosciences, 16, 3267-3282. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3267-2019

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 13, 2019
Online Publication Date Aug 30, 2019
Publication Date Aug 30, 2019
Deposit Date Sep 2, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Biogeosciences Discussions
Print ISSN 1726-4170
Electronic ISSN 1726-4189
Publisher European Geosciences Union
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 16
Pages 3267-3282
DOI https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3267-2019
Keywords Earth-Surface Processes; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2469470
Publisher URL https://www.biogeosciences.net/16/3267/2019/

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