Biogeochemical Controls on Palaeoceanographic Environmental Proxies

Most of our information about the evolution of Earth’s ocean-climate system comes from the analysis of sediments laid down in the past. For example, the microfossil assemblage reflects the temperature, salinity and nutrient abundance of the water in which the organisms lived, while the chemical and isotopic composition of biogenic carbonates may be used to reconstruct past variations in the operation of the carbon cycle, as well as changes in ocean circulation.
Nevertheless, understanding the link between these sediment variables (or ‘proxies’) and environmental conditions is not straightforward. This volume adopts a novel approach by bringing together palaeontologists, geochemists and palaeoceanographers, who contribute evidence that is required to better constrain these proxies. Topics include: (i) processes of biomineralization, and their effect on the chemical and isotopic composition of different organisms; (ii) proxy validation, including field, laboratory and theoretical studies; (iii) the links between modern and fossil organisms.
The carbon and oxygen stable isotopic composition of cultured benthic foraminifera
-
Published:January 01, 2008
-
CiteCitation
Daniel C. McCorkle, Joan M. Bernhard, Christopher J. Hintz, Jessica K. Blanks, G. Thomas Chandler, Timothy J. Shaw, 2008. "The carbon and oxygen stable isotopic composition of cultured benthic foraminifera", Biogeochemical Controls on Palaeoceanographic Environmental Proxies, W. E. N. Austin, R. H. James
Download citation file:
- Share
-
Tools
Abstract
Laboratory cultures of several species of benthic foraminifera were grown under controlled physical and chemical conditions during months-long experiments carried out at the University of South Carolina in 2001 and 2002. A dozen experimental culture chambers contained a c. 1–3 mm layer of trace-metal free silica substrate, and were continuously flushed with water from a large (1600 L) seawater reservoir with known, constant temperature and composition (δ18O(water), carbonate system chemistry, and trace element concentrations). Each year, in most of the culture chambers, one or more species reproduced, producing hundreds of juveniles which grew into size classes...