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

Temporal variability in foraminiferal morphology and geochemistry at the West Antarctic Peninsula: a sediment trap study
Temporal variability in foraminiferal morphology and geochemistry at the West Antarctic Peninsula: a sediment trap study
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.
1726-4170
3267-3282
Mikis, Anna
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Hendry, Katherine
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Pike, Jennifer
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Edgar, Kirsty
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Peck, Victoria
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Peeters, Frank
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Leng, Melanie
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Meredith, Michael
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Todd, Chloe, L.
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Stammerjohn, Sharon
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Ducklow, Hugh
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Mikis, Anna
be155dde-99b8-462f-b8b8-8ea0faad4cd6
Hendry, Katherine
03150adc-4686-4be1-a6d0-3e953fb4bec2
Pike, Jennifer
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Edgar, Kirsty
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Peck, Victoria
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Peeters, Frank
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Leng, Melanie
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Meredith, Michael
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Todd, Chloe, L.
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Stammerjohn, Sharon
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Ducklow, Hugh
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Mikis, Anna, Hendry, Katherine, Pike, Jennifer, Edgar, Kirsty, Peck, Victoria, Peeters, Frank, Leng, Melanie, Meredith, Michael, Todd, Chloe, L., Stammerjohn, Sharon and Ducklow, Hugh (2019) Temporal variability in foraminiferal morphology and geochemistry at the West Antarctic Peninsula: a sediment trap study. Biogeosciences, 16, 3267-3282. (doi:10.5194/bg-16-3267-2019).

Record type: Article

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.

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Accepted/In Press date: 13 August 2019
Published date: 30 August 2019

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 435534
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/435534
ISSN: 1726-4170
PURE UUID: a10ddad0-951a-46fc-b3f8-00d334461a46
ORCID for Chloe, L. Todd: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-0684-2404

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Date deposited: 08 Nov 2019 17:30
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:58

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Contributors

Author: Anna Mikis
Author: Katherine Hendry
Author: Jennifer Pike
Author: Kirsty Edgar
Author: Victoria Peck
Author: Frank Peeters
Author: Melanie Leng
Author: Michael Meredith
Author: Chloe, L. Todd ORCID iD
Author: Sharon Stammerjohn
Author: Hugh Ducklow

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