Seasonal flux and assemblage composition of planktic foraminifera from the northern Gulf of Mexico, 2008-2012

Caitlin E. Reynolds; Julie N. Richey; Richard Z. Poore

doi:10.3133/ofr20131243

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Seasonal flux and assemblage composition of planktic foraminifera from the northern Gulf of Mexico, 2008-2012

Caitlin E. Reynolds·Julie N. Richey·Richard Z. Poore

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Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey anchored a sediment trap in the northern Gulf of Mexico beginning in 2008 to collect seasonal time-series data on the flux and assemblage composition of live planktic foraminifers. This report provides an update of the previous time-series data to include results from 2012. Ten species, or varieties, constituted ~92 percent of the 2012 assemblage: Globigerinoides ruber (pink and white varieties), Globigerinoides sacculifer , Globigerina calida , Globigerinella aequilateralis , Globorotalia menardii group [The Gt. menardii group includes Gt. menardii , Gt. tumida , and Gt. ungulata ], Orbulina universa , Globorotalia truncatulinoides , Pulleniatina spp., and Neogloboquadrina dutertrei . The mean daily flux was 158 tests per square meter per day (m –2 day –1 ), with maximum fluxes of >450tests m –2 day –1 during the beginning of July and mid–August and minimum fluxes of <10 tests m –2 day –1 during the beginning of February and mid–July. Globorotalia truncatulinoides showed a clear preference for the winter, consistent with data from 2008 to 2011. Globigerinoides ruber (white) flux data for 2012 (average 23 tests m –2 day –1 ) were consistent with data from 2011 (average 30 tests m –2 day –1 ) and 2010 (average 29 tests m –2 day –1 ) and showed a steady threefold increase since 2009 (average 11 tests m –2 day –1 ) and a tenfold increase from the 2008 flux (3 tests m –2 day –1 ).

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Source-reported bounding extent: 19.994° to 32.981° latitude; -100.0415° to -79.9805° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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BibTeX RIS

Caitlin E. Reynolds, Julie N. Richey, Richard Z. Poore. 2013. Seasonal flux and assemblage composition of planktic foraminifera from the northern Gulf of Mexico, 2008-2012. https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20131243

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