Articles | Volume 22, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-791-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-791-2025
Research article
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12 Feb 2025
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 12 Feb 2025

What controls planktic foraminiferal calcification?

Ruby Barrett, Joost de Vries, and Daniela N. Schmidt

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Cited articles

Aldridge, D., Beer, C. J., and Purdie, D. A.: Calcification in the planktonic foraminifera Globigerina bulloides linked to phosphate concentrations in surface waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, Biogeosciences, 9, 1725–1739, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-9-1725-2012, 2012. 
Aze, T., Ezard, T. H. G., Purvis, A., Coxall, H. K., Stewart, D. R. M., Wade, B. S., and Pearson, P. N.: A phylogeny of Cenozoic macroperforate planktonic foraminifera from fossil data, Biol. Rev. Camb. Philos. Soc., 86, 900–927, https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1469-185X.2011.00178.X, 2011. 
Bach, L. T.: Reconsidering the role of carbonate ion concentration in calcification by marine organisms, Biogeosciences, 12, 4939–4951, https://doi.org/10.5194/BG-12-4939-2015, 2015. 
Barker, S. and Elderfield, H.: Foraminiferal calcification response to glacial-interglacial changes in atmospheric CO2, Science, 297, 833–836, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1072815, 2002. 
Barrett, R.: R markdown file for Bayesian Regression Modelling in “What controls planktic foraminiferal calcification?”, University of Bristol [code], https://doi.org/10.5523/bris.1963qldd6phh829rnosunh0864, 2025a. 
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This study reveals that size-normalized weight (SNW) in planktonic foraminifera varies by species and environment, making it unsuitable as a universal pCO2 proxy. Regional calibration and species-specific approaches are essential for reliable paleoceanographic reconstructions.
Short summary
Planktic foraminifers are a plankton whose fossilised shell weight is used to reconstruct past environmental conditions such as seawater CO2. However, there is debate about whether other environmental drivers impact shell weight. Here we use a global data compilation and statistics to analyse what controls their weight. We find that the response varies between species and ocean basin, making it important to use regional calibrations and consider which species should be used to reconstruct CO2.

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