Research article
16 Jan 2012
Research article | 16 Jan 2012
Pteropods from the Caribbean Sea: variations in calcification as an indicator of past ocean carbonate saturation
D. Wall-Palmer1, M. B. Hart*,1, C. W. Smart1, R. S. J. Sparks2, A. Le Friant3, G. Boudon3, C. Deplus3, and J. C. Komorowski3
D. Wall-Palmer et al.
D. Wall-Palmer1, M. B. Hart*,1, C. W. Smart1, R. S. J. Sparks2, A. Le Friant3, G. Boudon3, C. Deplus3, and J. C. Komorowski3
- 1School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
- 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK
- 3Institute du Physique du Globe de Paris, Case 89, 1 rue Jussieu, 75238 Paris cedex 05, France
- *Invited contribution by M. B. Hart, recipient of the EGU Jean Baptiste Lamarck Medal 2011.
- 1School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
- 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK
- 3Institute du Physique du Globe de Paris, Case 89, 1 rue Jussieu, 75238 Paris cedex 05, France
- *Invited contribution by M. B. Hart, recipient of the EGU Jean Baptiste Lamarck Medal 2011.
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Received: 24 Jun 2011 – Discussion started: 13 Jul 2011 – Revised: 21 Dec 2011 – Accepted: 27 Dec 2011 – Published: 16 Jan 2012
Abstract. The aragonite shell-bearing thecosome pteropods are an important component of the oceanic plankton. However, with increasing pCO2 and the associated reduction in oceanic pH (ocean acidification), thecosome pteropods are thought to be particularly vulnerable to shell dissolution. The distribution and preservation of pteropods over the last 250 000 years have been investigated in marine sediment cores from the Caribbean Sea close to the island of Montserrat. Using the Limacina Dissolution Index (LDX), fluctuations in pteropod calcification through the most recent glacial/interglacial cycles are documented. By comparison to the oxygen isotope record (global ice volume), we show that pteropod calcification is closely linked to global changes in pCO2 and pH and is, therefore, a global signal. These data are in agreement with the findings of experiments upon living pteropods, which show that variations in pH can greatly affect aragonitic shells. The results of this study provide information which may be useful in the prediction of future changes to the pteropod assemblage caused by ocean acidification.
