Foraminifera can be an indicator for the carbon cycle
The changes in ocean chemistry can impact calcifying organisms in a negative way. Plankton that calcifies are a key player in the marine carbon cycle. Recent studies have been done with a tiny-shelled organism that suggests changes in the global carbon cycle. This is the first study that has been done with high CO2 that shows a combination of shell building problems, physiological stress, and spine repair in foraminifera. For this study, scientists used the foraminifera, Globigerina bulloide, at the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory. The foraminifera are a keystone player in the carbon cycle.
Scientists from the Marine Laboratory did plankton tows off the Bodega Head collecting the foraminifera. …show more content…
A lot of planktonic organisms use calcium carbonate to build their shells (Davis, 2017). If the foraminifera are in good health they will calcify probably and sink when they die. The shells from foraminifera clump together with coccoliths shells. These shells contribute to the ‘alkalinity pump’. The ‘ alkalinity pump’ transports carbon out of the ocean (Davis, 2017). The shells from foraminifera and coccoliths comprise 20-80% of marine calcite (Davis, 2017). The shell material also acts as a “ballast”, which controls the sinking rate of the dead foraminifera. The dead foraminifera bring the calcite to the seafloor, which helps to neutralize the acidity. If the foraminifera are calcifying less then they are not able to neutralize the water. Upwelling brings the acidic water to the ocean’s surface. Upwelling is caused by strong winds that push water containing a lot of nutrients from the deep ocean up to the ocean’s surface. The UC Davis’ Bodega Marine Laboratory is located in Northern California near an intense coastal upwelling area. This area experiences seasonal upwelling, and has high CO2 concentrations. This location is a great place to study the effects of the high CO2 concentrations on the organisms. The California Current Upwelling System in this location exposes the organisms to a lot of different pH levels. This area is a good indicator
The changes in ocean chemistry can impact calcifying organisms in a negative way. Plankton that calcifies are a key player in the marine carbon cycle. Recent studies have been done with a tiny-shelled organism that suggests changes in the global carbon cycle. This is the first study that has been done with high CO2 that shows a combination of shell building problems, physiological stress, and spine repair in foraminifera. For this study, scientists used the foraminifera, Globigerina bulloide, at the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory. The foraminifera are a keystone player in the carbon cycle.
Scientists from the Marine Laboratory did plankton tows off the Bodega Head collecting the foraminifera. …show more content…
A lot of planktonic organisms use calcium carbonate to build their shells (Davis, 2017). If the foraminifera are in good health they will calcify probably and sink when they die. The shells from foraminifera clump together with coccoliths shells. These shells contribute to the ‘alkalinity pump’. The ‘ alkalinity pump’ transports carbon out of the ocean (Davis, 2017). The shells from foraminifera and coccoliths comprise 20-80% of marine calcite (Davis, 2017). The shell material also acts as a “ballast”, which controls the sinking rate of the dead foraminifera. The dead foraminifera bring the calcite to the seafloor, which helps to neutralize the acidity. If the foraminifera are calcifying less then they are not able to neutralize the water. Upwelling brings the acidic water to the ocean’s surface. Upwelling is caused by strong winds that push water containing a lot of nutrients from the deep ocean up to the ocean’s surface. The UC Davis’ Bodega Marine Laboratory is located in Northern California near an intense coastal upwelling area. This area experiences seasonal upwelling, and has high CO2 concentrations. This location is a great place to study the effects of the high CO2 concentrations on the organisms. The California Current Upwelling System in this location exposes the organisms to a lot of different pH levels. This area is a good indicator