Morphotype and Crust Effects on the Geochemistry of Globorotalia inflata

Sedimentary specimens of the planktonic foraminifera Globorotalia inflata can provide information on subsurface conditions of past oceans. However, interpretation of their geochemical signal is complicated by possible effects of cryptic diversity and encrustation. Here we address these issues using plankton tow and sediment samples from the western South Atlantic, where two genotypes of G. inflata occur. To separate the genotypes, we analyzed shells from the extreme ends of the morphospace of G. inflata. The delta O-18 and delta C-13 of encrusted specimens from both morphotypes are indistinguishable. However, we do find a large influence of encrustation on delta O-18 and Mg/Ca. Whereas crust Mg/Ca ratios are at all locations lower than lamellar calcite, the crust effect on delta O-18 is less consistent in space. Plankton tows show that encrusted specimens occur at any depth and that even close to the surface crust Mg/Ca ratios are lower than in lamellar calcite. This is inconsistent with formation of the crust at lower temperature at greater depth. Instead we suggest that the difference between the crust and lamellar calcite Mg/Ca ratio is temperature-independent and due to the presence of high Mg/Ca bands only in the lamellar calcite. The variable crust effect on delta O-18 is more difficult to explain, but the higher incidence of crust-free specimens in warmer waters and the observation that a crust effect is clearest in the confluence zone, hint at the possibility that the difference reflects advective mixing of specimens from warmer and colder areas, rather than vertical migration.

Automated summary

This study addressed the complex effects of cryptic diversity and encrustation on the geochemical signal interpretation of the planktonic foraminifera Globorotalia inflata. It found significant influence of encrustation on delta O-18 and Mg/Ca in specimens from different genotypes, indicating a temperature-independent difference between crust and lamellar calcite. Additionally, the variable effect of crust on delta O-18 suggests advective mixing of specimens from different temperature areas rather than vertical migration.