Seasonal flux and assemblage composition of planktic foraminifera from the northern Gulf of Mexico, 2008–14

Caitlin E. Reynolds; Julie N. Richey

doi:10.3133/ofr20161115

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Seasonal flux and assemblage composition of planktic foraminifera from the northern Gulf of Mexico, 2008–14

Caitlin E. Reynolds·Julie N. Richey

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Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey anchored a sediment trap in the northern Gulf of Mexico in January 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 continuous results from January 2013 through May 2014. Ten taxa constituted ~95 percent of both the 2013 and 2014 assemblages: 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 . In 2013, the mean daily flux was 177 tests per square meter per day (m −2 day −1 ), with maximum fluxes of >1,200 tests m −2 day −1 during the middle of February and minimum fluxes of <13 tests m −2 day −1 during the beginning of November. In 2014, the mean daily flux was 189 tests m −2 day −1 , with maximum fluxes of >900 tests m −2 day −1 at the end of January and minimum fluxes of <30 tests m −2 day −1 at the beginning of January. Globorotalia truncatulinoides showed a clear preference for the winter, consistent with data from 2008 to 2012. 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 ). The flux data from 2013 (average 15 tests m −2 day −1 ) and 2014 (average 8 tests m −2 day −1 ) showed decline from the previous 3 years.

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BibTeX RIS

Caitlin E. Reynolds, Julie N. Richey. 2016-07-28. Seasonal flux and assemblage composition of planktic foraminifera from the northern Gulf of Mexico, 2008–14. https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161115

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