The Distribution of Living Planktic Foraminifera in Relation to
Southeast Atlantic Oceanography
S. Kemle-von Miicke 1 * and H. OberhanslF
1 Universitat Bremen, Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Postfach 33 04 40,
D-28334 Bremen, Germany
2GeoForschungsZentrum, Gebaude C, Telegrafenberg, D-14473 Potsdam, Germany
*corresponding author (e-mail) . . skemle@uni-bremen.de
Abstract: Plankton tows from the southeast Atlantic show that most planktic foraminifera live in the
upper 50 m of the ocean. Despite the general preference of planktic foraminifera for the upper mixed
layer, a few species are found living in deeper water. Globorotalia scitula, Globorotalia crassaformis,
and Hastigerina pelagica prefer water depths between 100 m and 300 m. Abundances of individual
species can be used to indicate surface water conditions, e. g., G. crassaformis occurs mainly in lowoxygenated subsurface waters, and Globorotalia menardii has high abundances in the Equatorial
Undercurrent. Globigerina bulloides traces surface-water masses enriched in nutrients.
Neogloboquadrina dutertrei can be used to trace the hydrographic conditions of tropical and
subtropical upwelling areas, or areas where a shallow seasonal thermocline is associated with a
chlorophyll maximum between 25-50 m. On the other hand, some species, such as Globigerinita
glutinata and Turborotalita quinque/oba, are present at all studied sites. Comparison of regional
distribution patterns in the surface waters with surface sediment data usually results in good
agreement between the two data sets. Oxygen-isotope measurements of selected species from
plankton tows document that the calcification depths of the species correspond fairly well with the
depths where highest frequencies are recorded. The species calcify at various water depths down to
approximately 300 m. Thus, by selecting certain species according to their depth habitats, a record of
the prevailing vertical temperature gradient can be obtained in fossil assemblages.
Introduction
Investigations ofliving foraminiferal assemblages
have proven that the distribution of these protozoans
reliably trace environmental conditions in surface
water currents (Schott 1935; Be 1959; Jones 1967;
Boltovskoy 1968; Be and Tolderlund 1971; Berger
1971; Cifelli and Benier 1976; Be 1977; Ottens
1991; Oberhiinsli etal. 1992; Spero and Lea 1993;
Uikes et al. 1998). They contribute a substantial
portion to the flux of biogenic particles to the sea
floor (e.g. Berger and Soutar 1967; Bishop et al.
1977; Thunell and Honjo 1987; Deuser et a1.l981;
Wefer et aI. 1982; Thunell and Reynolds 1984). The
skeletons form sediments which cover over a third
of the oceanic sediment surface. Planktic
foraminifera are therefore widely used for reconstructing past oceanic environmental conditions
(Emiliani 1954; Shackleton and Opdyke 1973; Be
1977; Ruddiman and McIntyre 1976; Vincent and
Berger 1981; Ravelo et al. 1990; Oberhiinsli 1991).
A classical study by Be and Tolderlund (1971)
showed "arctic", "subarctic", "transitional", "subtropical" and "tropical" faunal provinces based on
foraminiferal assemblages. As well based on faunal
assemblages, Imbrie and Kipp (1971) established a
statistical method to calibrate sea surface temperatures using biogeographical patterns of modern
foraminiferal assemblages. CLIMAP (1976, 1981)
applied this method to reconstruct the first detailed
map of last glacial sea surface temperatures.
From FISCHER G, WEFER G (eds), 1999, Use of Proxies in Paleoceanography: Examplesfrom the South Atlantic. Springer-Verlag
Berlin Heidelberg, pp 91-IJS
Southeast Atlantic Oceanography
S. Kemle-von Miicke 1 * and H. OberhanslF
1 Universitat Bremen, Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Postfach 33 04 40,
D-28334 Bremen, Germany
2GeoForschungsZentrum, Gebaude C, Telegrafenberg, D-14473 Potsdam, Germany
*corresponding author (e-mail) . . skemle@uni-bremen.de
Abstract: Plankton tows from the southeast Atlantic show that most planktic foraminifera live in the
upper 50 m of the ocean. Despite the general preference of planktic foraminifera for the upper mixed
layer, a few species are found living in deeper water. Globorotalia scitula, Globorotalia crassaformis,
and Hastigerina pelagica prefer water depths between 100 m and 300 m. Abundances of individual
species can be used to indicate surface water conditions, e. g., G. crassaformis occurs mainly in lowoxygenated subsurface waters, and Globorotalia menardii has high abundances in the Equatorial
Undercurrent. Globigerina bulloides traces surface-water masses enriched in nutrients.
Neogloboquadrina dutertrei can be used to trace the hydrographic conditions of tropical and
subtropical upwelling areas, or areas where a shallow seasonal thermocline is associated with a
chlorophyll maximum between 25-50 m. On the other hand, some species, such as Globigerinita
glutinata and Turborotalita quinque/oba, are present at all studied sites. Comparison of regional
distribution patterns in the surface waters with surface sediment data usually results in good
agreement between the two data sets. Oxygen-isotope measurements of selected species from
plankton tows document that the calcification depths of the species correspond fairly well with the
depths where highest frequencies are recorded. The species calcify at various water depths down to
approximately 300 m. Thus, by selecting certain species according to their depth habitats, a record of
the prevailing vertical temperature gradient can be obtained in fossil assemblages.
Introduction
Investigations ofliving foraminiferal assemblages
have proven that the distribution of these protozoans
reliably trace environmental conditions in surface
water currents (Schott 1935; Be 1959; Jones 1967;
Boltovskoy 1968; Be and Tolderlund 1971; Berger
1971; Cifelli and Benier 1976; Be 1977; Ottens
1991; Oberhiinsli etal. 1992; Spero and Lea 1993;
Uikes et al. 1998). They contribute a substantial
portion to the flux of biogenic particles to the sea
floor (e.g. Berger and Soutar 1967; Bishop et al.
1977; Thunell and Honjo 1987; Deuser et a1.l981;
Wefer et aI. 1982; Thunell and Reynolds 1984). The
skeletons form sediments which cover over a third
of the oceanic sediment surface. Planktic
foraminifera are therefore widely used for reconstructing past oceanic environmental conditions
(Emiliani 1954; Shackleton and Opdyke 1973; Be
1977; Ruddiman and McIntyre 1976; Vincent and
Berger 1981; Ravelo et al. 1990; Oberhiinsli 1991).
A classical study by Be and Tolderlund (1971)
showed "arctic", "subarctic", "transitional", "subtropical" and "tropical" faunal provinces based on
foraminiferal assemblages. As well based on faunal
assemblages, Imbrie and Kipp (1971) established a
statistical method to calibrate sea surface temperatures using biogeographical patterns of modern
foraminiferal assemblages. CLIMAP (1976, 1981)
applied this method to reconstruct the first detailed
map of last glacial sea surface temperatures.
From FISCHER G, WEFER G (eds), 1999, Use of Proxies in Paleoceanography: Examplesfrom the South Atlantic. Springer-Verlag
Berlin Heidelberg, pp 91-IJS