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

Open-File Report 2016-1115
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161115

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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.

Suggested Citation

Reynolds, C.E., and Richey, J.N., 2016, Seasonal flux and assemblage composition of planktic foraminifera from the northern Gulf of Mexico, 2008–14: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016–1115, 14 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161115.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Table of Contents

  • Abstract 
  • Introduction
  • Regional Setting
  • Materials and Methods
  • Results From 2013
  • Results From 2014
  • Discussion 
  • Conclusions
  • Acknowledgments
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Seasonal flux and assemblage composition of planktic foraminifera from the northern Gulf of Mexico, 2008–14
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2016-1115
DOI 10.3133/ofr20161115
Year Published 2016
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description Report: iv, 14 p.; Table
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details