REU: Quantitative Technique for Extracting New Paleoenvironmental Information from Planktonic ForaminiferalCarbon Isotope Data

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Two newly developed models, based on culturing experiments with planktonic foraminifera, make it possible to: a) differentiate physiological from environmental influences on the 13c and 18o of foraminiferal calcite and b) extract new paleoenvironmental information about seasonal changes in water temperature and the 13c of seawater total CO2 from fossil foraminifera. The Euphotic Zone model uses the carbon isotope record in conjunction with 18o signal to reconstruct seasonal temperature ranges in surface waters and at the base of paleoceanic euphotic zones. The Quantitative Carbon isotopemodel provides a technique for filtering out "vital effects" inthe 13C record to reconstruct the 13C of environmental CO2. The objective of the research is to expand the application of the EZ and QC models to new planktonic foranimiferal species through culturing and physiological experiments with living froaminifers. The new paleoceanographic information about surface ocean insight into effects of transient and long-term changes in the euphotic zone on paleoclimatic change.