Effect of different seawater Mg2+ concentrations on calcification in two benthic foraminifers
Mewes, A.; Langer, G.; de Nooijer, L.J.; Bijma, J.; Reichart, G.J. (2014). Effect of different seawater Mg2+ concentrations on calcification in two benthic foraminifers. Mar. Micropaleontol. 113: 56–64. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marmicro.2014.09.003 In: Marine Micropaleontology. Elsevier: Amsterdam; New York; Oxford; Tokyo. ISSN 0377-8398; e-ISSN 1872-6186, more |   |
| Author keywords | Mg/Ca; Proxy; LA-ICP-MS; Culture experiment; Biomineralization; Mg partitioning |
| Authors | | Top | - Mewes, A.
- Langer, G.
- de Nooijer, L.J., more
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| Abstract | Magnesium, incorporated in foraminiferal calcite (Mg/CaCC), is used intensively to reconstruct past seawater temperatures but, in addition to temperature, the Mg/CaCC of foraminiferal tests also depends on the ratio of Mg and Ca in seawater (Mg/CaSW). The physiological mechanisms responsible for these proxy relationships are still unknown. This culture study investigates the impact of different seawater [Mg2 +] on calcification in two benthic foraminiferal species precipitating contrasting Mg/CaCC: Ammonia aomoriensis, producing low-Mg calcite and Amphistegina lessonii, producing intermediate-Mg calcite. Foraminiferal growth and test thickness were determined and, Mg/Ca was analyzed using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Results show that at present-day seawater Mg/CaSW of ~ 5, both species have highest growth rates, reflecting their adaptation to modern seawater element concentrations. Test thickness is not significantly affected by different Mg/CaSW. The relationship between Mg/CaSW and Mg/CaCC shows a distinct positive y-axis intercept, possibly reflecting at least two processes involved in foraminiferal biomineralization. The associated Mg partition (DMg) changes non-linearly with increasing Mg/CaSW, hence suggesting that the DMg is best described by an exponential function approaching an asymptote |
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