Planktonic foraminifera regulate calcification according to ocean density.

ABSTRACT: Planktonic foraminifera are key contributors to the oceanic carbon cycle. In pelagic environments, carbonate production by planktonic biomineralizers regulates ocean-atmosphere carbon dioxide exchange and exports surface carbon to the deep ocean. Here we compare shell traits of three planktonic foraminifera species from the central Atlantic with a suite of environmental parameters to discern the factors underlying their variations. Our analysis revealed that calcification in foraminifera is associated with seawater density and depends on species habitat depth, whereas foraminifera bulk shell densities may serve as a seawater density proxy, regardless of species. We observe that their shell weights increased with habitat depth, enabling the living cells to adjust their overall density to ma

SUBMITTER: Zarkogiannis SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12313521 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature