Benthic foraminifera sizes

Abstract Laboratory cultures of several species of benthic foraminifera were grown under controlled physical and chemical conditions during months-long experiments carried out at the University of South Carolina in 2001 and 2002. A dozen experimental culture chambers contained a c. 1—3 mm layer of trace-metal free siUca substrate, and were continuously flushed with water from a large (1600 L) seawater reservoir with known, constant temperature and composition (8 0(water), carbonate system chemistry, and trace element concentrations). Each year, in most of the culture chambers, one or more species reproduced, producing hundreds of juveniles which grew into size classes ranging from 100 to 500 microns. Bulimina aculeata was the most successful species in the 2001 cultures, and both B. aculeata and Rosalina vilardeboana were abundant in 2002. 

Fig. 5. Cross-plots of the 8 C values and 8 0 values of cultured benthic foraminifera. The Bulimina aculeata data (2001 and 2002 experiments (a)) and the Rosalirm vilardeboana data (2002 experiment only, (b)) display a strong covariation between 8 C and 8 0 values. In the 2001 B. aculeata data, larger specimens (>2 p,g/shell, solid symbols) have higher C and O isotopic values than small specimens (<2 p,g/shell, dotted symbols). Size fraction data from B. aculeata in the 2002 experiment show a similar size-linked trend. Size fraction data for R. vilardeboana in the 2002 experiment show stronger depletions in both 0 and C, and size-hnked trends similar to B. aculeata.

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