A Universal carbonate ion effect on stable oxygen isotope ratios in unicellular planktonic calcifying organisms
Ziveri, Patrizia (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia)
Thoms, S. (Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung)
Probert, I. (Station Biologique de Roscoff)
Geisen, M. (Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung)
Langer, Gerald (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)

Date:	2012
Abstract:	The oxygen isotopic composition (δ18¦O) of calcium carbonate of planktonic calcifying organisms is a key tool for reconstructing both past seawater temperature and salinity. The calibration of paloeceanographic proxies relies in general on empirical relationships derived from field experiments on extant species. Laboratory experiments have more often than not revealed that variables other than the target parameter influence the proxy signal, which makes proxy calibration a challenging task. Understanding these secondary or "vital" effects is crucial for increasing proxy accuracy. We present data from laboratory experiments showing that oxygen isotope fractionation during calcification in the coccolithophore Calcidiscus leptoporus and the calcareous dinoflagellate Thoracosphaera heimii is dependent on carbonate chemistry of seawater in addition to its dependence on temperature. A similar result has previously been reported for planktonic foraminifera, supporting the idea that the [CO_3^(2-)] effect on δ18¦O is universal for unicellular calcifying planktonic organisms. The slopes of the δ18¦O/[CO_3^(2-)] relationships range between -0. 0243‰ (μmol kg−1)−1 (calcareous dinoflagellate T. heimii) and the previously published -0. 0022‰(μmol kg−1)−1 (non-symbiotic planktonic foramifera Orbulina universa), while C. leptoporus has a slope of -0. 0048‰ (μmol kg−1)−1. We present a simple conceptual model, based on the contribution of O-enriched HCO_3^- to the CO_3^(2-) pool in the calcifying vesicle, which can explain the [CO_3^(2-)] effect on δ18¦O for the different unicellular calcifiers. This approach provides a new insight into biological fractionation in calcifying organisms. The large range in δ18¦O/[CO_3^(2-)] slopes should possibly be explored as a means for paleoreconstruction of surface [CO_3^(2-)], particularly through comparison of the response in ecologically similar planktonic organisms.
Grants:	European Commission 515871 European Commission 265103 Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación CGL2009-10806 Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación CTM2008-04365-E
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Calcification ; Planktonic organisms ; Carbonate ion ; Oxygen isotope
Published in:	Biogeosciences, Vol. 9 No. 3 (March 2012) , p. 1025-1032, ISSN 1726-4189

DOI: 10.5194/bg-9-1025-2012

8 p, 574.1 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA)
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