Paleoceanographic reconstructions of the South-Western Atlantic for the Middle and Late Pleistocene based on benthic foraminifer assemblages
Abstract
Benthic foraminiferal assemblages were investigated in the sediment core AI-3321 (30°56.85’ S, 38°02.45’ W, 2969 m water depth, 293 cm length), retrieved from the western slope of the Rio Grande Rise in the western South Atlantic. Six intervals reflecting the changes in relative abundance of indicative species during the last three glacial-interglacial cycles are defined based on cluster analysis. Intervals VI and I are characterized by the dominance of Globocassidulina subglobosa, which indicates well-aerated conditions and enhanced hydrodynamic activity of the deep water bathing the seafloor. The high relative abundance of Epistominella exigua points to stressful conditions for benthic foraminiferal faunas with variable (pulsed) food supply to the bottom during Intervals V and III. Slight enhancement of sea surface bioproductivity is proposed for Intervals IV and II based on the high percentages of Alabaminella weddellensis.
Supporting agencies: The research was financially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (projects № 16-35-50080-mol-nr and 17-305-50008-mol-nr). Sample treatment and estimation of the sedimentary calcium carbonate were performed under the state assignment of FASO Russia (theme № 0149-2018-0012). We thank E.V. Ivanova for sharing samples for foraminifer studies, also for her valuable comments and recommendations which improved the manuscript greatly. We are especially grateful to G. Schmiedl, M. Kaminski and J. Wollenburg for their help in identifying some species of benthic foraminifera and discussion of foraminifer ecological preferences. We also appreciate the careful examination of our text and critical remarks of L.D. Bashirova and the reviewer; these were taken into account at the final stage of the article preparation
About the Authors
L. A. Kuleshova
Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences; I. Kant Baltic University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Junior Research Fellow ShIO; master student I. Kant BU
E. A. Ovsepyan
Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Research Scientist, Ph.D. in Geology
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For citations:
Kuleshova L.A., Ovsepyan E.A. Paleoceanographic reconstructions of the South-Western Atlantic for the Middle and Late Pleistocene based on benthic foraminifer assemblages. Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 5, Geografiya. 2019;(3):72-82. (In Russ.)
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