Raw Data for article Ecosystem Function after the K/Pg Extinction: Decoupling of Marine Carbon Pump and Diversity ...

• Main Authors: Birch, Heather, Schmidt, Daniela N, Coxall, Helen, Kroon, Dick, Ridgwell, Andy
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2021
• Subjects: Biological pump; ecology; ecosystem function; K/Pg; Planktonic foraminifera
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/pangaea.935502; https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.935502

The ocean biological pump is the mechanism by which carbon and nutrients are transported to depth. As such, the biological pump is critical in the partitioning of carbon dioxide between the ocean and atmosphere, and the rate at which that carbon can be sequestered through burial in marine sediments. How the structure and function of planktic ecosystems in the ocean govern the strength and efficiency of the biological pump and its resilience to disruption are poorly understood. The aftermath of the impact at the Cretaceous/ Palaeogene (K/Pg) boundary provides an ideal opportunity to address these questions as both the biological pump and marine plankton size and diversity were fundamentally disrupted. The excellent fossil record of planktic foraminifera as indicators of pelagic-biotic recovery combined with carbon isotope records tracing biological pump behaviour, show that the recovery of ecological traits (diversity, size and photosymbiosis) occurred much later (approx. 4.3 m.y) than biological pump ...