Understanding the changes in the ecological functioning of foraminifera during the Palaeocene-Eocene thermal maximum using biological trait analysis

• Main Author: Nwojiji, CN
• Other Authors: Marret-Davies, Fabienne, Caswell, Bryony, Tagliabue, Alesandro
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Pacific; Planktonic foraminifera
• Online Access: http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3033183/; http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3033183/1/201021430_Jul2018.pdf; http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3033183/2/Appendix%201_Site%201209B.xls; http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3033183/3/Appendix%202_Site%201212B.xls; http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3033183/4/Appendix%203_Alamedilla%20section.xls; http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3033183/5/Appendix%204_Site%201215A.xls; http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3033183/6/Appendix%205.1_Site%201265A_benthic.xls; http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3033183/7/Appendix%205.2_Site1265A_Planktonic.xls

Understanding the changes in the ecological functioning of foraminifera during the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum using Biological Trait Analysis Biological Trait Analysis (BTA) has been used to examine the changes in foraminiferal taxa and traits composition during the Palaeocene -Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), 56 million years ago. BTA is a multivariate ordination method used in describing the biological characteristics/behaviour of species and how they are related to the functioning of their ecosystem. It uses a series of life history, morphological and behavioural characteristics of species present in assemblages to indicate their role in ecological functioning (defined as the maintenance and regulation of ecosystem processes). This study investigated benthic and planktonic foraminifera taxa and trait composition from the Pacific Ocean (ODP Sites 1209, 1212B, 1215A), Atlantic Ocean (ODP Site1265A) and Alamedilla section in Southern, Spain. Thirteen (13) foraminiferal traits and over 60 trait categories were perceived to be crucial for the foraminiferal ecological functioning in the marine environment. However, BTA recognised test composition, chamber arrangement/ shape, ornamentation, primary aperture position, perforations and living/feeding habit as the most important foraminiferal trait in the benthic ecosystem. Also, bi/tri-serial, planispiral and trochospiral test; spherical/oval and triangular/trapezoid chamber shapes; depressed/ raised sutures or taxa with no ornament were highlighted as the most resilient traits during the period of ecological disturbance. The results from this study demonstrated for the first time that BTA could detect changes/disturbance in microfossil (foraminifera) ecology. The technique produced a more integrated and quantitative picture of palaeoecological changes across a wide range of locations when compared to the conventional faunal assemblage approach. The mapping of foraminiferal traits to ecological functions indicated that test composition is related to carbon ...