Benthic foraminiferal bathymetry and sea-bed biogeochemistry in the Gulf of Mexico

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)

OSTI ID:5931731

Loubere, P ^[1]; Gary, A ^[2]

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1. Northern Illinois Univ., DeKalb, IL (United States). Dept. of Geology
2. Unocal, Brea, CA (United States). Science and Technology Div.

Box cores were collected down the slope of the northwest Gulf of Mexico so that the sea-bed biogeochemistry could be compared to established benthic Foraminiferal bathymetric zonations. Pore water geochemistry along with water columns and sedimentologic analyses were used to quantify bottom water temperatures, organic carbon flux, bottom water oxygen content and sedimentary environment. The prominent Foraminiferal boundary between 170 and 200m water depth is associated with position of the mud-line in the northwestern Gulf. Deeper than this, assemblage changes are more gradational and, between 200 and 600m, appear related to gradients in temperature, oxygen supply and organic carbon flux. Between 600 and 2,000m bathymetric zonation correlates to the organic carbon flux profile. An analysis of sediment pore water geochemistry and sedimentary features in the box cores shows that there is a progressive change in the vertical distribution and character of potential microhabitats within the sediments down the slope of the northwest Gulf. This gradient in habitats must influence the generation of benthic Foraminiferal assemblages, and it is largely controlled by the organic carbon flux to the sea-bed.

• OSTI ID: 5931731
• Report Number(s): CONF-921058--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States) Journal Volume: 24:7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
ANIMALS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BATHYMETRY
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
CARBON
CARIBBEAN SEA
CHEMISTRY
DEPTH
DIMENSIONS
ELEMENTS
FORAMINIFERA
GEOCHEMISTRY
GULF OF MEXICO
INVERTEBRATES
MATTER
MICROORGANISMS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC MATTER
OXYGEN
PROTOZOA
SARCODINA
SEA BED
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS