Evidence for a multi-species coccolith volume change over the past two centuries: understanding a potential ocean acidification response

Halloran, P. R., Hall, Ian Robert ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6960-1419, Colmenero-Hidalgo, Elena ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5449-2739 and Rickaby, R. E. M. 2008. Evidence for a multi-species coccolith volume change over the past two centuries: understanding a potential ocean acidification response. Biogeosciences 5 (6) , pp. 1651-1655. 10.5194/bg-5-1651-2008

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Abstract

Major questions surround the species-specific nature of coccolithophore calcification in response to rising atmospheric CO2 levels. Here we present CaCO3 particle volume distribution data from the coccolith size-fraction of a rapidly accumulating North Atlantic sediment core. Without direct volume measurements on coccoliths produced by individual coccolithophore species, and knowledge of organic, as well as inorganic carbon production, it is not possible to state conclusively the coccolithophore calcification change at this site. However, by analysing the size distribution of CaCO3 particles in the less than 10 μm sediment fraction, we demonstrate a changing particle volume since the late 20th Century consistent with an increase in the mass of coccoliths produced by the larger coccolithophore species, and potentially a decrease in mass of coccoliths produced by the smaller species, present at this location. This finding has significant implications for the realistic representation of an assemblage-wide coccolithophore CO2-calcification response in numerical models.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
Schools:	Earth and Environmental Sciences
Subjects:	Q Science > QE Geology
Publisher:	Copernicus Publications
ISSN:	1726-4170
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	18 Oct 2022 12:48
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/11279

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