Aragonite calcite sea effects on calcifying organisms and reefs

Eichenseer K, Balthasar U, Smart CW, Stander J, Haaga KA, Kießling W (2019)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Conference contribution, Abstract of lecture

Publication year: 2019

Event location: Valencia ES

URI: https://www.palass.org/sites/default/files/media/annual_meetings/2019/annual_meeting_2019_abstracts_booklet.pdf

Abstract

Phanerozoic changes in the oceanic Mg/Ca ratio and temperature gave rise to alternating episodes of abiotic aragonite and calcite precipitation. These aragonite–calcite sea conditions control the abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) polymorphs. Experiments have demonstrated that aragonite–calcite sea conditions affect growth rates and skeletal secretion of some marine calcifiers, but questions remain on how these effects operate on ecological scales. Here we create a Phanerozoic model of aragonite and calcite sea conditions to test whether they affect marine calcification on a global scale. We find that aragonite–calcite sea conditions predict the ecological success of fossil calcifiers relative to their aragonitic or calcitic shell composition during the Ordovician–Middle Jurassic. The loss of coupling between shell mineralogy and environment coincides with the onset of deep sea CaCO3 sedimentation and the advent of the modern carbon cycle. However, preliminary results from the distribution of reefs through time indicate that reef systems are affected differently.

Authors with CRIS profile

Kilian Eichenseer Lehrstuhl für Paläoumwelt Wolfgang Kießling Lehrstuhl für Paläoumwelt

Involved external institutions

University of Plymouth GB United Kingdom (GB) University of Bergen / Universitetet i Bergen NO Norway (NO)

How to cite

APA:

Eichenseer, K., Balthasar, U., Smart, C.W., Stander, J., Haaga, K.A., & Kießling, W. (2019, December). Aragonite calcite sea effects on calcifying organisms and reefs. Paper presentation at Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Valencia, ES.

MLA:

Eichenseer, Kilian, et al. "Aragonite calcite sea effects on calcifying organisms and reefs." Presented at Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Valencia 2019.

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