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closeA problem
Posted by Pecheux on 28 Apr 2013 at 08:59 GMT
This article is very interresting, however the authors don't speak of the major phenomenon affecting larger foraminifera with global warming, namely the mass bleaching, expulsion of the symbionts and often death, as in corals (cf. the work of Pamela Hallock team). It is observed spectacular shell malformations never seen in geological time (Pecheux, 1998, 1999). It is thus probable that the range and standing crop of larger foraminifera will collapse in the future decades. This totally invalidates their results.
RE: A problem
Weinmann replied to Pecheux on 01 May 2013 at 07:59 GMT
Jean-Francois (Martin),
It seems that you have missed a lot of the modern literature concerning selective responses of foraminifera, corals and other reef builders to global warming, climate change and ocean acidification or multiple stressors. Recent studies indicate a highly selective response of foraminifera to higher temperatures and seawater with increased pCO2. Certain taxa (including some larger foraminifera) can tolerate temperatures well above 30°C and also tolerate CO2 values beyond the prognosticated increases for the 21st century (e.g. Hallock et al. 2006; Arieli et al. 2011, Fujita et al. 2011, Hikami et al., 2011, Doo et al. 2012, Langer et al. 2012; 2013, McIntyre-Wressnig et al. 2013). More importantly, the fossil record is extremely rich in examples showing that selected species of larger foraminifera were winners (not losers) of more extreme periods of climate change and ocean acidification during earth history. Range expansion and resistance to multiple stressors associated with global change is experimentally documented and abundantly illustrated in the fossil record (see also Hallock 1985).
Arieli et al. (2011) Marine Pollution Bulletin 62: 1002–1012.
Doo et al. (2012) Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 430-431: 63–67.
Fujita et al. (2011) Biogeosciences 8, 2089–2098.
Hallock (1985) Natural History 3: 60–66.
Hallock et al. (2006) Proceedings of the 10th International Coral Reef Symposium: 729–737.
Hikami et al. (2011) Geophysical Research Letters 38: L19601. doi:10.1029/2011GL048501.
Langer et al. (2012) Journal of Foraminiferal Research 42: 235–245.
Langer et al. (2013) PLoS One 8: e54443. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054443.
McIntyre-Wressnig et al. (2013) Marine Ecology Progress Series 472: 45–60.