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Author Spotlight: Unveiling Plankton Response to Climate Change Through Time-Series Data and Artistic Expression
Published on: July 28, 2023
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A global planktic foraminifer census data set for the Pliocene ocean.
Harry Dowsett1, Marci Robinson1, Kevin Foley1
1US Geological Survey, Eastern Geology and Paleoclimate Science Center, Reston, Virginia 20192, USA.
Scientific Data
|December 10, 2015
Summary
This study provides global planktic foraminifer census data from the Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping (PRISM) Project. These records offer insights into marine plankton responses to past global warming events.
Area of Science:
- Paleoceanography
- Marine Geology
- Micropaleontology
Background:
- The mid-Piacenzian Warm Period (mPWP) serves as a crucial analog for current global warming.
- Understanding planktic foraminifer distribution is key to reconstructing past ocean conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present comprehensive planktic foraminifer census data from the Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping (PRISM) Project.
- To facilitate paleoceanographic reconstructions of the mid-Piacenzian Warm Period.
- To assess the impact of global warming on marine plankton.
Main Methods:
- Global data collection from core sites and outcrops.
- Detailed taxonomic identification of 64 planktic foraminifer categories.
- Stratigraphic age dating and sample processing.
Main Results:
- Generation of extensive planktic foraminifer census data.
- Characterization of species counts per locality.
- Archival of taxonomic and sample data.
Conclusions:
- The PRISM dataset provides a unique resource for studying past climate change.
- These data enable detailed analysis of marine plankton"s response to warming.
- The findings contribute to understanding long-term ecological impacts of elevated global temperatures.
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