The FORCIS database: A global census of planktonic Foraminifera from ocean waters

Area of Science:

• Paleoceanography
• Marine Ecology
• Climate Science

Background:

• Planktonic Foraminifera are crucial paleo-environmental indicators due to their fossil record.
• Ocean and climate change significantly impact foraminiferal distribution and diversity.
• Global-scale historical assessments of foraminiferal distribution changes are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the FORCIS database, detailing global foraminiferal species diversity and distribution from 1910 to 2018.
• To provide a comprehensive dataset for analyzing historical changes in planktonic Foraminifera.
• To assess the impact of climatic stress on foraminiferal populations over the past century.

Main Methods:

• Compiled published and unpublished data on foraminiferal species.
• Included data from plankton tows, continuous plankton recorders, sediment traps, and plankton pumps.
• Organized ~22,000 to ~400 subsamples per collection method, spanning 1910-2018.

Main Results:

• The FORCIS database offers a global perspective on planktonic Foraminifera distribution.
• It covers large spatial scales (regional to basin, vertical) and temporal scales (seasonal to interdecadal).
• Provides insights into distribution patterns over the last century.

Conclusions:

• The FORCIS database is a valuable resource for understanding long-term ecological and climate-driven changes in marine ecosystems.
• It facilitates research on the response of planktonic Foraminifera to environmental stressors.
• Enables future studies on ocean and climate change impacts on marine biodiversity.