Biostratigraphy of planktonic foraminifera from the South Atlantic Transect (International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 390C)

Planktonic foraminifera are microscopic, single celled organisms which live in great abundance throughout the world oceans, being important part of the microplankton fauna. They make up their shells from calcium carbonate, which they obtain from the surrounding seawater. Evolution and extinction events of fossil planktonic foraminifera are extensively used to assess the age of the deep-sea sediments and to correlate sedimentary rock units when building reservoir models for oil and gas exploration. Analysis of chemical composition of planktonic foraminifera shells, also provide scientists with palaeoenvironmental information, which tells us about the past environments and help us to understand the nature of ancient climatic conditions on our planet.

This particular study however, focuses predominantly on the age dating of sedimentary cores, which were recovered during preliminary drilling operations by the International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 390C. We will use the fossils to date each sample and produce age models for the sites targeted for further drilling operations during joint IODP Expeditions 390 and 393, which are planned to go ahead in 2022. Additional observations of planktonic foraminifera abundances, assemblage composition and preservation, will allow us to assess research potential of the collected sample material. This will aid scientists participating in these future expeditions, to plan their research projects more effectively, in accordance with the expected sample material quality.