Globigerinoides ruber Sediment Trap Data in the Gulf of Mexico

We present results here from a high-resolution (1-2 weeks) and long-running sediment trap time series from the northern Gulf of Mexico which allows for a detailed assessment of the seasonal distribution, size, morphological variability and geochemistry of co-occurring pink and white chromotypes of Globigerinoides ruber. The flux of both chromotypes is highly correlated, and both represent mean annual conditions in the surface mixed-layer. Under modern climatic conditions in the Gulf of Mexico, we find no significant offset in the Mg/Ca and delta 18O of co-occurring pink and white G. ruber. Furthermore, we find the delta 18O and delta 13C among the two morphotypes (sensu stricto and sensu lato) of both pink and white G. ruber to be indistinguishable. The test size distribution within the population varies seasonally, with the abundance of large individuals increasing (decreasing) in summer (winter). Using paired Mg/Ca and delta 18O we evaluate the performance of a suite of published equations for calculating sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface salinity (SSS) and isotopic composition of seawater (delta 18Osw). In addition, we present new linear relationships between salinity and delta 18Osw for the surface mixed-layer and the entire water column, based on 17 sampling trips to the Gulf of Mexico from 2008-2017.

For further information regarding data collection and/or processing methods as well as the associated published manuscript refer to:
Richey, J.N., Thirumalai, T., Khider, D., Reynolds, C.E., Partin, J.W., and Quinn, T.M., 2019, Considerations for Globigerinoides ruber (white and pink) paleoceanography comprehensive insights from a long-running sediment trap: Paleoceanography, v. 34, no. 3, p. 353-373, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018PA003417.

*Sediment trap foraminifera flux were incorrectly calculated per 0.5 m2 area instead of 1 m2 in this version of the dataset. Corrected data has been provided in a new data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9O76R8R.

Note: This data release was versioned on September 11, 2023. Please see the Suggested Citation section for details.