Cenozoic planktonic foraminifera biostratigraphy from the South Atlantic Transect (International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 390/393)

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 form the surrounding sea water. Evolution and extinction events of fossil planktonic foraminifera are extensively studied and 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 paleoenvironmental 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 biostratigraphic analysis of the sedimentary cores, which will be recovered during the IODP Expedition 390/393 South Atlantic Transect. Shipboard biostratigraphy will allow us to date each sample and produce preliminary age-depth model for all drilled sites, which is a basis for any palaeoceanographic research.

Additional observations of planktonic foraminifera abundances, assemblage composition and state of test preservation, will allow to assess the research potential of the collected sample material. This will aid other scientists working on these sedimentary cores, to plan their research projects more effectively, in accordance with the expected sample material quality.

Post cruise study will focus on more detailed investigation of evolutionary events of stratigraphically important taxa. This will provide new age calibrations from the subtropical real, allowing to produce more robust age models in future palaeoceanographic studies.