Community structures and taphonomic controls on benthic foraminiferal community from an Antarctic Fjord (Edisto Inlet, Victoria Land).
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| Title: | Community structures and taphonomic controls on benthic foraminiferal community from an Antarctic Fjord (Edisto Inlet, Victoria Land). |
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| Authors: | Galli, Giacomo1,2,3 (AUTHOR) giacomo.galli@unive.it, Caridi, Francesca4 (AUTHOR), Giordano, Patrizia5 (AUTHOR), Morigi, Caterina1 (AUTHOR), Sabbatini, Anna4 (AUTHOR), Langone, Leonardo5 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Biogeosciences. 2026, Vol. 23 Issue 3, p1137-1157. 21p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Foraminifera, *Taphonomy, *Biotic communities, *Sediments, *Paleoenvironmental studies, *Fjords, *Sea ice drift |
| Geographic Terms: | Antarctica, Victoria Land (Antarctica) |
| Abstract: | Benthic foraminiferal assemblages are key indicators for reconstructing past environmental conditions due to their ecological preference and preservation potential. This study investigates the hard-shelled benthic foraminifera of Edisto Inlet; an Antarctic fjord located on the Northern Victoria Land Coast (Ross Sea). The Inlet is characterized by a well-preserved Holocene laminated sedimentary sequence, providing an invaluable tool to reconstruct local and regional environmental changes. Living and fossil assemblages from the upper 5 cm of sediment were analysed across five sites along an inner-to-outer fjord transect to assess their ecological preferences and preservation patterns. Sites located on the inner fjord are characterized by high accumulation rates, low dry densities, fine grain sizes, and elevated content of organic carbon, indicative of high phytodetrital input and anoxic, reducing conditions probably derived by the burial of fresh organic matter. The surface sediments at these sites host low-diversity low-densities living assemblages but are abundant in dead specimens, suggesting substantial mortality events probably linked to post-sea-ice breakup, high organic matter flux to the bottom, and oxygen depletion associated with low current activity. Total assemblages are characterised by calcareous (Globocassidulina biora, G. subglobosa) and agglutinated (Paratrochammina bartrami, Portatrochammina antarctica) taxa, reflecting sluggish circulation along with a high input of fresh organic matter. A sharp decline in calcareous forms points to intense carbonate dissolution caused by the low redox potential within the sediment that develops during the year. In contrast, transitional and outer sites show more diverse and better-preserved assemblages, including Trifarina angulosa, Nodulina dentaliniformis, Reophax scorpiurus and Globocassidulina spp. among others, consistent with stronger bottom currents and more oxygenated conditions of the outer bay in respect to the inner fjord sites. The site located at the fjord mouth reveals distinct fossil faunas, likely shaped by ecological succession and/or dissolution, highlighting the high environmental variability of this setting. Resistant agglutinated species (Pseudobolivina antarctica, Paratrochammina bipolaris, Miliammina arenacea) dominate these areas, underscoring their potential value for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Comparison with the succession of the palaeocommunity collected in a nearby marine sediment core (TR17-08) suggests recent improvements in bottom conditions and organic matter content, though key taxa have not recovered to Late Holocene (3600–1500 years BP) levels. These findings highlight the sensitivity of benthic foraminiferal communities to sea-ice dynamics, organic matter input, and hydrographic conditions in Antarctic fjord systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Database: | Energy & Power Source |
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| Header | DbId: enr DbLabel: Energy & Power Source An: 191696569 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Community structures and taphonomic controls on benthic foraminiferal community from an Antarctic Fjord (Edisto Inlet, Victoria Land). – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Galli%2C+Giacomo%22">Galli, Giacomo</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> giacomo.galli@unive.it</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Caridi%2C+Francesca%22">Caridi, Francesca</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Giordano%2C+Patrizia%22">Giordano, Patrizia</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Morigi%2C+Caterina%22">Morigi, Caterina</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sabbatini%2C+Anna%22">Sabbatini, Anna</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Langone%2C+Leonardo%22">Langone, Leonardo</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Biogeosciences%22">Biogeosciences</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 23 Issue 3, p1137-1157. 21p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foraminifera%22">Foraminifera</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Taphonomy%22">Taphonomy</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biotic+communities%22">Biotic communities</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sediments%22">Sediments</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Paleoenvironmental+studies%22">Paleoenvironmental studies</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fjords%22">Fjords</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sea+ice+drift%22">Sea ice drift</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Antarctica%22">Antarctica</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Victoria+Land+%28Antarctica%29%22">Victoria Land (Antarctica)</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Benthic foraminiferal assemblages are key indicators for reconstructing past environmental conditions due to their ecological preference and preservation potential. This study investigates the hard-shelled benthic foraminifera of Edisto Inlet; an Antarctic fjord located on the Northern Victoria Land Coast (Ross Sea). The Inlet is characterized by a well-preserved Holocene laminated sedimentary sequence, providing an invaluable tool to reconstruct local and regional environmental changes. Living and fossil assemblages from the upper 5 cm of sediment were analysed across five sites along an inner-to-outer fjord transect to assess their ecological preferences and preservation patterns. Sites located on the inner fjord are characterized by high accumulation rates, low dry densities, fine grain sizes, and elevated content of organic carbon, indicative of high phytodetrital input and anoxic, reducing conditions probably derived by the burial of fresh organic matter. The surface sediments at these sites host low-diversity low-densities living assemblages but are abundant in dead specimens, suggesting substantial mortality events probably linked to post-sea-ice breakup, high organic matter flux to the bottom, and oxygen depletion associated with low current activity. Total assemblages are characterised by calcareous (Globocassidulina biora, G. subglobosa) and agglutinated (Paratrochammina bartrami, Portatrochammina antarctica) taxa, reflecting sluggish circulation along with a high input of fresh organic matter. A sharp decline in calcareous forms points to intense carbonate dissolution caused by the low redox potential within the sediment that develops during the year. In contrast, transitional and outer sites show more diverse and better-preserved assemblages, including Trifarina angulosa, Nodulina dentaliniformis, Reophax scorpiurus and Globocassidulina spp. among others, consistent with stronger bottom currents and more oxygenated conditions of the outer bay in respect to the inner fjord sites. The site located at the fjord mouth reveals distinct fossil faunas, likely shaped by ecological succession and/or dissolution, highlighting the high environmental variability of this setting. Resistant agglutinated species (Pseudobolivina antarctica, Paratrochammina bipolaris, Miliammina arenacea) dominate these areas, underscoring their potential value for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Comparison with the succession of the palaeocommunity collected in a nearby marine sediment core (TR17-08) suggests recent improvements in bottom conditions and organic matter content, though key taxa have not recovered to Late Holocene (3600–1500 years BP) levels. These findings highlight the sensitivity of benthic foraminiferal communities to sea-ice dynamics, organic matter input, and hydrographic conditions in Antarctic fjord systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.5194/bg-23-1137-2026 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 21 StartPage: 1137 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Foraminifera Type: general – SubjectFull: Taphonomy Type: general – SubjectFull: Biotic communities Type: general – SubjectFull: Sediments Type: general – SubjectFull: Paleoenvironmental studies Type: general – SubjectFull: Fjords Type: general – SubjectFull: Sea ice drift Type: general – SubjectFull: Antarctica Type: general – SubjectFull: Victoria Land (Antarctica) Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Community structures and taphonomic controls on benthic foraminiferal community from an Antarctic Fjord (Edisto Inlet, Victoria Land). Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Galli, Giacomo – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Caridi, Francesca – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Giordano, Patrizia – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Morigi, Caterina – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Sabbatini, Anna – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Langone, Leonardo IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 02 Text: 2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 17264170 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 23 – Type: issue Value: 3 Titles: – TitleFull: Biogeosciences Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
