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Testing the Agulhas Dispersal Hypothesis for Neogene planktonic foraminifer Globorotalia menardii: Indian Ocean or Pacific home versus Central-American passage

 

(SNF project, 4 years, completed. Start: 1 February 2017, end: 31 January 2021).

 

Updated 26 August 2024

 

 

Key words:

Evolution, planktonic foraminifera, Neogene, IODP, morphometry, digital image analysis, automation

 

 

Lay summary

Planktonic foraminifera are tiny marine, pelagic protists that secrete calcitic shells forming the overwhelming part of Cenozoic deep sea carbonate oozes on the bottom of the oceans. Because of their high rate of evolution and excellent geological record over millions of years these organisms are unique for testing questions about evolutionary theory. In the present project the morphological evolution of the Neogene planktic foraminiferal plexus of Globorotalia menardii during the past 8 million years was studied in the tropical belt of the Indian Ocean and Pacific and in the eastern equatorial Atlantic. A major outcome of this research was the documentation of a prominent asymmetry in menardiform shell evolution between the tropical Atlantic/Caribbean Sea in comparison to the more gradual evolution of this group in the Moçambique Channel and the tropical western Pacific.

Watch Globorotalia menardii in 3-D (open with Adobe Acrobat Reader).

This research is in the framework of the main proponent's general agenda to study the paleobiogeography and dynamics of morphological speciation in calcareous pelagic microfossils (planktonic foraminifera), with special emphasis on the Neogene plexus of Globorotalia menardii. This group is especially well suited for such a study because of its ubiquitous but comparably narrow, tropical distribution in the world's oceans. We investigated the morphological evolution of shells of these planktonic foraminifera during the past 8 million years in a belt ranging from Pacific and the Indian Ocean and to the eastern equatorial Atlantic. By comparing the morphological trends of test variation of this group from ODP Site 806 (Ontong Java Plateau, West Pacific) and IODP Hole U1476 (Mocambique Channel, Indian Ocean, Leg 361) with ODP Sites 667A (Sierra Leone Rise, eastern Atlantic), the possibility of large scale dispersial of G. menardii from the Pacific or Indian oceans around the southern tip of Africa was evaluated.

The Agulhas Current System has repeatedly introduced tropical plankton faunas from the Indian Ocean into the South-Atlantic since at least the Pleistocene (so called Agulhas Leakage Faunas). From our past work on deep-sea cores from Céara Rise in the tropical West-Atlantic and from the Caribbean Sea we suspected, that Agulhas leakage of menardiform globorotalids possibly reached back until about 1.95 Ma (Late Pliocene), which is put at test here. The seeding of menardiform faunas by the Agulhas Current System is thought to be identifiable through morphological divergence of their shells between oceans: In the tropical Pacific and Indian Ocean we expect a slower and more gradual pattern of shell size increase than on the Atlantic side. According to our hypothesis, such asymmetry would occur after evolution of large menardiforms in remote Indian or Pacific realms and subsequent - episodic - dispersal into the South-Atlantic and spread into equatorial Atlantic belts along the pathway of Agulhas leakage eddies and their distal tributaries. Using so called Volume Density Diagrams (VDDs) - a technique to illustrate morphological change from bivariate morphometric measurements through time, it was possible to document evolution at our study sites and recognize the rather gradual evolution at Hole 806C (see the VDD to the poster of Knappertsbusch, 2020) [hint: download first and open from the pdf on your PC to activate 3D contents], and Knappertsbusch (2021 and 2022). Our measurements demonstrated, that such inter-oceanic asymmetry in shell-size evolution indeed can be observed. In addition, in the Atlantic realm a westward directed time-transgressive diachroneity was found between from east to western Atlantic/Caribbean locations (Friesenhagen, 2022 a, b, c). Also from those studies, evidence was found that the shell size evolution of G. menardii seems to mirror to some degree the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), but further research is needed to confirm this result.

 

Methodologically, the large number of morphometric investigations could only be realized using our microfossil orientation and imaging robot called AMOR (Automated Measurement system for shell mORphology) and its new successor System AMOR 2, that was realized during this project (Knappertsbusch and Eisenecker, 2022). Both devices were jointly built with the Institute for Automation of the University of Applied Sciences of Northwestern Switzerland.

 

Readings from abstracts to oral presentations and posters, and from selected publications

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abstracts to oral presentations and posters

 

2020 -

Friesenhagen, T. and Knappertsbusch, M. (2020). New micropalaeontological Evidence for an Early Pleistocene existence of the Agulhas Leakage. EGU2020-3889. EGU General Assembly 2020. On-line poster presentation (virtual meeting). https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2020/EGU2020-3889.html
Abstract https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-3889
poster download at https://presentations.copernicus.org/EGU2020/EGU2020-3889_presentation.pdf

 

Friesenhagen, T. and Knappertsbusch, M. (2020). Global size evolution of the planktonic foraminifera Globorotalia menardii during the last 8Ma: Synthesis of 23 years of research. On-line presentation (virtual meeting). 18th Swiss Geoscience Meeting, Zürich 2020. Symposium 15, Scientific Ocean Drilling, oral presentation 15.1. On-line presentation (virtual meeting). Abstracts p. 439, https://geoscience-meeting.ch/sgm2020/wp-content/uploads/abstract_volumes/SGM_2020_Symposium_15.pdf

 

Knappertsbusch, M. (2020). Morphological evolution of menardiform globorotalids at ODP Hole 806C (Ontong-Java Plateau). Abstract EGU2020-2396. On-line presentation (virtual meeting).
https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2020/EGU2020-2396.html
Abstract https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-2396. EGU General Assembly 2020.
Poster download (49'721 KB) at https://presentations.copernicus.org/EGU2020/EGU2020-2396_presentation.pdf

 

Knappertsbusch, M. (2020). Insights from the study of morphological evolution of menardiform globorotalids at Western Pacific Warm Pool ODP Hole 806C (Ontong-Java Plateau). On-line presentation (virtual meeting). 18th Swiss Geoscience Meeting, Zürich 2020, Symposium 15, Scientific Ocean Drilling. Abstracts p. 445-446, https://geoscience-meeting.ch/sgm2020/wp-content/uploads/abstract_volumes/SGM_2020_Symposium_15.pdf. Poster P15.1 at https://geoscience-meeting.ch/sgm2020/wp-content/uploads/posters/P_15_1_Knappertsbusch_Michael_10-27-20-08-29-47.pdf

Alternative link: https://micropal-basel.unibas.ch/Research/POSTERS/Poster_SGM_2020-3D_06_int_VDD.pdf

 

 

2019 -

Friesenhagen, T., Mennecart, B., and Knappertsbusch, M. (2019). Test shape variation reveals the
evolutionary history of Globorotalia menardii menardii. Pico presentation. Geophysical Research Abstracts Vol. 21, EGU2019-PREVIEW, 2019, EGU General Assembly 2019. https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2019/EGU2019-10155.pdf

 

Friesenhagen, T., and Knappertsbusch, M. (2019). Globorotalia menardii reflects AMOC: Test-size evolution of G. menardii as a new proxy for the AMOC strength. 17th Swiss Geoscience Meeting, Fribourg, 22nd-23rd November 2019, Symposium 4: Palaeontology. Abstract volume p. 123.
https://geoscience-meeting.ch/sgm2019/wp-content/uploads/abstract_volumes/SGM_2019_Symposium_04.pdf

 

Knappertsbusch, M., Eisenecker, J., and Binggeli, D. (2019a). From AMOR to AMOR2 ­ Prototypes for automated orientation and imaging of planktonic foraminifera for morphometric analyses. Pico presentation. Abstract EGU General Assembly, Vienna, 7-12 April 2019. Geophysical Research Abstracts, vol. 21, EGU2019-3313, 2019. https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2019/EGU2019-3313.pdf.
View/download PowerPoint presentation (screen presentation, Windows 10) at https://www.micropal-basel.unibas.ch/Research/AMOR/System_AMOR2.ppsx

 

Knappertsbusch, M., Eisenecker, J., and Binggeli, D. (2019b). AMOR2 follows AMOR - an improved robot for orientation and imaging of planktonic foraminifera. 17th Swiss Geoscience Meeting, Fribourg, 22nd-23rd November 2019, Symposium 4: Palaeontology. Abstract volume pp. 147-148. Poster presentation P 4.2. https://geoscience-meeting.ch/sgm2019/wp-content/uploads/abstract_volumes/SGM_2019_Symposium_04.pdf
View poster (size 2.3 MB) at https://micropal-basel.unibas.ch/Research/POSTERS/SGM_2019s.pdf

Binggeli, D. (2019). AMORiv ­ Ein Roboter zur automatischen Bildverarbeitung von Mikrofossilien. Tätigkeitsbericht des Institutes für Automation FHNW 2018, pp. 12-13.
https://www.fhnw.ch/de/die-fhnw/hochschulen/ht/institute/institut-fuer-automation/publikationen

 

 

2018 -

Friesenhagen, T. (2018). The Evolution of Test Size of the Globorotalia menardii in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans since the Upper Miocene. Poster presentation. Abstracts volume FORAMS 2018 International Symposium on Foraminifera, Foraminifera in a Changing World, Temporary Abstracts Collection Edinburgh, 17-22 June 2018, p. 203. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/u74wwjjsdtr8s4h/AADWWCvvBg9yL2tiO-HA2qQAa/FORAMS2018_TempAbstractCollection.pdf?dl=0

 

Friesenhagen T., Knappertsbusch M. (2018). Test-Size Evolution of the Planktonic Foraminifer Globorotalia menardii in the Tropical Atlantic Since the Upper Miocene. Oral presentaton. Symposium 5: Paleontology. Abstract Volume 16th Swiss Geoscience Meeting Bern, 30th November ­ 1st December 2018, p. 173. https://geoscience-meeting.ch/sgm2018/wp-content/uploads/SGM_2018_Symposium_05.pdf

 

Knappertsbusch, M. and Friesenhagen, T. (2018a). Prospecting patterns of morphological evolution in menardiform globorotaliids along Agulhas' trackway: Review and research in progress. Oral presentation. Abstracts volume FORAMS 2018 International Symposium on Foraminifera, Foraminifera in a Changing World, Temporary Abstracts Collection, Edinburgh, 17-22 June 2018, p. 331.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/u74wwjjsdtr8s4h/AADWWCvvBg9yL2tiO-HA2qQAa/FORAMS2018_TempAbstractCollection.pdf?dI=0

 

Knappertsbusch M., and Friesenhagen T. (2018b). Morphological evolution of menardiform globorotalids are different in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Poster presentation. Symposium 10: Celebrating 50 Years of International Ocean Drilling (1968-2018), Abstract Volume 16th Swiss Geoscience Meeting Bern, 30th November ­ 1st December 2018, pp. 300-301. https://geoscience-meeting.ch/sgm2018/wp-content/uploads/SGM_2018_Abstract_Book.pdf

Knappertsbusch, M. (2018). Mit AMOR der Evolution auf der Spur. Public talk at Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Basel, 8 March, 2018, Aula des Naturhistorischen Museums in Basel.
http://www.ngib.ch/vortragsprogramm/details/news/mit-amor-der-evolution-auf-der-spur/?tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=Event&tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=eventDetail&cHash=a508327e1ce891544492f8a40d4a6492

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selected publications

Knappertsbusch, M. (2022). Morphological evolution of menardiform globorotalids at Western Pacific Warm Pool ODP Hole 806C (Ontong-Java Plateau). Revue de Micropaléontologie 74 (2022) 100608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2022.100608

 

Friesenhagen, T. (2022 a). Evolutionary prospection of Globorotalia menardii: an investigation of tempo and mode of evolution since the Late Miocene. Inauguraldissertation Universität Basel, 218 p. On-line 20 August 2024. https://edoc.unibas.ch/96388/1/Friesenhagen_Disseration_EDoc_version.pdf

 

Friesenhagen, T. (2022 b). Test-size evolution of the planktonic foraminifer Globorotalia menardii in the eastern tropical Atlantic since the Late Miocene. Biogeosciences, vol. 19, 777-805. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-777-2022

 

Knappertsbusch, M. (2016). Evolutionary prospection in the Neogene planktic foraminifer Globorotalia menardii and related forms from ODP Hole 925B (Ceara Rise, western tropical Atlantic): evidence for gradual evolution superimposed by long distance dispersal ? Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, vol. 135 (2), pp. 205-248. On-line version available under https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13358-016-0113-6

 

Mary, Y. and Knappertsbusch, M. (2015).Worldwide morphological variability in Mid-Pliocene menardellid globorotalids. Marine Micropaleontology, vol. 121, pp. 1-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marmicro.2015.09.001.

 

Mary, Y. (2013). Morphologic, biogeographic and ontogenetic investigation of Mid-Pliocene menardellids (planktonic foraminifera). Dissertation Phil. Nat. Fakultät, Universität Basel, 173 p. http://edoc.unibas.ch/diss/DissB_10611/

 

Knappertsbusch, M. (2011). Evolution im marinen Plankton. Mitteilungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaften beider Basel, 13:3-14.

 

Knappertsbusch, M., Binggeli, D., Herzig, A., Schmutz, L., Stapfer, S., Schneider, C., Eisenecker, J., and Widmer, L. (2009). AMOR - A new system for automated imaging of microfossils for morphometric analyses. Palaeontologia Electronica, Vol. 12, Issue 2; 2T: 20 p. http://palaeo-electronica.org/2009_2/165/index.html

 

Knappertsbusch, M., (2007). Morphological variability of Globorotalia menardii (planktonic foraminiferan) in two DSDP cores from the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Equatorial Pacific. Carnets de Géologie / Notebooks on Geology, Brest, Article 2007/04 (CG2007_A04). http://paleopolis.rediris.es/cg/CG2007_A04/index.html. Archive for raw data available from https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.863580.