Biogeosciences
www.biogeosciences.net
1726-4170
1726-4189
4
3
2007
10.5194/bg-4-323-2007
http://www.biogeosciences.net/4/323/2007/
http://www.biogeosciences.net/4/323/2007/bg-4-323-2007.html
http://www.biogeosciences.net/4/323/2007/bg-4-323-2007.pdf
323
329
2007-06-19
A coccolithophore concept for constraining the Cenozoic carbon cycle
J. Henderiks
jorijntje.henderiks@geo.su.se
R. E. M. Rickaby
Stockholm University, Department of Geology and Geochemistry, Svante Arrhenius väg 8C, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
Department of Earth Sciences, Oxford University, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PR, UK
An urgent question for future climate, in light of increased burning of
fossil fuels, is the temperature sensitivity of the climate system to
atmospheric carbon dioxide (pCO>sub>2</sub>). To date, no direct proxy for past
levels of pCO<sub>2</sub> exists beyond the reach of the polar ice core records.
We propose a new methodology for placing a constraint on pCO<sub>2</sub> over the
Cenozoic based on the physiological plasticity of extant coccolithophores.
Specifically, our premise is that the contrasting calcification
tolerance of various extant
species of coccolithophore to raised pCO<sub>2</sub> reflects an "evolutionary
memory" of past atmospheric composition. The different times of evolution
of certain morphospecies allows an upper constraint of past pCO<sub>2</sub> to be
placed on Cenozoic timeslices. Further, our hypothesis has implications for
the response of marine calcifiers to ocean acidification. Geologically
"ancient" species, which have survived large changes in ocean chemistry,
are likely more resilient to predicted acidification.
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