Abstract:

This dataset consists of benthic and planktic foraminiferal data including carbon isotope (C-13, C-14) measurements, abundance, density, diversity, taphonomy (fracture percentage), and stained/unstained ratios from sediment cores collected aboard the R/V Point Sur cruise PS18-25 in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2018-05-18 to 2018-05-23. Stable isotope and radiocarbon measurements were performed on Cibicidoides spp. and Globigerinoides ruber. The dataset also contains date, latitude and longitude of sample location. Cruise documentation is also present for the R/V Point Sur cruise PS18-25. The chief scientist for the expedition was Dr. Arne Diercks.

Suggested Citation:

Schwing, Patrick, Jeff Chanton, and Bryan O'Malley. 2020. Benthic and planktic foraminifera data collected aboard the R/V Point Sur cruise PS18-25 in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2018-05-18 to 2018-05-23. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/HCKBSN5J

Publications:

Diercks, A. R., Romero, I. C., Larson, R. A., Schwing, P., Harris, A., Bosman, S., … Brooks, G. (2021). Resuspension, Redistribution, and Deposition of Oil-Residues to Offshore Depocenters After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8. doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.630183

Purpose:

This dataset was obtained to test if spatial distribution and concentration of recalcitrant compounds from the deposited oil remaining on the seafloor approximately seven (7) years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill corresponded with the distribution of the surface oil slick or the subsurface plume.

Data Parameters and Units:

Benthic and planktic foraminiferal δ13C (‰), ∆14C (‰), Radiocarbon age (years before present), density (individuals per cubic cm), abundance (#/gram), stained/unstained ratios, Taphonomy (fracture percentage), Diversity (Fisher, Shannon)

Methods:

Five sub-samples were extruded from the surface centimeter (0-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8 and 8-10 mm) and one sub-sample from down-core (20-22 mm). These subsamples were used for foraminifera analysis following methods similar to Schwing et al. (2018). Visibly fractured tests were reported as the fracture percentage (Ash Mor et al., 2017). Planktic foraminifera were counted to provide abundance (individuals per gram; Machain-Castillo et al., 2008). Globigerinoides ruber tests were picked from selected samples to obtain 2-10 mg of carbonate (CaCO3) for radiocarbon dating. Radiocarbon measurements were made at the National Ocean Science Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Facility (NOSAMS).

Provenance and Historical References:

Ash-mor, Anat., Revital Bookman, Mor Kanari, Zvi Ben-avraham, and Ahuva Almogi-labin. 2017. Micropaleontological and taphonomic characteristics of mass transport deposits in the northern Gulf of Eilat / Aqaba , Red Sea. Marine Geology, 391(July), 36–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2017.07.009 Machain-Castillo, Maria, Maria Adela Monreal-Gómez, Elsa Arellano-Torres, Martin Merino-Ibarra, Gabriel González-Chávez. 2008. Recent planktonic foraminiferal distribution patterns and their relation to hydrographic conditions of the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexican Pacific. Marine Micropaleontology, 66(2): 103–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marmicro.2007.08.003 Schwing, Patrick T., Bryan J. O’Malley, David J. Hollander. 2018. Resilience of benthic foraminifera in the northern Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon Event (2011-2015). Ecological Indicators 84, 753-764, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.09.044.

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