Host-influenced geochemical signature in the parasitic foraminifera Hyrrokkin sarcophaga

  • Hyrrokkin sarcophaga is a parasitic foraminifer that is commonly found in cold-water coral reefs where it infests the file clam Acesta excavata and the scleractinian coral Lophelia pertusa. Here, we present measurements of the elemental and isotopic composition of this parasitic foraminifer for the first time, analyzed by inductively coupled optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), electron probe micro analysis (EPMA) and mass spectrometry (MS). Our results reveal that the geochemical signature of H. sarcophaga depends on the host organism it infests. Sr/Ca ratios are 1.1 mmol mol-1 higher in H. sarcophaga that infest L. pertusa, which could be an indication that dissolved host carbonate material is utilised in shell calcification, given that the aragonite of L. pertusa has a naturally higher Sr concentration compared to the calcite of A. excavata.Similarly, we measure 3.1 ‰ lower δ13C and 0.25 ‰ lower δ18O values in H. sarcophaga that lived on20 L. pertusa, which might be caused by the direct uptake of the host’s carbonate material with a more negative isotopic composition or different pH regimes in these foraminifera (pH can exert a control on the extent of CO2 hydration/hydroxylation) due to the uptake of body fluids of the host. We also observe higher Mn/Ca ratios in foraminifers that lived on A. excavata but did not penetrate the host shell compared to specimen that penetrated the shell, which could be interpreted as a change in food source, changes in the calcification rate, Rayleigh fractionation or changing oxygen conditions. While our measurements provide an interesting insight into the calcification process of this unusual foraminifer, these data also indicate that the geochemistry of this parasitic foraminifer is unlikely to be a reliable indicator of paleoenvironmental conditions using Sr/Ca, Mn/Ca, δ18O or δ13C unless the host organism is known and its geochemical composition can be accounted for.

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Author:Nicolai SchleinkoferORCiDGND, David EvansORCiD, Max Wisshak, Janina Büscher, Jens FiebigORCiDGND, André FreiwaldORCiDGND, Sven Härter, Horst R. MarschallORCiDGND, Silke VoigtORCiDGND, Jacek RaddatzORCiDGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-627487
DOI:https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2021-74
ISSN:1726-4189
Parent Title (English):Biogeosciences discussions
Publisher:Copernicus
Place of publication:Katlenburg-Lindau [u.a.]
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2021/03/29
Date of first Publication:2021/03/29
Publishing Institution:Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Release Date:2022/04/27
Volume:18
Page Number:35
First Page:1
Last Page:35
Note:
This research has been supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (grant no. RA 2156-5/1).
Note:
Begutachteter Artikel erschienen in: Biogeosciences, 18.2021, Nr. 16, S. 4733–4753, 2021, doi: 10.5194/bg-18-4733-2021
HeBIS-PPN:494567538
Institutes:Geowissenschaften / Geographie
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 55 Geowissenschaften, Geologie / 550 Geowissenschaften
5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 57 Biowissenschaften; Biologie / 570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie
Sammlungen:Universitätspublikationen
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - Namensnennung 4.0