FORAMINIFERA IN THE ALBEMARLE ESTUARINE SYSTEM, NORTH CAROLINA: DISTRIBUTION AND RECENT ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 2006 FORAMINIFERA IN THE ALBEMARLE ESTUARINE SYSTEM, NORTH CAROLINA: DISTRIBUTION AND RECENT ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE David J. Vance; David J. Vance 1Geology Department, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, U.S.A. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephen J. Culver; Stephen J. Culver 3 1Geology Department, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, U.S.A. 3E-mail: culvers@mail.ecu.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. Reide Corbett; D. Reide Corbett 1Geology Department, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, U.S.A. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Martin A. Buzas Martin A. Buzas 2Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. U.S.A. 20560 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Journal of Foraminiferal Research (2006) 36 (1): 15–33. https://doi.org/10.2113/36.1.15 Article history received: 11 Jan 2005 accepted: 02 Jun 2005 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation David J. Vance, Stephen J. Culver, D. Reide Corbett, Martin A. Buzas; FORAMINIFERA IN THE ALBEMARLE ESTUARINE SYSTEM, NORTH CAROLINA: DISTRIBUTION AND RECENT ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 2006;; 36 (1): 15–33. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/36.1.15 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyJournal of Foraminiferal Research Search Advanced Search Abstract This study investigated the surface and subsurface distributions of foraminifera (both live populations and dead assemblages) throughout the Albemarle Estuarine System (AES) to determine the utility of the modern foraminiferal assemblages as models for paleoenvironmental interpretations in this estuarine and barrier island system. Thirty-seven species were recognized in the dead assemblages from 49 stations; 19 species comprised the living populations. Cluster analysis of the dead assemblages defined five biofacies: the calcareous foraminiferal nearshore marine and inlet biofacies, and the dominantly agglutinated foraminiferal estuarine shoal, estuary, inner estuary, and marsh biofacies.Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of three cores from the central Albemarle basin, based on the distribution of dead surface foraminiferal assemblages, recognized the inner estuarine and estuarine biofacies. Radionuclide tracers (210Pb and 137Cs) provided the geochronologic framework for each core. The westernmost core was capped by the inner estuarine biofacies overlying the estuarine biofacies, indicating either accumulation of a seasonal ephemeral layer of sediment from a lower brackish, upstream environment or increased freshwater discharge since the 1990's as a result of increased tropical storm and hurricane activity. The two easternmost cores indicated that, in the early 19th century, Albemarle Sound populations included calcareous foraminiferal species. These taxa were adapted to the higher salinities that resulted from several inlets that were open adjacent to the AES prior to 1828.Taphonomic processes (test transport, test dissolution, mechanical test breakage) are active but, with the exception of test dissolution in a relatively restricted geographic area, they do not significantly alter surficial foraminiferal assemblages in the transition into subfossil assemblages. Thus, foraminiferal distributions are useful for characterizing modern estuarine environments and for interpreting paleoenvironmental changes in sediments deposited over the past few hundred years in coastal North Carolina. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.