BEHAVIOR AND RESPONSE OF DEEP-SEA BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA TO FRESHLY SUPPLIED ORGANIC MATTER: A LABORATORY FEEDING EXPERIMENT IN MICROCOSM ENVIRONMENTS
2005-04-01

Research Article| April 01, 2005 BEHAVIOR AND RESPONSE OF DEEP-SEA BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA TO FRESHLY SUPPLIED ORGANIC MATTER: A LABORATORY FEEDING EXPERIMENT IN MICROCOSM ENVIRONMENTS Hidetaka Nomaki; Hidetaka Nomaki 1Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Minamidai 1-15-1, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-8639, Japan. E-mail: nomaki@ori.u-tokyo.ac.jp Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Petra Heinz; Petra Heinz 2Institute of Geosciences, University of Tuebingen, Sigwartstrasse 10, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Christoph Hemleben; Christoph Hemleben 2Institute of Geosciences, University of Tuebingen, Sigwartstrasse 10, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Hiroshi Kitazato Hiroshi Kitazato 3Department of Life and Earth Sciences, Shizuoka University, Ohya 836, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.4Institute for Research on Earth Evolution, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka 237-0061, Japan. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Hidetaka Nomaki 1Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Minamidai 1-15-1, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-8639, Japan. E-mail: nomaki@ori.u-tokyo.ac.jp Petra Heinz 2Institute of Geosciences, University of Tuebingen, Sigwartstrasse 10, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. Christoph Hemleben 2Institute of Geosciences, University of Tuebingen, Sigwartstrasse 10, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. Hiroshi Kitazato 3Department of Life and Earth Sciences, Shizuoka University, Ohya 836, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.4Institute for Research on Earth Evolution, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 2-15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka 237-0061, Japan. Publisher: Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research Received: 29 Aug 2003 Accepted: 20 Sep 2004 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-264X Print ISSN: 0096-1191 © 2005 Journal of Foraminiferal Research Journal of Foraminiferal Research (2005) 35 (2): 103–113. https://doi.org/10.2113/35.2.103 Article history Received: 29 Aug 2003 Accepted: 20 Sep 2004 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Hidetaka Nomaki, Petra Heinz, Christoph Hemleben, Hiroshi Kitazato; BEHAVIOR AND RESPONSE OF DEEP-SEA BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA TO FRESHLY SUPPLIED ORGANIC MATTER: A LABORATORY FEEDING EXPERIMENT IN MICROCOSM ENVIRONMENTS. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 2005;; 35 (2): 103–113. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/35.2.103 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 The behavior of deep-sea benthic foraminifera in response to seasonal inputs of food material was examined through feeding experiments. The experiments using sediments from Sagami Bay (1425 m water depth) containing living foraminifera were carried out using microcosms (aquaria) with thin-walled glass sides. Three different nutrient levels were tested in order to observe how benthic foraminifera reacted to deposited organic matter. Observations of both behavior and microhabitat segregation with respect to the sediment-water interface were conducted using a sideways-mounted binocular microscope. Benthic foraminifera were vertically distributed according to three types of microhabitat segregation patterns, comparable to those of natural populations in Sagami Bay: shallow infaunal, intermediate infaunal and deep infaunal. After addition of food into the aquaria, many foraminifera migrated upwards to a shallower part of the sediment and some foraminifera ingested food. Shallow and intermediate infaunal species reacted faster to newly deposited food materials than deep infaunal species. Among deep infaunal species, Globobulimina affinis reacted very slowly to added food, whereas Chilostomella ovoidea did not respond at all. Reactions to newly deposited organic matter observed in this experiment vary from one microhabitat to another. These different food preferences are an important factor for understanding foraminiferal microhabitats and the degradation of phytodetritus. The size distribution of foraminiferal tests after the experiment was completed suggests that some species reproduced during the experimental run, although there was no significant difference in total numbers of foraminifera between fed and unfed aquaria. Our results indicate that some benthic foraminifera may reproduce in response to organic matter arriving before the spring bloom. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.