Growth of the spinose planktonic foraminifer Orbulina universa in laboratory culture and the effect of temperature on life processes

Abstract

Orbulina universa d'Orbigny is a spinose planktonic foraminifer which occurs throughout surface waters of the tropical, subtropical and transition zones of the world ocean (Bé & Tolderlund, 1971). This species is unique among planktonic Foraminifera in that its life cycle is composed of two growth stages. The juvenile stage is a trochospiral form which is enclosed within a terminal spherical chamber in the adult stage. O. universa is relatively omnivorous, and consumes a variety of prey that range in size and quality from phytoplankton to copepods (Bé et al. 1977; Anderson et al. 1979; Spindler et al. 1984). In addition, each individual harbors several thousand zooxanthellae which presumably are an additional source of nutrition for the foraminifer (Be et al. 1977; Hemleben & Spindler, 1983; Spero & Parker, 1985).

Temperature effect on respiration and photosynthesis of the symbiont-bearing planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber , Orbulina universa , and Globigerinella siphonifera

“…Our direct Q 10 estimates are also higher than previous ones calculated for foraminifera from indirect methods (based on the d 13 C of the shells), which give a Q 10 for respiration of between 2 and 2.75 (Ortiz et al 1996) and a Q 10 of ,1.6 for photosynthesis (Bemis et al 2000). Growth observations on foraminifera also give estimates of Q 10 of about 1.75 for O. universa (Caron et al 1987), and these estimates range from 2 to 9 for G. ruber, G. sacculifer, and O. universa (Bijma et al 1990). However, growth is influenced by nutrition, respiration, and photosynthesis, and a strong temperature influence on respiration (e.g., a high Q 10 value) could counteract the temperature influence on photosynthesis and nutrition, which would result in a lower Q 10 for growth.…”

Morphometric and stable isotopic differentiation of Orbulina universa morphotypes from the Cariaco Basin, Venezuela

“…4 and 5 (Table 5). M thin and M thick had average calcification temperatures for the final O. universa chamber of 23.3 and 21.6°C, respectively, which are within the optimal temperature range proposed for O. universa (22-28°C; Caron et al, 1987;Lombard et al, 2009). However, the two morphotypes have distinctly different average depths at which the final spherical chamber calcifies, with M thick calcifying at deeper depths (25-130 m) than M thin (7-100 m; Fig.…”

Timing and mechanism for intratest Mg/Ca variability in a living planktic foraminifer

“…1c), indicating these specimens may develop higher Mg/Ca compositions at a given temperature than shorter lived individuals. Estimates for O. universa sphere thickening in culture ranges from ∼2-9 days in the northeast Pacific in the vicinity of Catalina Island (Spero, 1988), to ∼5-6 days in the Caribbean near Barbados and Curaçao (Caron et al, 1987). Such tests correspond to the thin-walled variety (Billups and Spero, 1995;Deuser et al, 1981) with thicknesses between 10-30 μm, and likely exhibit Mg heterogeneity characteristic of specimens used for past Mg/Ca laboratory calibrations (Lea et al, 1999;Russell et al, 2004).…”