Mulitza, Stefan (2003): Compilation of δ¹⁸O data, living planktic foraminifera [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.126188,

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Supplement to: Mulitza, Stefan; Boltovskoy, Demetrio; Donner, Barbara; Meggers, Helge; Paul, André; Wefer, Gerold (2003): Temperature: d18O relationships of planktic foraminifera collected from surface waters. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 202(1-2), 143-152, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-0182(03)00633-3

Most of the isotopic paleotemperature equations used for paleoceanographic reconstructions have been derived from culture experiments or inorganic precipitates of calcium carbonate. To test these equations in the modern ocean, we measured the oxygen isotope composition of planktonic foraminifera (Globigerinoides ruber, Globigerinoides sacculifer, Globigerina bulloides and Neogloboquadrina pachyderma) collected from Atlantic and Southern Ocean surface waters, and added published plankton tow data from the Pacific, Indian and Arctic Oceans. The resulting species-specific regression equations of the temperature:d18O relationships for G. ruber, G. sacculifer and G. bulloides are statistically indistinguishable. The equations derived for G. sacculifer and G. bulloides agree with relationships obtained from laboratory experiments, in which these species were cultured at pH values close to modern surface waters. The equation derived from N. pachyderma has a significantly lower slope and offset than the other three species but produces a regression equation that is nearly identical to the one for the epifaunal benthic foraminifer Cibicides sp. Our work on plankton tow and pumped samples indicates that culture-derived equations appear to be more appropriate for predicting the absolute d18O of the species examined compared to equations derived from inorganic precipitates. However, over the oceanic temperature range, the slopes of the equations we derive for living species agree with the slopes obtained from inorganic precipitates.

This data set contains a compilation of d18O values of planktonic foraminifera collected from various sources by S. Mulitza (smulitza@uni-bremen.de) for preliminary use.