Ethology of the Zoophycos-producer: Arguments against the gardening model from δ13C org evidences of the Spreiten Material
Journal
Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Journal Volume
15
Journal Issue
4
Pages
713-725
Date Issued
2004
Author(s)
Abstract
Zoophycos include gardening of microorganisms. Because microorganisms are known to fractionate strongly against 13 C, especially under low oxic to anoxic conditions, it is argued that any gardening activity in the trace would result in a noticeable shift in 13 org C between spreiten and adjacent host sediment. In order to test this hypothesis, 13 org C of the Spreiten Material and directly adjacent host material was measured. Measured 13 org C in a glacial section of the core ranges from -22.6 to -22.9 0 00 for host sediment and between -22.8 and -23.2 0 00 for Zoophycos material. In an interglacial section the Zoophycos material measures -21.9 0 00 , whereas the host material ranges from -21.2 to -21.4 0 00 . The minimal difference between Zoophycos and host material suggests that gardening plays an insignificant role. The gardening hypothesis is therefore rejected in favor of a cache model, where food is squirreled away for poorer times.
SDGs
Type
journal article