Stable isotope differences among morphotypes of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (Ehrenberg): implications for high-latitude palaeoceanographic studies

The stable isotopic composition of planktonic foraminifera plays a paramount role in interpretations of past oceanographic and environmental conditions; thus an accurate understanding of the factors which influence their isotopic composition is essential. In order to increase the palaeoceanographic utility of the high-latitude planktonic foraminifera Neogloboquadrina pachyderma , its shape and oxygen and carbon isotopic variability are quantitatively described in this study. Over 8200 specimens of N. pachyderma from 36 gravity and piston core tops from surface sediments of the North Atlantic and southern Indian Oceans were digitized and analysed via Fourier series in closed form. The morphological results are presented in detail elsewhere and are utilized in this study to select specimens for isotopic analyses. Significant isotopic differences exist between morphological variants of this important high-latitude speaes. Specimens become depleted in both oxygen and carbon isotopes as the test shape becomes more pentagonal and less quadrate. The isotopic differences cannot be attributed to test thickening nor to size or coiling direction. This observation has important implications in the use of this speaes as a tracer in high-latitude palaeoceanographic investigations. In particular, future isotopic investigations utilizing this species should analyse single forms to allow for clear interpretation of palaeoceanographic signals.