Articles | Volume 44, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-44-415-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-44-415-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
03 Nov 2025
Research article |
| 03 Nov 2025
| 03 Nov 2025
Seasonal variability in living benthic foraminifera across intertidal areas of the eastern English Channel
Fabio Francescangeli
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg/Freiburg, Switzerland
Vincent M. P. Bouchet
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
University of Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, Station Marine de Wimereux, 62 930 Wimereux, France
Yvonne Milker
University of Hamburg, Institute for Geology, Centre for Earth System Research and Sustainability, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Fabrizio Frontalini
University of Urbino, Dipartimento di Scienze Pure e Applicate (DiSPeA), 61029 Urbino, Italy
Alain Trentesaux
University Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, 59 000 Lille, France
Eric Armynot du Châtelet
University Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, 59 000 Lille, France
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During the Aptian–Albian interval of the Cretaceous, Earth's climate changed significantly due to volcanism, atmospheric shifts, and reorganised ocean circulation. These changes influenced marine sediments, especially reddish Cretaceous oceanic red beds (CORBs), which reflect intervals of deep-ocean oxygenation. This study analysed sediment cores from ODP Site 1049 (North Atlantic) to determine when CORBs formed and whether similar patterns occurred in other basins, such as the Tethys.
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Benthic foraminifera are single-cell marine organisms which can move in the sediment column. They were previously reported to horizontally and vertically transport sediment particles, yet the impact of their motion on the dissolved fluxes remains unknown. Using microprofiling, we show here that foraminiferal burrow formation increases the oxygen penetration depth in the sediment, leading to a change in the structure of the prokaryotic community.
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Short summary
We studied tiny seafloor organisms along the French coast to see how their communities change with the seasons. In colder months, only a few hardy species thrive, while warmer months bring greater variety. These shifts reveal how coastal ecosystems respond to natural changes and human impacts, offering new insights for protecting and monitoring these environments.
We studied tiny seafloor organisms along the French coast to see how their communities change...
