Quantifying Paleoproductivity from Biomass Estimates of Epifaunal Suspension Feeders: A Test of the Productivity Hypothesis in Latest Pliocene Tropical America

Kirby, Michael X, Fillmore CA

Investigators

Abstract

0000495 Kirby, M The PI will test the hypothesis that planktonic productivity decreased in the latest Pliocene in tropical America by analyzing biomass growth in Neogene and Quaternary bivalves, such as pectenids, oysters, chamids, and arcids from Panama and Costa Rica. A decrease in biomass growth across the Plio-Pleistocene boundary for each taxon would be consistent with a drop in productivity. In addition, analysis of biomass growth in living epifaunal bivalves from upwelling areas (with higher planktonic productivity) will faster biomass growth. The estimation of biomass in fossil suspension feeders may be used as a relative measure for the amount of planktonic productivity in the past.