Benthic foraminifera are single-celled protists found on the seafloor, playing a crucial role in the marine ecosystem as indicators of environmental conditions and contributing to the oceanic carbon cycle through their calcite shells. Their fossil record also provides critical insights into historical climate changes and oceanographic patterns.
Planktonic foraminifera are microscopic, marine organisms that play a crucial role in the ocean's carbon cycle by contributing to the biological carbon pump. Their calcareous shells, which accumulate on the ocean floor after death, provide valuable records for reconstructing past climate conditions.
Deep-sea sediment cores are crucial for understanding Earth's climate history, as they provide physical records of past ocean conditions and terrestrial influences preserved in layers of sediment. By analyzing these cores, scientists can reconstruct past ocean temperatures, ice ages, and even significant events like asteroid impacts or major volcanic eruptions.