The foraminiferal-bacterial connection : an interdisciplinary study of meiofaunal behaviour in the deeper marine redox zone

Abstract

In this thesis-research the foraminiferal- bacterial interaction was addressed in several experimental studies as well as in a field study. We aimed at developing an experimental setting that is suitable for both foraminiferal and bacterial research. We also aimed at obtaining more insight in the bacterial impact on redox processes that occur in the sediment and their ensuing influence on foraminifera. The reason behind this is that the increased knowledge of the foraminiferal connection to both bacteria and redox zonation will improve the proxy value of foraminifera. That, in turn, will enlarge our insight into the chemical and microbiological history of the global marine record. We believe that this research is also relevant to current environmental issues. Understanding more about interactions occurring between meiofauna and microbes will lead to a better understanding of (anthropogenic) perturbation of the marine sedimentary food chain. This in turn will increase our capacity to restore or even prevent these disturbances.