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dc.contributor.advisorRasmussen, Tine
dc.contributor.authorMelaniuk, Katarzyna
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-12T13:11:19Z
dc.date.available2021-10-12T13:11:19Z
dc.date.issued2021-11-04
dc.description.abstractMethane is a powerful greenhouse gas. In marine environments, it is buried deep in the sediments in the form of gas hydrate, an ice-like structure. Due to its form, gas hydrate is sensitive to changes in temperature and pressure. Because of that, the ongoing climate change can trigger destabilization of its sub-seabed deposits. This may result in a release of great amounts of methane into the atmosphere. Methane seepage events have occurred in the past and were recorded in the isotopic signature of calcareous tests (shells) of fossil foraminifera. However, not much is known about the possible impact of methane-affected sediments on the living foraminiferal fauna, e.g. in the cold seeps. Due to the hostile conditions within a cold seep, such as low oxygen and elevated carbon dioxide concentration, it remains unclear if benthic foraminifera build their tests during methane emission events and whether, and to what extent, live foraminifera incorporate methane-derived carbon during biomineralization. This knowledge is crucial to establish foraminifera as a reliable tool in tracking methane emissions. The main focus of this thesis was to investigate the response of foraminifera to the combined effect of low oxygen and elevated carbon dioxide concentration in a laboratory setting, replicating conditions that commonly occur in cold seeps. Secondly, this thesis investigates modern foraminiferal assemblages using fluorescence viability assays and a conventional method, Rose Bengal staining. Fluorescence probes react exclusively with metabolically active foraminifera, and so this method distinguishes live foraminifera from the recently dead individuals, creating a more detailed picture of the modern foraminiferal fauna in the study area. Finally, I was able to determine that methane-derived carbon can shift the δ<sup>13</sup>C signature of living (Rose Bengal-stained) foraminifera towards lower δ<sup>13</sup>C values, which is linked to methane-related processes, such as aerobic (MOx) and anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM). Active methane seepage did not markedly affect the isotopic signature (δ<sup>13</sup>C) of primary calcite in metabolically active foraminifera in this study. This work not only advances our understanding of the mechanisms of foraminiferal response to methane seepage events but also facilitates their use in future studies of methane emissions.en_US
dc.description.doctoraltypeph.d.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThe project was financed by the Research Council of Norway through its Centre of Excellence funding scheme grant no. 223259en_US
dc.identifier.isbn978-82-8236-455-3 (pdf) - 978-82-8236-454-6 (trykt)
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/22757
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherUiT Norges arktiske universiteten_US
dc.publisherUiT The Arctic University of Norwayen_US
dc.relation.haspart<p>Paper 1: Melaniuk, K., Bernhard, J.M., Hald, M. & Panieri, G. Impact of hypoxia and high pCO2 and diet on benthic foraminiferal growth: experiment with propagules. (Manuscript). <p>Paper 2: Melaniuk, K. (2021). Effectiveness of Fluorescent Viability Assays in Studies of Arctic Cold Seep Foraminifera. <i>Frontiers in Marine Science, 8</i>, 587748. Also available in Munin at <a href=https://hdl.handle.net/10037/21033>https://hdl.handle.net/10037/21033</a>. <p>Paper 3: Melaniuk, K., Sztybor, K., Treude, T., Sommer, S. & Rasmussen, T.L. Evidence for influence of methane seepage on isotopic signatures in living deep-sea foraminifera, 79 °N. (Manuscript). <p>Paper 4: Melaniuk, K., Sztybor, K., Treude, T., Sommer, S., Zajączkowski, M. & Rasmussen, T.L. Response of benthic foraminifera to ecological succession in cold seeps from Vestnesa Ridge; implications for interpretations of paleo-seepage environments. (Manuscript).en_US
dc.relation.projectIDinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/RCN/SFF/223259/Norway/Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate/CAGE/en_US
dc.rights.accessRightsopenAccessen_US
dc.rights.holderCopyright 2021 The Author(s)
dc.subject.courseIDDOKTOR-004
dc.subjectVDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450::Marine geology: 466en_US
dc.subjectVDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450::Marin geologi: 466en_US
dc.titleAssessing the relationship between living benthic foraminifera and methane emission in the Arctic Oceanen_US
dc.typeDoctoral thesisen_US
dc.typeDoktorgradsavhandlingen_US


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