Trace elements in foraminiferal calcite

15.11 Summary and Conclusions

Trace elements in foraminifer shells are controlled by seawater composition and the physical and biological conditions during calcification. Because it is possible to calibrate shell composition against the controlling factors, foraminiferal trace elements provide researchers with a toolbox of powerful proxies to investigate the chemical, physical, and biological evolution of the oceans. Some of the most important challenges faced by trace element researchers are to (1) establish precise relationships among shell chemistry, seawater composition, and physical and biological factors; (2) to apply elemental tracers to the past and take into account the range of potential complications that affect proxy interpretation; and (3) to establish which secondary factors such as diagenesis may affect post-depositional shell chemistry. With a precise knowledge of the factors that control shell composition, and in conjunction with stable isotopes, foraminiferal trace elements should provide a very powerful tool to study ocean and climate evolution.