Biovolume accumulation rates for the dominant planktonic taxa plotted against age for CON01-603-2

S. grandis is by far the species that contributes the most to the total biovolume accumulation rate with a peak value just above 4×106 μm3 cm−2 year−1. Its relative contribution is over 50% in most samples (Fig. 5). Only taxa such as S. carconeiformis, C. ornata and the vegetative cells of A. skvortzowii contribute significantly (with maximum around 0.6×106 μm3 cm−2 year−1). Other taxa, despite having large relative percentages in parts of the interglacial contribute little to the total BVAR. Biovolumes for benthic taxa were not calculated but their contribution to the total biovolume accumulation rate can be considered negligible as most of these taxa are of small size and the intervals in which they dominate in relative percentages correspond to low diatom valve accumulation rate.