Coccolith assemblage, planktonic foraminifera assemblage, planktonic and benthic foraminifera stable isotopes, carbonate and organic matter content for sediment core MD04-2718@en

Marine biological carbon pump in the Southern Ocean is frequently referred as an important driver of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration changes in the late quaternary world, but its variation pattern in the Indian sector remains elusive. We present micropaleontological and geochemical results during the last 800,000 years at site MD04-2718 (South Indian Ocean) to shed light on this issue. A total of 253 samples were analysed for coccolith assemblage at GEOPS, Paris Saclay University. For each sample, coccolith slides were prepared using the settling method of Beaufort et al. (2014; doi: 10.1038/nprot.2014.028), and subsequently analysed using the SYRACO system (Beaufort et al.,2014; doi: 10.1038/nprot.2014.028). The species composition, absolute abundance, and mean mass are reported. Calcite mass was also calculated following Brandon et al. (2022; doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107556). A total of 96 samples were analysed for planktonic foraminifera assemblage at LSCE following the method of Brandon et al. (2022; doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107556). Calcite mass of planktonic foraminifera in each sample was also estimated based on mean weights of the major planktonic foraminifera species from the fraction above 150 µm and their abundances. Besides, summer sea surface temperatures were estimated for each sample using the Modern Analog Technique of Therón et al. (2004; doi: 10.2113/50.4.391) and the transfer function of Govin et al. (2009; doi: 10.1029/2008PA001603). […]