RESPONSE OF DEEP-SEA BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA TO A SIMULATED SEDIMENTATION EVENT

The response of deep-sea benthic foraminifera to a simulated sedimenta tion event was assessed in a shipboard microcosm by using transmission electron microscopy, organic carbon, adenosine nucleotide, ETS assays and live observations. A rapid activation of foraminiferal metabolism was detected with an increase in ETS activity and a distinct decrease in AMP to build up ATP. Based on this physiological-awakening reactio n, food was gathered by pseudopodial activity and ingested in high qua ntities. Three days after feeding, high quality food was found in the digestion vacuoles leading to an increase of 89% in individual organic carbon contents. During the following six days, this food was convert ed into biomass as lipids and other reserve compounds were built up. A fter ten days, digestion vacuoles contained degraded matter only. The final shift in individual biomass was 16.9% in comparison to the initi al population.