Isotopic Data for Pleistocene Foraminifera from the Great Australian Bight

Analysis of carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of large benthic foraminifera tests (Marginopora vertebralis) that lived in the Great Australian Bight during the late Pleistocene. The dataset, provided by Parks Australia, reveals tests enriched by 1 to 3‰ in both 18O and 13C relative to modern specimens. This study indicates shelf bathymetry was a critical determinant of past depositional environments.

Use Cases

• Reconstructing past ocean salinity levels based on oxygen isotopic compositions.
• Modeling paleoenvironments and sea-level changes during marine isotope stages 2, 3, and 4 based on described hypersaline conditions.
• Studying photosynthetic activity in ancient shallow-water settings based on carbon isotopic values.
• Comparing Pleistocene and modern foraminifera isotopic signatures to understand environmental change.

Strengths

• Data reveals a specific isotopic enrichment of 1 to 3‰ in both 18O and 13C.
• Interpretations are linked to concrete environmental conditions, such as hypersaline waters up to 56 ppt salinity.
• Provides a temporal context covering portions of marine isotope stages 2, 3, and 4.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data freshness should be verified; last updated metadata is 2026-07-16 23:35:17.047942.

Provenance

Source

Parks Australia, referencing a source publication.

Collection Method

Analysis of isotopic compositions from foraminifera tests.

Time Range

Late Pleistocene, specifically portions of marine isotope stages 2, 3, and 4.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-16 23:35:17.047942; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Great Australian Bight.