Planktonic Foraminifera Abundance Data with Size Normalization Model

Data from the FORCIS database containing records of planktonic Foraminifera collected from the global ocean at various depths over the past century. The dataset supports a new normalization approach for estimating abundance (ind/m³) within a specified size fraction range, modeled using a Michaelis-Menten function. Scripts by Sonia Chaabane enable data preparation, model training, validation, and comparison with a previous correction scheme.

Use Cases

• Normalizing planktonic foraminifera abundance estimates across different size fractions based on the described Michaelis-Menten model.
• Comparing a new size normalization model against a previous correction scheme across various ocean depths.
• Applying the FORCIS number concentration-size correction scheme to an independent dataset for validation.
• Analyzing the cumulative distribution of planktonic foraminifera across size fractions in global ocean samples.

Strengths

• Data sourced from the authoritative FORCIS database, which aggregates global ocean records.
• Includes R code for the full analytical pipeline from data preparation to model validation.
• Model enables normalization of abundance estimates to any size fraction equal to or larger than 100 µm.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

FORCIS database (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7390791)

Collection Method

Records collected from the global ocean at various depths over the past century.

Time Range

Past century

Geography

Global ocean