Synchronous Changes of Nitrogen and Carbon Isotopic Ratios and Nannoplankton Assemblage in Marine Sediments off Peru at 250 ka: A Role of Phytoplankton in Primary Ocean Productivity

We report the mechanism controlling changes of δ15Norg and δ13Corg values of marine organic matter, based on the change of calcareous nannoplankton assemblage during the last 500,000 years in core samples from ODP Hole 846B off Peru in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. The δ15Norg values fluctuate in a range from 2.1‰ to 6.7‰, giving an abrupt increase since about 250 ka with the averages of 3.8‰ and 5.0‰ during the older and younger periods, respectively. The δ13Corg values change in a range from ?23.5‰ to ?20.1‰ in an inverse correlation with δ15Norg values, describing an increase of average values at 250 ka as well as those of δ15Norg values. The total organic carbon content also shows averages of 0.6% and 0.3% during the younger and older periods, respectively. The numerical increase of deep dwelling species (Florisphaera profunda) of calcareous nannoplankton during the younger period in comparison with the older period indicates that these chemical and isotopic jumps synchronized with nannoplankton assemblage changes in marine sediments are caused by activity of deep dwellers in photic zone more stratified by an abrupt decline of trade wind strength on this sea area since about 250 ka. A study coupling δ15Norg and δ13Corg values and nannoplankton assemblage can be a useful method for evaluating the extent of stratification of photic zone and the roles of surface and deep dwellers of phytoplankton in producing primary organic matter.