Florida's Springs Coast as an area of Refuge for Foraminifera during a time of Increased Ocean Acidification

Florida's Springs Coast is a unique coastal system of salt marshes spanning the length of three counties, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus. Many springs discharge directly into coastal waters or into rivers that collectively discharge millions of liters of water into coast waters every day. As a consequence of the Paleogene limestone lithology of this region of Florida, the chemical properties of the spring water include high alkalinity and calcium concentrations. Moreover, the limestone lithology extends offshore, with a limited cover of quartz sand and shell debris.

Benthic foraminifera occur abundantly on the shallow shelf off the Springs Coast. Common species include porcelaneous milioline species that host algal endosymbionts that are common throughout the Caribbean. Based on the prevalence of the benthic foraminifer Archaias angulatus in the seagrass beds along this shallow shelf, a previous study proposed that the Springs Coast provides favorable conditions for "subtropical" calcifying organisms such as A. angulatus, despite existing literature indicating that salinities and winter temperatures are below the tolerance of this species.

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages are recognized as ecologically important bioindicators. The objective of this study is to determine the distribution of total foraminiferal assemblages as they relate to the unique environmental settings and microhabitats off Florida's Springs Coast. By sampling transects propagating from inshore to offshore, I hope to identify a gradient of changing assemblages determined by environmental influences. The underlying motivation for this research is to determine if, during a time of increasing ocean acidification, the Springs Coast may provide suitable water chemistry and physical habitat to provide a refuge for such calcifying organisms.