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Analysis of sediment traps located either side of the Subtropical Front east of New Zealand reveals a strong association between water masses and foraminiferal assemblages. The composition and timing of foraminiferal productivity is distinct between waters north and south of the front, and these di!erences are also re#ected in the assemblages of nearby core-tops. The sediment trap data indicate highly seasonal #ux patterns in this region, so sedimentary records may represent #ux during a particular season, rather than throughout the annual cycle. This pronounced seasonality has implications for our estimates of the annual temperature range based on faunal assemblages. This study shows that despite strong #ux seasonality the annual sea-surface temperature (SST) range is reliably estimated from the sediment trap foraminiferal assemblages by the modern analog technique. The successful estimation of the annual SST range also indicates that the annual #ux obtained from these sediment traps is representative of the longer term #ux preserved in surface sediments. Core-top assemblages from this region can therefore be directly related to modern sea-surface conditions, providing an analogue for interpreting past environmental change from fossil assemblages.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Particulate fux; Paleoceanography; Foraminifera; Subtropical convergences; Oceanic fronts; New Zealand
Research Division:	Earth Sciences
Research Group:	Atmospheric Sciences
Research Field:	Climate Change Processes
Objective Division:	Environment
Objective Group:	Climate and Climate Change
Objective Field:	Climate and Climate Change not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	King, AL (Miss Anna King)
UTAS Author:	Howard, W (Associate Professor William Howard)
ID Code:	56322
Year Published:	2001
Web of Science® Times Cited:	41
Deposited By:	IASOS
Deposited On:	2009-04-22
Last Modified:	2009-06-01
Downloads:	0