Radiocarbon-age differences among coexisting planktic foraminifera shells: The Barker Effect
Article first published online: 16 JUN 2011
Copyright 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.
Volume 26, Issue 2, June 2011
How to Cite
2011), Radiocarbon-age differences among coexisting planktic foraminifera shells: The Barker Effect, Paleoceanography, 26, PA2222, doi:10.1029/2011PA002116., and (
- Issue published online: 16 JUN 2011
- Article first published online: 16 JUN 2011
- Manuscript Accepted: 24 MAR 2011
- Manuscript Revised: 15 MAR 2011
- Manuscript Received: 7 JAN 2011
- Barker Effect
 For slowly accumulating sediments, a major contrast exists in the radiocarbon-age differences among coexisting shells of planktic foraminifera between those experiencing little dissolution and those experiencing significant dissolution. In the former, the ages generally agree to within a couple of hundred years. In the latter, age differences as large as 1000 years are common. The most likely explanation appears to be the Barker Effect, which involves the preferential fragmentation of dissolution-prone G. sacculifer and G. ruber. The whole shells of these species picked for radiocarbon dating have shorter residence times in the bioturbation zone than those for dissolution-resistant species (including benthics). As low accumulation rate sediment cores often fail to yield reliable radiocarbon-based ocean ventilation ages, where possible, such studies should be conducted on high accumulation rate cores.