Bottom carbonate production in Little America Basin, Ross Sea, Antarctica

LAB samples show that the living carbonate fauna (biocoenosis) is not entirely preserved in the death assemblage (taphocoenosis) of related sediments. Although several of the collected invertebrate species produce calcareous skeletal parts, only small amounts of these skeletons are preserved as bioclasts in near surface deposits. Our collections show that less stable carbonate minerals, such as coral aragonite, are lost rapidly. Where present, the resulting biogenic carbonate sediment close to the ice-shelf is a calcitic bryomol assemblage. Such assemblage is typical of polar and cool-temperate settings.