EXAMINING FORAMINIFERAL MICROFOSSILS TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF PREHISTORIC HURRICANES AT TOPSAIL HILL NATIONAL PARK IN FLORIDA

Foraminifera are single-celled marine organisms that build protective calcium carbonate shells. They are highly sensitive to environmental changes such as temperature, salinity, and water energy, making them excellent indicators of past hurricane events. Their species composition and abundance change during storms, with some species carried inland by storm surges and preserved in overwash deposits, which help reconstruct the timing and intensity of past hurricanes.

This research examined the use of foraminifera in sediment cores from Campbell Lake, Topsail Hill National Park, Florida, to reconstruct past hurricane events. Surface sediment samples were collected from the lake’s coastal environment and analyzed for foraminifera, which are sensitive indicators of storm-induced marine inundation. The samples were washed and weighed. Foraminifera were isolated from the bulk sample for analysis. The abundance of foraminifera in the sediment layers was analyzed to identify overwash deposits, which serve as a record of past storm surges and help reconstruct the timing and intensity of past hurricanes. Further analysis of the depth of foraminifera in the sediment cores is ongoing to refine the understanding of historical hurricane patterns in the region.