Planktonic-Benthic Ratio Productivity Proxy
Correct planktic/benthic observed test counts for caller differential recovery and screen a ratio band; ratio is not a unique productivity or water-depth estimator.
Description
Planktic and benthic tests can have different recovery probabilities.
Planktic and benthic tests can have different recovery probabilities. Their corrected ratio is a proxy, not a unique environmental measurement.
Correct planktic/benthic observed test counts for caller differential recovery and screen a ratio band; ratio is not a unique productivity or water-depth estimator.
When to use Planktonic-Benthic Ratio Productivity Proxy
Use this tool to correct planktic/benthic observed test counts for caller differential recovery and screen a ratio band; ratio is not a unique productivity or water-depth estimator.
Prepare the fossil measurements or occurrence records and the chosen calibration parameters. Retain the stated coordinate, age and measurement conventions.
How to use Planktonic-Benthic Ratio Productivity Proxy and understand its results
- Prepare the fossil measurements or occurrence records and the chosen calibration parameters. Retain the stated coordinate, age and measurement conventions.
- Enter plankticTestCount, benthicTestCount, plankticRecoveryProbability, benthicRecoveryProbability, callerRatioProxyBounds using the field table and calculation rules, then run the tool.
- Read recoveryAdjustedPlankticBenthicRatio, recoveryAdjustedPlankticFraction, withinCallerProxyBand. The explanation below defines the units, signs, ordering and any flags or placeholder values.
- If the tool reports an input issue, correct the values and run it again. Apply the stated assumptions when interpreting a successfully returned result.
| Input field | Meaning | Value type; see rules below | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| plankticTestCount | Planktic test count | integer | Required |
| benthicTestCount | Benthic test count | integer | Required |
| plankticRecoveryProbability | Planktic recovery probability | number | Required |
| benthicRecoveryProbability | Benthic recovery probability | number | Required |
| callerRatioProxyBounds | Caller ratio proxy bounds | list of number | Required |
Use nonnegative integer planktic and positive integer benthic counts, recoveries in (0,1] and two ordered nonnegative ratio bounds. Return corrected ratio, corrected planktic fraction and an inclusive band flag.1
ratio = (planktic count/planktic recovery)/(benthic count/benthic recovery) Units, indexing, boundary conditions and exceptional cases are defined in the calculation rules above.
| Output field | Meaning | Value type |
|---|---|---|
| recoveryAdjustedPlankticBenthicRatio | Recovery adjusted planktic benthic ratio | number |
| recoveryAdjustedPlankticFraction | Recovery adjusted planktic fraction | number |
| withinCallerProxyBand | Within caller proxy band | boolean |
{
"input": {
"plankticTestCount": 20,
"benthicTestCount": 10,
"plankticRecoveryProbability": 0.5,
"benthicRecoveryProbability": 1,
"callerRatioProxyBounds": [
2,
5
]
},
"output": {
"recoveryAdjustedPlankticBenthicRatio": 4,
"recoveryAdjustedPlankticFraction": 0.8,
"withinCallerProxyBand": true
}
}Limitations and assumptions
Water depth and productivity cannot be uniquely inferred from this ratio.
Numbers and computed results must be finite; overflow produces an error. Numeric lists are limited to 100,000 entries; the rules above may require smaller limits. Missing required fields, extra fields, wrong value types and violations of the calculation rules are input errors. A successfully returned false flag is an evaluated outcome; its meaning is explained above.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use Foraminifera Test Coiling Ratio Percent: Report observed foraminiferal coiling proportions with ambiguous tests retained on the full denominator; chirality alone does not infer temperature or a species identity. For a complementary task, use Mg/Ca Paleothermometry: Invert caller Mg/Ca=A exp(B T_C) with calibration-domain guard and ratio-only uncertainty; units/taxon/calcification-depth and dissolution effects remain explicit external assumptions.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Foraminifera Test Coiling Ratio Percent
Report observed foraminiferal coiling proportions with ambiguous tests retained on the full denominator; chirality alone does not infer temperature or a species identity.
- Mg/Ca Paleothermometry
Invert caller Mg/Ca=A exp(B T_C) with calibration-domain guard and ratio-only uncertainty; units/taxon/calcification-depth and dissolution effects remain explicit external assumptions.