Abstract
During the summers of 1966 and 1967, 12 field trips were made to stations in North Sea Harbor, Southampton, Long Island (USA). From representative locations, 228 small samples of larger algae and their epiphytes (∼0.2 g dry weight) were taken aseptically. Enteromorpha intestinalis, the most widely distributed aquatic plant, was the most frequently collected. The large standing crop of Zostera marina and Zanichellia palustris was also sampled. Foraminifera were most abundant in epiphytic communities of Enteromorpha in early summer and later spread to Zostera, Zanichellia, Ulva, Polysiphonia, and Ceramium. Foraminifera were rarely found in epiphytic communities of Fucus or Codium. By summers' end Enteromorpha rarely had a standing crop of foraminifera. One of the most abundant foraminiferan species, Protelphidium tisburyensis, was found most frequently on Enteromorpha; Quinqueloculina spp occurring on Enteromorpha, less frequently. Ammonia beccarri and Elphidium spp were abundant in the environment, and showed little substrate preference. Patches of decaying Enteromorpha had the greatest standing crop of foraminifera and low species diversity index (0.581). Young green patches had a much higher species diversity index (0.94). Indices for Zostera, Zanichellia, Polysiphonia, Fucus, Ulva and Codium were, respectively, 0.82, 0.99, 0.86, 0.70, 0.77, and 0.196. No correlation was found between epiphytic community weight and total number of foraminifera recovered. The standing crop of epiphytes/g substrate dry weight was lower at some field stations; possibly explained by stronger current. Of the total samples, 50.4% were positive, with an average of 18 foraminifera/sample, or 40 foraminifera/g substrate plant and epiphytes. Twenty six samples were classified as bloom with 50 or more forams (57 to 425)/sample. Species diversity indices for these blooms ranged from 0.38 to 1.12. Ammonia beccarii was the dominant form in 18 blooms, Allogromia laticollaris and Protelphidium tisburyensis in 3; Elphidium incertum, Quinqueloculina seminulum and Trochammina inflata in 1 each.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Bandy, O. L.: Distribution of some shallow-water Foraminifera in the Gulf of Mexico. Prof. Pap. U.S. geol. Surv. 254-F, 125–141 (1954).
Boltovsky, E.: Seasonal occurrences of some living foraminifera in Puerto Deseado (Patagonia, Argentina). J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer. 39, 136–145 (1964).
—: Depth at which foraminifera can survive in sediments. Contr. Cushman Fdn foramin. Res. 17, 43–45 (1966).
Bradshaw, J. S.: Laboratory experiments on ecology of foraminifera. Contr. Cushman Fdn foramin. Res. 12, 87–106 (1961).
—: Environmental parameters and marsh foraminifera. Limnol. Oceanogr. 13, 26–38 (1968).
Brooks, A. L.: Standing crop, vertical distribution and morphometries of Ammonia beccarii. Limnol. Oceanogr. 12, 667–684 (1967).
Butcher, R.: A new species of Nonion (Foraminifera) from the Woods Hole region. Contr. Cushman Fdn foramin. Res. 24, 21–23 (1948).
Buzas, M. A.: The distribution and abundance of foraminifera in Long Island Sound. Smithson. misc. Collns 149, 1–89 (1965).
—: The discrimination of morphological groups of Elphidium in Long Island Sound through canonical analysis and invariant characters. J. Paleont. 40, 585–594 (1966).
—: An application of canonical analysis as a method for comparing faunal areas. J. Anim. Ecol. 36, 563–577 (1967).
—: On the spatial distribution of foraminifera. Contr. Cushman Fdn foramin. Res. 19, 1–11 (1968).
Cifelli, R.: The morphology and structure of Ammonia beccarii (Linné). Contr. Cushman Fdn foramin. Res. 13, 119–126 (1962).
Cushman, J. A.: The foraminifera of the Atlantic Ocean. Bull. U.S. natl Mus. 104, 1–18 (1930).
—: The foraminifera of the Atlantic Ocean. Bull. U.S. natl Mus. 104, 1–179 (1931).
—: Foraminifera from the shallow water of the New England coast. Spec. Publs Cushman Lab. 12, 1–37 (1944).
— and W. Bronnimann: Some new genera and species of foraminifera from brackish waters of Trinidad. Contr. Cushman Lab. foramin. Res. 24, 15–21 (1948a).
—: Additional new species of arenaceous Foraminifera from shallow waters of Trinidad. Contr. Cushman Lab. foramin. Res. 24, 37–42 (1948b).
— and R. Todd: Foraminifera from the coast of Washington. Spec. Publs Cushman Lab. 21, 1–23 (1947).
Føyn, B.: Foraminiferstudien. 1. Der Lebenszyklus von Discorbina vilardeboana d'Orbigny. Bergens Mus. Årb. 1936 (natury. R), 1–23 (1936).
Hedley, R. H. and J. St. Wakefield: Clone culture studies of a new Rosalinid foraminifer from Plymouth, England and Wellington, New Zealand. J. mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 47, 121–128 (1967).
Jones, M. L.: A quantitative evaluation of the benthonic fauna off Point Richmond, California. Univ. Calif. Publs Zool. 67, 219–320 (1961).
Lee, J. J.: A new approach to nutrition, physiology, and mineral cycling of foraminifera. United States Atomic Energy Commission NYO 3396-10. (Copies available from the New York Operations Office of the AEC). (1967).
Lee, J. J.: A new approach to nutrition, physiology, and mineral cycling of foraminifera. United States Atomic Energy Commission NYO 3396-14. (Copies available from the New York Operations Office of the AEC). (1968).
—, H. D. Freudenthal, W. A. Muller, V. Kossoy, S. Pierce and R. Grossman: Growth and physiology of foraminifera in the laboratory. Pt 3. Initial studies of Rosalina floridana. Micropaleontology 9, 449–466 (1963).
—, M. McEnery, S. Pierce, H. D. Freudenthal and W. A. Muller: Tracer experiments in feeding littoral foraminifera. J. Protozool. 13, 659–670 (1966).
— and H. Rubin: Quantitative studies on the growth of Allogromia laticollaris. J. Protozool. 16, 377–395 (1969).
Lee, J. J., R. J. Stone, M. McEnnery and W. A. Muller: Physiological perspectives on the ecology of foraminifera in a Long Island salt marsh. Proc. Shellfish Cultural Conference April, 1968. Reg. mar. Resources Concl. Nassau-Suffolk Regional Planning Bd 1968.
Loeblich, A. R., Jr. and H. Tappan: ... In: Treatise on invertebrate paleontology, 1, pp 1–510, 2, 511–900 Pt C, Protista 2, sarcodina, Ed. by R. C. Moore. ...: Geological Society of America 1964.
Lynts, G. W.: Distribution of recent foraminifera in upper Florida Bay and associated Sounds. Contr. Cushman Fdn foramin. Res. 13, 127–144 (1962).
—: Observations on some recent Florida Bay foraminifera. Contr. Cushman Fdn foramin. Res. 16, 67–69 (1965).
—: Variation of foraminiferal standing crop over short lateral distances in Buttonwood Sound, Florida Bay. Limnol. Oceanogr. 11, 562–566 (1966).
Muller, W. A. and J. J. Lee: Apparent indispensability of bacteria in foraminiferan nutrition. J. Protozool. 16, 471–478 (1969).
Myers, E. H.: Biological evidence as to the rate at which tests of foraminifera are contributed to the sediments. J. Paleont. 16, 397–398 (1942a).
—: A quantitative study of the productivity of foraminifera in the sea. Proc. Am. phil. Soc. 85, 325–342 (1942b).
—: Life activities of foraminifera in relation to marine ecology. Proc. Am. phil. Soc. 86, 439–457 (1943).
Moore, W. E.: Ecology of recent foraminifera in northern Florida Keys. Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 41, 727–741 (1957).
Natland, M. L.: New species of foraminifera from the later tertiary of the Los Angeles basin. Bull. Scripps Instn Oceanogr. tech. Ser. 4, 137–164 (1938).
Parker, F. L.: Foraminifera species off Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Bull. Mus. comp. Zool. Harv. 106, 391–423 (1952a).
—: Foraminiferal distribution in the Long Island Sound—Buzzards Bay area. Bull. Mus. comp. Zool. Harv. 106, 428–473 (1952b).
— and W. D. Athearn: Ecology of marsh foraminifera in Poponesset Bay, Massachusetts. J. Paleont. 33, 333–343 (1959).
—, F. B. Phleger and J. F. Peirson: Ecology of foraminifera from San Antonio Bay and environs, southwest Texas. Spec. Publs Cushman Fdn 2, 1–75 (1953).
Phleger, F. B.: Foraminifera ecology off Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Bull. Mus. comp. Zool. Harv. 6, 315–390 (1952).
—: Foraminifera and deep-sea research. Deep Sea Res. 2, 1–23 (1954).
—: Ecology of foraminifera in south-eastern Mississippi Delta area. Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 39, 712–752 (1955).
—: Ecology and distribution of recent foraminifera, 297 pp. Baltimore: John Hopkins Press 1960.
—: Patterns of living benthonic foraminifera, Gulf of California. Marine geology of the Gulf of California—a Symposium. Mem. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 3, 377–394 (1964a).
—: Foraminiferal ecology and marine geology. Mar. Geol. 1, 16–43 (1964b).
—: Patterns of marsh foraminifera, Galveston Bay, Texas. Limnol. Oceanogr. 10, 169–184 (1965).
— and J. S. Bradshaw: Sedimentary environments in a marine marsh. Science, N.Y. 154, 1551–1553 (1966).
Saunders, R.: Emandation of the foraminiferal genus Pelmerinella (1934) and erection of the foraminiferal genus Helenia. J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 47, 370–374 (1957).
Todd, R. and D. Low: Near-shore foraminifera of Martha's Vineyard Island, Massachusetts. Contr. Cushman Fdn foramin. Res. 12, 5–21 (1961).
Uchio, T.: Ecology of living benthonic foraminifera from the San Diego, California area. Spec. Publs Cushman Fdn 5, 1–72 (1960).
Warren, J.: Foraminifera of the Busas-Scofield Bayou region, S.E. Louisiana. Contr. Cushman Fdn foramin. Res. 8, 29–40 (1957).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by G. L. Voss, Miami
Supported by US AEC Contracts AT (30-1) 3396 and AT (30-1) 3995. Ref. numbers NYO 3396-17 and NYO 3995-2.
Much of this study was carried out in the Living Foraminifera Laboratory, Department of Micropaleontology of the American Museum of Natural History.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lee, J.J., Muller, W.A., Stone, R.J. et al. Standing crop of foraminifera in sublittoral epiphytic communities of a Long Island salt marsh. Mar. Biol. 4, 44–61 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00372165
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00372165