Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution of live benthic Foraminifera at three oceanographically dissimilar sites in the northeast Atlantic: preliminary results

  • Conference paper
Book cover Island, Ocean and Deep-Sea Biology

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 152))

Abstract

Live (i.e. rose Bengal stained) benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the 0–1 cm layer of multiple core samples were examined at three contrasting sites in the northeast Atlantic as part of the Natural Environment Research Council Deep Ocean Benthic Boundary Layer (BENBO) Thematic Programme. Sites A (3600 m water depth) and C (1900 m) were located in the Rockall Trough while Site B (1100 m) was in the Hatton—Rockall Basin. Wet-sorting sediment residues (>125 µm fraction) revealed more abundant (98–190 individuals/10 cm2) and diverse (71–99 species /27 cm2) assemblages than found previously in studies employing dry-sorting techniques. At all three sites, the assemblages were numerically dominated by delicate soft-bodied and agglutinated species, most of which are undescribed. Calcareous taxa formed a relatively small proportion of the assemblages (23% of individuals at Site B, 13% at Site C and 7% at Site A). Conversely, the agglutinated hormosinaceans (mainly Reophax species) became more prominent with increasing depth and accounted for 8% of the assemblage at Site B, 33% at Site C and 51% at Site A. Foraminifera represented 67-81% of the fauna in the samples and greatly outnumbered the metazoans. The assemblage at Site A has similarities with abyssal assemblages, while those at Sites B and C contain characteristic bathyal species. At Site B, Uvigerina peregrina and Melonis barleeanum are abundant, suggesting that there are high organic carbon inputs at this site. Reduced species diversity was observed at Site A following the spring phytodetritus bloom due to the presence of large numbers of juvenile Hoeglundina elegans, although it is not clear whether this species is responding to phytodetritus inputs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Alongi, D. M.. and. M. Pichon, 1988. Bathyal meiobenthos of the western Coral Sea: distribution and abundance in relation to microbial standing stocks and environmental factors. Deep Sea Res. 35: 491–503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alve, E., 1994. Opportunistic features of the foraminifer Stainforthia fusìformrns (Williamson): evidence from Frierfjord, Norway. J. micropalaeontol. 13: 24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnett, P. R. O., J. Watson.and. D. Connelly, 1984. A multiple core for taking virtually undisturbed samples from shelf, bathyal and abyssal sediment. Oceanol. Acta 7: 399–408.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belanger, R E..and. S. S. Streeter, 1980. Distribution and ecology of benthic Foraminifera in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea. Mar. Micropaleontol. 5: 401–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belkin, I. M., S. Levitus, J. Antonov.and. S. V. Malmberg, 1998. Great Salinity Anomalies in the North Atlantic. Prog. Oceanogr. 41: 1–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger, W. H., 1989. Global Maps of Ocean Productivity. In: Berger, W. H., V. S. Smetacek. and. G. Wefer (eds), Productivity of the Ocean: Present and Past. John Wiley.and. Sons Limited, New York: 429–455.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger, W. H., K. Fischer, C. Lai. and. G. Wu, 1987. Ocean productivity and organic carbon flux. Part 1. Overviews and maps of primary production, University of California, San Diego, SIO Reference 87–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernhard, J. M., 1988. Postmortem vital staining in benthic Foraminifera: duration and importance in population and distributional studies. J. foramin. Res. 18: 143–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bett, B. J. et al., 1998. RRS Charles Darwin Cruise 112C, 19 May-24 June 1998. Atlantic Margin Environmental Survey: seabed survey of deep-water sreas (17th round tranches) to the north and west of Scotland. Southampton Oceanography Centre Cruise Report, No. 25: 171 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Billett, D. S. M., R. S. Lampitt, A. L. Rice. and. R. F. C. Mantoura, 1983. Seasonal sedimentation of phytoplankton to the deep-sea benthos. Nature 302: 520–522.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Black, K., 1999. Investigating the deep ocean benthic boundary layer–from Huxley to BENBO. Ocean Challenge 9: 18–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Black, K. S., 1998. Cruise Report, RRS Charles Darwin Cruise 113, 28th June-22 July, 1998. Dunstaffange Marine Laboratory: 71 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Booth, D. A., 1983. Non Tidal Currents in the Rockall Trough. SMBA Marine Physics Group Report: 24 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady, H. B., 1884. Report of the Foraminifera dredged by H.M.S. Challenger, during the years 1873–1876. Rept. Scientific Results Explor. Voyage H.M.S. Challenger, Zoology 9: 1–814 115pls.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodniewicz, I., 1965. Recent and some Holocene Foraminifera of the Southern Baltic Sea. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 10: 131–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, W. B., J. G. Jeffreys. and. C. W. Thomson, 1870. Preliminary report on the scientific exploration of the deep-sea in H.M.S. Porcupine, during the summer of 1869. Proc. r. Soc., 19: 146–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corliss, B. H., 1991. Morphology and microhabitat preferences of benthic Foraminifera from the northwest Atlantic Ocean. Mar. Micropaleontol. 17: 195–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corliss, B. H.. and. C. Chen, 1988. Morphotype patterns of Norwegian Sea deep-sea benthic Foraminifera and ecological implications. Geology 16: 716–719.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corliss, B. H.. and. S. Emerson, 1990. Distribution of Rose Bengal stained deep-sea benthic Foraminifera from the Nova Scotian continental margin and Gulf of Maine. Deep Sea Res. 37: 381–400.

    Google Scholar 

  • Currie, R. I., 1986. Introduction: early investigations in the Rockall Channel. Proc. r. Soc., Edinb. 88B: 1–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deacon, M., 1971. Scientists and the Sea 1690–1900: a Study of Marine Science. Academic Press, London: 445 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickson, R., J. Lazier, J. Meincke, P. Rhines. and. J. Swift, 1996. Longterm co-ordinated changes in the convective activity of the North Atlantic. Prog. Oceanogr. 38: 241–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Douglas, R.. and. F. Woodruff, 1981. Deep-sea Foraminifera. In Emiliani, C. (ed.), The Sea. Volume 7. John Wiley.and. Sons: 1233–1327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellett, D. J., A. Edwards. and. R. Bowers, 1986. The hydrography of the Rockall Channel - an overview. Proc. r. Soc., Edinb. 88B: 61–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fariduddin, M.. and. P. Loubere, 1997. The surface ocean productivity response of deeper water benthic Foraminifera in the Atlantic Ocean. Mar. micropaleontol. 32: 289–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, R. A., A. S. Corbet. and. C. B. Williams, 1943. The relationship between the number of species and number of individuals in a random sample of an animal population. J. anim. Ecol. 12: 42–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gadyukov, A. A..and. N. P. Lukashina, 1988. Distribution Patterns of Present-Day Benthic Foraminifera of the North Atlantic and Norwegian Sea as Indicated by Factor Analysis. Oceanology 28: 344–347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gage, J. D., 1986. The benthic fauna of the Rockall Trough: regional distribution and bathymetric zonation. Proc. r. Soc., Edinb. 88B: 159–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gage, J. D.. and. P. A. Tyler, 1991. Deep Sea Biology. A Natural History of Organisms at the Deep-Sea Floor. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 504 pp.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ganssen, G.. and. G. Lutze, 1982. The aragonite compensation depth at the northeastern Atlantic continental margin. `Meteor’ Forsch.-Ergebnisse 36: 57–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gooday, A. J., 1986a. Meiofaunal Foraminiferans from the bathyal Porcupine Seabight (Northeast Atlantic): size structure, standing stock, taxonomic composition, species diversity and vertical distribution in the sediment. Deep Sea Res. 33: 1345–1373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gooday, A. J., 1986b. Soft-shelled Foraminifera in meiofauna samples from the bathyal northeast Atlantic. Sarsia 71: 275–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gooday, A. J., 1988. A response by benthic Foraminifera to the deposition of phytodetritus in the deep sea. Nature 332: 70–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gooday, A. J., 1993. Deep-sea benthic Foraminiferal species which exploit phytodetritus: Characteristic features and controls on distribution. Mar. micropaleontol. 22: 187–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gooday, A. J., 1994. The Biology of Deep-Sea Foraminifera: A Review of Some Advances and Their Applications in Paleoceanography. Palaios 9: 14–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gooday, A. J., 1996. Epifaunal and shallow infaunal Foraminiferal communities at three abyssal NE Atlantic sites subject to different phytodetritus input regimes. Deep Sea Res. 43: 1395–1431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gooday, A. J., 1999. Biodiversity of Foraminifera and other protists in the deep-sea: scales and patterns. Belg. J. Zool 129: 61–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gooday, A. J.. and. P. J. D. Lambshead, 1989. Influence of seasonally deposited phytodetritus on benthic Foraminiferal populations in the bathyal northeast Atlantic: the species response. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 58: 53–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gooday, A. J.. and. A. E. Rathburn, 1999. Temporal variability in living deep-sea benthic Foraminifera: a review. Earth Sci. Rev. 46: 187–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gooday, A. J.. and. C. M. Turley, 1990. Responses of benthic organisms to inputs of organic material to the ocean floor: a review. Phil. Trans. r. Soc., Lond. 331: 119–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gooday, A. J., B. J. Bett, R. Shires. and. P. J. D. Lambshead, 1998. Deep-Sea benthic Foraminiferal species diversity in the NE Atlantic and NW Arabian Sea: a synthesis. Deep Sea Res. II 45: 165–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gooday, A. J., M. Carstens. and. H. Thiel, 1995. Micro-and NanoForaminifera from Abyssal Northeast Atlantic Sediments: A Preliminary Report. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 80: 361–383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gooday, A. J., L. A. Levin, P. Linke. and. T. Heeger, 1992. The role of benthic Foraminifera in deep-sea food webs and carbon cycling. In Rowe, G. T..and. V. Pariente (eds), Deep-Sea Food Chains and the Global Carbon Cycle. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht: 63–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, J., 1982. Theta-S relationships and water masses in the eastern North Atlantic. Deep Sea Res. 29: 1021–1033.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holliday, N. P., R. T. Pollard, J. F. Read. and. H. Leach. 2000. Water Mass Properties and Fluxes in the Rockall Trough; 1975–1998. Deep Sea Res. 47: 1302–1332

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurlbert, S. M., 1971. The nonconcept of species diversity: a critique and alternative parameters. Ecology 52: 577–586.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, E. J. W., M. Ewing, J. I. Ewing. and. S. L. Eittreim, 1970. Influences of Norwegian Sea overflow water on sedimentation in the northern North Atlantic and Labrador Sea. J. Geophys. Res. 75: 1655–1680.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, R. W., 1986. Distribution of morphogroups of Recent agglutinating Foraminifera in the Rockall Trough - a synopsis. Proc. r. Soc., Edinb. 88B: 55–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, R. W., 1994. The Challenger Foraminifera. Oxford University Press, Oxford: 149 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, A.. and. D. Ellett, 1965. On the contribution of overflow water from the Norwegian Sea to the hydrographie structure of the North Atlantic Ocean. Deep Sea Res. 12: 129–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin, L. A., S. E. Childers. and. C. R. Smith, 1991. Epibenthic, agglutinating Foraminiferans in the Santa Catalina Basin and their response to disturbance. Deep Sea Res. 38: 465–483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lukashina, N. R, 1983. The Distribution of Recent Bottom-Dwelling Foraminifera in the Northeast Atlantic. Oceanology 23: 72–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lukashina, N. P., 1988a. Benthic Foraminifera Communities and Water Masses of the North Atlantic and the Norway-Greenland Basin. Oceanology 28: 612–617.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lukashina, N. P., 1988b. Distribution Patterns of Benthic Fo- raminifera in the North Atlantic. Oceanology 28: 492–497.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lutze, G. F., 1980. Depth distribution of benthic Foraminifera on the continental margin off NW Africa. `Meteor’ Forsch.-Ergebnisse 32: 31–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackensen, A., G. Schmiedl, J. Harloff. and. M. Giese, 1995. Deep-sea Foraminifera in the South Atlantic Ocean: ecology and assemblage generation. Micropaleontology 41: 342–358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackensen, A., H. R. Sejrup. and. E. Jansen, 1985. The distribution of living benthic Foraminifera on the continental slope and rise off Southwest Norway. Mar. Micropaleontol. 9: 275–306.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCave, I. N., 1986. Epilogue: recommendations of the Workshop Session. Proc. r. Soc., Edinb. 88B: 291–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meincke, J., 1986. Convection in the oceanic waters west of Britain. Proc. r. Soc., Edinb. 88B: 127–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murosky, M. W.. and. S. W. Snyder, 1994. Vertical distribution of stained benthic Foraminifera in sediments of Southern Onslow Bay, North Carolina continental shelf. J. foramin. Res. 24: 158–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray, J. W., 1991. Ecology and Palaeoecology of Benthic Foraminifera. Longmann Scientific and Technical, New York: 397 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray, J. W..and. S. S. Bowser, 2000. Mortality, protoplasm decay rate, and reliability of staining techniques to recognize `living’ Foraminifera: a review. J. foramin. Res. 30: 66–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray, J. W.. and. C. M. Taplin, 1984. Larger agglutinated Foraminifera from the Faeroe Channel and Rockall Trough collected by W.B. Carpenter. J. Micropalaeontol. 3: 59–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray, J. W., J. F. Weston, C. A. Haddon. and. A. D. J. Powell, 1986. Miocene to Recent bottom water masses of the Northeast Atlantic: an analysis of benthic Foraminifera. Geological Society Special Publication 21: 219–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, W. K.. and. T. R. Jones. 1865. On some Foraminifera of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans including Davis Strait and Baffins Bay. Phil. Trans r. Soc., Lond. 155: 325–441.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearce, G. J., 1980. Benthonic Foraminifera from the continental slope and their fossil counterparts. PhD thesis, University of Aberystwyth: 716 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poore, R. Z.. and. W. A. Berggren, 1975. Late Cenozoic plankton Foraminiferal biostatigraphy and paleoclimatology of Hatton-Rockall Basin: DSDP Site 116. J. foramin. Res. 5: 270–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice, A. L., D. S. M. Billett, J. Fry, A. W. G. John, R. S. Lampitt, R. F. C. Mantoura. and. R. J. Morris, 1986. Seasonal deposition of phytodetritus to the deep-sea floor. Proc. r. Soc., Edinb. 88B: 265–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice, A. L.. and. R. Owen., 1999. Decommissioning the Brent Spar. E.and. FN Spoon, London: 182 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruddiman, W. F., 1972. Sediment redistribution on the Reykjanes Ridge. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 83: 2039–2062.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmitz, W. J..and. M. S. McCartney, 1993. On the North Atlantic Circulation. Rev. Geophys. 31: 29–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schroder, C. J., B. D. Scott.and. F. S. Medioli, 1987. Can smaller benthic Foraminifera be ignored in paleoenvironmental analysis? J. foramin. Res. 17: 101–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shannon, C. E.. and. W. Weaver, 1963. The Mathematical Theory of Communication. University of Illinois Press, Urbana: 117 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, E. H., 1949. Measurement of diversity. Nature 163: 688.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smart, C. W.. and. A. J. Gooday, 1997. Recent benthic Foraminifera in the abyssal Northeast Atlantic Ocean: Relation to phytodetrital inputs. J. foramin. Res. 27: 85–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thiel, H., O. Pfannkuche, G. Schriever, K. Lochte, A. J. Gooday, C. H. Hemleben, R. F. G. Mantoura, C. M. Turley, J. W. Patching. and. F. Riemann, 1989. Phytodetritus on the Deep-Sea Floor in a Central Oceanic Region of the Northeast Atlantic. Biol. Oceanogr. 6: 203–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, C. W., 1873. The Depths of the Sea. MacMillan and Co., London: 527 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tietjen, J. H., 1971. Ecology and distribution of deep-sea meiobenthos off North Carolina. Deep Sea Res. 18: 941–957.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Weering, T. C. E., I. N. McCave. and. I. R. Hall, 1998. Ocean Margin Exchange (OMEX I) benthic processes study. Prog. Oceanogr. 42: 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, J. J., 1991. Importance of continental margins in the marine biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nitrogen. Nature 350: 53–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weston, J. F., 1985. Comparison between Recent benthic Foraminiferal faunas at the Porcupine Seabight and Western Approaches Continental Slope. J. Micropalaeontol. 4: 165–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weston, J. F..and. J. W. Murray, 1984. Benthic Foraminifera as deep-sea water-mass indicators. Benthos ‘83; 2nd International Symposium on Benthic Foraminifera (Pau, April, 1983 ). Rev. Paleobiol., Vol. Spec. 2: 605–610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, J., 1889. Report on the deep sea trawling cruise off the southwest coast of Ireland: Foraminifera. Ann. Mag. Nat. His. Series 6: 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, J., 1891. Report on the Foraminifera obtained off the southwest of Ireland during the cruise of the `Flying Falcon,’ 1888. Proc. R. Ir. Acad. 3: 460–502.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zezina, O. N., 1997. Biogeography of the Bathyal Zone. Adv. mar. Biol. 32: 389–426.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. George Deacon Division for Ocean Processes, Southampton Oceanography Centre, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK

    J. A. Hughes & A. J. Gooday

  2. School of Ocean and Earth Science, Southampton Oceanography Centre, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK

    J. W. Murray

Authors
  1. J. A. Hughes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. J. Gooday
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. W. Murray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Plymouth Environmental Research Centre (Department of Biological Sciences), University of Plymouth, PL4 8AA, Plymouth, UK

    M. B. Jones

  2. Secção de Biologia Marinha, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade dos Açores, Rua da Mãe de Deus 58, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, Portugal

    J. M. N. Azevedo , A. I. Neto , A. C. Costa  & A. M. Frias Martins , ,  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this paper

Cite this paper

Hughes, J.A., Gooday, A.J., Murray, J.W. (2000). Distribution of live benthic Foraminifera at three oceanographically dissimilar sites in the northeast Atlantic: preliminary results. In: Jones, M.B., Azevedo, J.M.N., Neto, A.I., Costa, A.C., Martins, A.M.F. (eds) Island, Ocean and Deep-Sea Biology. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 152. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1982-7_21

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1982-7_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5663-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-1982-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation