BENTHIC FORAMINIFERAL DISTRIBUTION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Abstract

Other| April 01, 1999 BENTHIC FORAMINIFERAL DISTRIBUTION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA S. De Rijk; S. De Rijk 1Southampton Oceanography Centre, School of Ocean and Earth Science, Waterfront Campus, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S. R. Troelstra; S. R. Troelstra 2Institute for Earthsciences, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar E. J. Rohling E. J. Rohling 1Southampton Oceanography Centre, School of Ocean and Earth Science, Waterfront Campus, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information S. De Rijk 1Southampton Oceanography Centre, School of Ocean and Earth Science, Waterfront Campus, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom S. R. Troelstra 2Institute for Earthsciences, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands E. J. Rohling 1Southampton Oceanography Centre, School of Ocean and Earth Science, Waterfront Campus, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom Publisher: Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research Received: 01 Jun 1998 Accepted: 20 Oct 1998 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-264X Print ISSN: 0096-1191 © 1999 Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research Journal of Foraminiferal Research (1999) 29 (2): 93–103. https://doi.org/10.2113/gsjfr.29.2.93 Article history Received: 01 Jun 1998 Accepted: 20 Oct 1998 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation S. De Rijk, S. R. Troelstra, E. J. Rohling; BENTHIC FORAMINIFERAL DISTRIBUTION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 1999;; 29 (2): 93–103. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gsjfr.29.2.93 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyJournal of Foraminiferal Research Search Advanced Search Abstract Recent benthic foraminiferal distribution patterns in the Mediterranean Sea are investigated in relation to water depth, substrate characteristics and food availability. Patterns of presence/absence abundances, and foraminiferal diversities differ between the main eastern and western Mediterranean basins. The small basins in the Sicily Strait show the closest affinity with the western basin. The primary result of the present study is that no high resolution Mediterranean-wide bathymetric zonation can be determined because the modern benthic distribution patterns appear to be governed by interactions between water depth, substrate, and food supply. We can, however, define a broad subdivision between “shallow-water” and “deep-water” assemblages, which can be traced throughout the Mediterranean Sea. The deep-water (>1000 m) assemblage is characterized by low diversity and consists of Glomospira charoides, Gyroidinoides circularis/orbicularis, Gyroidinoides altiformis, Anomalinoides minimus, Robertinoides translucens and Biloculinella/Nummoloculina spp. The shallow-water assemblage has higher diversities and consists of Cassidulina crassa, Cassidulina laevigata/carinata, and Bulimina marginata.Decreasing primary productivity values from west to east result in a similar decrease in organic flux to the sea floor and, therefore, in lower food availability to the benthic fauna. This trend might explain why species with low food demands, such as Gyroidinoides circularis/orbicularis and Glomospira charoides are more abundant in the eastern Mediterranean. Deep infaunal species such as Globobulimina spp., Chilostomella spp., and Brizalina alata seem to prefer high amounts of sedimentary organic carbon and thrive on sediments with low carbonate concentrations. This results in a distribution more or less restricted to areas with highest primary productivity values. Maxima of this group are consequently found in the Alboran Sea, off Algeria, and in the northern Aegean Sea. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.