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Benthic foraminiferal depth distribution within the sediment in a modern ria
Author(s) -
Castignetti P.,
Manley C.J.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
terra nova
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.353
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-3121
pISSN - 0954-4879
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3121.1998.00158.x
Subject(s) - foraminifera , benthic zone , geology , sediment , facies , paleontology , oceanography , range (aeronautics) , materials science , structural basin , composite material
The depth in sediment at which benthic Foraminifera are living is obviously of importance to high‐resolution stratigraphy. Sediment cores were retrieved in June 1994 and April 1995 from a range of sedimentological facies within Plymouth Sound. The cores were sub divided into sections and analysed for live (stained) benthic Foraminifera. Analysis revealed that maximum densities of live Foraminifera generally occurred within the uppermost 1 cm, particularly within muddy sediments. Sandy sediments exhibited a more diffuse distribution of live Foraminifera, although maximum densities occurred in the upper centimetres (1–3 cm) of sediment. An unusually deep distribution of the normally epifaunal species Elphidium crispum (Linné) was discovered in cores from Withyhedge Beacon both in 1994 and 1995. The live assemblages were subdivided into three groups on the basis of test type which broadly reflected the energy level of the environment.