BEELLA-MEGASTOMA (EARLAND) IN LATE PLEISTOCENE NORWEGIAN-GREENLAND SEA SEDIMENTS - STRATIGRAPHY AND MELTWATER IMPLICATION

Prior to this work, the planktic foraminiferal genus Beella Banner and Blow (1960) has never been described froM Pleistocene sediments from the Norwegian-Greenland Sea (NGS). The general characteristics of this species agree well with the most recent emendation of the genus Beella. Accordingly, the described species is considered to be Beella megastoma (Earland). Test sizes range from 200-700 mum, but specimens are mainly confined to the 250-500 mum mesh-size fraction. Interpretations of stable isotopes, sedimentological, and other micropaleontological data indicate that this species is not simply a 'warm-water form' and, despite its low abundances, it is a species of major paleoceanographic significance. Stratigraphically, it is confined to meltwater events of Termination II, III, and VI (oxygen isotopic stage boundary 5/6, 7/8, and 15/16) and not to the ensuing interglacial maximum. Hence, these 'Beella-events' represent a particular oceanographic phenomenon and are designated in accordance with the present numerical system of deglacial terminations as Event B2, B3, and B6 respectively.