DISTRIBUTION OF SURFACE SEDIMENT BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA IN THE SOUTHWESTERN BARENTS SEA

We have studied the distribution of living and dead benthic foraminifera in surface sediment samples in the southwestern Barents Sea. Based on the 13 most important benthic species among a total of 165 species, we have identified four assemblages (AS) using factor analysis: Nonion AS, Trifarina-Cibicides AS, Reophax AS and Epistominella AS. Generally, the faunal assemblages correlate well to summer bottom water temperatures and/or to sediment texture, carbonate content and organic carbon. The Nonion assemblage is positively correlated to the surface sediment pelite content and negatively correlated with the sediment carbonate content. The Trifarina-Cibicides AS correlates to the warmest bottom waters (about 5-degrees-C) and coarser sediments. The Reophax AS is found in colder waters (2-4-degrees-C) and correlates positively to the organic carbon content in the surface sediments. The Epistominella AS is influenced by reworking.