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Relationship between ‘live’ and dead benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the abyssal NE Atlantic

Relationship between ‘live’ and dead benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the abyssal NE Atlantic
Relationship between ‘live’ and dead benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the abyssal NE Atlantic
Dead foraminiferal assemblages within the sediment mixed layer provide an integrated, time-averaged view of the foraminiferal fauna, while the relationship between dead and live assemblages reflects the population dynamics of different species together with taphonomic processes operating over the last few hundred years. Here, we analysed four samples for ‘live’ (Rose-Bengal-stained) and dead benthic foraminifera (0–1 cm sediment layer, >150 ?m) from four sites in the area of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO; NE Atlantic, 4850 m water depth). Two sites were located on abyssal hills and two on the adjacent abyssal plain. Our results indicate that the transition from live to dead benthic foraminiferal assemblages involved a dramatic loss of delicate agglutinated and organic-walled tests (e.g. Lagenammina, Nodellum, Reophax) with poor preservation potential, and to a lesser extent that of some relatively fragile calcareous tests (mostly miliolids), possibly a result of dissolution. Other processes, such as the transport of tests by bottom currents and predation, are unlikely to have substantially altered the composition of dead faunas. Positive live to dead ratios suggest that some species (notably Epistominella exigua and Bolivina spathulata) may have responded to recent phytodetritus input. Although the composition of live assemblages seemed to be influenced by seafloor topography (abyssal hills vs. plain), no such relation was found for dead assemblages. We suggest that PAP-SO fossil assemblages are likely to be comparable across topographically contrasting sites, and dominated by calcareous and some robust agglutinated forms with calcitic cement (e.g. Eggerella).
abyssal hills, agglutinated foraminifera, L/D ratio, Porcupine Abyssal Plain, taphonomic loss
0967-0637
190–201
Stefanoudis, Paris V.
2cbf86e8-b292-4f14-8b03-c37469df1d96
Bett, Brian J.
61342990-13be-45ae-9f5c-9540114335d9
Gooday, Andrew J.
d9331d67-d518-4cfb-baed-9df3333b05b9
Stefanoudis, Paris V.
2cbf86e8-b292-4f14-8b03-c37469df1d96
Bett, Brian J.
61342990-13be-45ae-9f5c-9540114335d9
Gooday, Andrew J.
d9331d67-d518-4cfb-baed-9df3333b05b9

Stefanoudis, Paris V., Bett, Brian J. and Gooday, Andrew J. (2017) Relationship between ‘live’ and dead benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the abyssal NE Atlantic. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 121, 190–201. (doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2017.01.014).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Dead foraminiferal assemblages within the sediment mixed layer provide an integrated, time-averaged view of the foraminiferal fauna, while the relationship between dead and live assemblages reflects the population dynamics of different species together with taphonomic processes operating over the last few hundred years. Here, we analysed four samples for ‘live’ (Rose-Bengal-stained) and dead benthic foraminifera (0–1 cm sediment layer, >150 ?m) from four sites in the area of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain Sustained Observatory (PAP-SO; NE Atlantic, 4850 m water depth). Two sites were located on abyssal hills and two on the adjacent abyssal plain. Our results indicate that the transition from live to dead benthic foraminiferal assemblages involved a dramatic loss of delicate agglutinated and organic-walled tests (e.g. Lagenammina, Nodellum, Reophax) with poor preservation potential, and to a lesser extent that of some relatively fragile calcareous tests (mostly miliolids), possibly a result of dissolution. Other processes, such as the transport of tests by bottom currents and predation, are unlikely to have substantially altered the composition of dead faunas. Positive live to dead ratios suggest that some species (notably Epistominella exigua and Bolivina spathulata) may have responded to recent phytodetritus input. Although the composition of live assemblages seemed to be influenced by seafloor topography (abyssal hills vs. plain), no such relation was found for dead assemblages. We suggest that PAP-SO fossil assemblages are likely to be comparable across topographically contrasting sites, and dominated by calcareous and some robust agglutinated forms with calcitic cement (e.g. Eggerella).

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Stefanoudis et al. 2017.pdf - Accepted Manuscript
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Accepted/In Press date: 26 January 2017
e-pub ahead of print date: 27 January 2017
Published date: 1 March 2017
Keywords: abyssal hills, agglutinated foraminifera, L/D ratio, Porcupine Abyssal Plain, taphonomic loss
Organisations: Ocean and Earth Science, Marine Biogeochemistry

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Local EPrints ID: 405266
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/405266
ISSN: 0967-0637
PURE UUID: 347391ff-927c-4ef9-9955-af11800de918

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Date deposited: 30 Jan 2017 16:41
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 06:16

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Contributors

Author: Paris V. Stefanoudis
Author: Brian J. Bett
Author: Andrew J. Gooday

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