Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of benthic foraminifera in the Northeast Water Polynya, Greenland

doi:10.1016/S0924-7963(96)00052-8

Journal of Marine Systems

Volume 10, Issues 1–4, January 1997, Pages 445-465

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-7963(96)00052-8 Get rights and content

Abstract

Abundance, biofacies and ATP content of benthic foraminifera (>63 μm) were studied in the Northeast Water (NEW) Polynya (77–81°N, 5–17°W) over the ice-free summer, 1993, to investigate how a polynya system might influence the underlying benthic community. In the living assemblage, distinguished by Rose Bengal staining, over 60 taxa could be identified. The biofacies identified was similar to that of other Arctic shelf habitats. Foraminifera were counted in 3 size fractions (63–125 μm, 125–250 μm and >250 μm), with 65% of the foraminifera occurring in the smallest size fraction (63–125 μm). Total abundances (>63 μm) in the uppermost 1 cm averaged approximately 200 ind/10 cm³ and declined down-core, as did the number of species. Abundances and species composition correlated positively with sediment chlorophyll and ATP content, with maxima occurring in the shallower northern regions of the polynya, suggesting a general dependence on food. Foraminera biomass was estimated to be 0.1-0.3 g C_org/m². Abundances, biomass and ATP content were comparable to ice-free, deep-sea regions in the Norwegian Sea. Temporal changes observed over a 2 month period at one location were difficult to distinguish from spatial and analytical variability. Contrary to expectations, growth was unpronounced at the community and at a species level, implying either a delayed response of the benthic foraminiferal community to food inputs from the overlying water column or the presence of biological limitations other than food, such as predation.

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Due to the Arctic amplification effect, the Svalbard archipelago is an important area for studying ongoing environmental changes. However, its marine ecosystem is extremely complex. In this study, we analyze modern assemblages of dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts) and benthic foraminifera from surface sediment samples around Svalbard. We use multivariate statistical analyses to examine relationships between environmental conditions (summer and winter sea surface temperature and salinity, sea-ice cover, etc.) and both microfossil groups to evaluate their use as proxies for reconstructions of the marine environment in the region. Our results show that the most important factor controlling the environment around Svalbard is the Atlantic Water which mostly impacts the western coast, but its influence reaches as far as the eastern coast of Nordaustlandet. However, on a local scale, such factors as the sea-ice cover, the presence of tidewater glaciers, or even the morphology and hydrology of fjords become increasingly important. We found that two dinocyst species, cysts of Polarella glacialis and Echinidinium karaense, can be considered regional winter drift ice indicators. The relationships between environmental parameters and benthic foraminiferal assemblages are much more difficult to interpret. Although statistical analysis shows a correlation of benthic foraminiferal species with various environmental parameters, this correlation might be somewhat coincidental and caused by other factors not analyzed in this study. Nevertheless, the use of two complementary microfossil groups as (paleo)environmental indicators can provide a more comprehensive picture of the environmental conditions.
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Analysis of benthic foraminifera in surface samples from 23 sites on the Northeast Greenland continental shelf reveal key assemblage differences between sites. Cluster analysis creates two clear geographical faunal assemblage zones: the 1) inner shelf, and 2) mid and outer shelf sites. These assemblages differ significantly, with the inner shelf sites being characterised by a high percentage and concentration of calcareous species, whilst the mid and outer shelf sites are dominated by agglutinated taxa. At almost all sites, the calcareous assemblages are dominated by Cassidulina neoteretis and Cassidulina reniforme, suggesting that they thrive across the shelf. Stetsonia horvathi, Oridorsalis tener, as well as Glomulina oculus and other miliolid species are found to be key calcareous species at many sites in the inner shelf zone, but they are rare-to-absent on the mid and outer shelf. Canonical correspondence analysis shows that September sea-ice cover and bottom water oxygen content are positively correlated with benthic foraminiferal assemblages at inner shelf sites, whereas organic carbon content is correlated with those in the mid and outer shelf. The formation of seasonal sea-ice and the Northeast Water polynya rejects brine into surrounding waters and transports CO₂ to the seafloor, creating a highly corrosive environment for calcium carbonate. These environments are also highly productive, as indicated by the high organic carbon content and low bottom water oxygen content. The oxidation of this organic material creates CO₂. We propose that these processes are key drivers in the dissolution of calcareous tests. In contrast, extensive sea-ice, high bottom water oxygen content and low primary productivity in the glacier-proximal region facilitates carbonate preservation.
Sedimentary labile organic carbon and pore water redox control on species distribution of benthic foraminifera: A case study from Lisbon-Setúbal Canyon (southern Portugal)
2008, Progress in Oceanography
Rose Bengal stained benthic foraminifera were studied from 11 cores collected along two depth transects off southern Portugal: one in the Lisbon–Setúbal Canyon and the other along the canyon edge. The total standing stocks and distribution of foraminifera were investigated in relation to sediment and pore water geochemistry. Nitrate was used as a redox indicator, sedimentary chlorophyll a and CPE (chloroplastic pigment equivalents) contents as a measure of labile organic matter, and total organic carbon as a measure of bulk organic matter availability.
The canyon sediments were enriched in organic carbon and phytopigments at all water depths in comparison with the canyon edge. Water depth seemed to control sedimentary phytopigment content, but not total organic carbon. No significant correlation was seen between pigment and total organic carbon content.
The abundance of calcareous foraminifera correlated with the phytodetritus content, whereas a weaker correlation was observed for the agglutinated taxa. Therefore, calcareous foraminifera appear to require a fresher food input than agglutinated taxa. The foraminiferal species composition also varied with pigment content and nitrate penetration depth in the sediment, in line with the TROX concept. Phytopigment-rich (surficial CPE content >20 μg/cm³) sediments with a shallow nitrate penetration depth (∼1 cm depth) were inhabited by generally infaunal species such as Chilostomella oolina, Melonis barleeanus and Globobulimina spp. As the nitrate penetration increased to ∼2 cm depth in sediment and the pigment content remained relatively high (>15 μg/cm³), Uvigerina mediterranea and Uvigerina elongatastriata became dominant species. With declining CPE content and increasing nitrate penetration depth, the foraminiferal assemblages changed from the mesotrophic Cibicides kullenbergi–Uvigerina peregrina assemblage to the oligotrophic abyssal assemblage, mainly consisting of agglutinated taxa.
Microhabitat preferences and stable carbon isotopes of endobenthic foraminifera: Clue to quantitative reconstruction of oceanic new production?
2000, Marine Micropaleontology
Seventeen surface sediment samples from the North Atlantic Ocean off NE-Greenland between 76° and 81°N, and nine samples from the South Atlantic Ocean close to Bouvet Island between 48° and 55°S were taken with the aid of a Multiple Corer and investigated for their live (Rose Bengal stained) benthic foraminiferal content within the upper 15 cm of sediment. Preferentially endobenthic Melonis barleeanum, Melonis zaandami, and Bulimina aculeata as well as preferentially epibenthic Lobatula lobatula were counted from 1-cm-thick sediment slices each and analyzed for stable carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of their calcareous tests. Live and dead specimens were counted and measured separately. The carbon isotopic composition of the foraminifera was compared to that of the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) of simultaneously sampled bottom water. During a period of one month, one station off NE-Greenland was replicately sampled once every week and samples were processed as above.
Live specimens of Lobatula lobatula are confined to the uppermost two centimeters of sediment. Live specimens of Melonis spp. are found down to 8 cm within the sediment but with a distinct sub-surface maximum between 2 and 5 cm. The down-core distribution of live Bulimina aculeata shows a distinct surface maximum in the top centimeter and constant but low numbers down to 11-cm subbottom depth.
The average stable carbon isotopic composition (δ¹³C versus‰ PDB) of live Lobatula lobatula off NE-Greenland is by $0.4±0.1‰$ higher than the δ¹³C_DIC of the ambient bottom water at the time of sampling. There is evidence that this species calcify before the ice-free season, when bottom water δ¹³C_DIC is supposed to be higher. This would reconfirm the one-to-one relationship between δ¹³C of ambient water DIC and cibicids, widely used by paleoceanographers. Live Melonis barleeanum show a negative offset from bottom water DIC of $−1.7±0.6‰$ in the uppermost sediment and of $−2.2±0.5‰$ in 3–4-cm subbottom depth. All δ¹³C values of live Melonis spp. decrease within the upper four centimeters, regardless of the time of sampling and site investigated. The offset of live Bulimina aculeata from bottom water δ¹³C_DIC values of 8 stations rather constantly amounts to $−0.6±0.1‰,$ no matter what subbottom depth the specimens are from. At one station however, where is strong indication of elevated organic carbon flux, the negative offset averaged over all sub-bottom depths increases to $−1.5±0.2‰.$
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This sequence of storage and respiration may contribute to the process of seasonal CO₂ ‘rectification’ (sensu Yager et al., 1995) in some Arctic ecosystems.

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Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of benthic foraminifera in the Northeast Water Polynya, Greenland

Abstract

Mar. Micropaleontol.

J. Mar. Syst.

J. Mar. Syst.

Mar. Micropaleontol.

Continental Shelf Res.

J. Mar. Syst.

Biochem. Physiol. Pflanzen (BPP)

Ber. Geol.-Paläont. Inst. Univ. Kiel

Die Biomasse der Benthischen Foraminiferen. Auswertungen von “Meteor” —Expeditionen im östlichen Nordatlantik

Verbreitungsmuster benthischer Foraminiferen im Arktischen Ozean und in glazialen und interglazialen Sedimenten des Europäischen Nordmeers (Habilitationsschrift)

Benthic response to water column productivity patterns. Evidence ror benthic-pelagic coupling in the Northeast Water Polynya

J. Geophys. Res.

Distribution patterns of recent Foraminifera of the Bering Sea

Micropaleontology

The Northeast Water Polynya during summer 1992, Distribution and aspects of secondary production of copepods

J. Geophys. Res.

A multicorer for taking virtually undisturbed samples from shelf, bathyal and abyssal sediments

Oceanol. Acta

The distribution of benthic Foraminifera with respect to oxygen concentration and organic carbon levels in shallow-water Antarctic sediments

Limnol. Oceanogr.

Circulation and water masses of the East Greenland Shelf

J. Geophys. Res.

A rediscription of Trochqmmina nana (Brady) (Protozoa: Foraminiferida) with observations on several other recent Trochammminidae in the collections of the British Meseum (Natural History)

Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. London (Zool.)

On the hydrography of the Northeast Water Polynya

J. Geophys. Res.

Benthonic Foraminifera of the Chukchi Sea

Cushman Lab. Foraminiferal Res. Contrib.

Microhabitat of benthic foraminifera within deep-sea sediments

Nature

Determination of benthic rhizopod biomass using ATP analyses

J. Foraminiferal Res.

Benthonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy in the central North Pacific

Leg 17, DSDP. Int. Rep. DSDP

A practical strategy for analyzing multispecies distribution patterns

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

A response by benthic Foraminifera to the deposition of phytodetritus in the deep-sea

Nature

The role of benthic foraminifera in deep-sea food webs and carbon cycling

Energy-Charge-Messungen im marinen Benthos

Benthic-pelagic coupling, a benthic view

Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Annu. Rev.

Benthic-pelagic coupling in the Greenland-Norwegian Sea and its effect on the geological record

Geol. Rundsch.

Ecology of some Arctic Foraminifera

Micropaleontology

The 1992 summer circulation in the Northeast Water Polynya from acoustic Doppler: current profiler measurements

J. Geophys. Res.

Recent benthic foraminifera from the central Arctic ocean

J. Foraminiferal Res.

Recent benthonic foraminiferal biofacies in the Arctic Ocean

Micropaleontology

Lebendbeobachtungen und Untersuchungen des Energiestoffwechsels benthischer Foraminiferen aus dem Europäischen Nordmeer

Lebendbeobachtungen und Untersuchungen des Energiestoffwechsels benthischer Foraminiferen aus dem Europäischen Nordmeer