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Recent benthic foraminiferal distribution and related environmental factors in Ezcurra Inlet, King George Island, Antarctica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 March 2010

André Rosch Rodrigues ,
João Carlos Cattini Maluf ,
Elisabete de Santis Braga  and
Beatriz Beck Eichler
André Rosch Rodrigues*
Affiliation:
Instituto Oceanográfico/Universidade de São Paulo, USP, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
João Carlos Cattini Maluf
Affiliation:
Instituto Oceanográfico/Universidade de São Paulo, USP, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
Elisabete de Santis Braga
Affiliation:
Instituto Oceanográfico/Universidade de São Paulo, USP, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
Beatriz Beck Eichler
Affiliation:
Instituto Oceanográfico/Universidade de São Paulo, USP, Praça do Oceanográfico, 191, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
*
andrerr@usp.br
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Abstract

This investigation attempts to determine which environmental parameters of the bottom water and sediment control recent foraminifera fauna at Ezcurra Inlet (King George Island, Antarctica), using data collected during four summers (2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2006/07). The study revealed that Ezcurra Inlet contain typical Antarctic foraminifera fauna with three distinct assemblages and few differences in environmental parameters. The species Bolivina pseudopunctata, Fursenkoina fusiformis, Portatrochammina antarctica, and Adercotryma glomerata were abundant in the samples. An elevated abundance, richness and diversity were common at the entrance of the inlet at depths greater than 55 m, where the inlet was characterized by low temperatures and muddy sand. In the inner part of the inlet (depth 30–55 m), richness and diversity were low and the most significant species were Cassidulinoides parkerianus, C. porrectus, and Psammosphaera fusca. Shallow waters showed low values of richness and abundance and high temperatures coupled with coarser sediment. In areas with high suspended matter concentrations and pH values associated with low salinity the most representative species were Hippocrepinella hirudinea and Hemisphaerammina bradyi.

Keywords

Antarctic foraminiferabottom sedimentbottom waternutrient contentoceanographic biomarkersSouth Shetland Islands
Type
Biological Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 22 , Issue 4 , August 2010 , pp. 343 - 360
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2010

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