Planktonic foraminifera from near the West African coast and a consideration of faunal parcelling in the North Atlantic

• Published in: The Journal of Foraminiferal Research
• Main Authors: Cifelli, R., Benier, C. S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research 1976
• Subjects: North Atlantic; Planktonic foraminifera
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/31987/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/31987/1/Cifelli.pdf; https://doi.org/10.2113/gsjfr.6.4.258

Plankton records from three ATLANTIS II cruise tracks near the west African coast reveal a deep penetration of northern forms into tropical waters. They are carried there by the clockwise movement of the North Atlantic Gyre and are found mixed with subtropical and tropical forms. In light of these plankton records, and previous ones from other parts of the Gyre, a view of North Atlantic faunal parcelling is given. The traditional three-fold parcelling (northern, subtropical and tropical) is recognizable. However, gyral circulation tends to generate a rotary pattern of distribution with abundant faunal mixing. The subtropical fauna occupies the core of the Gyre and mixed faunal associations occur around the margins. The northern and tropical faunas contribute to these mixed faunal associations along clockwise dispersal routes.