Distribution of benthic foraminifera in surface sediments of the Portuguese continental margin

• Main Author: Seiler, W C
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 1975
• Subjects: Atlantic Ocean; Atlantische Kuppenfahrten 1967/1-3; BC; BCR; Box corer; Box corer (Reineck); FBG; GIK10764-1; GIK10767-1; GIK10768-2; GIK10769-2; GIK10770-2; GIK10771-2; GIK10772-1; GIK10774-1; GIK10777-2; GIK10790-1; GIK10792-1; GIK10801-1; GIK10802-1; GIK10803-1; GIK10804-1; GIK10805-1; GIK10806-1; GIK10807-1; GIK10808-1; GIK10809-1; GIK10810-2; GIK10811-1; GIK10813-1; KAL; Kasten corer; M19; M8; M8_011-2; M8_056-1; M8_060-1; M8/56-1 M8056A; M8011A; M8060A M8/60-1; Meteor (1964); North Atlantic Ocean; Photo grab; Rossbreiten-Expedition 1970; van Veen Grab; VGRAB; Van Veen; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.548428; https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.548428

Living and dead benthic Foraminifera of 26 sediment surface samples from the East Atlantic continental margin (off Portugal) are studied. The stations are located on two profiles off Cape Mondego and off Cape Sines, ranging in water depth from 45 to 3905 meters. The highest values of standing crop are on the shelf (200 m) (up to 420 specimens/10 cm**3). Below 1000 m water depth standing crop is low (5 -24 specimens/10 cm**3). 151species and species groups are distinguished. Most of the living species do occur in a wide depth range. Faunal depth boundaries are at 50/100m, at 600/800 m, and at 1000 m. Results published from the North Atlantic and the East Mediterranean do not differ from those obtained in samples off Portugal. Depth of water (e.g. hydrostatic pressure) or another factor being controlled by depth (e.g. limitation of food supply) seems to be the most important factor of the benthic foraminiferal distribution.