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Recent benthic foraminiferal assemblages from cold-water coral mounds in the Porcupine Seabight

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Abstract

Cold-water coral ecosystems are characterised by a high diversity and population density. Living and dead foraminiferal assemblages from 20 surface sediment samples from Galway and Propeller Mounds were analysed to describe the distribution patterns of benthic foraminifera on coral mounds in relation to different sedimentary facies. Hard substrates were examined to assess the foraminiferal microhabitats and diversities in the coral framework. We recognised 131 different species, of which 27 prefer an attached lifestyle. Epibenthic species are the main constituents of the living and dead foraminiferal assemblages. The frequent species Discanomalina coronata was associated with coral rubble, Cibicides refulgens showed preference to the off-mound sand veneer, and Uvigerina mediterranea displayed abundance maxima in the main depositional area on the southern flank of Galway Mound, and in the muds around Propeller Mound. The distribution of these species is rather governed by their specific ecological demands and microhabitat availability than by the sedimentary facies. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages from coral mounds fit well into basin-wide-scale distribution patterns of species along the western European continental margin. The diversity of the foraminiferal faunas is not higher on the carbonate mounds as in their vicinity. The living assemblages show a broad mid-slope diversity maximum between 500 and 1,300 m water depth, which is the depth interval of coral mound formation at the Celtic and Amorican Margin. The foraminiferal diversity maximum is about 700 m shallower than comparable maxima of nematodes and bivalves. This suggests that different processes are driving the foraminiferal and metazoan diversity patterns.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the European Commission through the FP6 Integrated Project HERMES (Hotspot Ecosystem Research on the Margin of European Seas), contract No. GOCE-CT-2005-511234-1, and FP7 Collaborative Project HERMIONE (Hotspot Ecosystem Research and Man’s Impact on European Seas), contract number 226354. The authors are grateful to captains, crews, and scientific participants on RV Meteor cruise M61 and R/V Poseidon cruises PO265, PO292, and PO316. Dr. Andy Henderson, gave access to foraminiferal slides from Henry Bowman Brady stored in the HMS Challenger collection at the Natural History Museum, London, and Sabine Dorst, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel, scrutinised the foraminiferal references. The efforts of two anonymous reviewers are gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Leibniz-Institut für Meereswissenschaften IFM-GEOMAR, Wischhofstrasse 1-3, 24148, Kiel, Germany

    Joachim Schönfeld, Wolf-Christian Dullo & Olaf Pfannkuche

  2. Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Abteilung für Meeresforschung, Südstrand 40, 26382, Wilhelmshaven, Germany

    André Freiwald

  3. Renard Centre of Marine Geology (RCMG), Department of Geology and Soil Science, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S8, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Andres Rüggeberg

  4. Universität Köln, Institut für Geologie und Mineralogie, Zülpicher Strasse 49A, 50674, Köln, Germany

    Steffi Schmidt

  5. RPS Energy, Goldsworth House, Denton Way, Goldsworth Park, Woking, GU21 3LG, United Kingdom

    Janice Weston

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Correspondence to Joachim Schönfeld.

Appendices

Appendix 1

Benthic foraminiferal species which are considered in this paper. Taxonomic references were given by Ellis and Messina (1940–2009) and Jones (1994). They are not included in the reference list.

 

Acervulina inhaerens Schultze 1854

Ammoassilina alveoliniformis (Milett) = Massilina alveoliniformis Milett 1898

Ammobaculites agglutinans (d’Orbigny) = Spirolina agglutinans d’Orbigny 1846

Ammodiscus tenuis Brady 1884

Ammolagena clavata (Jones and Parker) = Trochammina irregularis (d’Orbigny) var. clavata Jones and Parker 1860

Amphicorynascalaris (Batsch) = Nautilus (Orthoceras) scalaris Batsch 1791

Aschemonellacatenata (Norman) = Astrorhizacatenata Norman 1877

Astrorhizacrassatina Brady 1884

Bathysiphoncapillare De Folin 1886

Bigenerinanodosaria d’Orbigny 1826

Bolivinasubspinescens Cushman 1922

Botellinalabyrinthica Brady 1881

Buccellafrigida (Cushman) = Pulvinulinafrigida Cushman 1921

Buliminaacanthia Costa 1856

Buliminamarginata d’Orbigny 1826

Buliminastriatamexicana Cushman = Buliminastriata d’Orbigny var. mexicana Cushman 1922

Carpenteriautricularis (Carter) = Polytremautriculare Carter 1876

Cassidulinalaevigata d’Orbigny 1826

Note: the taxon includes Cassidulina carinata of Margreth et al. (2009)

Cassidulinaneoteretis Seidenkrantz 1995

Chilostomellaovoidea Reuss 1850

Note: Chilostomella oolina of Coles et al. (1996)

Cibicideslobatulus (Walker and Jacob) = Nautiluslobatulus Walker and Jacob 1798

Note: Lobatula lobatula of Margreth et al. (2009). The taxon includes the smaller variety without a distinct keel that was determined as Cibicides ungerianus by Margreth et al. (2009)

Cibicidesrefulgens Montfort 1808

Cibicidoideskullenbergi (Parker) = Cibicideskullenbergi Parker 1953

Cibicidoidespachyderma (Rzehak) = Truncatulinapachyderma Rzehak 1886

Note: Cibicidoides pseudoungerianus (Cushman 1922) of authors

Cibicidoidesrobertsonianus (Brady) = Planorbulina (Truncatulina) robertsoniana Brady 1881

Cibicidoideswuellerstorfi (Schwager) = Anomalinawuellerstorfi Schwager 1866

Cornuloculina sp

Cornuspirainvolvens (Reuss) = Operculinainvolvens Reuss 1850

Cribrostomoidesnitidus (Goes) = Haplophragmiumnitidum Goes 1896

Cribrostomoidesscitulum (Brady) = Lituola (Haplophragmium) scitulum Brady 1881

Cribrostomoidessubglobosum (Cushman) = Haplophragmoidessubglobosum Cushman 1910

Crithioninahispida Flint 1899

Crithioninamamilla Goes 1894

Cyclamminacancellata Brady 1879

Dendrophyraarborescens (Heron-Allen and Earland) = Dendroninaarborescens Heron-Allen and Earland 1922

Discanomalinacoronata (Parker and Jones) = Anomalinacoronata 1857

Discanomalinasemipunctata (Bailey) = Rotalinasemipunctata 1851

Dorothiabradyana Cushman 1936

Note: Our specimens from Galway Mound and Hebrides Shelf are more coarsely agglutinated and slightly larger than the specimens figured by Brady (1884), Natural History Museum London collection no. 2F1462, but the other morphological features as the subrounded apertural face, whitish cement, and the straight and distinct sutures were found identical

Dorothiagoesi (Cushman) = Textulariagoesi Cushman 1911

Eggerellabradyi (Cushman) = Verneuilinabradyi Cushman 1911

Eggerellascabra (Williamson) = Buliminascabra Williamson 1858

Elphidiumexcavatum (Terquem) = Polystomellaexcavata Terquem 1875

Elphidiumincertum (Williamson) = Polystomellaumbilicatula (Walker) var. incerta Williamson 1858

Fissurinamarginata (Montagu) = Vermiculummarginatum Montagu 1803

Glandulinalaevigata (d’Orbigny) = Nodosaria (Glandulina) laevigata d’Orbigny 1826

Glandulinarotundata Reuss 1850

Globobuliminaaffinis (d’Orbigny) = Buliminaaffinis d’Orbigny 1839

Note: Preaglobobulimina ovata of Coles et al. (1996)

Globulinaminuta (Roemer) = Polymorphinaminuta Roemer 1838

Glomospiracharoides (Jones and Parker) = Trochamminasquamata Jones and Parker var. charoides Jones and Parker1860

Gyroidinaneosoldanii Brotzen 1936

Gyroidinaorbicularis d’Orbigny 1826

Hanzawaiarhodiensis (Terquem) = Truncatulina rhodiensis Terquem 1878

Note: Hanzawaia boueana of Margreth et al. (2009)

Hanzawaiasolei Colom 1957

Hoeglundinaelegans (d’Orbigny) = Rotalia (Turbinulina) elegans d’Orbigny 1826

Hormosinellaguttifera (Brady) = Lituola (Reophax) guttifera Brady 1881

Hyalineabalthica (Schröter) = Nautilusbalthicus Schröter 1783

Hyperamminafriabilis Brady 1844

Hyrrokkinsarcophaga Cedhagen 1994

Karreriellabradyi (Cushman) = Gaudryinabradyi Cushman 1911

Karreriellanovangliae (Cushman) = Gaudryinabaccata Schwager var. novangliae Cushman 1922

Labrospirajeffreysii (Williamson) = Nonioninajeffreysii Williamson 1858

Lagenasulcata (Walker and Jacob) = Serpulasulcata Walker and Jacob 1798

Lagenamminaarenulata (Skinner) = Reophaxdifflugiformis Brady var. arenulata Skinner 1961

Laminoniontumidum (Cushman and Edwards) = Astrononiontumidum Cushman and Edwards 1937

Lenticulinaatlantica (Barker) = Robulusatlanticus Barker 1960

Lenticulinarotulata (Lamarck) = Lenticulitesrotulata 1804

Lituotubalituiformis (Brady) = Trochamminalituiformis Brady 1879

Melonisbarleeanum (Williamson) = Nonioninabarleeana Williamson 1858

Mississippinaconcentrica (Parker and Jones) = Pulvinulinaconcentrica Parker and Jones 1864

Note: Stromatorbina concentrica of Margreth et al. (2009)

Neolenticulinaperegrina (Schwager) = Cristellariaperegrina Schwager 1866

Nummuloculinairregularis (d’Orbigny) = Biloculinairregularis d’Orbigny 1839

Oolinastriata d’Orbigny 1839

Patellinacorrugata Williamson 1858

Parafissurinaovata (Seguenza) = Fissurinaovata Seguenza 1862

Pelosinacylindrica Brady 1884

Pelosinarotundata Brady 1879

Placopsilinaconfusa Cushman 1920

Planulinaariminensis d’Orbigny 1826

Psammosphaerafusca Schultze 1875

Pseudomassilinaaustralis (Cushman) = Massilinaaustralis Cushman 1932

Pulleniabulloides (d’Orbigny) = Nonioninabulloides d’Orbigny 1846

Pulleniaquinqueloba (Reuss) = Nonioninaquinqueloba Reuss 1851

Pyrgodepressa (d’Orbigny) = Biloculinadepressa d’Orbigny 1826

Pyrgofornasinii Chapman and Parr 1935

Pyrgolucernula (Schwager) = Biloculinalucernula Schwager 1866

Pyrgomurrhina (Schwager) = Biloculinamurrhina Schwager 1866

Pyrgorotalaria Loeblich and Tappan 1953

Pyrgowilliamsoni (Silvestri) = Biloculinawilliamsoni Silvestri 1923

Quinqueloculinaseminula (Linné) = Serpulaseminulum Linné 1758

Reophaxbilocularis Flint 1899

Reophaxcalcareus (Cushman) = Proteoninadifflugiformis (Brady) var. calcarea Cushman 1947

Reophaxscorpiurus Montfort 1808

Reophaxspiculifer Brady 1879

Rhabdamminaabyssorum Sars 1869

Rhizamminaalgaeformis Brady 1879

Robertinabradyi Cushman and Parker 1936

Rosalinaanomala Terquem 1875

Rosalinaobtusa d’Orbigny 1846

Saccamminacatenulata Cushman = Saccamminasphaerica Brady var. catenulata Cushman 1917

Saccamminasphaerica Brady 1871

Saccorhizaramosa (Brady) = Hyperamminaramosa Brady 1879

Sigmoilopsisschlumbergeri (Silvestri) = Sigmoilinaschlumbergeri Silvestri 1904

Sigmoilopsiswoodi Atkinson 1968

Siphotextulariabermudezi Mikhaelevich 1978

Siphotextulariacaroliniana Cushman = Siphotextulariaflintii (Cushman) var. caroliniana Cushman 1922

Sphaeroidinabulloides d’Orbigny 1826

Spiculosiphon sp.

Spirillinadecorata Brady 1884

Spiroloculinacanaliculata d’Orbigny 1846

Spiroloculinadepressa d’Orbigny 1826

Spiroloculinaexcavata d’Orbigny 1846

Spiroplectinellasagittula (Defrance) = Textulariasagittula Defrance 1824

Note: The taxon includes Spiroplectinella wrighti of Margreth et al. (2009)

Subreophaxaduncus (Brady) = Reophaxaduncus Brady 1882

Technitellamelo Norman 1978

Technitellaraphanus Brady 1884

Textulariahystrix Jones 1994

Note: Gaudryina rudis or Dorothia rudis of authors

Tholosinavesicularis (Brady) = Placopsilinavesicularis Brady 1879

Thuramminapapillata Brady 1879

Tolypamminavagans (Brady) = Hyperamminavagans Brady 1879

Trifarinaangulosa (Williamson) = Uvigerinaangulosa Williamson 1858

Note: Angulogerina angulosa of Margreth et al. (2009)

Triloculinatricarinata d’Orbigny 1826

Triloculinatrigonula (Lamarck) = Miliolitestrigonula Lamarck 1804

Tritaxisconica (d’Orbigny) = Textulariaconica d’Orbigny 1839

Tritaxisfusca (Williamson) = Rotalinafusca Williamson 1858

Trochamminaastrifica Rhumbler = Trochamminasquamata Hero-Allen and Earland var. astrifica Rhumbler 1938

Trochamminaglobigeriniformis (Parker and Jones) = Lituolanautiloidea Lamarck var. globigeriniformis Parker and Jones 1865

Note: Paratrochammina challengeri of Margreth et al. (2009)

Trochamminasquamata Jones and Parker 1860

Uvigerinaauberiana d’Orbigny 1839

Uvigerinaceltica Schönfeld 2006

Uvigerinamediterranea Hofker 1932

Uvigerinaperegrinaparva Lutze = Uvigerinaperegrina forma parva Lutze 1986

Note: Uvigerina bradyana of Coles et al. (1996) and Uvigerina peregrina of Margreth et al. (2009)

Vulvulinapennatula (Batsch) = Nautilus (Orthoceras) pennatula Batsch 1791

Appendix 2

See Table 2.

Table 2 Foraminiferal census data of the living assemblages from Galway Mound
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Appendix 3

See Table 3.

Table 3 Foraminiferal census data of the dead assemblages from Galway Mound
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Appendix 4

See Table 4.

Table 4 Foraminiferal census data of the dead assemblages from Propeller Mound
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Appendix 5

Table 5 Recordings of attached epibenthic foraminifera >63 μm
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See Table 5.

Appendix 6

See Table 6.

Table 6 Surface samples, depths and abundance of frequent benthic foraminiferal species from literature sources and new samples examined by the first author
Full size table

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Schönfeld, J., Dullo, WC., Pfannkuche, O. et al. Recent benthic foraminiferal assemblages from cold-water coral mounds in the Porcupine Seabight. Facies 57, 187–213 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-010-0234-0

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