Benthic Foraminifera Diversity of the Abyssal Northwest Atlantic

The species diversity of benthic foraminifera at four abyssal working areas in the Labrador Sea, Basin, and Southwest Azores is documented. One hundred fifty taxa (forty-three not assigned to a species) were found their was recorded. twenty-four (fifteen illustrated with optical and/or SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) images on twelve plates. material sampled during RV Sonne cruise SO286 as part IceDivA2 (Icelandic marine Animals meets Diversity along latitudinal gradients deep sea Atlantic Ocean 2). investigated biodiversity within key groups habitats North Atlantic. Thirty-two samples from sliced three full cores, six stations MUC (Multiple corer), analyzed. Given low sedimentation rates such environments assumed be Holocene late Pleistocene age. Due scarcity living specimens this study based total assemblages. Four species-based clusters are identified, which correspond areas. each cluster show specific characteristics markedly different those other clusters. It indicates that faunas heterogeneous. Three dominated by Epistominella exigua (Brady, 1884), recorded rare dominant many plains worldwide. faunal differences manifested long tail less important differing abundances E. exigua.