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Benthic foraminifera assemblages at Great Meteor Seamount

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Abstract

Foraminiferal assemblages found at Great Meteor Seamount were studied in August 1998. Communities of living foraminifera in surface sediments from the plateau (290–325 m water depth) and from the surrounding base (2,300–4,096 m) were compared in abundances, diversity, and species composition. In this oligotrophic region, densities were very low, but diversity was high. Highest numbers were observed at the deep stations north, south, and east of the seamount and at the shallow station in the north of the plateau. Lowest densities were recorded southwest of the plateau centre and at the lee side of the seamount. We explain this distribution pattern with variable amounts of fresh organic material, caused by local oceanic currents. Generally, plateau stations indicated coarser sediments, lower organic carbon content, and higher temperatures. The foraminiferal fauna showed bathyal to abyssal characteristics and similarities to assemblages previously described from other parts of the North Atlantic and other oceans. Several dominant species extended between the two habitats, on the plateau and in the surrounding deep sediments, but other species were found exclusively at deep stations, at plateau stations, or at the abyssal reference station.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Wiebke Ruschmeier, Ulrike Honnert, and Tesfey Wubet for helpful support during sample collection and processing and the crew of F.S. “Meteor” for good collaboration during the cruises. This work received financial support from the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), BIGSET program (Biogeochemische Stoff- und Energietransporte in der Tiefsee), No. 03F0177C, and the “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft” (Grant No. HE 3460/1-1), which are gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Institute of Geosiences, Tübingen University, Sigwartstrasse 10, 72076, Tübingen, Germany

    P. Heinz, D. Ruepp & C. Hemleben

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  1. P. Heinz
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  2. D. Ruepp
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Correspondence to P. Heinz.

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Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe

Appendix

Appendix

Raw data sets of taxa identified in the surface sediments of the nine stations are given in Tables 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.

Table 3 Raw data set of living foraminifera found at station 566 (core diameter, see Table 1)
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Table 4 Raw data set of living foraminifera found at station 456 (core diameter, see Table 1)
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Table 5 Raw data set of living foraminifera found at station 459 (core diameter, see Table 1)
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Table 6 Raw data set of living foraminifera found at station 558 (core diameter, see Table 1)
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Table 7 Raw data set of living foraminifera found at station 489 (core diameter, see Table 1)
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Table 8 Raw data set of living foraminifera found at station 516 (core diameter, see Table 1)
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Table 9 Raw data set of living foraminifera found at station 506 (core diameter, see Table 1)
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Table 10 Raw data set of living foraminifera found at station 548 (core diameter, see Table 1)
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Table 11 Raw data set of living foraminifera found at station 467 (core diameter, see Table 1)
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Heinz, P., Ruepp, D. & Hemleben, C. Benthic foraminifera assemblages at Great Meteor Seamount. Marine Biology 144, 985–998 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-003-1257-7

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