Abundance and biomass of benthic foraminifers in the region of the South Sandwich Trench and Falkland Islands

Distribution and biomass of living benthic foraminifers was studied in two sections in the region of the South Sandwich Trench and Falkland Islands. Biomass was found to be high (up to 30 g/m**2) and closely related to number of tests both with and without plasma. Abundance and biomass were the highest in subantarctic waters near the Falkland Islands. The bulk of biomass is made of secretory foraminifers. Agglutinating foraminifers form the largest biomass.