Benthic foraminifera in South Atlantic Ocean surface sediments

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages were analyzed on forty-eight surfacesediment samples which were taken with a multiple corer from the southern South Atlantic Ocean and the northern Angola-Basin. The short cores were split into 1-cm-thick slices down to 15 cm sediment depth. Live (with Rose Bengal stained) and dead faunas were counted separately. The data were used to calculate numerical faunal characteristics like standing stocks, benthic foraminifera accumulation rates, diversity, average living depth, and habitat depth. Additionally the live and dead faunas were grouped into a number of principal faunal endmembers by Q-mode principal component analysis. Faunal composition, numerical faunal characteristics, and isotopic composition of calcareous tests were correlated with available environmental variables. Oxygen content in Pore water and rates of primary production were calculated by faunal composition and benthic foraminifera accumulation rate. […]