Living benthic foraminifers in bottom sediments of the southeastern Kandalaksha Bay (White Sea)

Analysis of composition and distribution of benthic foraminifers in six samples of bottom sediments obtained in the southeast Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea at water depths of 20 to 155 m revealed their dependence on lithology and different hydrological characteristics. It is shown that living foraminifers populating relatively shallow areas of the bay (20-60 m), which are bathed by seasonally warmed intermediate water with temperature 0.7-1.5°C and salinity 26 per mil, are characterized by high abundance (250-750 specimens/10 ccm of wet sediment) and prevalence of agglutinated species (Eggerella advena, Recurvoides turbinatus, and others). Deeper (155 m) where cold and relatively saline deep water occurs (-1.4°C, 29.5 per mil), abundance is an order lower (30 specimens/10 ccm) and is dominated by calcareous taxa Cassidulina reniforme, an Arctic cold resistant species.

对采自白海坎达拉克沙湾东南部、水深20~155米的6个海底沉积物样品中的底栖有孔虫（benthic foraminifers）组成与分布展开分析，结果表明其群落分布与沉积物岩性及多种水文特征显著相关。研究显示，栖息于该湾较浅水域（20~60米）的活体有孔虫，所处环境为温度0.7~1.5℃、盐度26‰的季节性增温中层水；这类有孔虫具有较高的丰度（250~750枚/10立方厘米湿沉积物），且以胶结质有孔虫（agglutinated species）占优势，包括Eggerella advena、Recurvoides turbinatus等物种。在155米的更深水域，环境为温度-1.4℃、盐度29.5‰的低温高盐深层水，有孔虫丰度降低一个数量级（30枚/10立方厘米），优势类群为钙质有孔虫类群（calcareous taxa）中的Cassidulina reniforme——一种北极耐寒物种。