PATTERNS OF SPECIES ABUNDANCE IN EOCENE AND OLIGOCENE BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA IN THE GULF COAST

Upper Eocene and Lower Oligocene benthic foraminiferal species abundance was examined at three localities in the Gulf Coastal Region. Species were classified as rare or abundant based on numerical counts in volumetric samples. Generic patterns of species abundance were determined for 40 genera. The results indicate the genera tend to be dominated by rare or abundant species. Further analysis using only genera with 4 or more species indicates a statistically significant difference between the observed and expected distribution of species abundance. Analysis of abundance patterns was based on a model assuming the proportion of rare species is 0.8. This indicates a phylogenetic signal in the pattern of species abundance in Benthic Foraminifera.