THE DISTRIBUTION OF DEEP-SEA BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA LIVING ALONG THE SOUTHERN MARGIN OF AUSTRALIA

As part of an ongoing effort to characterize foraminiferal assemblages living on the Australian Margin, surface sediments (0-1 cm) from six multicorer sites were examined for living (Rose Bengal stained) benthic foraminifera (>150 microns). Samples were taken from depths ranging from 700 m to 1300 m along the Southern Australian Margin. Bottom water oxygen values at these sites ranged from or varied between 5.5 and 6 ml/L. No clear depth-related trend was observed when comparing total abundances of benthic foraminifera at different sites. Uvigerina spp. were abundant, appearing at four sites, and Cibicidoides spp. were common, occurring at five sites. Uvigerina spp. were most abundant at the deepest site, while Cibicidoides spp. were most abundant at the four shallowest sites. Gyroidina, Melonis, Pullenia, and Epistominella genera were also common at some sites. This study provides some of the first information about living deep-sea foraminiferal distribution patterns from these depths on the Southern Australian Margin. These data are important to improve our understanding of benthic communities on the margin, and serve as modern analogs for paleoceanographic studies in the region.