Foraminiferal biotopes in Explorers Cove, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

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Abstract
Benthic foraminifera in Explorers Cove, Antarctica are distributed in seven biotopes, as distinguished by observations made using SCUBA to depths of 26.8 m. Nearly 30,000 specimens were counted from 74 samples. The biotopes (boulder, open deep-water, sponge mat, sediments underlying sponge mat, seasonally anoxic basin, anchor-ice, and shallow) are distinguished on the basis of physical, chemical and biological parameters, such as substrate type and stability, oxygen content, depth and proximity to glacial erratic boulders. Foraminiferal distribution is patchy on the order of centimeters and meters. The predominantly calcareous, boulder biotope possesses the highest standing stock and total (live + dead) abundance (23.8/cm3 and 79.5/cm3, respectively). The sponge mat biotope is the only other predominated by calcareous forms, and it exhibits the highest proportion of Miliolidae (4%). The anchorice biotope possesses the highest proportion of living benthic foraminifera (60.6%). The standing stock in the anchor-ice biotope was juveniles. A small (40 m2) seasonally anoxic basin shows a significant increase in standing stock in late austral summer (from 5.8/cm3 in November to 18.9/cm3 in mid-January), when primary productivity is high.