Recent benthic foraminiferal provinces in the Gulf of Mexico

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Abstract
All published distributional data on the 295 most frequently occurring Recent benthic foraminifera of the Gulf of Mexico were analyzed in the Q-mode by clustering Jaccard coefficients by the weighted pair-group method. The cluster analysis incorporated the 295 most commonly recorded species (of a total of 848 taxonomically standardized species) at 350 localities (randomly selected from a total of 426 localities). Four foraminiferal zoogeographic provinces were recognized: Gulf of Mexico Coastal Province, Gulf of Mexico Inner Shelf Province, Gulf of Mexico Outer Shelf Province and the Gulf of Mexico Slope and Abyssal Plain Province. The provinces are defined by a set of localities containing a diagnostic species association. The analysis of all available data indicates a concentric pattern of provinces in the Gulf of Mexico. This pattern can be related to the major, stratified Gulf of Mexico water masses. Sediment substrate variations do not show a correlation with provincial patterns. Subprovincial and biofacies distinctions may be related to sedimentological or localized oceanographic variations. The provincial pattern for benthic foraminifera presented extends the concept of biogeographic provinces into deep water. Shallow-water foraminiferal provinces differ in extent from provinces based on macrofaunal data. The data presented should prove useful in reconstructions of late Cenzoic water mass and provincial patterns. Identification of diagnostic species associations in core samples may indicate particular water mass and provincial affinities.

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