Abstract
ABSTRACTThis paper describes the distribution pattern and diversity of benthic foraminifera from Gallegos sound and Brookes Bay (XII Region, Chile) and the relationships with the particle size and concentration of the organic matter. Fourteen samples were obtained using a Van Veen grab between 22 and 65 m water depth in January 2010.The sediment at all stations was predominantly sand. Thirty-five species of foraminifera were de-termined from 1601 collected specimens. Mean abundance was 14.8 ind g -1 per station. Diversity, mea-sured using Shannon-Wiener index (H’) varied between 1.7 and 2.8. The highest diversity was recorded in stations at Brookes Bay and the lowest in the stations from Gallegos sound off Ventisquero Garibaldi. Cluster analysis identified two stations groups. Only sediment texture and particle size were significantly related to mean abundance, diversity and eveness. There was no relationship between depth, concentration of organic matter and the community’s parameters. Our results suggest that interstitial space in the sandy habitat play an important role in the establishment of foraminifera communities within Gallegos sound and Brookes Bay.Key words: benthos, microfauna, meiofauna, fjords, marine periglacial.
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