FORAMINIFERAL ASSEMBLAGES FROM A VIRGINIA SALT MARSH, PHILLIPS CREEK, VIRGINIA

Abstract

Research Article| April 01, 2000 FORAMINIFERAL ASSEMBLAGES FROM A VIRGINIA SALT MARSH, PHILLIPS CREEK, VIRGINIA Randall S. Spencer Randall S. Spencer Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Randall S. Spencer Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529 Publisher: Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research Received: 06 May 1998 Accepted: 23 Oct 1999 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-264X Print ISSN: 0096-1191 © 2000 Journal of Foraminiferal Research Journal of Foraminiferal Research (2000) 30 (2): 143–155. https://doi.org/10.2113/0300143 Article history Received: 06 May 1998 Accepted: 23 Oct 1999 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Randall S. Spencer; FORAMINIFERAL ASSEMBLAGES FROM A VIRGINIA SALT MARSH, PHILLIPS CREEK, VIRGINIA. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 2000;; 30 (2): 143–155. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/0300143 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyJournal of Foraminiferal Research Search Advanced Search Abstract Phillips Creek is a salt marsh located on the seaward side of the southern Delmarva Peninsula of Virginia, is part of the World Biosphere Reserve designated by the United Nations, and is situated within the Virginia Coast Reserve/Long Term Ecological Research area (VCR/LTER). This marsh does not exhibit well-defined vegetational zones but rather tends to be a patchy mix of vegetation. Cluster analysis indicates that the area can be divided into low, middle or transitional and high marsh. The low marsh zone does not exhibit any unique assemblages of agglutinated foraminifera that would allow further subdivision of this area. The fact that no calcareous species were found may be due to the season (May) when sampling was done. The low marsh is dominated by M. fusca and T. inflata. The occurrence of a transitional or middle marsh zone appears to be dependent upon gradient. Traverse 1 with a gradient of 3 percent has a poorly defined middle marsh zone while Traverse 2 with a gradient of 0.6 percent has a broad, well defined transitional zone. Tiphotrocha comprimata and T. inflata are the dominant species in this zone. The high marsh can be subdivided into two subzones. The lower part of the high marsh is dominated by T. inflata, T. comprimata and J. macrescens while the upper part has a relief ranging between 5 and 8 cm, has a reduced population and contains J. macrescens and T. salsa almost to the exclusion of all other foraminiferal species. This subzone, marking the occurrence of highest high water, is topographically very narrow, requiring closely spaced sampling to detect its presence. The highest high water zone can be extended southward into Virginia. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.