Abstract
The subpolar North Atlantic (SPNA) Ocean has complex hydrography, and moderates the global climate through the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The surface water mass dynamics in SPNA and the upper limb of AMOC, govern the plankton distribution. Specifically, the habitat of modern planktic foraminifera is strongly affected by the SPNA hydrography. In the present study, 25 surface sediment samples from the Labrador Sea to the Iceland-Faroe-Shetland Channel (IFSC) were examined for planktic foraminifera distribution along a latitudinal transect at 59.50°N. The planktic foraminifera distribution followed the transition in water mass structure in the study area from the Sub-Arctic water in the west to the warm North Atlantic water in the east. Temperature and salinity are two dominant ecological factors controlling planktic foraminifera assemblages in the region. This hydrographic contrast was also reflected in the ratio of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma/Neogloboquadrina incompta along the transect. Based on the cluster analysis, the planktic foraminifera assemblages could be assigned to three groups. A cold/polar group in the Labrador Sea, a mixed (both cold and warm) group in the Irminger Sea and IFSC, and a warmer temperate group in the eastern part of the transect were represented by different planktic foraminifera assemblages. Additionally, a decrease in Globorotalia inflata in the eastern transect and an increase in Turborotalita quinqueloba in the Iceland basin and Irminger Sea was observed in our study when compared with the published dataset. From this, we suggest a shift in planktic assemblages in the SPNA. The present study on the distribution of modern planktic foraminifera can help paleoceanographic reconstructions in the SPNA ocean.
Highlights
Planktic foraminifera are unicellular protists widely distributed in the modern oceans
A complete ecological and spatial distribution of planktic foraminifera is understudied in the subpolar North Atlantic (SPNA) ocean, an area influenced by the large-scale changes in the surface hydrography on both short and large timescale
The highest abundance occurred at station 10 near the Reykjanes Ridge, while the lowest abundance was at station 23, in Faroe-Shetland Channel (FSC)
Summary
Planktic foraminifera are unicellular protists widely distributed in the modern oceans. They thrive in the upper ocean water column and are constrained by various environmental parameters, especially water mass characteristics (temperature, salinity, nutrients, etc.) and food availability The distribution and ecology of planktic foraminifera have been studied in the plankton tows, sediment traps, and surface sediments from the world oceans (Berger, 1969; Thunell and Reynolds, 1984; Schiebel and Hemleben, 2000; Schiebel et al, 2001; Jonkers et al, 2010; Meilland et al, 2020). A complete ecological and spatial distribution of planktic foraminifera is understudied in the subpolar North Atlantic (SPNA) ocean, an area influenced by the large-scale changes in the surface hydrography on both short and large timescale (such as seasonal, annual, interannual, and decadal)
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