Intertidal foraminiferal fauna and the distribution of Elphidiidae at Chupa Inlet, western White Sea

Abstract

The bright colouration of the cytoplasm in intertidal rotaliid foraminifera and their particle-gathering activity reliably reveals live specimens in fresh samples, without any fixatives or dyes applied. Using this approach, we demonstrate that live representatives of three rotaliid species, all belonging to the genus Elphidium, were common on intertidal mud and sand beaches. Two species, E. excavatum clavatum and E. albiumbilicatum, lived close to freshwater outflows, whereas E. williamsoni occupied beaches bathed by waters with normal salinity (surface 26–27‰ in the western White Sea). A least 13 species were found alive in the intertidal zone. Among non-calcareous foraminifera, Miliammina fusca, Ammotium cassis and Ovammina opaca were the most numerous.

Key words:

• Benthic foraminifera
• Elphidiidae
• intertidal
• distribution
• salinity
• White Sea

Acknowledgements

The Marine Biological Station of St. Petersburg University provided the land-based facilities. Natalia N. Shunatova and Sergei V. Bagrov helped to arrange the fieldwork. Valerian V. Kazaryan shared the CTD profile. Andrei D. Naumov helped with mapping data. The staff of the Interdisciplinary Resource Center for Nanotechnology (St. Petersburg University) assisted with metal coating of specimens and with SEM. Andrei A. Dobrovolsky's critical reading helped to improve an early version of the manuscript. Elisabeth Alve and an anonymous reviewer provided helpful reviews. This study was supported by St. Petersburg University grant 1.0.140.2010 (PI Andrei I. Granovitch), and Norwegian Research Council contract 196186/S30 (PI Morten Hald). We thank the persons and institutions mentioned.

Editorial responsibility: Tomas Cedhagen