Distribution and ecology of recent benthonic foraminifera of the Dumont D'Urville Sea, Antarctica

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dc.contributor.advisorAnderson, John B.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberCasey, Richard E.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSchwarzer, Rudy R.
dc.creatorMilam, Robert Wilson
dc.date.accessioned2018-12-18T21:16:17Z
dc.date.available2018-12-18T21:16:17Z
dc.date.issued1981
dc.descriptionNo page 69
dc.description.abstractSix distinct benthonic foraminiferal assemblages are recognized in the Dumont D'Urville Sea of Antarctica on the basis of the common occurrence and predominance of taxons. The distribution of calcareous and arenaceous faunal facies on the continental shelf coincides remarkably with the relative distribution of reworked glacial sediments and organic-rich biogenic muds. Surface productivity, seafloor topography, and bottom current velocities are thought to control the distribution of these biogenic muds, which are restricted to shelf depressions, and the surface sediments themselves are thought to control the relative distribution of arenaceous and calcareous populations on the shelf. Depth is a subsidiary factor in controlling faunal distributions on the continental shelf. A mixed calcareous and arenaceous fauna defines the contact of the lysocline with the continental slope, below which lies the oceanic CCD at 19m and a slope arenaceous fauna. Shelf assemblages are generally of low diversity, but high diversity populations underlie upwelling nutrient-rich plumes of modified Upper Circumpolar Deep Water, which have been injected along an isopycnal between underlying dense shelf water and overlying surface water. Benthonic foraminifera are therefore useful as indicators of hydrographic conditions, and models relating the distribution of high diversity standing crops of benthonic foraminifera to such upwelling plumes are discussed.
dc.format.digitalOriginreformatted digital
dc.format.extent145 pp
dc.identifier.callnoThesis Geol. 1981 Milam
dc.identifier.citationMilam, Robert Wilson. "Distribution and ecology of recent benthonic foraminifera of the Dumont D'Urville Sea, Antarctica." (1981) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104018">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104018</a>.
dc.identifier.digitalRICE1644
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/104018
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
dc.titleDistribution and ecology of recent benthonic foraminifera of the Dumont D'Urville Sea, Antarctica
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialText
thesis.degree.departmentEarth Science
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorRice University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts
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