Living benthic foraminifera of Santos continental shelf, southeastern Brazilian continental margin (SW Atlantic): chlorophyll-a and particulate organic matter approach

Living (stained) benthic foraminifera from the continental shelf of Santos Basin, southeastern Brazilian continental margin, were investigated to understand their distribution patterns and their relationship with chlorophyll-a and particulate organic matter contents. Sediments were collected from 44 to 203 m of water depth. This study analysis benthic foraminifera and abiotic data, including grain size, total organic matter, distributions of ocean chlorophyll-a and particulate organic matter. Foraminiferal diversity and richness were positively correlated to the chlorophyll-a and particulate organic carbon contents. Stations located on the southern portion of the study area and sampled during austral winter are probably under the seasonal influence of the Brazilian Coastal Current intrusion, and Rio de la Plata and Lagoa dos Patos plumes. Ammonia rolshauseni , Textularia ? sp. and Gyroidina umbonata are present within the foraminifera assemblages at these stations. On the other hand, stations in the north, are characterized by the presence of Uvigerina peregrina , Quinqueloculina atlantica , Hanzawaia concentrica and Bulimina marginata , and they are influence of Cabo Frio’s southward-moving plume.