Distribution of recent Benthic foraminifera in Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden; North-West Svalbard, High Arctic

Abstract

Benthic foraminifera assemblages from two fjords of Svalbard—Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden in the High Arctic—have been studied. The foraminifera assemblages show three characteristic assemblages from the two fjords’ glacial proximal, middle and distal parts. The Cassidulina reniforme– Elphidium clavatum, Textularia spp. assemblage dominates the foraminifera fauna near the glacier proximal that indicates increased sedimentation and meltwater runoff; a Nonionellina labradorica– Islandiella helenae– Lobatula lobatula assemblage relates to well-oxygenated and high energy conditions and mainly occupies the middle part; and the Nonionellina labradorica– Islandiella helenae assemblages dominate in the distal region that indicates high surface primary productivity. Krossfjorden contains an oxygen deficiency zone around the middle part characterised by Stainforthia loeblichi. The abundance of Islandiella helenae and Nonionellina labradorica indicates that the high surface primary productivity of Krossfjorden is more than that of Kongsfjorden.