RECENT BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA IN THE SOUTHERN KATTEGAT, SCANDINAVIA - DISTRIBUTIONAL PATTERN AND CONTROLLING PARAMETERS

The southern Kattegat is characterized by a strong halocline at a wate r depth of 10-20 m. Samples were collected within and below the halocl ine at 12-58 m. A Q-mode factor analysis identified three major and th ree minor foraminiferal assemblages, each characterized by one diagnos tic species. Linear regression analyses showed that the distribution o f assemblages and their diagnostic species is associated with substrat e and hydrography. The Bulimina marginata assemblage is connected with fine-grained, organic-rich sediments below the halocline. The Elphidi um excavatum and the Eggerelloides scabrus assemblages show weak corre lations with substrate and are presumably connected with the halocline . Minor assemblages of Cibicides lobatulus and Textularia bocki are as sociated with coarse-grained sediments. The Stainforthia fusiformis as semblage has only weak correlation with substrate and hydrography.