FORAMINIFERAL ASSOCIATIONS IN PORT PEGASUS, STEWART-ISLAND, NEW-ZEALAND

Census data on benthic foraminiferal tests in 56 seafloor sediment sam ples (high tide to 45 m depth; slightly brackish to normal marine) in Port Pegasus, south-east Stewart Island, are analysed by cluster analy sis. The faunal samples are grouped into six associations: A. Trifarin a angulosa/Textularia proxispira/Miliolinella subrotundata-current-swe pt passages and adjacent port; B. Notorotalia finlayi/Quinqueloculina delicatula/Nonionella flemingi-muddy fine sand at 22-30 m; C. Notorota lia zelandica/Elphidium novozealandicum-sheltered bays at 2.5-26 m; D. Rosalina bradyi-shallow subtidal amongst rocky reefs; E. Ammonia becc arii/Elphidium advenum depressulum/Haynesina depressula-0.5-6 m, shelt ered bays and channels of Cooks Arm; F. Miliammina fusca-brackish, int ertidal. In the entrance passages and exposed shelf (5-45 m depth) pla nktics comprise 15-30% of the total foraminiferal tests. Directly insi de the passages in Port Pegasus, planktics comprise 30-65% of the faun a. These are dominated by small species that have been swept inshore b y the predominant onshore swells and winds and carried into the port b y strong tidal currents before settling out of suspension. The small, calcareous tests of benthic Cassidulina carinata and Trifarina angulos a also have distribution patterns consistent with some current transpo rt into Port Pegasus.