IMPACT OF CLIMATIC CHANGES ON THE BENTHIC FORAMINIFERAL FAUNA IN THE IONIAN SEA DURING THE LAST 330,000 YEARS

To reconstruct paleoceanographic changes in the eastern Mediterranean during the last 330,000 years, we studied benthic foraminifera in a pi ston core from the Ionian Sea. The fauna exhibits large fluctuations i n foraminiferal number, diversity, and species composition. Interglaci als are characterized by low foraminiferal number and diversity indica ting oligotrophic conditions. Directly below or above interglacial sap ropels, increased numbers of low-oxygen-tolerant species indicate a st rong reduction of deep water circulation. Glacials are characterized b y increased foraminiferal number and diversity and faunas that are dom inated by shallow infaunal species indicating mesotrophic conditions. Around glacial sapropel S6 very high foraminiferal numbers and the dom inance of shallow and deep infaunal species suggest enhanced organic m atter fluxes. These faunal results provide information about changes i n the African and North Atlantic climate systems (monsoon and westerli es) controlling the humidity and wind stress in the Mediterranean regi on.