Comparison between Recent benthic foraminiferal faunas of the Porcupine Seabight and Western Approaches Continental Slope

Abstract. Although only 1 degree of latitude apart, the South Western Approaches and Porcupine Seabight continental slopes support widely differing benthic foraminiferal faunas. The less energetic, less variable, muddier conditions of the prograding margin of the Porcupine Seabight yield foraminiferal faunas which show extremely good zonations with respect to depth and are dominated by species such as Trifarina angulosa, Gavelinopsis lobatulus and Uvigerina pygmaea. The more variable and more energetic conditions of the submarine canyons of the Western Approaches margin do not support well depth zones faunas, but assemblages which are generally dominated by more cosmopolitan and robust species, such as Cassidulina carinata, Brizalina dilatata and B.subaenariensis. Such differences may be related to factors such as a greater variability of sediment type and bottom water characteristics and a more energetic environment in the Western Approaches area.