- journal_title：The Journal of Foraminiferal Research
- Contributor：Virgilio Frezza ; Johannes S. Pignatti ; Ruggero Matteucci
- Publisher：Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research
- Date：2010-
- Format：text/html
- Language：en
- Identifier：10.2113/gsjfr.40.4.313
- journal_abbrev：Journal of Foraminiferal Research
- issn：0096-1191
- volume：40
- issue：4
- firstpage：313
- section：Articles
Recent foraminiferal assemblages are identified in 70 grab samples from 20–380 m depth in the Pontine Archipelago (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). All broken and relict tests of benthic foraminifera and other bioclastic sediments were counted for each sample, in order to provide a more complete description of the benthic community. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was performed on the relative abundances (live + dead) of 53 taxa of benthic foraminifera that were common in the samples. Q-mode HCA recognizes three distinct foraminiferal biofacies, each associated with a particular bioclastic lithofacies: 1) the Asterigerinata-Lobatula-Rosalina biofacies occurs at 20–150 m and is dominated by benthic foraminifera, most notably epiphytic species such as Asterigerinata mamilla, Lobatula lobatula, and Rosalina bradyi; other bioclasts include rhodoliths, bryozoans, and echinoid spines, which constitute the rhodalgal lithofacies; 2) the Cassidulina carinata biofacies at intermediate depths of 100–250 m includes benthic and planktonic foraminifera among branches of bryozoans that constitute the bryomol lithofacies; also present are high percentages of reworked glauconitic tests of shallow-water taxa (e.g., Elphidium, Lobatula, and Asterigerinata), possibly related to Late Quaternary sea-level still-stands; 3) the Uvigerina-Bulimina biofacies at 200–380 m, that is characterized by Uvigerina mediterranea and Bulimina marginata; in addition to benthic and planktonic foraminifera, it has a molechfor lithofacies of bivalves and gastropods.