Recent and late quaternary ecology, distribution and provincialism of Ostracoda in the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans

Abstract

A total of 393 samples were examined, of which 259 samples contained ostracods. Some 15,800 individual benthonic ostracod specimens were counted and assigned to 172 species. Of these, 1250 individuals of 58 species were live.
The majority of the Ostracoda belong to the Podocopida and most in turn belong to the Podocopina which sub order is dominated by species of the Cytheracea with only a few other species occurring which belong to the Bairdiacea and Cypridacea. The Platycopina are represented by one species: Cytherella cf. C. scotica Brady, 1866. The Miodocopida are represented by the cypridinid species Philomedes brenda (Baird) 1850.
The ostracods in this study are of Pleistocene, Holocene and Recent age with the exception of a single specimen of the genus ?Acratia which is most likely derived from Palaeozoic or Mesozoic sediments.
The taxonomic classification of each species is given and, where necessary, described with a review of the synonymy, ontogeny (graphically illustrated where possible) and distribution in the study area. This is also accompanied by the ecology, palaeoecology and geographical distribution of the species within the N. Atlantic and Arctic. 47 stereo-scan plates of stereo micrographs are included at the rear of Volume II. The carapace morphology of all species recorded from the study area are figured therein. Particular attention is given to the genus Eucythere in that the species E. declivis (Norman) 1865 and E. anglica Brady 1868 are re defined and the new species E. Curvata and E. oculta established.
Within the ecology section the areas of study, namely southern Irish Sea, Caernarvon Bay and Malin Sea, are described and the superficial sediments briefly reviewed.
The distribution of live and of dead Ostracoda is discussed and a number of ostracod faunal assemblages are recognised. An attempt is made to ascertain the extent of faunal reworking and to separate the ostracod faunas into various Recent biocoenoses and Holocene and Late Glacial thenatocoenoses.