Benthonic foraminiferal ecology in Port Castries Bay, Saint Lucia; a preliminary report
Schafer, C.T.; Sen Gupta Barun, K.
Maritime Sediments 4(2): 57-63
1968
Document Number: 427666
St. Lucia Island, half-way between Martinique and St. Vincent in the West Indies, is separated from them by deep channels. Port Castries Bay, on the leeward side, averages 11 m in depth; bottom water temperatures are 26-28 degrees C in late winter and salinities between 34 and 36 per mille; the pH of bottom water is usually higher than that of bottom sediment; its central parts have higher concentrations of phosphates, nitrates and nitrites. Size distribution of sedimentsis controlled by water depth and proximity to shore, mouth of bay, and mouth of Castries River. Abundance of living Foraminifera is considerably less than in more northerly waters; in the total benthonic assemblage of 112 species, 46 are recorded as living. A maximum living total ratio of 31 percent off the river mouth indicates relatively rapid sedimentation. The very low planktonic/benthonic ratio is typical of shallow, nearshore conditions.