Interpretation of environmental changes in a long sediment core from the Sogndalsfjord, Western Norway, using benthic foraminifera as the environmental proxy

Abstract

This study was conducted on a 291 cm long sediment core, dated to approximately 10.800 cal. BP, collected from the Sogndalsfjord. The aim of this study is to describe the past environmental conditions in the Sogndalsfjord, using the benthic foraminifera community as the environmental proxy. This was done by identify and describe the depth distribution of the foraminifera assemblages in the sediment core together with sediment properties. No previous studies in the fjord have analysed benthic foraminifera assemblages on such a long sediment core. Foraminifera assemblages and loss-in-ignition results suggests that oxygen has been continuously present, and that deep-water renewal has persisted at site throughout the core age. The changes observed in concentration of benthic foraminifera in the samples are rather explained by different sedimentation rates, then environmental stress. A higher resolution of the samples would perhaps yield more precise ecological information from the foraminifera assemblages.