Monothalamous foraminiferans and gromiids (Protista) from western Svalbard: a preliminary survey

Monothalamous foraminifera were abundant in sediment samples from fjords and offshore areas around western Svalbard (water depth range 26–2472 m). The >500 µm fractions of samples from the inner parts of fjords yielded numerous delicate “allogromiids” (organic-walled) “saccamminids” and “psammosphaerids” (agglutinated), including species assigned to Cylindrogullmia, Gloiogullmia, Nemogullmia and Toxisarcon. Larger, more robust, tubular agglutinated species were abundant in the outer reaches of Tempelfjord, Isfjord and Van Meijenfjord (Hyperammina subnodosa, Hippocrepinella crassa), on the current-influenced upper slope off Isfjord (Pelosina variabilis, Rhabdammina abyssorum), and the deeper part of the continental slope off Isfjord (e.g. Hyperammina crassatina). Oval and sausage-shaped organisms resembling gromiids (probably relatives of the foraminifera) were sometimes abundant in the fjords. Finer size fractions (63–500 µm) of fjord samples yielded a rich variety of monothalamous species. Among the allogromiids, Micrometula sp. was widely distributed, while Tinogullmia sp. and an undescribed species were restricted to single stations in Kongsfjord and Van Meijenfjord, respectively. Saccamminids common in the finer fractions included Conqueria spp., Psammophaga sp., and undescribed species with silvery, white and brownish tests. Many of the smaller allogromiids and saccamminids in our Svalbard samples resemble species found in the Gullmarfjord on the Swedish west coast.