Brian Ottway’s scientific contributions

This study documents foraminiferal faunas from the Mauritanian upper slope and shelf and analyses their association with cold-water coral habitats (=CWCH). It is based on the analysis of foraminiferal tests in 28 sediment samples of the >250 µm fraction only. One hundred and fifty seven benthic species are recorded, described and one hundred and fifty four are imaged. It increases the number of benthic foraminiferal species so far reported in this area from 102 to 157 and their description from 33 to 157.An analysis of the structure, composition, and diversity of the species-rich benthic foraminiferal faunas is given. It reveals the existence of three main faunal clusters: a living coral cluster, a non-living coral cluster and a low diversity/Tetragonostomina rhombiformis Mikhalevich, 1975 cluster. The living coral cluster is dominated by the species Rosalina vermiculata (d'Orbigny, 1839 in Jones, 1994), which until now not has been reported specifically reported as an important species from CWCH. The non-living coral cluster lacks a dominant species and is characterised by a set of species more evenly distributed. A subcluster is found to be associated with dead coral debris. The low diversity/Tetragonostomina rhombiformis cluster is interpreted as an endemic fauna at shallower water-depths with mud as its preferred substrate. This study extends the knowledge on benthic foraminiferal faunas from CWCH and the Mauritanian upper bathyal slope and shelf.

Foraminifera.eu is a non-commercial international project to foster the interest in foraminifera. A freely accessible image database with an online multi-criteria search facility based on high quality SEM and optical images and drawings has been developed. The website has become a popular resource with more than 5000 monthly unique visitors viewing more than 50000 pages. About 120 scientists and amateurs are contributing samples, images, drawings, ideas and working on projects, publications, exhibitions, talks and collection. Foraminifera from the Oporto Seamount, from the Luz Formation and from the Mem Moniz spongolithic limestone are the first Portuguese contributions to this project. Resumo: Foraminifera.eu é um projecto internacional, não comercial, para divulgar e promover o interesse por foraminíferos. Foi desenvolvida uma base de dados online de acesso livre, com possibilidade de pesquisa por multicritérios, apresentando imagens obtidas por microscopia electrónica ou óptica e com ilustrações de elevada qualidade. A página na internet tornou-se muito popular com mais de 5000 visitantes por mês e acima de 50000 visualizações de página. Cerca de 120 cientistas e amadores têm contribuído com amostras, imagens, ilustrações, ideias e participação em projectos, publicações, exposições palestras e coleções. Foraminíferos da Montanha submarina do Porto, da Formação da Luz e dos calcários espongolíticos de Mem Moniz são os primeiros contributos portugueses para este projecto.

Foraminifera.eu is a non-commercial international project to foster the interest in foraminifera. A freely accessible image database with an online multi-criteria search facility based on high quality SEM and optical images and drawings has been developed. The website has become a popular resource with more than 5000 monthly unique visitors viewing more than 50000 pages. About 120 scientists and amateurs are contributing samples, images, drawings, ideas and working on projects, publications, exhibitions, talks and collection. Foraminifera from the Oporto Seamount, from the Luz Formation and from the Mem Moniz spongolithic limestone are the first Portuguese contributions to this project.