Pliocene agglutinated benthic foraminifera from Site U1341 in the Bering Sea (IODP Expedition 323)

We present the first record of benthic foraminiferal assemblages from 92 samples collected at approx. 3 m resolution in the bottom part of Hole U1341B drilled in the southern Bering Sea during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 323. Pliocene agglutinated foraminifera are generally rare within highly diatomaceous claystones occurring from the base of the hole at 601.87 m below sea floor (mbsf) to ~320 mbfs. The agglutinated foraminiferal assemblages are strongly dominated by the infaunal genera Eggerella, Karreriella, Martinottiella, and Spirosigmoilina. The calcareous-cemented Eggerella and Martinottiella are canaliculated with pores that are open to the test surface. Tubular agglutinated foraminifera are rare and are only found in isolated samples. The ecological information gained from this assemblage supports other proxy information indicating high levels of organic productivity and severely hypoxic conditions in the Bering Sea deep water during the Pliocene.