Benthic foraminifera as indicators of natural variability and anthropogenic impact

Abstract

Benthic foraminifera (micro-organism living on the sea-floor) were studied in the southwestern Barents Sea and Hammerfest harbor. The study focused on the response of the micro-organisms to natural and man made environmental changes. The study shows that the southwestern Barents sea is relatively clean, and the foraminifera are only impacted by natural changes. However, in the Hammerfest harbor, pollution had severe impact on the organisms. Understanding the response of the foraminifera to different types of environmental changes can be used to develop a bio-monitoring tool. Such a bio-monitoring tool based on foraminifera helps to register environment deterioration rapidly. Because of the expected increase in industrial activities in the Arctic, and consequently the potential for increased industrial discharges into the marine environment, such a bio-monitoring tool is expected to be important for the region.