Abundance of Bitectatodinium spongium in surface sediments ...

We present an emended diagnosis of Bitectatodinium spongium (Zonneveld, 1997) Zonneveld et Jurkschat, comb. nov. previously described as ?Algidasphaeridium spongium. New data from surface samples of the Pakistan shelf are combined with information from sediment traps off Somalia and Arabian Sea surface sediments to elucidate the taxonomy, ecological affinity and preservation of B. spongium. A pronounced relationship is detected between high concentrations of B. spongium and well-mixed, nutrient-rich surface waters, as observed in upwelling regions and in the vicinity of the Indus River outlet.... Mehr ...