Benthic foraminifera in high latitude contourite drift systems (North Atlantic: Björn, Gardar and Eirik drifts)

Benthic foraminifera colonize a wide range of marine environments including contourite drift systems. Contourites form elongated sedimentary bodies deposited under persistent contour-parallel bottom currents, and certain suspension-feeding foraminifera benefit from the entrained nutrient load. Their distribution patterns have been shown to be highly valuable for reconstructing ocean circulation at mid-latitudes. However, comparable faunal studies from the high-latitude North Atlantic, a crucial region for global ocean circulation and the widespread deposition of contourites drifts, are missing. This study examines foraminiferal faunas >250 μm from surface samples of the Björn and Gardar drifts in the Iceland Basin and the Eirik Drift south off Greenland. It serves as baseline for understanding the biogeographic patterns of benthic foraminifera from high latitude contourites.