Benthic foraminiferal assemblage response to paleoenvironmental changes in the Benguela upwelling system during the Neogene and Quaternary

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Important climatic changes during the upper Pliocene and middle Pleistocene would have altered many aspects of the benthic environment in the deep sea. Alteration of circulation systems in the deep sea and in surficial current systems can have significant influence on surface productivity and thus on organic flux rates and type of organic matter (food) to the sea floor. Benthic foraminiferal assemblage response to paleoenvironmental changes in the Benguela upwelling system during the Neogene and Quaternary will be studied of sediments of ODP Sites 1082 and 1085. Of special interest are (1) fluctuations in paleoproductivity during time, (2) regional variations in paleoproductivity in the Benguela system, (3) changes in benthic foraminiferal population structures and reactions to circulation changes, (5) evolutionary changes of deep sea foraminifers and the relationship to climatic changes.