NO. I FORAMINIFERA IN LONG ISLAND SOUND BUZAS 43 



Summary of Seasonal Samples 



In summary, the frequency distributions and statistical tests indi- 

 cate the following seasonal characteristics for the living population 

 in the Eggerella advena zone : 



1. The total number of living individuals was significantly greater 

 in June 1962 than in March, September, or November, 1962. 



2. Elphidium clavatum, Buccella frigida, and Eggerella advena 

 showed a significant maximum in June 1962. 



3. Eggerella advena was most abundant in October 1961 but did 

 not show any maximum in early autumn of 1962. 



4. Juveniles of Elphidium clavatum are present throughout the 

 year, and it is likely that only the rate of reproduction varies. 



5. The abundance of living Foraminifera in October and June 

 correlates in a general way with the zooplankton and phytoplankton 

 cycles in L.I. S. and with times of maximum temperature. 



THE FORAMINIFERA IN RELATION TO THE SEDIMENTS 

 Foraminifera in Short Cores 



Cushman (1948, p. 8) stated that benthonic Foraminifera live on 

 the surface of muds and oozes or attached to objects on the bottom. 

 Myers (1942) reported that Elphidium crispum could not extricate 

 itself from the sediment if buried to a depth of 5-8 times its diameter. 

 The benthonic Foraminifera have always been considered as epi- 

 faunal organisms. 



In the present study samples were taken every centimeter to a 

 depth of 4 centimeters in cores from five stations. Table 10 (page 83) 

 shows the number of individuals in each species for the living and total 

 populations The suffix a indicates the sample is from the second 

 centimeter, b the third centimeter, and c the fourth centimeter. The 

 total population in the samples from any core is remarkably con- 

 sistent. There appears to be little difference between the first and 

 second centimeters in the cores, and at stations 74 and 107 there are 

 actually more living individuals in the second centimeter. There is 

 a trend toward fewer living individuals in the third and fourth 

 centimeters of the cores. 



The soft muds of L.I.S. contain a large number of molluscs and 

 polychetes. The sediment is being continually turned over by the 

 activities of these animals. In order for a foraminifer to remain on 

 the surface, it would have to spend a considerable amount of its 

 time climbing. Myers (1942) has shown that Elphidium crispum is 



