NO. I FORAMINIFERA IN LONG ISLAND SOUND BUZAS 47 



Microscopic examination of the fraction >125/a showed the most 

 abundant constituent to be quartz. Diatoms, Foraminifera, micas, 

 worm tubes, polychetes, copepods, amphipods, ostracods, gastropods, 

 and pelecypods are common. In the silty sands and clayey silts, the 

 most abundant constituent in the 125-62/x fraction is elliptical fecal 

 pellets. Diatoms, nematodes, Foraminifera, quartz, and micas are 

 also common. Quantitative counts were made only of the Fora- 

 minifera. 



Significance of Particle-Size Analyses 



Since clay-size particles tend to bind organic matter, the clay con- 

 tent of the sediment is often an important factor in governing the 

 distribution and quantity of benthonic organisms. Sanders (1956, 

 p. 404) found the largest infaunal populations in L.I.S. at silt-clay 

 concentrations of 13-25 percent. He was also able to relate the 

 abundance of various infaunal organisms to the particle size of the 

 sediment. 



In L.I.S. where the silt and clay content of the sediment is less than 

 2 percent there are usually no Foraminifera. Otherwise, there is no 

 meaningful relation between the particle size of the sediment and the 

 living Foraminifera. For example, at station 19 the sediment is a 

 pebble sand consisting of 29 percent gravel, 59 percent sand, 8 per- 

 cent silt, and 4 percent clay; the number of living Foraminifera is 

 681. At station 14 the sediment is a sand consisting of 13 percent 

 gravel, 82 percent sand, 3 percent silt, and 2 percent clay ; the number 

 of living Foraminifera is 441. At station 113 the sediment is a 

 clayey silt consisting of 4 percent gravel, 16 percent sand, 36 percent 

 silt, and 44 percent clay ; the number of living Foraminifera is 478. 

 The above stations are all in near-shore areas and although the sedi- 

 ment ranged from pebble sand to clayey silt, all the stations contained 

 a large living population. Some further examples will illustrate the 

 situation in the offshore areas. Station 116 is a silty sand consist- 

 ing of 0.5 percent gravel, 70 percent sand, 14 percent silt, and 15 

 percent clay; the number of living Foraminifera is 47. Station 125 

 is a pebble sand consisting of 54 percent gravel, 40 percent sand, 

 2 percent silt, and 4 percent clay ; the number of living Foraminifera 

 is 48. Station 119 is a clayey silt consisting of 10 percent sand, 

 44 percent silt, and 45 percent clay; the number of living Foramini- 

 fera is 40. These examples and careful examination of the data 

 indicate that particle size has no influence on the numbers of living 

 Foraminifera in L.I.S. 



