title: Benthic foraminifera as bio-indicators of chemical and physical stressors in Hammerfest harbor (Northern Norway).
abstract: We investigated benthic foraminiferal assemblages in contaminated sediments in a subarctic harbor of Northern Norway to assess their utility as indicators of anthropogenic impacts. Sediments in the harbor are repositories for POPs and heavy metals supplied through discharges from industry and shipping activities. Sediment contaminant concentrations are at moderate to poor ecological quality status (EcoQS) levels. The EcoQS based on benthic foraminiferal diversity reflects a similar trend to the EcoQS based on contaminant concentrations. Foraminiferal density and diversity is low throughout the harbor with distinct assemblages reflecting influence of physical disturbances or chemical stressors. Assemblages impacted by physical disturbance are dominated by L. lobatula and E. excavatum, while assemblages impacted by chemical stressors are dominated by opportunistic species S. fusiformis, S. biformis, B. spathulata and E. excavatum. The foraminiferal assemblage from an un-impacted nearby fjord consists mainly of agglutinated taxa. These assemblages provides a valuable baseline of the ecological impacts of industrialization in northern coastal communities.
authors.affiliation: UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø, Department of Geology, Dramsveien 201, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway. Electronic address: noortje.dijkstra@uit.no.
authors.forename: Noortje
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
authors.affiliation: UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø, Department of Geology, Dramsveien 201, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Juho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Junttila
authors.affiliation: UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø, Department of Geology, Dramsveien 201, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Skirbekk
authors.affiliation: UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø, Department of Geology, Dramsveien 201, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway; Akvaplan-niva AS, Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway; CAGE - Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate, Department of Geology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: JoLynn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Katrine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Husum
authors.affiliation: UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø, Department of Geology, Dramsveien 201, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hald
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D063366:Estuaries; D056908:Foraminifera / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009664:Norway; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Benthic foraminifera; Bio-monitoring; Ecological quality status; Harbor environment; Heavy metals; Persistent organic pollutants