Definition of benthic foraminiferal bioprovinces in transitional environments of the Eastern English Channel and the Southern North Sea

Abstract The available benthic foraminiferal data in transitional environments along the English Channel and the Southern North Sea were computed to identify foraminiferal-based bioprovinces. A total of 901 samples characterized by 246 dead species and 656 samples represented by 99 living species were arranged in 3 large bioprovinces, namely England, France and the East English Channel. Dominant species such as those belonging to Haynesina and Cribroelphidium genera were widely distributed geographically. By contrast, high degrees of foraminiferal endemism were found in Belgian waters and the Canche and Liane estuaries. The results of our study reveal that dead foraminifera are better indicators of biogeographical provinces than living ones, which are related to environmental units.