Recent and sub-recent dinoflagellate cysts from the beaufort sea, Canadian arctic

Abstract

Assemblages of Recent and sub-Recent dinoflagellate cysts are described from the southern Beaufort Sea, offshore Mackenzie Delta region, Canadian Arctic, and include the new taxa Spiniferites frigidus Harland & Reid, Multispinula minuta Harland & Reid, and Rottnestia amphicavata Dobell & Norris. These assemblages, which appear to be unique to Arctic waters, are dominated by Operculodinium centrocarpum, and compared to assemblages found in north-temperate seas, also dominated by Operculodinium centrocarpum, are ten times less diverse. The three new species described herein may prove to be indicators of the Arctic environment. Several genera of Recent cysts that were not originally supplied with Latin diagnoses are validated. © 1980 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.