The distribution of contemporary intertidal foraminifera at Cowpen Marsh, Tees Estuary, UK: implications for studies of Holocene sea-level changes

Foraminiferal assemblages were collected at 2-weekly intervals over a period of 12-months from the intertidal zone of Cowpen Marsh. Statistical analyses indicate that the foraminiferal distributions for this site are controlled predominantly by altitude. Furthermore, the contemporary foraminiferal assemblages from Cowpen Marsh broadly reflect vertical floral zones based on vascular plants. Cluster analysis separates foraminiferal assemblages into four zones: two high and middle marsh zones consisting of differing abundances of Jadammina macrescens and Trochammina inflata; a low marsh zone dominated by Jadammina macrescens and Miliammina fusca; and a mudflat zone dominated by calcareous foraminiferal species, notably, Elphidium williamsoni, Haynesina germanica and Quinqueloculina spp. The altitudinal ranges of the faunal zones are employed to identify the vertical relationship of the local environment in which the assemblage accumulated to a reference tide level.