Polycystine radiolarians in the Greenland-Iceland-Norwegian Seas: Species and assemblage distribution

Cluster analysis and Q-mode factor analysis have been applied to polycystine radiolarian census data from 160 core-top samples. This allowed us to recognize four faunal assemblages in the Greenland-Iceland-Norwegian Seas, each related to different oceanographic conditions. A regression equation for deriving palaeotemperatures from these assemblages has also been developed. The standard error of estimate for this equation is - 1.2°C. The relative abundance of the species having the higher loadings in the core-top assemblages has been mapped, in order to identify and analyse water mass and environmental requirements for these species. Cluster analysis has also been performed on the same data set, providing results which are in good harmony with those derived by Q-mode factor analysis.