A REVIEW OF STUDIES ON BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA IN COLD METHANE SEEPS ENVIRONMENT

This paper briefs the researches and progress of benthic foraminifera in the environment of cold methane seeps related to gas hydrate,with emphasis on its difference with the normal deep sea environment. More and more cold seeps have been found recently with the application of new technology,such as submersible and remotely operated vehicle.Benthic foraminifera could adapt themselves to the high organic and low oxygen gas hydrate related cold methane seep environment,and keep a very negative δ¹³C value as a record.So far,carbon isotopic(δ¹³C)excursions in the geologic record have been used as an evidence of methane release from gas hydrate and global temperature change.Such a gas hydrate related cold methane seeps have been found in the South China Sea,and the gas hydrate samples have been successfully recovered from its northern continental slope.It is a necessity to study the benthic foraminifera in the cold methane seep environment for further exploration of gas hydrate in this region.