Benthic foraminiferal assemblages and bottom water evolution off the Portuguese margin since the Middle Pleistocene

The agglutinated benthic foraminifera have a significantly positive correlation with the MOW index of “elevated epibenthos”, which suggests that their abundance can be used to monitor the hydrodynamic conditions of bottom water off the Portuguese margin. Consistent with the MOW intensity, the lower miliolids content implies a lower salinity which supported the stronger vertical density gradient during the interglacial periods in this region; while the glacial ocean has a higher salinity with a weak vertical density gradient/MOW intensity.