Blais-Stevens, A., and Patterson, R.T., 1998 Foraminiferal biofacies of Saanich Inlet, Vancouver Island, British Columbia: valuable environmental indicators. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 28:201-219.
Foraminiferal biofacies identified in Saanich Inlet appear to be closely linked to a variety of environmental parameters, including water quality. Five biofaceis are defined based on Q-mode cluster analysis and on faunal distribution profiles of foraminiferal-bearing surface sediment samples. Biofacies 1 (Eggerella advena Biofacies), which occurs in near shore environments near two basys with densely populated shorelines, appears to have an affinity for areas contaminated by sewage outfall and septic system drainage. Biofacies 2 (Eggerella advena-Spiroplectammina biformis Biofacies) and 3 ( Miliammina fusca Biofacies) characterizes shallow, brackish water, and are distributed in shallow bays adjacent to Biofacies 1. Biofacies 4 (Lobatula fletcheri Biofacies), the only biofacies dominated by a calcareous fauna, has been subdivided into two sub-biofacies: Sub-biofacies 4A occurs in deep water, low oxygen environments, whereas Sub-biofacies 4B characterizes shallow water, normal marine environments. The patchy distribution of sub-biofacies 4B sampes is probably due to vagaries of water circulation in the restricted basins. Biopfacies 5 ( Leptyohalysis catella – Spiroplectammin biformis Biofacies) occupies a relatively deeper muddy environemnt with a high proportion plan debris and probably relatively lower owygen levels. Hence, the main environemtnal control defining the biofacies is water circulation (or lack therof), which is influences by the shape of the fiord (presence of the sill).