Several bathymetrically consistent Recent benthic foraminiferal biofacies have been recognized from the continental slope and rise between Cape Cod and Cape Hatteras. Faunal assemblages are dominated by Globobulimina/Bulimina (upper slope), Uvigerina peregrina (lower slope), Hoeglundina elegans (middle rise), and Nuttalides umbonifera (lower rise). These biofacies are associated with various hydrographic and substrate conditions.

Uvigerina peregrina dominates the benthic foraminiferal fauna in water depths between 1,000 and 2,500 m. This species has been used as an indicator of bathyal water depths, deep-water paleotemperatures between 3 to 4°C, or water of low oxygen content. However, interregional correlations between U. peregrina and water depth or temperature are not always maintained. On the continental slope and rise, the species is not associated with low oxygen in the water column. The highest abundances of U. peregrina closely coincide with maxima of organic carbon and silt within the slope sediments. This suggests that its distribution may be influenced by low oxygen in the sediments or adjacent bottom waters, rather than by low oxygen water masses.

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