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Distribution of Benthic Foraminifera off Cuddalore, Bay of Bengal, Southeast Coast of India

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Author Affiliations

  • 1 Dept. of Earth Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, INDIA

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 3, Issue (9), Pages 5-13, September,22 (2014)

Abstract

Benthic foraminifera from both surface and core sediments collected along two transects in the offshore region of Cuddalore were studied in parallel to environmental variables and sediment characteristics. Altogether 95 species belonging to 47 genera and 6 orders were identified. Analysis revealed that species richness is high in the inner shelf while abundance increases seaward. Amphistegina, Quinqueloculina, Operculina and Elphidium are dominant in areas of coarser sediments and strong current activity. The outer shelf assemblage is characterised by muddy sediments rich in Uvigerina, Bulimina and Bolivina. Living specimens were rare though few numbers were found in the near shore region. The temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and dissolved nitrogen content of the sample locations exhibited minimal changes except salinity. Strong currents, slight variations in the physicochemical parameters, mixing of cytoplasm during the development stages of tests would have resulted in test abnormalities. Four kinds of textures were identified: Sand, slightly sandy mud, slightly muddy sand, muddy sand. Statistical analysis showed that taxonomic richness never exceeded 13 per sample and they are more or less evenly distributed in all the stations.

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