Mina SADOUGH, Fatemeh GHANE, Hamed MANOUCHEHRI, Babak MOGHADDASI, Houri BEIKAEE

Identification and abundance of benthic foraminifera in the sediments from Fereidoonkenar to Babolsar of Southern Caspian Sea

In this study in order to introducing Foraminifera species and determining their relationship with the environmental factors, sediment samples were gathered in spring 2011 from 12 stations (ranging in depths 5, 10, 15 and 20 meters) in the Southern Caspian Sea from Fereidoonkenar to Babolsar. Environmental factors of water near the bottom including temperature, salinity, dissolved Oxygen, pH were measured during sampling and grain size and total organic matter and calcium carbonate concentration were measured in laboratory. Structure of the sediment samples mostly consisted of fine sand; very fine sand, silt and clay and 4 species of benthic foraminifera species belong to 4 genera of 4 families were identified. Ammonia beccarii caspica, Elphidium littorale caspicus, Milliammina fusca and Ammotium sp. The cosmopolitan foraminifer, Ammonia beccarii caspica was common in all sampling stations. Density of benthic forams had a significantly correlation with grain size, that their density were increased with adding silt and clay rate. The structure of the sediments was the most important abiotic factors controlling the distribution pattern of benthic forams in the sampling stations. Structural abnormalities in the testes of the benthic foraminifera indicated the comparatively polluted benthic environment from Fereidoonkenar to Babolsar of Southern Caspian Sea.

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