Benthic Foraminifera

Abstract

Benthic foraminifera are protozoa, which evolved during the Cambrian and inhabited all possible marine environments from shallow water intertidal regions to deep trenches. Their single cell is enclosed in a microscopic calcareous or agglutinated shell called test. Benthic foraminifera are very sensitive to the changes in physicochemical and biological characteristics (seawater temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, availability of food, etc.) of the ambient environment. The response of benthic foraminifera to the changes in the ambient environment is incorporated in their tests, which have high preservation potential. Therefore, the characteristics of the benthic foraminiferal tests, including its morphology, abundance, stable isotopic and trace metal composition, provide valuable information about past climatic and oceanographic changes, such as sea level, monsoon intensity, temperature, salinity and ocean circulation.