EPIPHYTIC FORAMINIFERAL ASSEMBLAGES ON MACROALGAE IN REEFAL ENVIRONMENTS OF NEW CALEDONIA

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 2010 EPIPHYTIC FORAMINIFERAL ASSEMBLAGES ON MACROALGAE IN REEFAL ENVIRONMENTS OF NEW CALEDONIA Jean-Pierre Debenay; Jean-Pierre Debenay 4 1IRD, UR 055 “Paléotropique”, 101 promenade Roger Laroque, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa cedex, Nouvelle-Calédonie 3Current address: 430 Chemin de Montplaisir 34190 Laroque, France 4Correspondence author. E-mail: debenay@wanadoo.fr Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Claude E. Payri Claude E. Payri 2IRD, UMR 7138/UR R148 “Systématique, Adaptation, Evolution”, 101 promenade Roger Laroque, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa cedex, Nouvelle-Calédonie Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Journal of Foraminiferal Research (2010) 40 (1): 36–60. https://doi.org/10.2113/gsjfr.40.1.36 Article history received: 23 Nov 2008 accepted: 16 Jul 2009 first online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Jean-Pierre Debenay, Claude E. Payri; EPIPHYTIC FORAMINIFERAL ASSEMBLAGES ON MACROALGAE IN REEFAL ENVIRONMENTS OF NEW CALEDONIA. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 2010;; 40 (1): 36–60. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gsjfr.40.1.36 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyJournal of Foraminiferal Research Search Advanced Search Abstract Modern epiphytic foraminifera have been reported on seagrasses from different areas, but little is known about those living on macroalgae. This study on reefal environments of New Caledonia is the first to inventory epiphytic foraminifera on a large number of well-identified macroalgae. Its objective is to learn more about epiphytal foraminiferal ecology and its use for environmental and paleoenvironmental interpretations. A total of 152 species of epiphytic foraminifera were identified on 81 substratal phyta that include 55 species of macroalgae. This study confirms the complexity of the distribution of foraminiferal communities on phytal substrata at a micro-scale, and shows that temporal availability of the substratum might play a role. It also reveals that some foraminiferal species might have quite different life modes between environments and regions. The structural characteristics of the macroalgae explain part of the differences in epiphytic foraminiferal assemblage composition. The only strong relationship established between macroalgae and foraminifera is the presence of spinose rotaliids, soritids, and Amphistegina in filamentous thalli and three-dimensional mats. However, macroalgal species that have a wide bathymetric range might harbor completely different communities at different depths, in which case the nature of the substratum might be overshadowed by other parameters such as light, depth, and hydrodynamics. These results call for prudence when interpreting paleoenvironmental data, and show that long-term monitoring is needed to define population dynamics that could be applied in paleoenvironment and paleoclimate reconstructions. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.