Taxonomical diversity of benthic foraminifera in mangrove sediments: initial insight into total diversity from Malaysia to worldwide mangrove forests records

Abstract

Mangroves are one of the most productive ecosystems worldwide and provide numerous ecosystem services. This biome hosts nursery habitats and supports a diverse range of organisms including microfauna such as benthic foraminifera. This study integrates all the available information on benthic foraminifera from Malaysian mangroves, with special reference to Penang Island mangrove forests to evaluate the overall diversity and compare with the worldwide mangrove’s records. This new compilation reveals 223 benthic foraminiferal species representing 116 genera, 57 families, and nine orders, of which only 48 species have been identified in Malaysian mangroves. These values are relatively higher than the previous records of benthic foraminifera from worldwide mangrove areas, however, are comparatively lower than other both shallow and deep-water environments. The results provide new insight into benthic foraminiferal diversity in mangroves and can be used as baseline data for monitoring and implementing conservation and restoration plans.