Abundance Of Benthic Foraminifera Research Articles

Unexpected increase in structural integrity caused by thermally induced dwarfism in large benthic foraminifera.

Climate change is predicted to negatively impact calcification and change the structural integrity of biogenic carbonates, influencing their protective function. We assess the impacts of warming on the morphology and crystallography of Amphistegina lobifera, an abundant benthic foraminifera species in shallow environments. Specimens from a thermally disturbed field area, mimicking future warming, are about 50% smaller compared with a control location. Differences in the position of the ν1 Raman mode of shells between the sites, which serves as a proxy for Mg content and calcification temperature, indicate that calcification is negatively impacted when temperatures are below the thermal range facilitating calcification. To test the impact of thermal stress on the Young's modulus of calcite which contributes to structural integrity, we quantify elasticity changes in large benthic foraminifera by applying atomic force microscopy to a different genus, Operculina ammonoides, cultured under optimal and high temperatures. Building on these observations of size and the sensitivity analysis for temperature-induced change in elasticity, we used finite element analysis to show that structural integrity is increased with reduced size and is largely insensitive to calcite elasticity. Our results indicate that warming-induced dwarfism creates shells that are more resistant to fracture because they are smaller.

Strontium Isotopic, Ostracod fauna, and Paleoenvironmental Features of the Late Miocene Sequence in Mut/Dağpazarı Region (Southern Turkey)

The primary focus of this study was the Dağpazarı village in the Mut region of Mersin, southern Turkey. In this research area, two stratigraphic sections were meticulously measured. The study conducted a comprehensive examination of the Middle-Late Miocene period in the Dağpazarı, Ballı, and Mut Formations by analyzing the ostracod fauna and utilizing strontium isotope chemostratigraphic dating. This research determined that the upper levels of the Mut/Köselerli formations, specifically from the Burdigalian to Serravallian, signify the commencement of the Miocene succession in the study area.The Dağpazarı Formation, characterized by abundant silty-clay, Ostrea fossils, and lignite layers, is deposited unconformably just above these levels.This formation contains the following ostracod taxa; Bairdia subdeltoidea, C. glypta, Cytheridea acuminata acuminata, Acanthocythereis hystrix, Krithe monosteracensis, Neomonoceratina mouliana, Hemicyprideis sp., Cistacythereis caelatura, Cyherella terguemi, T. prava, K. langhiana, A. ulicznyi, Pokornyella deformis minor, Loxoconcha alata, Tenedocythere salebrosa. Furthermore, the planktonic foraminifera species are; O. universa, Globigerinoides trilobus, Glb. ruber, Orbulina bilobata, Glb. sacculifer, O. suturalis, and the formation includes abundant bryozoa, echinoid spines, gastropods such as Terebralia at distinct levels, and fish otolith. The formation, dating from the late Serravallian to the early Tortonian, exhibits the shallow reef characteristics that continued to develop in the late Miocene.The formation consists of dark green, bulbous weathered claystone, Bairdia subdeltoidea and Ostrea which are reduced in size at the levels that pass into hard clayey sandstone, abundant benthic foraminifera with abundant echinoid spines. The formation consists of benthic foraminifera, hard clayey sandstone, and weathered dark green claystone, which contains numerous echinoid spines.Ostrea and Bairdia subdeltoidea are also present. The upper section of the analyzed succession concludes with silty, compact, clayey limestone layers and light-colored limestone bands. The Tırtar Ballı Formation, which conformably overlays the Dağpazarı Formation, signifies the culmination of a relatively recent reef formation during the Tortonian period.Ostracod species such as Aurila pigadiana, Thalmannia hodgii, Buntonia sublatissima dertonensis, Bairdia subdeltoidea, Aurila sp. Bassiouni have been defined. The limestones also contain abundant benthic foraminifera and echinoid spines. The 87Sr/86Sr ratio analyzed from the carbonate sample obtained from the Dağpazarı formation is 0.708920. Based on these isotope data, the age of the Dağpazarı formation was calculated to be 8.7 million years (Ma).

Characteristics of Foraminifera Distribution in Volcanic Tuff of Parepare Tanamailie Pinrang, South Sulawesi

This research was conducted to determine and distribute foraminifera in vertical positions using measured stratigraphy. This research aims to analyze the distribution characteristics of foraminifera in the Parepare Tanmailie Pinrang volcanic tuff, South Sulawesi. This research was conducted in the Tanamailie area in Suppa District, Pinrang Regency, South Sulawesi, where the fine-grained Parepare volcanics are well exposed. The method used in this research is field observation. The results of the research show that the analysis and description of fossils found in the measured stratigraphic landscape determined four sequential biozonations, namely from (1) The composition of the bottom layer in the N13 zonation Sphaeroidinellopsis subdevices - Globigerina Drury, (2) The composition of the lower middle layer in the N14-N15 zonation Globigerina nepenthes - Globorotalia (T.) sickness to Globorotalia (T.) continuous, (3) Upper middle layer arrangement zonation N16-N18 Globorotalia (T.) acostaensis acostaensis - Globorotalia (G.) merotumida to Globorotalia (G.) tumi-da plesiotumida – Sphaerodinellopsis subdevices paenedehiscens, (4) Top layer composition of zonation N18-N19 Globorotalia (G.) tumi-da – Sphaerodinellopsis subdevices paenedehiscens to Sphaeroidinella dehiscent dehiscent - Globoquadrina altispira altispira. Analysis of abundant benthic foraminifera. This tough paleoenvironment is characterized by an abundance of Textularis sp and Nodosaria sp, indicating a shallow marine depositional environment.

Biocalcification crisis in the continental shelf under ocean acidification

Ocean acidification (OA) is a persistent challenge for humans and is predicted to have deleterious effects on marine organisms, especially marine calcifiers such as coral and foraminifera. Benthic foraminifera is an important component of sediment in the continental shelf, while little is known about the impact of ocean acidification on benthic foraminifera both at the community and individual level and associated calcium carbonate deposition. We conducted eight months continued culture experiment under the scenario of 400, 800, 1200 and 1600 ppm pCO2 gradients on living benthic foraminifera from four stations in the continental shelf of the West Pacific Ocean. Statistic results showed OA had a negative effect on the abundance of benthic foraminifera. In contrast, the diversity increased roughly under OA conditions implying OA might stimulate the emergence of rare species and promote community diversity to some extent. In addition, we confirmed that the offshore area wasn’t the refuge for benthic foraminifera while the nearshore one had more resistance to moderate acidification. Calcareous species Protelphidium tuberculatum was the dominant species occupying on average 75% in all treatments and its shell diameter, weight and thickness showed a decrease, indicating the decrease of calcification of benthic foraminifera. A relationship between the weight of P. tuberculatum and pCO2 (R2 = 0.96) was established. Based on the present work, calcareous benthic foraminifera deposited 8.57 × 104 t calcium carbonate per year and this might reduce by nearly half and 90% under 800 and 1200 ppm scenarios, which indicates a biocalcification crisis under ongoing OA. This work shows an analogy for palaeoceanic OA and also provides new insights into the sediment of calcium carbonate in the future.

Late Barremian–Aptian paleoenvironmental variations and OAE1a environmental effect in the eastern Crimea

The early Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE1a, or Selli Event) is widely known from many oceanic and inland sections as an interval of enhanced accumulation of sediments rich in total organic carbon (TOC), associated with the turnover in the global carbon budget and dramatic biotic variations. Our multidisciplinary study of the upper Barremian to lower upper Aptian deposits from the eastern part of Crimean Peninsula allowed us to confirm the presence of a layer that correlates to OAE1a and revealed significant reorganization in the planktonic and benthic foraminifera, nannofossils, ostracod and terrestrial plant communities at this level. The low-calcareous OAE1a deposits from the eastern Crimea lack in TOC that is not typical sedimentological response to this critical event. The OAE1a onset was associated with a nannoconid crisis, occurrence of low-abundance Hedbergella planktonic foraminifera, increased abundance of benthic foraminifera and ostracods and the bloom of Classopolis on the adjacent land. The calcareous microplankton biota was highly oppressed during OAE1a up to total elimination in the core of the event. Benthic assemblages indicate the occurrence of dysoxic conditions at the sea-floor. The absence of organic matter in the deposits of the OAE1a interval points to the low basinal biotic productivity and low input of terrestrial organic matter. We suggest that oligotrophication of the basin was related to the transgressive pulse, which led to small-scale landward moving of the coastal line barriered by coastal highland. The hot arid climatic conditions indicated by terrestrial plants, prevented the supply of nutrients and terrestrial organic matter into the basin that caused low algal and bacterial productivity and prevented accumulation of TOC-rich sediments. The termination of OAE1a coincides with the occurrence of warm humid climate and erosion of ephemeral coastal highland, more likely, built up by soft clayey sediments. The transit restoration of the normal marine biota in the early late Aptian was interrupted in the middle late Aptian by new long-lived regression led to enhanced terrestrial runoff and, possibly, fresh water input killed marine biota and caused the accumulation of low-calcareous clay.

Seasonal variability of modern benthic foraminifera assemblages in a mangrove ecosystem from northeast coastal Bay of Bengal

Benthic foraminifera assemblages, nutrient dynamics of surface and porewater from 10 intertidal sites spanning over two years (2019–2020) covering two major estuaries in Sundarbans mangrove were evaluated to understand role of seasonal precipitation and primary production (driven by eddy nutrients) with a focus on standing crop. Benthic foraminifera abundance ranged between 280 individuals/10 cc in pre-monsoon (2019), 415 individuals/10 cc in post-monsoon 2019 and 630 individuals/10 cc in post-monsoon (2020). Standing crop was highest in post-monsoon coinciding with eddy nutrients driven stoichiometry and increase in abundance of large diatom cells. Calcareous and agglutinated foraminifer taxa Ammonia sp.1, Quinqueloculina seminulum, Entzia macrescens and Textularia sp. respectively were frequent. Entzia macrescens was found in dense mangrove vegetation sites; exhibited strong relationship with sediment texture and pore water total organic carbon. One of the major findings is mangroves with pneumatophores improves oxygen availability in sediment and leads to an increase in standing crop.

Systematic Paleontology of Bartonian Larger Benthic Foraminifera from Shahrekord Region in High Zagros, Iran

The Jahrum Formation is characterized by abundant benthic Foraminifera in carbonate beds, partly marly and dolomitic limestones in the Kuh-e-Soukhteh (Shahrekord region). This formation covers a huge stretch of the Zagros Zone which is a part of the central Tethyian realm during the Paleogene time. Bio-stratigraphic analysis of the larger benthic Foraminifera distinguishes one assemblage zone assigned to the late middle Eocene (Bartonian). This new biostratigraphic range is represented by the index fossil Rhabdorites malatyaensis (Sirel) and is correlated with calcareous rocks in the Shiraz area (south Iran), Dhofar section (Oman), and Socotra Island (Yemen). The Jahrum Formation is dominated by rich miliolids-agglutinated Foraminifera with rare small rotaliids and without Nummulites Lamarck and Alveolina d'Orbigny indicating that the formation was deposited in a shallow water environment (nearshore lagoonal zone) with low energy.

Gas Hydrate Dissociation Events During LGM and Their Potential Trigger of Submarine Landslides: Foraminifera and Geochemical Records From Two Cores in the Northern South China Sea

Although submarine slope failures and occurrence of gas hydrates are well known in the Dongsha area of the South China Sea the potential relationship between the aforementioned phenomena has not been clearly understood yet. Herein, we present carbon and oxygen isotope compositions of benthic foraminifera and sulfur isotopic composition of chromium reducible sulfur (CRS; δ34SCRS) from two cores from the Dongsha slope, aiming at identifying gas hydrate dissociation events in geological history. The geochemical data indicated that a large amount of gas hydrate dissociated at the beginning of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Meanwhile, disturbances in the sedimentary strata revealed that a submarine landslide occurred at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. Moreover, the associated abrupt increase of benthic foraminifera abundance implies that the submarine landslide was probably caused by an intense methane releasing from gas hydrate dissociation. A smaller scale submarine landslide related to gas hydrate dissociation was also recorded in core 973-5, retrieved from the flat area at the base of the slope.

Late Quaternary variations in the Oxygen Minimum Zone linked to monsoon shifts as seen in the sediment of the outer continental shelf of the eastern Arabian Sea

Multiproxy records of benthic foraminifera, pteropods, and total organic carbon (TOC) are reported from the late Pleistocene-Holocene interval of Core SK291/GC17, located off the coast of Goa (water depth 182 m), eastern Arabian Sea. Findings help unravel significant shifts in monsoon behavior and associated changes in the Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ). During the Younger Dryas (11900–11,600 cal yr BP) and ~ 11,600 to 9400 cal yr BP, the coast was closer to the studied core location because of the low eustatic sea level. This interval shows a higher abundance of benthic foraminifera preferring oxic bottom water condition over the suboxic group. At ~8000 cal yr BP, the decreased abundance of pteropod species Limacina trochiformis as well as lower values of TOC suggest the presence of a dry phase of the monsoon. The interval from ~7800 to 6400 cal yr BP was deposited under favorable bottom water conditions, as documented by a higher number of species (S), Information Function (Hs) and species richness of the benthic foraminiferal assemblage. The middle Holocene (~ 6200 to 4200 cal yr BP) interval is marked by a significant increase in the number of epipelagic pteropods caused by higher surface productivity and by a decreasing abundance of mesopelagic pteropods caused by the shoaling and intensification of the OMZ. The oxic group decreased drastically while the dysoxic group of benthic foraminifera increased during this interval due to the intensified OMZ. After ~4200 cal yr BP, the oxic assemblages of benthic foraminifera and pteropods suggest low productivity coinciding with the 4.2 ka dry event observed in the Indian monsoon records. The intervals with oxic assemblages of benthic foraminifera align with Bond events. Further the oxic assemblages show high frequency cycles centered at 692, 440 and 358 yr driven by solar variability, while Uvigerina peregrina , a benthic foraminifer sensitive to OMZ variability, shows high frequency cycles of 403 and 745 yr. • OMZ history of the eastern Arabian Sea during ~13,000 to 3400 cal yr BP • Winter monsoon was relatively stronger during the Younger Dryas cold interval. • The OMZ intensified and shoaled during ~6200 to 4200 cal yr BP. • Pteropod data indicates presence of a dry phase of the monsoon after ~4200 cal yr BP.

Paleoceanographic inferences from benthic foraminifera across the early Aptian Ocean Anoxic Event 1a in the western Tethys

The paleoenvironmental impact of the early Aptian Ocean Anoxic Event 1a (OAE 1a, ca. 121 Ma) has been investigated in detail in the Cismon Core (Lombardy Basin, western Tethys) by using different geochemical and micropaleontological proxies. We provide the first high-resolution data of benthic foraminiferal assemblages through the upper Barremian - lower upper Aptian stratigraphic interval. Benthic foraminifera data are integrated with calcareous nannofossil and planktonic foraminifera records to create a comprehensive characterization of bottom and surface waters across OAE 1a. Benthic foraminiferal communities are indicative of a marked change in bottom-waters around the “nannoconid decline” (latest Barremian) due to increased flux of organic matter to the seafloor and intermittent dysoxic conditions probably promoted by pulses of higher productivity during the initial Greater Ontong Java Event (GOJE). Benthic foraminifera experienced a marked crisis in abundance (“benthic foraminiferal crisis” BFC) ca. 35 kyr before the OAE 1a, in correspondence with the “nannoconid crisis” and the onset of the most intense GOJE phase. The literature survey shows that the BFC is commonly recorded before the OAE 1a onset in several stratigraphic sections worldwide, and therefore, it is here proposed as a global event. At Cismon, deep-water anoxia was reached at the OAE 1a onset and lasted for ca. 300 kyr, promoted by higher productivity and eventually enhanced water stratification during the super-greenhouse climate. The continuation of OAE 1a was marked by a benthic foraminiferal repopulation event, probably resulting from the influx of relatively cooler and oxygenated waters. In turn, the OAE 1a was marked by intermittent anoxic to dysoxic conditions, likely in response to primary productivity sustained by N-fixing bacteria. The distribution and abundance of benthic foraminifera documented in other sections across the Selli Level equivalent show different features that point to local factors such as paleodepth and increased runoff. The post-OAE 1a was characterized by dysoxic conditions coupled with moderate organic matter flux to the seafloor. At the Cismon site and worldwide, the termination of OAE 1a coincided with the return of relatively more abundant benthic taxa in response to the restoration of favorable conditions allowing the development of diversified benthic foraminiferal communities.

Controls on sedimentary accumulation of organic matter during Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Event 2, IODP site U1407, Southeast Newfoundland Ridge

The pelagic sediments from Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Site U1407 in the western North Atlantic are characterized by a sequence of organic-lean and organic-rich sediments representing a major global episode of organic matter (OM) burial during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2). The OM-rich deposits (up to 16% total organic carbon) consist primarily of radiolarians which are rare/absent in the organic-lean sediments. New nannofossil biostratigraphy and the correlation with the global ẟ13C curve were used to constrain the timing of paleoceanographic changes below, within, and above OAE2 sediments. Data were combined from elemental concentrations, biomarkers, and abundances of benthic foraminifera, biserial (heterohelicids) planktic foraminifera, and radiolarians to reconstruct the evolution of these changes. The ẟ13C curve records a global negative excursion within organic-lean sediments not typically recorded in other sections preceding the initial rise in isotopic values that signals OM burial worldwide. Maximum OM accumulation occurred during the second positive isotopic excursion, which is associated with higher terrigenous input (indicated by long-chain n-alkanes and terrestrially derived elements) and water column stratification (suggested by the paleoindicator gammacerane). In addition, sesquiterpene biomarkers derived from cypress and other conifers suggest flooding of gymnosperm forests from increased rainfall coupled with rising sea levels and resulting higher water tables. Within mid-OAE2 sediments, a sharp increase in radiolarians and fish teeth/debris and a decrease in benthic foraminifera implies deposition of OM from increased productivity/upwelling under low oxygen in the lower part of the water column. Upwelling and water column stratification occurring asynchronously at the surface resulted from changes in precipitation, with stratification developing during more humid/wet conditions. Greenhouse warming during OAE2 likely increased precipitation, weathering and nutrient inputs. However, prolonged anoxia caused buried phosphorus to be recycled as indicated by higher redox-sensitive trace element and biolimiting element concentrations, sustaining primary production and further enriching the sediments in OM. We suggest that increased marine paleoproductivity was the primary control on the OM-rich sediment accumulation during OAE2, while low-oxygen conditions resulting from stratification of surface waters were essential to its preservation.

Going with the flow: Experimental simulation of sediment transport from a foraminifera perspective

AbstractTransport of continental shelf sediments to the deep ocean can be studied from displaced symbiont‐bearing larger benthic foraminifera found in turbidity current deposits. The larger benthic foraminifera habitat depth, physical characteristics and preservation serve as indicators for understanding sediment transport dynamics near the seabed and in the water column. Here, an experiment was designed to explore sediment transport in a closed flume system using simulated high current velocities. Shelf sediments from the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba, dominated by Amphistegina papillosa and Operculina ammonoides, were subjected to 60 cm s−1 and 80 cm s−1 current velocities while collected in a 10 cm vertical sediment trap. Larger benthic foraminifera abundance, shell physical properties and preservation were analyzed and compared with the original bulk sediments. The experiment results showed that at 80 cm s−1 velocity, larger benthic foraminifera shells of all sizes and preservations are efficiently resuspended and transported in large quantities throughout the water column, as opposed to their transport as bedload by the lower velocity current. Larger benthic foraminifera shape also has a role in the transport distances and accumulation depths. Operculina ammonoides shells were found to be more portable, compared to Amphistegina papillosa, due to their flatter discoid shape. The results suggest that a threshold velocity of ca 80 cm s−1 was needed to generate the thick coarse deposits found in the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba slope sedimentary record, which were previously suggested to be triggered by large magnitude seismic events. Lower velocities probably winnowed minor amounts of larger benthic foraminifera shells (with little or no coarser sediments) that were deposited as a thin sand layer may point to lower magnitude seismic triggers. In conclusion, larger benthic foraminifera shells are transported and deposited in accordance with their hydrodynamic properties, resulting in assemblage differentiation along the transport pathway. This study shows that the fossil biogenic composition in slope sediments includes valuable information on current velocities, transport dynamics and possible triggers in the geological record.

Palaeoecological significances of deep-sea benthic foraminifera from Cascadia Margin, North East Pacific Ocean

The strong relationship between benthic foraminifera’s habitat and morphological characteristics to their surrounding environment are dominant component in marine community. This study attempts to understand the significance of benthic foraminifera in ecological importance and paleoceanographic reconstructions at Cascadia Margin, NE Pacific Ocean during the Pleistocene. The quantitative analyses of deep sea benthic foraminifera, particularly Bulimina exilis, Cibicides kullenbergi, Elphidium batialis, Epistominella exigua and Uvigerina proboscidea generally show higher abundances in the studied interval. The Gas Hydrate Stability Zone in the Cascadia Margin at ∼1200 ka to 162 ka (GHSZ; ∼240–70 mbsf) is related to low temperature and high-pressure conditions which are responsible for lower abundances of benthic foraminifera across that interval. The Alaska Current, North Pacific Current and California Current, also known as Eastern Boundary Currents (EBC), play a major role in the transportation of suspended sediments and coastal upwelling throughout the coast across the ∼650 to 450 ka and ∼35 to 2 ka intervals. The relative abundance rate of benthic foraminiferal community decreases with increasing core depth, indicating the influence of less ventilated and nutrient-enriched North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW). The present study also signifies the disappearance of benthic faunas throughout the Early–Middle Pleistocene Transition (EMPT, 1250–700 ka, Clark et al., 2006) period due to increased cyclic seasonality and decreased food supply, with few species (Bolivina alata, Bolivina spathulata, Cibicides wuellerstorfi, Epistominella exigua, Gavelinopsis lobatulus and Uvigerina peregrina) being exceptions.

MIOCENE NERITIC BENTHIC FORAMINIFERAL COMMUNITY DYNAMICS, CALVERT CLIFFS, MARYLAND, USA: SPECIES POOL, PATTERNS AND PROCESSES

ABSTRACTThe presence/absence and abundance of benthic foraminifera in successive discrete beds (Shattuck “zones”) of the Miocene Calvert and Choptank formations, exposed at the Calvert Cliffs, Maryland, USA, allows for investigation of community dynamics over space and time. The stratigraphic distribution of benthic foraminifera is documented and interpreted in the context of sea-level change, sequence stratigraphy, and the previously published distribution of mollusks. Neritic benthic foraminiferal communities of four sea-level cycles over ∼4 million years of the middle Miocene, encompassing the Miocene Climatic Optimum and the succeeding middle Miocene Climate Transition, are dominated by the same abundant species. They differ in the varying abundance of common species that occur throughout most of the studied section and in the different rare species that appear and disappear. Transgressive systems tracts (TSTs) have higher species diversity than highstand systems tracts (HSTs) but much lower density of specimens. In contrast to some previous research, all beds in the studied section are interpreted as being from the inner part of a broad, low gradient shelf and were deposited at water depths of less than ∼50 m. It is suggested that species are recruited from a regional species pool of propagules throughout the duration of TSTs. Recruitment is curtailed during highstands leading to lower diversity in the HSTs.

Impact of methane seepage dynamics on the abundance of benthic foraminifera in gas hydrate bearing sediments: New insights from the South China Sea

The stable isotopic composition of benthic foraminifera tests is widely used to trace past methane release events. However, gaps in our knowledge on the ecology of benthic foraminifera at methane seeps impede the utility of test composition as proxy of methane emission histories and the influence of redox zonation on the local fauna. Here, we use sediment geochemistry and foraminiferal assemblages of a seep area of the South China Sea to reveal that seepage duration and intensity affect benthic foraminifera. Taxa tolerating eutrophic conditions like Uvigerina thrive at times of reduced seepage when aerobic methanotrophy is favored. In contrast, intense methane seepage leads to high sulfide levels, and a positioning of the sulfate-methane transition zone close to the seafloor. At these times, bottom waters may become oxygen depleted and benthic foraminifera will decline. This study provides (1) the means to understand how seepage dynamics control the distribution of benthic foraminifera and (2) new constraints on the use of foraminifera as paleoceanographic proxies, including possible mechanisms of mass mortality in the geological past.

Microfacies Characterizations and Paleoenvironment of Upper Part of Qamchuqa Formation from Chwarqauran Section, Sulaimaniyia Area, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

The Qamchuqa Formation was studied in Chwarqauran section, Sulaimanyia, Kurdistan region, Northeastern Iraq. The lithology of the formation contains limestone throughout the whole section except for one bed of dolomite at the Middle part. Twenty-four slides were prepared from 24 rock samples that were taken from this section to discriminate the petrography and fossil content. The petrographic study shows four main microfacies including lime mudstone, wackestone, packstone, and floatstone. Additionally, there are four sub microfacies: bioclast wackestone, miliolid wackestone, bioclast packstone and orbitolinid packstone. However, the fossil content shows the abundance of benthic foraminifera against the planktonic. All the microfacies indicate facies zone 7, 8 and 9A which reflect deposition in the platform interior between the tidal flat to the mid ramp and back reef environment

Structure Community and Distribution of Benthic Foraminifera in the Waters of Bagan Tanjungbalai Village Asahan Regency North Sumatera Province

This research was conducted in March 2019 in the waters of Bagan Tanjungbalai Village Asahan Regency North Sumatera Province. The purpose of the study were to analyze the community  structure and distribution of benthic foraminifera. Determination of the research was purposive sampling of 4 station with 3 sampling points where the distance each sampling point was 50 meters wich were based on the initial sampling point. In the study area were found 24 species of foraminifera.  The study showed that composition of sediment organic matter involved 4.97 - 15.26%, while the abundance of benthic foraminifera was between 13690 - 28571 ind/m2. Defferences of the abundance of benthic foraminifera at each station obtained a significant value of 0.01 or p < 0.05, which means a difference the abundance of  benthic foraminifera beetwen stations,but not significant. While the relative abundance between sampling is only 0.15-21.00%, while the relative sedimentation rate between sampling is 15.38 - 33.02%. 

Holocene paleoenvironmental changes in mud area southwest off Cheju Island, East China Sea: Evidence from benthic foraminiferal assemblages and stable isotope records

A sediment core retrieved from the mud area southwest off Cheju Island (MASCI) was analysed for benthic foraminifera, grain size, and stable isotopes and constrained by AMS14C dating. Holocene paleoenvironmental changes in this broad shallow shelf were investigated, with special focus on the evolution of the MASCI and its related ocean eddy system. The results indicate that the East China Sea shelf has undergone four major environmental evolution stages during the Holocene. Prior to 9.8 cal. Kyr BP, the benthic foraminiferal assemblages were dominated by low salinity, shallow-water species [Ammonia beccarii (Linnaeus), Elphidium advenum (Cushman), and Cribrononion subincertum (Asano)], reflecting a near-coast-deposit environment. A noticeable transition of the benthic foraminifera, from an A. beccarii dominated to Ammonia compressiuscula (Brady) dominated assemblage, taking place at approximately 9.8 cal. Kyr BP together with a contemporaneous increase in δ18O and δ13C, provides evidence that a rapid rise in sea level occurred at this time in the East China Shelf. A gradual increase in δ18O between 9.8 and 6 cal. Kyr BP indicates a steady strengthening influence of open ocean water on the area under study. A sudden increase in the abundance of benthic foraminifera along with a decrease in the coarse fraction imply that an early eddy circulation system was established since almost 6 cal. Kyr BP in the MASCI. This eddy circulation system was quite weak but gradually strengthened between 6 and 3 cal. Kyr BP, possibly due to the intrusion of the Yellow Sea Warm Current (YSWC). A more stable mud deposition period, characterised by a high sedimentation rate of fine-grained sediment and lighter value of δ13C, starting at approximately 3 cal. Kyr BP, indicates that the MASCI was formed mainly during the late Holocene. We believe that the strengthened YSWC since 3 cal. Kyr BP might increase the trap efficiency of the eddy system, thereby accounting for the high sedimentation rate of mud deposits during this period.

Evolution of Palaeoenvironment of the South Yellow Sea Since the Last Deglaciation

The sediments in core YS01 recovered from the South Yellow Sea mud deposit zone contain abundant benthic foraminifera, particularly shallow continental shelf species, but rare of planktonic foraminifera. The benthic foraminifera are dominated by stenohaline cold shallow-water species and euryhaline brackish-water species. In this paper, the palaeoenvironmental changes were discussed based on the grain-size compositions and benthic foraminiferal assemblages. Six different benthic foraminiferal assemblages were discriminated by species analysis from the foraminiferal fauna. According to AMS14C dating data in core YS01, we identified four main stages of marine environmental changes since the last deglaciation: a near-shore depositional stage (13.1–9.5 kyr B.P.), a transitional stage from near-shore deposition to shallow-sea deposition (9.5–5.6kyrB.P.), a high sea level stage with shallow-sea deposition (5.6–2.9kyrB.P.), and a stable shallow-sea depositional stage (2.9kyr B.P. to the present).

Lower Jurassic benthic foraminiferal assemblages from shallow-marine platform carbonates of Mallorca (Spain): stratigraphic implications

The stratigraphic distribution of larger benthic foraminifera and other microfossils, as analysed in thin-sections, has been investigated in three stratigraphic sections from the island of Mallorca (Son Maina, S’Heretat and Cuevas de Arta). These stratigraphic sections represent deposition in a Lower Jurassic shallow-water carbonate platform succession (Es Barraca Member, Soller Formation) of the Llevant Mountains. The microfossil assemblages contain abundant benthic foraminifera and calcareous algae, including the typical Liassic dasycladalean alga Palaeodasycladus mediterraneus (Pia) and the microproblematica Thaumatoporella parvovesiculifera (Raineri), which provide good age constraint of the succession. Three consecutive biozones have been recognized based on the stratigraphic distribution of foraminifera, including the evolutionary bioseries Mesoendothyra—Lituosepta—Orbitopsella spp., which are documented for the first time in the Balearic Basin: Biozone A (interval Zone) is characterized by the occurrence of small Siphovalvulina spp., Mesoendothyra sp. and rare Lituosepta ancestors. Biozone B (lineage Zone), whose lower boundary is defined by the first occurrence of Lituosepta recoarensis Cati and its top by the first appearance of Orbitopsella aff. primaeva (Henson). The uppermost part of biozone B shows an interval with transitional morphotypes between Lituosepta and Orbitopsella, indicating that the change between biozones B and C1 is gradual (B/C1 transition). This interval is characterized by the presence of very primitive forms of Orbitopsella. Finally, Biozone C1 (lineage Zone) is defined by the first occurrence of Orbitopsella aff. primaeva together with L. recoarensis. The upper boundary of the Biozone C1, which is defined by the first occurrence of O. praecursor s.l., is not recorded in the studied sections of the Es Barraca Member. This biostratigraphic zonation is consistent with a Sinemurian age for the Es Barraca Member with its top most likely not extending into the Pliensbachian. The proposed biostratigraphic scheme is comparable with those established for other western Tethyan margins such as the High Atlas of Morocco, the Southern Italian Alps or the Dinaric Alps of Slovenia and Croatia. The reconstruction of a depositional transect across the studied sections shows the progressive loss of the upper biozones towards the northeast, demonstrating the existence of significant hiatuses in some sections of the Llevant Mountains domain. These hiatuses point to an intra-lower Pliensbachian (Carixian) early stage of platform fragmentation, with areas affected by erosion or non-deposition, and areas with marine marly limestone sedimentation followed by deltaic siliciclastic progradation on the north-western part of Mallorca.