Journals A-Z
All Subjects
Free Journals
sciepub.com
Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences
ISSN (Print): 2328-3912 ISSN (Online): 2328-3920 Website: https://www.sciepub.com/journal/aees Editor-in-chief: Alejandro González Medina
Open Access
Journal Browser
Go
Issue 1, Volume 9
Article Metrics
  • 10009
    Views
  • 12204
    Saves
  • 0
    Citations
  • 36
    Likes
Export Article
Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences. 2021, 9(1), 8-20
DOI: 10.12691/aees-9-1-2
Open AccessArticle

Temporal Distribution of Benthic Foraminifera and Their Relationship to Bottom Water Variables from the Southern Part of Gulf of Mannar, Tamilnadu

Rethikala K.R1, V. Kumar2, and B. Satish3

1Department of Geology and Water Management, BK College, Kottayam, Kerala

2Department of Geology, National College (Autonomous), Tiruchirapalli, Tamilnadu - 620001

3Exploration Department, CMPDI, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh

Pub. Date: November 13, 2020
View Full Text Full Text PDF (608 KB) Full Text ePUB(2180 KB)

Cite this paper:
Rethikala K.R, V. Kumar and B. Satish. Temporal Distribution of Benthic Foraminifera and Their Relationship to Bottom Water Variables from the Southern Part of Gulf of Mannar, Tamilnadu. Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences. 2021; 9(1):8-20. doi: 10.12691/aees-9-1-2

Abstract

The study investigates the relationship between the bottom water variables and temporal distribution of benthic foraminifera in the southern part of the Gulf of Mannar. For the study, a systematic collection of sediment and bottom water samples have been made along four traverses from off the coast of Theresapuram, Sippikulam, Mookaiyur and Valinokkam. The samples were collected from 7 stations each, along the 4 traverses and thus the total amounted to 28, ranging in depth from 0.8 to 15.0 metres. The collections were carried out once in four months starting from October 2016 to April 2017, representing the three seasons viz. October (pre-monsoon), January (post-monsoon/winter) and April (summer) and thus the collection amounted to a total of 84 samples. Faunal analysis led to the recognition of 124 foraminiferal species belonging to 59 genera, 39 families, and 21 super families of 5 suborders. The population size both as living and total (living + dead) in each of the stations during different seasons revealed that the maximum living population size was found in stations between 3 and 5 during all the collections and the living population was maximum in summer (April) and was minimum during monsoon (October). Among the 124 foraminiferal species, the following species were considered widespread and abundantly occurring viz. Ammonia beccarii, A. tepida, Asterotalia inflata, Elphidium advenum, Noninoides boueanum and Quinqueloculina seminulum. Various bottom water parameters of all the samples have been estimated and correlated with foraminiferal population. Higher temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen content noticed during April favoured higher reproduction and abundance of foraminiferal population.

Keywords:
Benthic foraminifera temporal distribution bottom water characters Theresapuram Sippikkulam Valinokkam Mookkaiyur Gulf of Mannar

Creative CommonsThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]  Buzas, M.A., Hayek, L.A.C., Haywardb, B.W., Grenfelb, H.R. and Sabaab, A.T, “Biodiversity and community structure of deep sea foraminifera around New Zealand”, Deep-sea Research, 154, 1641-1654. 2007.
 
[2]  Renema, W, “Terrestrial influence as a key driver of spatial variability in large benthic foraminiferal assemblage composition in the Central Indo- Pacific” Earth Science Review, 177. 514-544. Feb. 2018..
 
[3]  Haynes, J.R., Foraminifera, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1981, 433.
 
[4]  Lee, Pawlowski, J., Debenay,J.P.,Whittaker, J., Banner,F., Gooday , A.J., Tendal, O., Haynes, J., Faber, W.W., “The illustrated guide to the protozoa”, Society of Protozoologists, (2) Allen Press, Laurence. 872-951. 2000
 
[5]  Moghaddasi, B., Nabavi, S.M.B., Vosoughi, G., Fatemi S.M.R and Jamili, S, “Abundance and distribution of benthic foraminifera sediments”, Research Journal of Environmental Sciences, 3(2). 210-217. 2009.
 
[6]  Nagendra, R., Sathiyamoorthy, P., Nallappa, Reddy, A., Ramachandran, A, “Spatial distribution of Benthic foraminifera in the Palar Estuary, Tamil Nadu”, Geological Society Of Indi, 86. 305-316. 2015.
 
[7]  Gesline, E., Heinz, P., Jorissen, F., Hemleben, C, “Migratory responses of deep sea benthic foraminifera to variable oxygen conditions: investigations,” Marine Micropaleontol, 53 (3). 227-243. 2004.
 
[8]  Kumar, V, “Ecology distribution and systematics of Recent benthic foraminifera from the Palk Bay, Off Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu,” Unpublished PhD thesis, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli ,1988.
 
[9]  Boltovskoy, E., Scott, D.B., Medioli, E.S, “Morphological variations of benthic foraminiferal tests in responses to changes in ecological parameters,” Paleontology, 65. 175-185. 1991.
 
[10]  Debenay, J.P., Guir, L.D., Parra, M, “Ecological factors acting on the microfauna in mangrove swamps, The case of foaraminiferal assemblage in French Guiana”, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 55. 509-533. 2002.
 
[11]  Nigam, R., Saraswat, R., Kurtarkar, S.R, “Laboratory experiment to study the effect of salinity variations on benthic foraminiferal species - Pararotalia nipponica (Asano),” Geological Society of India, 67(1). 41-46. 2006.
 
[12]  Suresh Gandhi, M., Sonia Nathan, A, “Benthic foraminifera and geochemical studies with influence on pollution studies along the coast of Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu-ITS”, India, Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 7, 917-925. 2014.
 
[13]  Suresh Gandhi, M., Kasilingam, K., Arumugam, T., Lalthansangi, Rajeswara Rao, N, “Distribution of benthic foraminifera ,sediment characteristics and environmental conditions in and around Manalmelkkudi Spit ,Palk Strait,Tamil Nadu, East Coast of India,” Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 46 (4). 513-533. 2017.
 
[14]  Mohan, S, “Benthic foraminiferal responses to inner shelf environments of Northern part of Gulf of Mannar, Southeast cost of India,” Unpublished PhD thesis, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, December 2010.
 
[15]  Muthukrishnan, A., S. Aruchamy, K. Banukumar, and P. Alaguraja, “Climatic balance on coastal ecosystems in Gulf of Mannar: Geoclimatic techniques,” International Journal of Geomatics and Geosciences. 3(3). 668-691. 2013
 
[16]  Kumaraswamy, K., “An integrated approach to the drinking water problem of Madras city, India”: Environment. Res. Forum, vols. 3 & 4. 205-230. 1996.
 
[17]  Walton, W.R, “Techniques for recognition of living foraminifera,” In: Contributions from the Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research,3.56-60. 1952.
 
[18]  Phleger, F.B, “Ecology of foraminifera, Northwest Gulf of Mexico, Foraminiferal distribution,” Geological Society of Ameica Memoir, 46. 88. 1951.
 
[19]  Cushman, J.A, Foraminifera, Their classification and Economic use” .4th Edition, with an illustrated key to the Genera. Hardward University Press, Massachusetts. 1959. 588.
 
[20]  Loeblich, A. R, Jr. and Tappan, H., Foraminiferal genera and their classification, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York,vols.1 and ,2, 970+212 , 846pls,1988.
 
[21]  Gehrels, W.R., “Using foraminiferal transfer functions to produce high-resolution sea level records from salt marsh deposits, Maine, USA,” The Holocene 10, 367-376. 2000.
 
[22]  Alve, E, “Benthic foraminiferal responses to estuarine pollution: a review” Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 25(3). 190-203. July 1995.
 
[23]  Frontalini, F., Coccioni, R, “Benthic foraminifera as bioindicators of pollution a review of Italian research over the last three decades” Revue de Micropaléontologie, 54. 115-127. 2011.
 
[24]  .Schonfeld , J., Alve, E., Geslin, E., Jorissen, F., Korsun,S., Spezzaferri, S., Abramobich,S., Almogi - Labin, A., du Chatelet, E.A., Barras, C., Dergamin, L., Bicchi, E., Bouchet, V., Cearreta, A., Di Bella, L., Dijkstra, N., Disaro, S.T., Ferraro, L., Frontalini, F., Gennari, G., Golikova, E.,Haynnert, K., Hess, S., Husum, K., Martins, V., McGann, M., Oron, S., Romano, E., Sousa, S.M., Tsujimoto,A., The FOBIMO (FOraminiferaL BIo Monitoring) initiative -towards a standardized protocol for soft bottom benthic foraminiferal monitoring studies, Marine Micropaleontology, 94-95.1-13. 2012.
 
[25]  Kumar V., Sivakumar, K. and Jeevanandam, S, “Sediment- Benthic foraminifera Relationship of the Inner Shelf Sediments of Bay of Bengal, Off Chennai, Southeast Coast of India,” Journal of Indian Association of Sedimentologists, 23(1&2). 87-93. 2004.
 
[26]  Alve, E. and Bernhard, J.M, “Vertical migratory response of benthic foraminifera to controlled oxygen concentrations in an experimental mesocosm,” Marine Ecology Progress Series. 116. 1995.
 
[27]  Lee Y.G., Kim Y.W., Jeong D.U., Sick Lee J.S., Woo H.J., and Shin H. C, “Benthic foraminifera as bioindicators of salinity variation in Lake Shihwa, South Korea,” Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 45(3). 235-249. July 2015
 
[28]  Lei Y., LiT., Jian, Z and Nigam, R, “Taxonomy and distribution of benthic foraminifera in an intertidal zone of the Yellow sea, PR China: Correlation with sediment, temperature and salinity”, Marine Micropaleontology,133. 1-20. 2017.
 
[29]  Kumar, V. R., Vijayan, T. Gangaimani and S. Jeevanatham, “Substrate Characteristics and Benthic Foraminiferal Distribution from the Gulf of Mannar, Off Tiruchendur, Southeast Coast of Tamil Nadu, India.” Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 7 (6). 255-263. 2019
 
[30]  SivaKumar, K., Distribution and Ecology of recent benthic foraminifera from the shelf sediments of Bay of Bengal, off Chennai, Unpublished PhD thesis, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, 2002.
 
[31]  Gangaimani, T, “Ecology and distribution of recent benthic foraminifera the inner shelf sediments of Gulf of Mannar, off-Tuticorin, southeast cost of India, Unpublished PhD thesis, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, p 233, July 2009.
 
[32]  Alve, E., Hess, S., Bouchet, V.M.P., Dolven, J.K. and Rygg, B, “Intercalibration of Benthic foraminiferal macrofaunal biotic indices; An example from the Norwegian Skagerrak coast (NE North Sea)”, Ecological Indicators ,96. 107-115. Jan. 2019.
 
[33]  Kumar V., Sivakumar, K., Gangaimani, T and Anand, K.J., “Morphological abnormalities of Benthic foraminifera from the Palk Bay, Off Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu: A tool for environmental monitoring”, Pollution Research, 25(1). 35-42. 2006.
 
[34]  Kumar, V and Twinkle Jacob, “Bottom Water Characteristics and Their Influence on Temporal Distribution of Benthic Foraminifera from off-Manapad, Gulf of Mannar, South East Coast of India.” Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 7(6). 245-254. 2019.
 
[35]  Kumar, V., Christinal, J and Selvaraj, “Influence of changes in the substrate characters on the benthic foraminifera from the inner shelf of Gulf of Mannar, off Kayalpattinam, Southeast coast of India”, The International journal of analytical and experimental modal analysis, 12(2). 1894. 2020.
 
[36]  Loubere, P., Meyers, P. and Gary, A, “Benthic foraminiferal microhabitat selection, carbon isotope values, and association with larger animals; a test with Uvigerina peregrina”, The Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 25(1). 83-95. 1995
 
[37]  Davis, C.V., Myhre, S.E. and Hill, T.M, “Benthic foraminiferal shell weight: Deglacial species-specific responses from the Santa Barbara Basin”, Marine Micropaleontology, 124. 45-53. 2016.
 
[38]  Denne, R.A. and Sen Gupta, B.K, “Matching of benthic foraminiferal depth limits and water-mass boundaries in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico; an investigation of species occurrences. The Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 23(2), 108-117. 1993.
 
[39]  Linke, P, “Metabolic adaptations of deep-sea benthic foraminifera to seasonally varying food input”, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 81. 51-63. 1992
 
[40]  Nigam, R.., Kurtarkar, S.R., Saraswat, R., Linshy, V.N., Rana S.S, “Response of benthic foraminifera Rosalina leei to different temperature and salinity under laboratory culture experiment”, Journal of Marine Biological Association, 88. 699-704. 2008.
 
[41]  Saraswath, R., Nigam, R and Pachkhande, S, “Difference in optimum temperature for growth and reproduction in benthic foraminifera Rosalina globularis: Implications for paleoclimatic studies”, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 405. 105-110. 2011.
 
[42]  Kurtarkar, S.R., Linshy, V.N., Kaithwar, A., Saraswat, R. and Nigam, R, “Experimental studies on benthic foraminifera: an update on the changing trends and challenges over the past decade”, Micropaleontology and its applications. Scientific Publishers (India), 311-330. 2017.
 
[43]  Titelboim ,D., Sadekov, A., Almogi-Labin, A., Herut, B., Kucera, M., Schimidt, C., Hyams-Kaphzan, O., Abramovich, S., Geochemical signatures of benthic foraminiferal shells from heat -polluted shallow marine environment provide field evidence for growth and calcification under extreme warmth, Global Change biology, 00: 1-8, 2017.
 
[44]  Kurtarkar, S.R., Saraswat, R., Kaithwar, A, and Nigam, R, “How will Benthic Foraminifera Respond to Warming and Changes in productive?:A Laboratory Culture Study on Cymbaloporetta plana,” Journal: Acta Geologica Sinica,volume 93,(1). 175-182. 2019.
 
[45]  Manivannan, V., Kumar, V., Ragothaman, V. and Hussain, S.M., “Calcium carbonate-A major factor in controlling foraminiferal population in the Gulf of Mannar, off Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu”. In Proceedings XV Indian Colloquium on Micropaleontology and Stratigraphy. 381-385. 1996.
 
[46]  Kasilingam, K., Gandhi, M.S. and Rao, N.R, “Textural characteristics and ecology of near shore benthic foraminifera from Kottaipattinam to Kodiyakarai, Palk Strait, Southeast Coast of India” Regional Studies in Marine Science, 29. 100632. 2019.
 
[47]  Kumar, V. and Manivannan, , “Benthic Foraminiferal Response to estuarine Environments-A Case Study from Cauvery River, Poombuhar, Tamil Nadu” Ecology Environment And Conservation, 7. 185-200. 2001.
 
[48]  Bandy, O.L, “Ecology of foraminifera in northeastern Gulf of Mexico”, US Government Printing Office; 1956.
 
[49]  Rasheed, D.A, and Ragothaman, V, “Ecology and distribution of Recent foraminifera from the Bay of Bengal off Porto Novo, Tamil Nadu State, India”, Proceedings VII ICMS, 263-298, 1978.
 
[50]  Linshy, V.N., Rana, S.S., Kurtarkar, S., Saraswat, R. and Nigam, R..”Appraisal of laboratory culture experiments on benthic foraminifera to assess/develop paleoceanographic proxies”. 2007.
 
[51]  Gupta, B.K.S. and Machain, M.L, “Benthic foraminifera in oxygen-poor habitats”, Marine Micropaleontology, 20(3-4). 183-201. 1993.
 
[52]  Helley, J.J, and Levin, L.A, “Global distribution of naturally occurring marine hypoxia on continental margins”, Deep-Sea Research, 151(9). 1159-1168. 2004.
 
[53]  Middelburg, J.J. and Levin, L.A., “Coastal hypoxia and sediment biogeochemistry. Biogeosciences Discussions, 6(2). 2009.
 
[54]  Paulmier, A. and Ruiz-Pino, D., “Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) in the modern ocean. Progress in Oceanography, 80(3-4), pp.113-128. 2009.
 
[55]  Alve, E. and Bernhard, J.M,. “Vertical migratory response of benthic foraminifera to controlled oxygen concentrations in an experimental mesocosm”. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 137-151. 1995.
 
[56]  Moodley, L., Van der Zwaan, G.J., Rutten, G.M.W., Boom, R.C.E. and Kempers, A.J, “Subsurface activity of benthic foraminifera in relation to porewater oxygen content: laboratory experiments”, Marine Micropaleontology, 34(1-2). 91-106. 1998.
 
[57]  Gross, Onno. “Influence of temperature, oxygen and food availability on the migrational activity of bathyal benthic foraminifera: evidence by microcosm experiments.” Life at interfaces and under extreme conditions. Springer, Dordrecht. 123-137. 2000.
 
[58]  Gesline, E., Debenay, J.P., Duleba, W., Bonetti, C., Morphological abnormalities of foraminiferal tests in Brazilian environments:Comparison between polluted and non-polluted areas, Mar. Micropaleontol, 45, 151-168, 2002.
 
[59]  Fontanier, C Mackensen, A., Jorissen, F.J., Anschutz,p., I., Griveadud, C.,” Stable oxygen and carbon isotopes of live bentic foraminifera from the Bay of Biscay;:microhabitat impact and seasonal variability”, Mar.Micropaleontol.58(3),159-183. 2006.
 
[60]  Perez-Cruz, L.L., Machain, Castillo, M.L., ”Benthic foraminifera of the oxygen minimum zone, continental shelf of the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexico,” Foraminifer.Res.20 (4), 312-325.1990.
 
[61]  Kuhnt, T., Friedrich, O., Schmiedl, G., Milker, Y., Mackensen, A., Luckge, A., “Relationship between pore density in benthic foraminifera and bottom water oxygen content”, Deep-Sea Research, 176, 85-95, 2013.
 
[62]  Kuhnt, T., Schiebel, R., Schmiedl, G., Milker,Y.,Mackensen, A., Friedrich,O., “Automated and manual analyses of the pore density to oxygen relationship in Globobulimina turgida,” Foraminifer. Res. 44 (1), 5-16. 2014.
 
[63]  Kumar, V., Manivannan V., and Ragothaman V. ”Spatial and Temporal variations in foraminiferal abundance and their relation to substrate characteristics in the Palk Bay, off Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu”, Proceedings XVI ICMS, Dehradun, p.367-379. 1996.
 
[64]  Kumar, V., and Manivannan V., Benthic foraminiferal responses to bottom water characteristics in the Palk Bay, off Rameswaram, Southeast cost of India, marine science, vol.30. pp.173-179. 2001.
 
[65]  Gangaimani, T., “Ecology and distribution of recent benthic foraminifera the inner shelf sediments of Gulf of Mannar,off Tuticorin, southeast cost of India,” Unpublished PhD thesis , Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli. p 233.July 2009
 
[66]  Kumar, V., and Sivakumar, K., “Influence of estuarine environment on benthic foraminifera: A Case study from Uppanar river estuary, Tamil Nadu.”, Journal of Environment and pollution. Vol.8 (3), pp.277-283. 2001.
 
[67]  Kasilingam, K., Suresh Gandhi, M., Rajeshwara Rao., “Near- shore foraminifera along the Palk strait, Southeast Coast of India, Tamilnadu.” Journal of the Palaeontological Society of India volume 65 (1), 90-106. June 30, 2020.
 
Manuscript template