Benthic foraminiferal distribution and its ecological studies in a shallow shelf setting off Colachel, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Samples were collected at 2 transects from stations at Colachel and Mandaikaddu in water depths ranging 0 to ~20 m. In the present study 109 foraminiferal taxa belong to 56 genera are identified. At Colachel, the total foraminiferal species increase from shallow to intermediate depths (0 to 10 m). Important benthic species of this zone are Amphistegina radiata, Quinqueloculina lamarckiana, Q. seminulum, Q. sulcata Q. elongata, Reussella simplex and Textularia agglutinans. The scatter plot of organic matter (OM) versus living species shows positive correlation. Further, the positive trend of Organic matter Vs carbonate reveals that due to littoral drift, the sediment brought from the shallow shelf region has played a significant role in the contribution of dead species as well as shell fragments. In the study area, some important foraminiferal species which mark significant appearance, disappearance and faunal abundance in tune with their depth trails are helpful for demarcating the zonation of benthic populations.