Alien foraminifers of the northern and northeastern coastlines of Cyprus Island

Indexed In

Volume 166 / 2021

Authors:

Engin MERİÇ, M. Baki YOKEŞ, İpek F. BARUT, Atike NAZİK, Mustafa ERYILMAZ, Fulya YÜCESOY ERYILMAZ, M. Fatih HÜSEYİNOĞLU, Mustafa KUMRAL, Erol SARI

Keywords:

Benthic Foraminifera, Mollusc, Ostracod, ICP-MS Analysis, Geochemistry, Cyprus.

Abstract:

The study area covers the northern coasts of Cyprus from the Güzelyurt Gulf to the Gazimağusa Gulf. This study was carried out in order to reveal the presence of the alien foraminifera, which are widely distributed in the Eastern Mediterranean particularly Amphistegina lobifera in the study area, and the effects of trace elements on faunal assemblages (foraminifera, ostracod and mollusc). The  bottom  sediment samples  were  taken  from  eighteen  different  points  and  depths,  the  faunal assemblages were examined, and the sediment distribution map of the studied area was made by ICP-MS  analysis  and  geochemical  evaluations.  30  genera  and  48 species  of  foraminifera  have been  identified,  of  which  9  species  belonging  to  6 genera  are  the  alien  foraminifera. These  are: Spiroloculina  angulosa,  S. antillarum,  Hauerina  diversa, Coscinospira  hemprichii,  Peneroplis pertusus,  P. planatus,  Amphisorus  hemprichii, Sorites orbiculus  and  Amphistegina  lobifera. Amphistegina  lobifera  was  observed  to  be  abnormally abundant  in  most  of  the samples.  This foraminiferal assemblage of Red Sea origin constitutes a poor assemblage compared to the alien assemblages in Turkish Mediterranean coastal areas. It has been determined that the ostracod and mollusc genera and species found in the same samples belong to the typical Mediterranean and Aegean Sea community.

https://doi.org/10.19111/bulletinofmre.838609

 

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19111/bulletinofmre.838609