Ecology of benthic foraminifera of the eastern Aegean Sea coasts

Abstract

Benthic foraminifer assemblages of the Turkish Aegean coasts have been investigated. Sediment samples from Alibe and Maden Islands (Balıkesir), Kusadası (Aydın), Cesme Ilıca Bay (Izmir) and northwestern coast of Karaburun Peninsula (Izmir) have been analysed. Similarities, as well as dissimilarities were observed between the assemblages from different locations. The Red Sea orginated alien foraminifer Amphistegina lobifera Larsen was found to form a very dense population around the south and west part of a submarine spring water in Kusadası, where as it was replaced by Ammonia compacta Cushman and Elphidium crispum (Linné) assemblages on the northern and eastern parts. Euthymonacha polita (Chapman) has been first recorded in Kusadası and it is also abundant in the Ilıca Bay. The Red Sea originated Coscinospira acicularis (Batsch) has also been first recorded in the Mediterranean from Ilıca Bay. Presence of the individuals with colored tests indicates the presence of heavy metals in spring waters. Aberrant aperture morphologies observed in some of the Vertebralina striata d’Orbigny individuals attracts attention. Abundance of individuals with colored tests, morphological deformities or togetherness, as well as the Red Sea originated species indicates the special environmental and ecological conditions around the submarine springs.