Benthic foraminiferal assemblages as pollution proxies in the northern coast of Gabes Gulf,Tunisia |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Fatma?AloulouEmail author Boubaker?EllEuch Monem?Kallel |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Geology and Geoinformatics, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, 516003, India;(2) Department of Geology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, 517502, India |
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Abstract: | A study of chemical and sedimentological parameters integrated with benthic foraminifera investigation was conducted along
the northern coast of Gabes Gulf. Thirty-two samples were studied and a total of 68 benthic foraminiferal species were identified.
Heavy metals enrichment factors and total hydrocarbon concentrations showed both metal and petrogenic pollution related mainly
to phosphogypsum, sewage, and fishing activities. Statistical analysis (bivariate correlation and hierarchical cluster analysis)
show a possible control of these pollutants on density, diversity, as well as the taxonomic composition of the benthic foraminiferal
assemblages. The extent to which the population was found less dense and less diversified corresponded to the degree to which
the sediment was contaminated. In these contaminated sites, an increase in relative abundance of opportunistic species such
Ammonia tepida and Haynesina germanica was found. Far from pollution, foraminiferal assemblages are dominated by species characteristic of Mediterranean shallow
water (Ammonia beccarii, Ammonia parkinsoniana, Elphidium crispum, Elphidium williamsoni, Elphidium advenum, Peneroplis planatus, Peneroplis pertesus). |
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