Distribution and abundance of benthic foraminifera in the coastal water at Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah

Abstract

The distribution and abundance ofbenthic foraminifera and their relationship with the physical parameters, sediment texture and organic matter were studied in the coastal waters at Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah. A total of 15 genera, 11 families and 4 orders were determining with a relative abundance (>2 %). The living specimens of foraminifera were rare (<2 %) in this study therefore the total assemblage (living and dead) has been considered. The identified genera include Ammobaculites spp., Ammomarginulina spp., Cribrostomoides spp., Tritaxilina spp., Textularia spp., Quinqueloculina spp., Asterorotalia spp., Pseudorotalia spp., Pararotalia spp., Ammonia spp., Bulimina spp., Discorbinella spp., Bolivina spp., Elphidium spp. and Nonion spp. The assemblages were largely influenced by 4 genera namely, Ammonia spp. (57 %), Ammobaculites spp. (10 %), Elphidium spp. (9 %), Asterorotalia spp. (9 %) and Pseudorotalia spp. (9%).