37 Paleontology (Posters)
Friday, 21 April 2006
1:20 PM - 5:00 PM
DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF LIVING (STAINED) FORAMINIFERAL ASSEMBLAGES FROM THE VENICE LAGOON, ITALY
Paper number: 37-7
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 1:20 PM – 5:00 PM
Authors
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Anthony E. RathburnIndiana State Univ, Terre Haute, IN
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Elena M. PérezIndiana State Univ, Terre Haute, IN
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Jared KluesnerIndiana State Univ, Terre Haute, IN
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Cassie J. GrayIndiana State Univ, Terre Haute, IN
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Chandranath BasakIndiana State Univ, Terre Haute, IN
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Joris GieskesScripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA
Abstract
As part of an ongoing study (SIOSED), living (stained) benthic foraminiferal assemblages from the Venice Lagoon were studied to assess benthic ecosystem responses to pollutants. Distribution patterns of rose Bengal stained foraminifera (>150 μm) were determined from push cores collected in the lagoon. Assemblages were dominated by Ammonia sp., Haynesina sp., and Quinqueloculina sp. Percentages of abundant taxa differed for the 0-1 cm interval of sites examined. These differences may reflect changes in the availability of contaminants between sites. Differences in percentage of aberrant test morphologies between sites were noted and compared with those of other sites. Results from this study will contribute to our understanding of the ecological impacts of contaminants in the Venice Lagoon.