Studies of living benthonic foraminiferal assemblages carried out by marine
biologists are comparatively rare. This study of the changes in foraminiferal
assemblages from three subtidal sites near Plymouth, U.K., has been carried out
with the intention of determining the importance of various abiotic and biotic
variables to the foraminiferal communities studied using statistical correlation.
Temperature and salinity at depth and particle size characteristics together with
organic content, bacterial abundance and type, and other meiofauna present were
assessed monthly with samples taken for foraminiferal content, and for seasonal
diatom analysis.
Deformed specimens were very rare in the examined samples of natural
assemblages. Three different systems were used in an attempt to culture Elphidium
crispiim (Linne) for ecotoxicological studies, which failed. Ecotoxicological studies
were carried out upon Roialieila elaticam Pawlowski & Lee and adult Ammonia
batavits (Hofker). The types of deformation produced by laboratory-maintained
Foraminiferida were found not to be specific to the stressor used and, therefore, the
use of this group of Protozoa as indicators of specific pollution is not possible.
The methods which Elphidium crispiim utilises to remain epifaunal were
investigated and found to be primarily controlled by phototaxis, together with
geotaxis.
Date of Award | 1997 |
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Original language | English |
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Awarding Institution | |
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ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES, INCLUDING POLLUTANTS, AFFECTING LIVING BENTHONIC FORAMINIFERIDA
MANLEY, C. J. (Author). 1997
Student thesis: PhD