Spatial and temporal distribution of foraminifera in sediments off the central west coast of India and use of their test morphologies for the reconstruction of paleomonsoonal precipitation

Abstract

From the shallow region off the central west coast of India, 21 samples of surface sediments (ranging in depth from 22 to 52 m) along with two sediment cores of 4.80 m and 4.00 m (surface/subsurface) have been analyzed for foraminiferal composition and diversity. A total of 177 species have been identified and illustrated by scanning electron photo micrographs. Seventy-two genera, 47 families 26 super families and 5 sub orders are represented. In order to have insight into paleoclimatic changes in this region, quantitative spatial distribution data was generated for morpho-groups (angular-asymmetrical and rounded-symmetrical). The distribution revealed less abundance of angular-asymmetrical forms at the river mouth thus indicating an inverse relationship of angular-asymmetrical morpho-groups with river discharge (low salinity water). The reverse is true for rounded-symmetrical forms