Ecology and distribution of benthic foraminifera from a coral island of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve

The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (GoMBR) considered to be one of the world's richest marine biological resources, has 21 islands with fringing coral reefs that support diverse flora and fauna, including benthic foraminifera. One such island, Upputhanni Theevu (UTT) was, therefore, chosen for the present study. From the foraminifera separated from 18 surface sediment samples collected at depths varying between 1.0 m and 12.1 m, 109 benthic foraminiferal species belonging to 46 genera were identified. The foraminiferal assemblage was dominated by Miliolids and Rotaliids. Lagenids were poorly represented. In general, living populations constituted P. calcar > C. calcar > P. nipponica > T. tricarinata > S. communis > H. depressa > S. arietina. In the subsequent February collection, it was C. calcar > P. calcar > C. spengleri > P. nipponica > T. tricarinata > S. communis > H. depressa = S. arietina