Distribution and Diversity of Foraminifera in the Northwest of Sarawak Offshore Waters, Malaysia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46754/umtjur.v1i2.62Keywords:
benthic foraminifera, Sarawak waters, species diversityAbstract
A study on distribution and diversity of benthic foraminifera in surface sediments was carried out in Northwestern Sarawak waters, Malaysia. The range of water depth at the study site was between 43 m and 71 m. A total of seven sediment samples were taken for this study. As a result, 11 genera were identified from a total of 1,222 individuals of foraminifera. 200 individuals were picked out from each sample. The 11 genera that were identified from the study site included Heterolepa spp., Textularia spp., Quinqueloculina spp., Operculina spp. Pseudorotalia spp., Amphistegina spp., Cylindroclavulina spp., Elphidium spp., Ammobaculites spp., Asterorotalia spp. and Bolivina spp.. The common genera found in the sediments of the study areas were Heterolepa, Textularia, Quincoloculina, Operculina and Pseudorotalia. The highest and lowest values of Fisher alpha and Shannon-Wiener indices were shown at Station C287 and Station B482 respectively. The highest value of Fisher alpha was 3.23 and the lowest value was 1.97. The highest and lowest values of Shannon-Wiener were 2.30 and 1.91. The highest index value of diversity was 3.23 at depth 67.76 m and the lowest value was 1.53 at depth 45.54 m and 68.45 m. From this study, depth is not the main factor that influences the diversity of benthic foraminiferal in northwestern Sarawak waters.
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