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Deep-sea foraminifera in a short core from the Bay of Bengal: ecological comparisons with the South China and Sulu Seas

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Abstract

The present study encompasses a detailed investigation of downcore Holocene foraminifera and their assemblages to comprehend the ecology of the Bay of Bengal and compare it with that of the South China and Sulu Seas, at the same depth for all the three water bodies. Based on temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles, benthic foraminiferal abundance, and species diversity values, it is inferred that the Bay of Bengal is much better ventilated than either the South China or the Sulu Sea. The planktic/benthic (P/B) ratios are extremely low when compared with those reported elsewhere in the world. The absolute dominance of benthic foraminiferal species over their planktic counterparts is attributed to the effect of fragmentation and dissolution of the latter, as they are relatively more susceptible to this process. The very low P/B values are also indicative of water depth below the lysocline in this part of the Bay of Bengal.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the NIOT, Chennai, for providing the short core from the Bay of Bengal. They are particularly grateful to Dr. G. A. Ramadass, Project Director, Scientist-F, NIOT, for providing raw temperature and DO profile data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Geology, University of Madras, Maraimalai Campus, Guindy, Chennai, 600 025, India

    N. Rajeshwara Rao & P. Kamatchi

  2. Submersibles Division, National Institute of Ocean Technology (Ministry of Earth Sciences), Pallikaranai, Chennai, 600 100, India

    S. Ramesh

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  1. N. Rajeshwara Rao
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  2. P. Kamatchi
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  3. S. Ramesh
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Correspondence to N. Rajeshwara Rao.

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Rao, N.R., Kamatchi, P. & Ramesh, S. Deep-sea foraminifera in a short core from the Bay of Bengal: ecological comparisons with the South China and Sulu Seas. Arab J Geosci 6, 3269–3280 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-012-0601-y

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