Identification and distribution of benthic foraminifera in coastal waters of the Persian Gulf (Bushehr Province)

Benthic foraminifera in coastal sediments of the Persian Gulf were studied at four stations in summer and winter (August and February 2017), to identify and determine the species diversity. Sedimentary specimens were collected by a corer down to the depth of 5cm and by the diver down to the depths of 3, 5 and 10m at every station and transferred to the laboratory after being fixed (by 5% formalin solution). In this study, 10 species belonging to 8 genera and 5 families were identified. The highest abundance of the species is related to family Rotaliidae. Ammonia beccari and Qunqueloculina bicostata were dominant species in the region.The environmental factors including depth, temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, water pH, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solid using CTD and total organic matter concentration and sediment particle diameter were measured. The results of PCA test showed that temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen have an effect on the density of the foraminiferal communities. Also the study results showed that sediment particles (sand / silt + clay, sand / silt, sand and calcium carbonate) are important in determining species densities.