Benthic foraminiferal associations in the Northern Bay of Safaga, Red Sea, Egypt

摘要: Abstract In the shallow-water area (0–70 m) of Northern Bay Safaga, 73 surface samples were studied with respect to total foraminiferal fauna. The cover a great variety environments and yielded 239 taxa. Based on q-mode cluster analysis, tested by canonical discriminant are grouped into 13 associations, each characterized several species: (1) Quinqueloculina mosharrafai-Borelis schlumbergeri-Brizalina simpsoni Ass., (2) Heterostegina depressa-Amphlstegina lessonii/bicirculata (3) Cibicidids- Rosalina-Amphistegina lobifera-Pseudoschlumbergerina ovata (4) Peneroplis planatus (5) planatus-Varidentella neostriatula (6) planatus-Coscinospira hemprichii-Varidentella (7) spp. (8) Hauerina diversa-Sorites orbiculus (9) Verneuilina sp.-n Articulina pacifica-Reussella simplex (10) Textularia agglutinans/rugulosa-Bolivina variabilis (11) agglutinans-Challengerella bradyi-Elphidium jenseni/simplex (12) Operculina ammonoides-Adelosina laevigata-Brizalina striatula/subspathulata (13) Bolivina variabilis—Miliolinella-Nonion fabum-Elphidium Ass. characteristic forms association linked specific environmental parameters modes life. As long as taxonomic uniformitarianism can be applied, similar associations comparable ecological demands may also detected in fossil record. For comparisons taxonomically different material summarized 4 categories reflecting type substrate. record these recognized general morphological characteristics tests sedimentological data. substrate types are: hardground, sand (with or without seagrass and/or corals), firmground, soft bottom.