Kepelbagaian dan kelimpahan foraminifera di sedimen permukaan sekitar delta Sungai Kelantan, Malaysia

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the diversity and abundance of surface sediment foraminifera at the delta of Sungai Kelantan as information on foraminifera, especially in Malaysia marine waters, is scarce. A total of 22 stations from two transects were designated as sampling areas. A total of 10,317 individuals belonging to 27 families, 34 genera and 55 species of foraminifera were found in the study area. Family Hauerinidae, with 10 species recorded, had the highest species diversity while Rotaliidae was the family with most abundant individuals (26.14%). The dominant and abundant species in the study area were Asterorotalia pulchella (17.24%) and Operculina ammonoides (10.19%). The species diversity index, H' and species richness index, a recorded were between 0.5 and 3.1 and 1.5 and 7.9, respectively. The highest abundance and diversity of species (a=7.9, H'=3.1) was recorded at station 21 as this station was located in open sea with a depth of 36.8 m and salinity at 32.2 ppt, close to normal marine salinity. The lowest H' and a values were recorded for stations near estuary with shallow waters and lower salinity. In general, the diversity index recorded at the delta of Sungai Kelantan belongs to the shallow water of marine environments. In conclusion, the diversity and abundance of foraminifera at the delta of Sungai Kelantan was influenced by the depth of its waters and salinity.