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Benthic foraminiferal distribution and environmental monitoring: a case study from Al-Kharrar Lagoon, Red Sea Coast, Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

To assess the distribution of benthic foraminifera and the environmental implication of Al-Kharrar lagoon, 45 bottom sediment samples were collected using a grab sampler and the benthic foraminiferal content was determined in those samples. Sixty-six foraminiferal species in 29 genera were identified in the samples collected. The identified foraminiferal assemblage consisted of 63% Miliolina, 36% Rotalina, and 0.2% each of Textulariina and Lagenina. The dominant species identified, in decreasing order of relative abundance, were as follows: Eliphidium crispum (14%), Challengerella bradyi (11%), Peneroplis planatus (8%), Spiroloculina angulata (8%), Spiroloculina communis (8%), Elphidium advenum (7%), Spiroloculina indica (6%), Spiroloculina antillarum (3%), Pyrgo oblonga (2%), Pseudoschlumbergerina ovata (2%), and Sorites orbiculus (2%). The distribution, density, and diversity of the assemblages varied between the eastern, central, and western parts of the lagoon due to the different expected pollution sources. The main possible sources of the heavy metals are the treated or partially treated liquid wastes of the industrial activities surround the lagoon which is dumped into the seawater; Dredging and land filling, sewage, and oil pollution are also important sources of pollution in the study area.

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Funding

The authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University, for its funding of this research group (No. RG-1435–033).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geology and Geophysics Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed Youssef, Abdelbaset El-Sorogy & Khaled Al-Kahtany

  2. Geology Department, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt

    Mohamed Youssef

  3. Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Abdelbaset El-Sorogy

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  1. Mohamed Youssef
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  2. Abdelbaset El-Sorogy
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Responsible Editor: Domenico M. Doronzo

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Youssef, M., El-Sorogy, A. & Al-Kahtany, K. Benthic foraminiferal distribution and environmental monitoring: a case study from Al-Kharrar Lagoon, Red Sea Coast, Saudi Arabia. Arab J Geosci 15, 888 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-10147-w

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