Quantitative analyses have been carried out on benthic foraminifera from 66 samples of Core 255 in the southern Okinawa Trough, in combination with the stable isotopic analyses of planktonic and benthic foraminifera a...Quantitative analyses have been carried out on benthic foraminifera from 66 samples of Core 255 in the southern Okinawa Trough, in combination with the stable isotopic analyses of planktonic and benthic foraminifera and AMS 14C dating, in order to reconstruct the history of change under deep water conditions and surface paleoproduclivity over the last 20 000 years. The variations in the ratio of agglutinants in benthic foraminiferal fauna and the ratio of fragments in planktonic foraminifera] fauna indicate higher carbonate dissolution during the postglacial stage than during the glacial stage. The distribution of species and the results of Q-mode factor analysis show that there are three distinctly different benthic foraminiferal assemblages during the glacial, deglacial and postglacial stages in the Okinawa Trough over the last 20000 years: the glacial Bulimina aculeata assemblage (especially the dominant species Uvigerina pereyrina) is associated with high surface primary productivity and organic matter content in sediments; the postglacial Uvigerina asperula assemblage corresponds to low surface primary productivity; while the deglacial Chilostomella colina assemblage possibly reflects low oxygen content in bottom water.展开更多
Previous studies on deep modern benthic foraminifera in the Mediterranean Sea are not abundant and generally are focused at the fossilizing polythalamous component of the foraminiferal assemblages.We present prelimina...Previous studies on deep modern benthic foraminifera in the Mediterranean Sea are not abundant and generally are focused at the fossilizing polythalamous component of the foraminiferal assemblages.We present preliminary results of living(Rose Bengal stained)benthic foraminiferal faunas in bathyal and abyssal sediments.Benthic foraminiferal density, species composition and biomass are determined at 10 sites across a transect from the展开更多
Assemblages of benthic foraminifera in a sediment core(C02)near the western margin of the southern Yellow Sea Mud were studied to decipher the phase evolution of Holocene paleoenvironmental changes associated with the...Assemblages of benthic foraminifera in a sediment core(C02)near the western margin of the southern Yellow Sea Mud were studied to decipher the phase evolution of Holocene paleoenvironmental changes associated with the Holocene marine transgression.It appears that during the early Holocene(11.2 10.1 kyr BP),the faunal was dominated by low salinity and shallow water species Cribrononion subincertum,Buccella frigida and Ammonia beccarii,reflecting a near coast depositional environment.A rapid increase of the relative abundance of Ammonia compressiuscula between 10.1 9.3 kyr BP indicates that the sea level rose rapidly during that time period.From 9.3 7.7 kyr BP,the benthic foraminiferal assemblage was dominated by high percentage of A.compressiscula,suggesting that the sea level was relatively stable.An obvious transition of benthic foraminifera,from the A.compressiuscula-dominated assemblage to an Ammonia ketienziensis-dominated assemblage,occurred between 7.7 6.2 kyr BP,possibly corresponding to a second sea level rapid rise period in the Yellow Sea during the Holocene.This transition may correspond to the gradually strengthened Yellow Sea warm current(YSWC)and finally is established the modern-type circulation in the Yellow Sea.It may also mark the formation of the Yellow Sea cold bottom water(YSCBW)during that period.Since then,the benthic foraminiferal assemblage based on core C02 was dominated by typical YSCBW species,A.ketienziensis,Astrononion italicum and Hanzawaia nipponica,at 6.2 4 kyr BP.A non-deposition period occurred since 4 kyr BP,which possibly related to the hydrology changes caused by the East Asia monsoon.The two obvious benthic foraminiferal transitions recorded in core C02 during the early and middle Holocene provide evidence that the Yellow Sea has undergone a two-phase rapid sea level rise during the Holocene marine transgression.展开更多
Benthic foraminifera, preserved in the Late Cretaceous organic carbon-rich sediments of Gamba, southern Tibet, provide high-resolution proxies for sea-level changes and dissolved oxygen fluctuations of southeastern Te...Benthic foraminifera, preserved in the Late Cretaceous organic carbon-rich sediments of Gamba, southern Tibet, provide high-resolution proxies for sea-level changes and dissolved oxygen fluctuations of southeastern Tethys. The fossils were statistically analyzed and divided into three faunas of ＂Cenomanian fauna＂, ＂Turonian fauna＂, and ＂Coniacian fauna＂. A middle neritic-upper bathal environment （50-250m） was estimated considering the ratios of planktonic and epifaunal benthic foraminifera （P/（P＋E））, the morphological analysis according to the studies of recent foraminifera and the abundant distributions of depth-related species such as Alabamina creta, Laevidentalina sp., Praebulimina spp., Pleurostomella cf. naranjoensis, Pyrulina sp., Quinqueloculina spp., Haplophragmoides spp., etc. The result shows an almost parallel trend with the global transgressive and regressive cycles, but the former fluctuates more frequently at upper Cenomanian, which probably indicates tectonic instability of the continental margin. According to the benthic foraminiferal richness （BFN）, Shannon-Weiner diversity （H（s））, as well as benthic foraminiferal oxygen index （BFOI）, five periods of oxygen depleted conditions （dysoxic-anoxic） have been recognized. They correspond to the OAE2, the lower Turonian, the upper Turonian, the Turonian- Caniacian boundary event and the probably OAE3. In addition, the oxygen fluctuations in Gamba might be controlled directly by sea-level changes, while the paleoproductivity and oxygen conditions interacted with each other under oxygen deficiency environments.展开更多
Controlled experiments, including mesocosms and laboratory cultures, are used to identify a potential speci?c cause- effect relationship that has been previously inferred in field studies. In this study, a series of m...Controlled experiments, including mesocosms and laboratory cultures, are used to identify a potential speci?c cause- effect relationship that has been previously inferred in field studies. In this study, a series of mesocosm experiments are carried out to assess the impact of different concentrations of copper on benthic foraminiferal assemblages over time. This pilot investigation documents that Cu contamination has a detrimental effect on foraminifera when compared to original and control samples. In particular, increased concentrations of Cu (normally higher than 120 μg/l) lead to a lowering of foraminiferal density and diversity and an increased occurrence of abnormalities. This study thus supports that the use of an experimental approach is suitable for investigating the response of benthic foraminifera to stress including pollution. Moreover, the application of mesocosms represents an innovative tool to be placed alongside field studies and culture experiments.展开更多
The estuary and coastal zone are the key areas for socio-economic development,and they are also the important channels for pollutants transported to the sea.The construction of the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge changed the hydr...The estuary and coastal zone are the key areas for socio-economic development,and they are also the important channels for pollutants transported to the sea.The construction of the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge changed the hydrodynamic condition of the bay,which made the self-purification capacity of the bay weakened and the pollution in the estuary and adjacent coastal zone become more serious.In this study,55 surface sediment samples were collected from the three seriously polluted estuaries and the adjacent coastal zone of Jiaozhou Bay to comprehensively study how the benthic foraminifera response to heavy metal pollution and human engineering,and to assess the ecological risks of the bay.A total of 80 species,belonging to 42 genera,were identified in this study.The results showed that Cu,Pb,Cr,Hg,Zn,and As had low to median ecological risks in the study area which would definitely affect the ecological system.The construction of the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge has resulted in pollutants accumulated at the river mouth of Loushan River,which has adverse effects on the survival and growth of benthic foraminifera.The lowest population density and diversity as well as the highest FAI(Foraminiferal Abnormality Index)and FMI(Foraminiferal Monitoring Index)occurred at Loushan River Estuary which indicated that the ecological environment of the northeastern part of Jiaozhou Bay(Loushan River Estuary)had been seriously damaged.Licun River and Haipo River estuaries and the adjacent coastal zone were slightly polluted and had low ecological risk.As a consequence,it suggested that the supervision of industrial and domestic waste discharge and the protection of the ecological environment in northeast Jiaozhou Bay should be paid more attention.展开更多
Beginning in the 1980s,dramatic ecological changes happened to the bay and the adjacent Everglades.Several U.S.government organizations such as the U.S.Geological Survey and National Park Service united to try to rest...Beginning in the 1980s,dramatic ecological changes happened to the bay and the adjacent Everglades.Several U.S.government organizations such as the U.S.Geological Survey and National Park Service united to try to restore these ecosystems.As part of the whole project,this study establishes a baseline of variability for the last 100 to 4000 years in seagrass abundance(an indicator of water quality),展开更多
The first study of early cretaceous succession in Northeast of Torbat-e-Heydarieh, led to recognition of 30 genera and 25 species of benthic foraminifera such as Rectodictyorbitolina sp., Dictyoconus arabicus, Orbitol...The first study of early cretaceous succession in Northeast of Torbat-e-Heydarieh, led to recognition of 30 genera and 25 species of benthic foraminifera such as Rectodictyorbitolina sp., Dictyoconus arabicus, Orbitolina discoidea,Palorbitolina lenticularis, Mesorbitolina parva, Orbitolina kurdica,Praeorbitolina sp., Valvullammina picardi, Pseudocyclamina lituus, Charentia cuvillieri, Lenticulina sp., Nezzazata picardi, Quinqueloculina robusta,Nautiloculina oolitica, Subaudia minuta, Praechrysalidina infracteracea, Rumanoloculina sp., Choffahella decipiens, Vercorsella arenata. Regard to Stratigraphy range of above mentioned, the Barremian–Aptian age suggested for this succession.展开更多
The contribution of benthic foraminifera to sediment bioturbation has widely been overlooked despite their huge abundance in intertidal soft sediments. In this preliminary study, we specifically chose to focus on two ...The contribution of benthic foraminifera to sediment bioturbation has widely been overlooked despite their huge abundance in intertidal soft sediments. In this preliminary study, we specifically chose to focus on two key species of benthic foraminifera in temperate intertidal mudflats, <i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">Quinqueloculina seminula</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;"> and </span><i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">Ammonia</span></i> <i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">tepida</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">, and first experimentally investigated their individual movements at the sediment surface. We subsequently derived from these observations the individual-level surface sediment reworking rates, and used the actual abundance of these species to extrapolate these rates at the population level. Individual surface sediment reworking rates </span><i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">SSRR</span><sub><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">i</span></sub></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;"> ranged between 0.13 and 0.32 cm<sup>2</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;"><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></sup></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">ind</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:8.33333px;"><sup>-1</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">day<sup>-1</sup></span> <span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">for</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:;" "=""> <i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">Q. seminula</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">, and between 0.12 and 0.28 cm<sup>2</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">ind<sup>-1</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">day<sup>-1</sup></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;"> for </span><i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">A. tepida</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">. Population-level surface sediment reworking rates were subsequently estimated as ranging between 11,484 and 28,710 cm<sup>2</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">m<sup>-2</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">day<sup>-1</sup></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;"> for </span><i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">Q. seminula</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;"> and 27,876 and 65,044 cm<sup>2</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">m<sup>-2</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">day<sup>-1</sup></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;"> for </span><i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">A. tepida</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">. Noticeably, these reworking rates are comparable to, and eventually even higher than, the rates reported in the literature for populations of intertidal macro-invertebrates, such as the annelid polychaete </span><i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">Melinna palmata</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;"> and the bivalve </span><i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">Abra</span></i> <i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">ovata</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">. Taken together these results suggest that despite their minute size intertidal benthic foraminifera are, thanks to their abundance, non-negligible contributors to the reworking of surface sediment, and may then play an unanticipated role in the benthic ecosystem functioning, through e.g. the enhancement of fluxes at the sediment-water interface.</span></span>展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
文摘Quantitative analyses have been carried out on benthic foraminifera from 66 samples of Core 255 in the southern Okinawa Trough, in combination with the stable isotopic analyses of planktonic and benthic foraminifera and AMS 14C dating, in order to reconstruct the history of change under deep water conditions and surface paleoproduclivity over the last 20 000 years. The variations in the ratio of agglutinants in benthic foraminiferal fauna and the ratio of fragments in planktonic foraminifera] fauna indicate higher carbonate dissolution during the postglacial stage than during the glacial stage. The distribution of species and the results of Q-mode factor analysis show that there are three distinctly different benthic foraminiferal assemblages during the glacial, deglacial and postglacial stages in the Okinawa Trough over the last 20000 years: the glacial Bulimina aculeata assemblage (especially the dominant species Uvigerina pereyrina) is associated with high surface primary productivity and organic matter content in sediments; the postglacial Uvigerina asperula assemblage corresponds to low surface primary productivity; while the deglacial Chilostomella colina assemblage possibly reflects low oxygen content in bottom water.
文摘Previous studies on deep modern benthic foraminifera in the Mediterranean Sea are not abundant and generally are focused at the fossilizing polythalamous component of the foraminiferal assemblages.We present preliminary results of living(Rose Bengal stained)benthic foraminiferal faunas in bathyal and abyssal sediments.Benthic foraminiferal density, species composition and biomass are determined at 10 sites across a transect from the
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program 2010CB428901)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40976031,91228207)
文摘Assemblages of benthic foraminifera in a sediment core(C02)near the western margin of the southern Yellow Sea Mud were studied to decipher the phase evolution of Holocene paleoenvironmental changes associated with the Holocene marine transgression.It appears that during the early Holocene(11.2 10.1 kyr BP),the faunal was dominated by low salinity and shallow water species Cribrononion subincertum,Buccella frigida and Ammonia beccarii,reflecting a near coast depositional environment.A rapid increase of the relative abundance of Ammonia compressiuscula between 10.1 9.3 kyr BP indicates that the sea level rose rapidly during that time period.From 9.3 7.7 kyr BP,the benthic foraminiferal assemblage was dominated by high percentage of A.compressiscula,suggesting that the sea level was relatively stable.An obvious transition of benthic foraminifera,from the A.compressiuscula-dominated assemblage to an Ammonia ketienziensis-dominated assemblage,occurred between 7.7 6.2 kyr BP,possibly corresponding to a second sea level rapid rise period in the Yellow Sea during the Holocene.This transition may correspond to the gradually strengthened Yellow Sea warm current(YSWC)and finally is established the modern-type circulation in the Yellow Sea.It may also mark the formation of the Yellow Sea cold bottom water(YSCBW)during that period.Since then,the benthic foraminiferal assemblage based on core C02 was dominated by typical YSCBW species,A.ketienziensis,Astrononion italicum and Hanzawaia nipponica,at 6.2 4 kyr BP.A non-deposition period occurred since 4 kyr BP,which possibly related to the hydrology changes caused by the East Asia monsoon.The two obvious benthic foraminiferal transitions recorded in core C02 during the early and middle Holocene provide evidence that the Yellow Sea has undergone a two-phase rapid sea level rise during the Holocene marine transgression.
基金financially supported by the project of National key basic research and development of China("973" project) "Late Mesozoic Greenhouse Climatic-environmental evolution of East Tethys (No.2012CB822000-G)"
文摘Benthic foraminifera, preserved in the Late Cretaceous organic carbon-rich sediments of Gamba, southern Tibet, provide high-resolution proxies for sea-level changes and dissolved oxygen fluctuations of southeastern Tethys. The fossils were statistically analyzed and divided into three faunas of ＂Cenomanian fauna＂, ＂Turonian fauna＂, and ＂Coniacian fauna＂. A middle neritic-upper bathal environment （50-250m） was estimated considering the ratios of planktonic and epifaunal benthic foraminifera （P/（P＋E））, the morphological analysis according to the studies of recent foraminifera and the abundant distributions of depth-related species such as Alabamina creta, Laevidentalina sp., Praebulimina spp., Pleurostomella cf. naranjoensis, Pyrulina sp., Quinqueloculina spp., Haplophragmoides spp., etc. The result shows an almost parallel trend with the global transgressive and regressive cycles, but the former fluctuates more frequently at upper Cenomanian, which probably indicates tectonic instability of the continental margin. According to the benthic foraminiferal richness （BFN）, Shannon-Weiner diversity （H（s））, as well as benthic foraminiferal oxygen index （BFOI）, five periods of oxygen depleted conditions （dysoxic-anoxic） have been recognized. They correspond to the OAE2, the lower Turonian, the upper Turonian, the Turonian- Caniacian boundary event and the probably OAE3. In addition, the oxygen fluctuations in Gamba might be controlled directly by sea-level changes, while the paleoproductivity and oxygen conditions interacted with each other under oxygen deficiency environments.
文摘Controlled experiments, including mesocosms and laboratory cultures, are used to identify a potential speci?c cause- effect relationship that has been previously inferred in field studies. In this study, a series of mesocosm experiments are carried out to assess the impact of different concentrations of copper on benthic foraminiferal assemblages over time. This pilot investigation documents that Cu contamination has a detrimental effect on foraminifera when compared to original and control samples. In particular, increased concentrations of Cu (normally higher than 120 μg/l) lead to a lowering of foraminiferal density and diversity and an increased occurrence of abnormalities. This study thus supports that the use of an experimental approach is suitable for investigating the response of benthic foraminifera to stress including pollution. Moreover, the application of mesocosms represents an innovative tool to be placed alongside field studies and culture experiments.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41376079,41276060)the projects of the China Geological Survey and the Marine Geology Survey(DD20160137,DD20190205 and GZH200900501)+1 种基金the Foundation of the Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environment&Disaster Prevention(201304)the Student Research Developing Program(SRDP)of Ocean University of China。
文摘The estuary and coastal zone are the key areas for socio-economic development,and they are also the important channels for pollutants transported to the sea.The construction of the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge changed the hydrodynamic condition of the bay,which made the self-purification capacity of the bay weakened and the pollution in the estuary and adjacent coastal zone become more serious.In this study,55 surface sediment samples were collected from the three seriously polluted estuaries and the adjacent coastal zone of Jiaozhou Bay to comprehensively study how the benthic foraminifera response to heavy metal pollution and human engineering,and to assess the ecological risks of the bay.A total of 80 species,belonging to 42 genera,were identified in this study.The results showed that Cu,Pb,Cr,Hg,Zn,and As had low to median ecological risks in the study area which would definitely affect the ecological system.The construction of the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge has resulted in pollutants accumulated at the river mouth of Loushan River,which has adverse effects on the survival and growth of benthic foraminifera.The lowest population density and diversity as well as the highest FAI(Foraminiferal Abnormality Index)and FMI(Foraminiferal Monitoring Index)occurred at Loushan River Estuary which indicated that the ecological environment of the northeastern part of Jiaozhou Bay(Loushan River Estuary)had been seriously damaged.Licun River and Haipo River estuaries and the adjacent coastal zone were slightly polluted and had low ecological risk.As a consequence,it suggested that the supervision of industrial and domestic waste discharge and the protection of the ecological environment in northeast Jiaozhou Bay should be paid more attention.
文摘Beginning in the 1980s,dramatic ecological changes happened to the bay and the adjacent Everglades.Several U.S.government organizations such as the U.S.Geological Survey and National Park Service united to try to restore these ecosystems.As part of the whole project,this study establishes a baseline of variability for the last 100 to 4000 years in seagrass abundance(an indicator of water quality),
文摘The first study of early cretaceous succession in Northeast of Torbat-e-Heydarieh, led to recognition of 30 genera and 25 species of benthic foraminifera such as Rectodictyorbitolina sp., Dictyoconus arabicus, Orbitolina discoidea,Palorbitolina lenticularis, Mesorbitolina parva, Orbitolina kurdica,Praeorbitolina sp., Valvullammina picardi, Pseudocyclamina lituus, Charentia cuvillieri, Lenticulina sp., Nezzazata picardi, Quinqueloculina robusta,Nautiloculina oolitica, Subaudia minuta, Praechrysalidina infracteracea, Rumanoloculina sp., Choffahella decipiens, Vercorsella arenata. Regard to Stratigraphy range of above mentioned, the Barremian–Aptian age suggested for this succession.
文摘The contribution of benthic foraminifera to sediment bioturbation has widely been overlooked despite their huge abundance in intertidal soft sediments. In this preliminary study, we specifically chose to focus on two key species of benthic foraminifera in temperate intertidal mudflats, <i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">Quinqueloculina seminula</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;"> and </span><i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">Ammonia</span></i> <i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">tepida</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">, and first experimentally investigated their individual movements at the sediment surface. We subsequently derived from these observations the individual-level surface sediment reworking rates, and used the actual abundance of these species to extrapolate these rates at the population level. Individual surface sediment reworking rates </span><i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">SSRR</span><sub><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">i</span></sub></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;"> ranged between 0.13 and 0.32 cm<sup>2</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;"><sup><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></sup></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">ind</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:8.33333px;"><sup>-1</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">day<sup>-1</sup></span> <span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">for</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:;" "=""> <i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">Q. seminula</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">, and between 0.12 and 0.28 cm<sup>2</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">ind<sup>-1</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">day<sup>-1</sup></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;"> for </span><i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">A. tepida</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">. Population-level surface sediment reworking rates were subsequently estimated as ranging between 11,484 and 28,710 cm<sup>2</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">m<sup>-2</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">day<sup>-1</sup></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;"> for </span><i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">Q. seminula</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;"> and 27,876 and 65,044 cm<sup>2</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">m<sup>-2</sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">·</span></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">day<sup>-1</sup></span><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;"> for </span><i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">A. tepida</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">. Noticeably, these reworking rates are comparable to, and eventually even higher than, the rates reported in the literature for populations of intertidal macro-invertebrates, such as the annelid polychaete </span><i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">Melinna palmata</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;"> and the bivalve </span><i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">Abra</span></i> <i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">ovata</span></i><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">. Taken together these results suggest that despite their minute size intertidal benthic foraminifera are, thanks to their abundance, non-negligible contributors to the reworking of surface sediment, and may then play an unanticipated role in the benthic ecosystem functioning, through e.g. the enhancement of fluxes at the sediment-water interface.</span></span>
