Benthic foraminifera and brachiopods from a marine cave in Spain: environmental significance


LUISA BERGAMIN
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9498-4810
EMMA TADDEI RUGGIERO
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5769-2800
GIANCARLO PIERFRANCESCHI
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6211-5167
BELEN ANDRES
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5134-1724
RICARDO CONSTANTINO
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8042-162X
CINZIA CROVATO
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6873-0358
ANDREA D’AMBROSI
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7019-3878
ANDREA MARASSICH
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4011-7516
ELENA ROMANO
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9498-4810
Abstract

Sediment samples from a marine cave in the Murcia region (eastern Spain) were analysed for grain size, total benthic foraminifera
and dead brachiopoda to obtain environmental information through physical and ecological data in order to understand
the benthic communities of cave environments and their ecological significance. A total of 100 foraminiferal and 7 brachiopod
species were classified, highlighting the first occurrence in the western Mediterranean of Gwynia capsula (Jeffreys, 1859). Statistical analysis applied to foraminiferal data allowed the identification of three assemblages characterised by decreasing species diversity along the cave. This corresponded to a similar separation recognisable through changes in brachiopod species abundance and well-correlated with cave morphology. The relative abundance of epifaunal clinging-attached foraminifera as well as the rate of cave and sciaphilic/coralligenous Brachiopoda, thought to be representative of the degree of separation from marine conditions,
were found to be highly correlated, increasing towards the inner cave. Our hypothesis was that despite the different lifestyles of
these two groups, the strict correlation of environmental factors (i.e. light, nutrients, sediment texture, water parameters) changing
along the length of the cave determines a comprehensive environmental gradient, causing an increase in environmental stress that has similar effects on the different taxonomic groups.

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Autor/innen-Biografie
ELENA ROMANO, ISPRA, Institute for Environmental and Protection Research, via V. Brancati 60, 00144 Rome, Italy
marine sediments, benthic foraminifera, ecological indicators
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