期刊名称：International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics
电子版ISSN：2148-9173
出版年度：2017
卷号：4
期号：2
页码：139-156
DOI：10.30897/ijegeo.312734
语种：English
出版社：IJEGEO
摘要：In thelast ten years, morphological abnormalities and colored tests have beenobserved in benthic foraminifera specimens collected from Aegean andSouthwestern coasts of Turkey. Specific morphological abnormalities showdistinct distribution patterns, suggesting the need for special environmentalconditions facilitating the development of such abnormalities. Physical andchemical parameters have been proposed to be responsible for thesemorphological changes. Thebenthic foraminifera, Cibicidellavariabilis (d’Orbigny)specimens have been collected from different locations on the East Aegean coastof Turkey. Some of them, especially those from Dikili Bay, were found to havevariable number of apertures, ranging from one to five. These apertures notstructurally, but positionally differ. The abundance of certain test forms inspecific locations draws attention. The aim of this study is to determine thepossible causes of this aberrant morphology observed in tests of Cibicidella variabilis (d’Orbigny).Cibicidella variabilis (d’Orbigny)shows a wide distribution range on the Aegean coast of Turkey, and has beenfound in Saros Bay, Gökçeada,Bozcaada, Çanakkale,Edremit Bay, Dikili Bay, Çandarlı Bay,Karaburun Peninsula, Kuşadası, Güllük Bay,Gulf of Gökova,Gulf of Datça, andMarmaris Bay. But, the individuals collected from Gulf of Edremit, Dikili Bay, Çandarlı Bay,Gulf of Gökova, andGulf of Datça weremorphologically different than those collected from the rest of the regions.The variation in the number of apertures, as well as their positions weretypical in these samples. Besides, the variations in the shape of the testsobserved in adult individuals, but not in juveniles indicates that someenvironmental factors, which were specific to these regions, might have beeninvolved in this unusual test development. The submarine springs caused by thetectonic activities are typical of the Aegean Sea. It is well documented thatthese kinds of springs change the characteristics of the surrounding habitat andits fauna. Therefore, it is possible that some of the trace elements, which areabundant in hot spring waters, may be related with the abnormal test morphologyobserved in our samples. On the other hand, it is also possible that, not onlythe chemical and physical conditions of the surrounding water, but also itsbiological properties may affect the test development.
