Seagrass-rafted large benthic foraminifera transported into the deep Red Sea.

ABSTRACT: Large shallow-marine foraminifera tests occur in deep-sea carbonate sediments of the northern Red Sea as a minor but recurring component among the remains of otherwise pelagic and deep-marine benthic biogenic assemblages. In this study of sediments recovered along the northern shore of Saudi Arabia, the symbiont-bearing taxa Sorites variabilis, S. orbiculus, Amphisorus hemprichii, Amphistegina lobifera, A. lessonii and A. radiata were identified in samples from between 430 to 1,000 m depth. These foraminifera are dwelling in shallow-water environments, associated with coral reefs and seagrass habitats. The seemingly erratic occurrence of photosymbiotic benthic organisms in deep-sea sediments was explained by the finding of such foraminifera tests along with seagrass (e.g., Halophila leaves

SUBMITTER: Stuhr M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11833106 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature