MARSH FORAMINIFERA

There is no fundamental difference in the low-diversity foraminiferal assemblages of marshes and mangals. The characteristic feature is the abundance of agglutinated taxa (Figure 4.1). In pre-1978 references by various authors, the forms now distinguished as Jadammina macrescens and Balticammina pseudomacrescens were not separated and were commonly grouped under Jadammina or Trochammina macrescens. Species may be infaunal or epifaunal, the latter mainly free living but sometimes clinging to algal filaments. They are a mixture of detritivores and herbivores. Siphotrochammina lobata and Trochammina inflata are epiphytic on algae in Brazilian mangrove swamps (Eichler et al., 1995). Trochammina inflata forms a rigid cyst of detrital material in which asexual reproduction takes place. Within the cyst it concentrates fine detrital particles that will be used to form the wall of the juveniles. Within 24 hours of forming a cyst, the juveniles are dispersed (Angell, 1990). Living Jadammina macrescens and Balticammina pseudomacrescens occur with random orientation on filamentous algae whereas Tiphotrocha comprimata is more firmly attached by its umbilical side. Jadammina macrescens is most abundant on the decaying leaves of Carex (Alve and Murray, 1999). Miliammina fusca sometimes occur aperture downwards on dead leaves. This author has never observed foraminifera on the stems of the living halophytes. With the exception of Miliammina fusca, the agglutinated species listed above are confined to marsh/mangal. However, although calcareous species from adjacent tidal flats and subtidal areas may extend onto low to mid marshes and sometimes occur in high abundance, none is confined to marsh/mangal: Ammonia group, Elphidium spp. and Haynesina germanica (Figure 4.2). Marsh foraminifera have been recorded living in areas not connected to the sea. For instance, in northern Germany there are inland marshes where saltrich waters come to the surface from underlying evaporite deposits and these have a fauna solely of Jadammina macrescens (as Jadammina polystoma, Haake, 1982). In Canada Polysaccammina ipohalina and Balticammina pseudomacrescens (as Jadammina macrescens) have been recorded living in salt springs (Patterson et al., 1990) and a new species has been recorded from Lake Winnipegosis

Figure 4.1. Scanning electron micrographs of marsh agglutinated foraminifera (longest dimension, mm). 1. Ammoastuta salsa (400). 2. Ammotium salsum (620, 200). 3. Arenoparrella mexicana (315, 350, 220). 4. Haplophragmoides wilberti (395, 300). 5. Balticammina pseudomacrescens (370, 340, 500). 6. Jadammina macrescens (250, 260, 400). 7. Paratrochammina guaratibaensis (400, 210, 230). 8. Siphotrochammina lobata (385, 290, 275). 9. Trochammina inflata (460, 430, 460). 10. Miliammina fusca (350, 220, 425).

Figure 4.2. Scanning electron micrographs of lagoon foraminifera (longest dimension, mm). 1. Elphidium albiumbilicatum (120, 150). 2. Elphidium clavatum (400, 420). 3. Elphidium delicatulum (285, 285). 4. Elphidium excavatum (300, 310). 5. Elphidium galvestonense (325, 325). 6. Elphidium granosum (420, 275). 7. Elphidium gunteri (200, 450). 8. Elphidium lidoense (390, 440). 9. Elphidium poeyanum (290, 350). 10. Elphidium subarcticum (440, 510). 11. Elphidium williamsoni (330, 410). 12. Elphidiella hannai (240). 13. Haynesina germanica (420, 470). 14. Haynesina nivea (180, 200). 15. Haynesina orbiculare (450, 450).

 (Patterson and McKillop, 1991). It is considered likely that the foraminifera were transported inland on the feet of migrating sea birds.

Refrensi :Ecology and Aplications of Benthik Foraminifera, John Murray, 2006, Cambridge University Press.