SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL COMPARISONS OF LIVING BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA FROM THE VENICE LAGOON, ITALY

Examination of living (rose Bengal stained) foraminiferal assemblages from the Venice Lagoon revealed patterns that may be related to levels of sediment contamination. Ammonia sp., Haynesina sp., and Quinqueloculina sp. dominated assemblages at sites collected along transects in June, 2005 and 2006. Differences in the percentages of different taxa between sites may reflect changes in the availability of contaminants along the transect. Differences in aberrant morphologies between sites were not as pronounced as expected based on previous studies in other regions. This research is part of an ongoing, international study (SIOSED) to assess biological responses to sediment conditions in the Venice Lagoon. The "SIOSED" project is part of a comprehensive effort to support the integrated management of Venice Lagoon sediments and ecosystems promoted by the Venice Water Authority through its Concessionary, Consorzio Venezia Nuova.