THE DISTRIBUTION OF RECENT BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA IN LETI ISLANDS WATERS

Leti Islands located on Maluku Province consisting of Leti, Moa and Lakor Islands, and recognized as one of the outer islands of Indonesian Archipelago, directly bordered by australian waters. Until now, information on the distribution of benthic foraminifera in this waters is still lacking. Therefore, research on the diversity and distribution of benthic foraminifera in this islands is needed. Samples were collected in April 2010 in the waters of Leti Islands including the three islands above. Eleven samples were collected during the study using box corer around the Leti, Moa and Lakor Islands. Collected samples then analyzed on the type of sediment and certainly the foraminifera occupied in it. During the study, 102 species of benthic foraminifera were recognized from depth level between 328 and 2155 meters including shallow species and symbiont-bearing such as Calcarina calcar. The sediments in the waters is dominated by fine sand along with gravel and silt on some stations. The study also recognizes a large number of planktonic foraminifera from each station (about 80%) and 11 unidentified species of benthic foraminifera.