OBSERVED ASSEMBLAGE PATTERNS OF FORAMINIFERA ON THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA REEF TRACT; IMPLICATIONS OF A SPECIES PREFERRED SUBSTRATE

Benthic foraminifera are exceptional organisms with distinctive features that allow for interpretation of both past and present environments. Foraminiferal assemblage’s south of Biscayne Bay and north of Cape Canaveral have previously been investigated; however, a gap exists in data covering a transitional zone along the Florida coast between the tropical waters of the western Atlantic and the cooler coastal waters along the North American coast. The purpose of this study was to collect baseline data on the benthic foraminifera off of Pompano Beach and evaluate if there was a species preferred substrate and environment. This environment has a very particular relict reef system that includes a near-shore ridge complex comprised of various coral colonized substrates. Thirteen rubble samples were collected from this near shore ridge complex between October 2013 and April 2015 from depths of 2.5m – 9m. Abundances and diversity indices were calculated, and multivariate analysis and SHEBI analysis carried out to summarize baseline data for the area. Substrate types and seasonal collections were compared with foraminiferal abundances to determine if benthic foraminifera diversity varied between the four substrate types found on the near shore ridge and between wet and dry seasons in Florida. Results revealed a variation in abundances for both substrates and seasons with the dominant genera being Quinqueloculina, Laevipeneroplis, and Archaias. Multivariate analysis displayed dissimilarities between substrates colonized by corals and those that were uncolonized. Comparison of studies from surrounding areas revealed fewer, however similar, species and different dominant genera. Foraminiferal assemblages on each substrate indicates a variability in dominance of species. Overall, this area has proven to be a different environment compared to surrounding coastal areas and merits further investigation.