Distribution of benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the transitional environment of the Djerba lagoon (Tunisia)

Research on the Djerba lagoon, Tunisia, reveals a salinity gradient that significantly impacts seagrass distribution and environmental conditions, transitioning from hypersaline to normal marine environments. The study, conducted in July 2014, analyzed surface sediment and seawater samples to measure grain size, organic matter content, and living foraminiferal assemblages, while also assessing the concentration of 17 chemical elements. Key findings include the adaptation of benthic foraminifera to varying conditions, with species like Ammonia spp. and Haynesina depressula thriving in hypersaline waters, Brizalina striatula dominating seagrass-colonized areas, and epifaunal species such as Rosalina vilardeboana and Amphistegina spp. inhabiting hard substrata near the lagoon's seaward transition. This research highlights the ecological resilience of foraminiferal assemblages in transitional coastal environments.

El Kateb, A., Stalder, C., Neururer, C., Fentimen, R., Spangenberg, J. E., & Spezzaferri, S. (2018). Distribution of benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the transitional environment of the Djerba lagoon (Tunisia). Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 111(3), 589–606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-018-0300-0