The taxonomic and otoecological investigation of benthic foraminifera of recent sediments in continental shelf of gulf of Antalya (sw Turkey)

In this study, the taxonomical investigation of the benthic foraminifera of Holocene sediments on the sea-bottom on the continental shelf of the Gulf of Antalya (E. Mediterranean) has been carried out. 14 of the samples taken within this project have been studied in terms of benthic foraminiferal contents and sedimentologically. For the benthic foraminiferal contents, 5 g of dry sediment sample was taken and sieved in a 63 ?m sieve in the laboratory and after benthic forms in every sample were picked out, all taxonomical identifications were made on these forams. In the study area, from the foraminifera 79 genera belonging to a total of 40 families and 140 species were identified. Though agglutinated foraminifera were not dominant, 10 foraminiferal assemblage were identified from calcareous forms. These are respectively; Adelosina cliarensis (Heron-Allen and Earland), Triloculina marioni Schlumberger, Cassidulina carinata Silvestri, Globocassidulina subglobosa (Brady), Uvigerina mediterranea Hofker, Eponides concameratus (Williamson), Amphistegina lobifera Larsen, Ammonia tepida (Cushman), Cribroelphidium poeyanum (d?Orbigny) ve Elphidium crispum (Linné). The Key Words: Gulf of Antalya, Benthic foraminifer, Taxonomy, Holocene, Mediterranean.