Marsh Foraminiferal Assemblages in Relation to Vegetation in Sunderban, India

The marsh zones of Sunderban coast were examined for modern benthic marsh foraminiferal assemblages and correlated with the typical mangrove vegetation. A total of 14 genera of foraminifera and 8 genera of mangrove plants were recorded from the region. The assemblage is characterised by agglutinated and calcareous foraminifera. The high, middle and low marshes are identified on the basis of position of tides. The agglutinated foraminifera Trochammina inflata, Miliammina fusca and Haplophragmoides canarienses with mangroves species of Ceriops tagal, Phoeniz paludosa and Excoecaria agollacha characterize the high marsh zones and the calcareous foraminiferal assemblage comprising Ammonia beccarii, Haynesina germanica, Rosalina bradyi and Elphidium sp. with mangroves including Avicennia spp., Bruiera gymnomorrhiza, Aegialitis roundifolia and Sonneratia apetala indicates low marsh environments.