Distribution of Foraminifera and Ostracoda in the North Chennai Coast (Ennore to Thiruvanmiur), Tamil Nadu: Implications on Microenvironment

Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Science Vol 45(3), March 2016,pp. 416-424

S.M.Hussain* & Kuleen Elizabeth Casey Department of Geology, University of Madras, Gundy Campus, Chennai – 600025, India *[E-mail: [email protected]]

Received 21 October 2014; revised 03 December 2014

A total of 34 species of foraminifera belongs to Order Foraminiferida and 14 Ostracoda species to Order Podocopida were recorded from sediment and water samples collected from intertidal zone of north Chennai coast. Ammonia beccarii is the dominant and most widely distributed species of the coast. Intertidal fauna of north Chennai coast is a mixed assemblage of species from shoal environment (0-15 fathoms). Presence of offshore species in this study could be ascribed to the action of bottom water currents and wave/tide action. Water samples were showing alkaline nature. Species diversity indicates that sand is the favourable substrate for the surviving and abundance of the recorded fauna. It is also found that few of the identified foraminiferal species showing predated and some species exhibit different color pattern on the tests. Light color of the test reveals that these species were deposited under normal oxygenated environment.

[Keywords: Calcareous Microfauna, Foraminifera and Ostracoda Distribution, Chennai coast, Microenvironment]

Introduction Foraminifers are almost exclusively marine, environments, and found in the entire Phanerozoic unicellular Protists generally consisting of a hard Eon. They live in an environment in which the covering of calcium carbonate called test, have controlling factors are temperature, bottom extensively been used for studies related to topography, depth, salinity, dissolved oxygen, paleoclimatic reconstruction, sediment transport etc. substrate, food supply and organic matter5. The response of foraminifers to the changed Ostracods are considered one of the important environmental conditions is reflected in the microfossil groups in interpreting and variation in abundance and morphology of the test. reconstructing the paleoclimate and/or The pioneers worked on foraminifera distinguished paleoenvironment. Since there is a paucity of study different species with their geological occurrences1- on these tiny Protist and Crustaceans from this part 4. Bhalla5 made an attempt to study foraminifera of the world, the present research work has been from the Marina beach, Chennai (erstwhile Madras) taken up. Research work on the distribution of and identified 15 species. Similarly, the distribution benthic Ostracoda from Adyar river estuary and and zoogeographical affinity of foraminifera along from off Karikkattukuppam, south of Chennai has the littoral zone of the east coast of India has been been done7,8. Main objective of the present work is attempted by the researchers6. Ostracods are the tiny to know the environmental implication of the study bivalved Crustaceans, lived in all types’ aquatic area through these microfauna.

HUSSAIN & KULEEN: DISTRIBUTION OF FORAMINIFERA AND OSTRACODA IN CHENNAI COAST 417

L1-Ennore, L2- Kattukuppam, L3-Thazhankuppam, L4- Ennore beach, L5- Kasimedu, L6- Coovm river mouth, L7- Marina beach, L8- Pattinampakkam beach, L9- Adyar estuary, L10- Besanth Nagar beach, L11- Thiruvanmiyur beach.

Fig. 1- Study area map showing sample locations

Materials and Methods occurrence of foraminifera and ostracoda, and also The study area chosen is extending from subjected to some sedimentological analyses to Ennore to Thiruvanmiyur (North Chennai Coast), determine the parameters such as organic matter, wherein the sandy beaches are noticed and they are CaCO3 and sand-silt-clay ratio. Organic matter and tide dominated. Present area of study is CaCO3 were estimated by adopting standard characterized by the presence of various methodology10, 11, 12. Sand, silt and clay percentages geomorphological features such as creek, estuary, were calculated using a combination of sieving and rivers and beaches (Ennore Creek, Adyar river pipette procedure13. Trilinear plots were prepared estuary, Cooum river, Marina, Elliots and and sediment type is described based on textural Thiruvanmiyur beaches) etc. In order to study the nomenclature14. distribution of calcareous microfauna (Foraminifera and Ostracoda) in the intertidal sediments of Result and Discussion Chennai coast, eleven sediments and water samples The study of foraminifera began as an were collected (Fig.1) in the month of January investigation from their taxonomy. The widely 2012. Locations of the samples were recorded utilized classification proposed15 has been followed using GPS (Table1). in the present study, through which 34 species of The collected water samples were subjected foraminifera, belonging to 15 genera, 10 families, 7 under various analyses. Temperature was measured super families and 3 suborders of order by using thermometer, PH was analyzed by using PH Foraminiferida were identified (Table.1). Widely meter in the field itself and the salinity was accepted classification16 has been followed in the measured by using9 procedure in the lab. Collected present study through which ostracod taxa of 14 sediments samples were subjected to standard species belonging to 12 genera, 6 families of micropaleontological techniques, to find out the Cytheracea and suborder Podocopa of the order Podocopida have been identified (Table. 2).

418 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 45, NO. 3, MARCH 2016

Table 1- Taxonomic Chart of Foraminifera Recorded in the Study Area

Order Sub Order SuperFamily Family Genus Species S.affixa

S.communis Spiroloculinidae S.orbis Spiroloculina S costifera S depresa Q polygona Q.lamarckiana Miliolina Miliolacea Q.kerimbatica Quinqueloculia Q.costata

Q.seminulum Q.sp

T.terquemiana Hauerinidae T.tricarinata Triloculina T.trigonula

Miliolinella M.circularis E.discoidale

E.crispum

Elphidium E.incertum Foraminiferida Elphidae E.advenum

E.norvangi Rotaliacea A.beccarii Ammonia A.dentata Rotalidae Asterorotalia A.trispinosa

Pararotalia P. nipponica Rotalina Siphogenerinoidide Loxostomina L.limbata Buliminacea Rosalinidae Rosalina R.globularis Planorbulinacea Cibicididae Cibicides C.lobatulus N.labradorica N.stella Nonionellina N.sp. Nonionacea Nonionoidae N.elongatum Nonionoides N. boueanum Asterigerinacea Amphisteginidae Amphistegina A.radiata Globigerinia Globigerinacea Globigerinidae Orbulina O.universa

HUSSAIN & KULEEN: DISTRIBUTION OF FORAMINIFERA AND OSTRACODA IN CHENNAI COAST 419

Table 2- Taxonomic chart of Ostracoda recorded in the Study Area

Order Suborder Superfamily Family Genus Species H. reticulata Hemicytheridea H. paiki Cytheridae

N. iniqua Neomonoceratina

Tanella T. gracilis Leptocytheridae Stigmatocythere S. kingmai Chrysocythere C. keiji K. reticulata Keijella Trachyleberidide K. whatleyi Cytheracea

Podocopa L.coralloides Lankacythere docopida docopida Po B. liebaui Basslerites

Caudites C. javana Hemicytheridae

Paijenborchellina P.prona Cytheruridae

Ornatoleberis O.morkhovei

Xestoleberididae

Xestoleberis X. variegata

Study of organic matter and calcium Sedimentological Characteristics carbonate in coastal environments is important, as The role of organic matter in the organic carbon is used as a tool for predicting the distribution of foraminifer’s species differs with 17-18 19 impact of pollution . The CaCO3, Organic matter local conditions. Setty and Nigam have observed and sand-silt-clay ratio of the sediments samples that foraminiferal populations and organic content have been presented along with hydrographic vary according to the nature of substrate. From off characteristics of water samples such as Tuticorin, Gulf of Mannar, a study20 observed that a temperature, salinity and PH and the standing crop relative decrease in the organic matter content of of Foraminifera and Ostracoda (Table.3). the sediments favours a maximum population of Ostracoda. Organic matter content in the sediments In the present study, the temperatures of the of surface samples ranges from 0.07% to 0.72%. water samples in all the stations were ranging from Lowest value was recorded in station no. 6, 8 & 9 28- 29.50C. The collected water samples showing and the highest value in station no.1. Low values of alkaline nature, (pH is more than 7, i.e. ranges from organic matter appear no impact on the distribution 7. 2 to 7.8). Salinity is considered as the one of the of microfauna (Table.3 & Fig.2). important factor that controlling the environment in which the micro fauna (ostracoda and foraminifera) The calcium carbonate content of the live. From this study, it is obtained that the salinity sediments is an important parameter governing of the water samples collected from various stations foraminiferal and ostrcod distribution. Previous of Chennai coast ranging from 30.7 ppt - 35.6 ppt. studies observed that an increase in CaCO3 favours Highest value was recorded in station No. 1 & 3, maximum ostracoda population size in the Gulf of and the lowest was recorded in station no.5 & 6 Mannar, off Tuticorin20. Calcium carbonate content

420 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 45, NO. 3, MARCH 2016 of the sediments is an important parameter sediments of Chennai coast (Ennore- governing foraminiferal and ostracoda distribution. Thiruvanmiyur) varies from 1 to 6.5%. Lowest In the present study, it has been found that the value was recorded in station no. 3 & 7 and calcium carbonate percentage in the beach surface the highest value in station no. 1 (Table 3 & Fig.3).

H Table 3- Estimated values of p , salinity and temperature of water samples and sand – silt - clay ratio, CaCO3 and Organic Matter of Sediment samples along with the mocrofaunal population in the study area

S. Temp Salinity OM CaCO3 Sand Silt Clay Sediment Foraminifera Ostracoda 0 pH No. ( C) (ppt) % % % % % Type Population population 1 28.5 7.7 35.6 0.72 6.5 96.70 3.21 0.09 Sand 84 14 2 28 7.3 32.9 0.39 3 97.09 0.06 2.85 Sand 30 16 3 28 7.5 35.6 0.33 1 99.17 0.78 0.05 Sand 10 7 4 28.5 7.6 31.4 0.33 2 99.22 0.73 0.05 Sand 154 13 5 28.3 7.5 30.7 0.52 2 98.80 0.80 0.40 Sand 182 7 6 28.7 7.8 30.7 0.07 2 99.13 0.81 0.06 Sand 95 12 7 29 7.2 31.1 0.19 1 99.51 0.44 0.05 Sand 61 7 8 29 7.5 34.1 0.07 2 99.31 0.65 0.04 Sand 158 15 9 29.5 7.6 33.7 0.07 2 99.04 0.48 0.48 Sand 97 6 10 29 7.7 33.3 0.19 3 99.15 0.80 0.05 Sand 68 10 11 29.5 7.7 34.1 0.19 2 99.49 0.44 0.07 Sand 86 8 Avg 28.73 7.6 35.1 0.03 1.38 96.7 0.22 0.138 . Max 29.5 7.8 35.6 0.72 6.5 99.51 3.21 2.85 Total 1025 115 Min 28 7.2 30.7 0.07 1 96.70 0.44 0.04

0.8 OM %

0.7 0.6

0.5 0.4 %

0.3 OM OM % 0.2

0.1

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Sample No.

Fig. 2- Histogram showing Percentage of OM in the intertidal sediments along

the Chennai coast(Ennore-Thiruvanmiyur)

HUSSAIN & KULEEN: DDIISTRIBUTIONSTRIBUTION OF FORAMINIFERA AND OSTRACODA IN CHENNAI COAST 421

The natures of sedsedimentsiments such as grain size, tidal stream21. Relative abundance of sand, silt and sorting coefficient and presence or absence of clay in the sediments of surfacesurface sample has been bottom vegetation have impact on the distribution estimated (Table 3 & Fig. 4). Relative abundances of foraminifera and ostracoda. Osstracodstracods prefer of sand, silt and clay were estimestimatedated and found that areas high in sand and clay rather than areas rich in they belong to the textural class of “Sand” silt, as in the Bimili backwaters and Balacheruvu according to tthehe plot of Trefethen.

CaCO3 % 7 6

5 CaCO3CaCO3 %

O3% 3 CaC 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Sample No

Fig. 3- Histogram showing Percentage of CaCO 3 in the intertidal sediments along the Chennai coast (Ennore-Thiruvanmiyur)

Fig. 4- Trilinear plot of Sand Silt Clay ratio of intertidal sediments along the Chennai coast (Ennore-Thiruvanmiyur)

422 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 45, NO. 3, MARCH 2016

Morphological characteristics of foraminiferal More direct evidence of predation on foraminifera species may be holes made in tests and ostracod carapaces by some other organisms. These holes, which Predation penetrate to the interior of the chambers and inside Predation can be stated as an interaction the valves, are assumed to have given the driller between two organisms that result in negative access to protoplasm. In the present study, some of effects on the growth and survival of one of the the foraminifera and ostracoda from the identified populations22. On the basis of different studies, it is species were predated. Predation was identified by observed that the predation is more common in the the presence of holes and breakages on the surface benthic fauna of shallow water environment23. of foraminifera test and ostracod carapace (Fig.5).

Chrysocythere keiji Hemicytheridea paiki

Asterorotalia trispinosa Spiroloculina costifera

Basslerites liebaui

Fig.5 - Predated Foraminifera tests and Ostracod Carapaces

HUSSAIN & KULEEN: DISTRIBUTION OF FORAMINIFERA AND OSTRACODA IN CHENNAI COAST 423

Colour Diversity on Foraminiferal Test foraminifera exhibit change in the color of the test. In the present work, few foraminiferal However, most of the forms show light colors species shows certain color changes on the test. indicating the beach sands were deposited under Instead of the normal whitish nature, they show normal oxygenated environment. some pale yellowish color. According to previous studies,24,8,25 the presence of light colors like pale Acknowledgment white, pale yellow, yellow on the foraminiferal and Authors are thankful to the Head, ostracodal species indicate that the beach sediments Department of Geology, University of Madras for were deposited under normal oxygenated providing facilities to carry out this work and also environment. for the encouragement.

Conclusion Reference Foraminifera and Ostracoda have been successful inhabitants of every aquatic niche from 1. d' Orbigny, A., Tableau methodique de la classes des Cephalopodes. Ann. Sci. Natur., 7(1826) 245-314. deep oceans to brackish water lagoons, estuaries 2. Reuss, A. E., Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Tertiaren foramin and even in freshwater streams, lakes etc. In this iferenfauna. Sitzungsberichte der study, 34 species of foraminifera, belonging to 15 Kaiserlinchen Akademie der Wissenschaften Wien, genera, 10 families, 7 superfamilies and 3 suborders Mathematisch-Naturwissenchaftliche Classe., 42(1861) 350-370. of order Foraminiferida have been reported and 3. Lister, J. J., The Foraminifera. In: Treatise on zoology, illustrated, whereas 14 species ostracod belonging 1(1903) Fasc. 2, p. 47-149. to 12 genera, 6 families, Cytheracea super-family, 4. Cushman, J. A. and Bronnimann, P., Some new genera and Podocopa suborder of the order Podocopida and species of foraminifera from brackish water of have been identified. Identified species of Trinidad. Contributions from the Cushman Laboratory for Foram. Res., 24(1948) 15-21. Foraminifera and Ostracoda are characteristics of 5. Bhalla S. N., Foraminifera from Marina beach sands of benthic, shallow, inner shelf (inner neritic) to Madras and faunal provinces of the Indian Ocean, Contri. marginal marine, tropical in nature and distributed Cushman Found. Foram. Res., 21(1970) 156-163. in these intertidal sediments due to tides as well as 6. Kathal, P. K. and Singh, V. K.., Foraminiferal studies long shore currents. From the distribution of along the littoral zone of the east coast of India and its zoogeographical affinity: an overview, Asian J. Exp. Sci., ostracoda fauna, only one species namely 27(2013) 3-8. Basslerites liebaui is endemic to Indian waters i.e., 7. Hussain, S.M. and Mohan, S.P., Distribution of Recent to the east and west coasts of India, not reported benthic Ostracoda in Adyar river estuary, east coast of elsewhere from other parts of the world. Of the 14 India. Ind.Jour.of Mar.Sci., 30(2001) 53-56. 8. Hussain, S.M., Ravi,G., Mohan,S.P. and Rao, R., Recent ostracod species encountered in the study area, most Benthic Ostracoda from the Inner shelf off Chennai, south of the forms are either moderately calcified, pitted east coast of India- Implication of Microenvironments. or highly ornate forms because of the presence of Environmental Micropaleontology, Microbiology and coarser and calcareous sediment, adopting Microbenthology, 1(2004) 105-121. themselves under a turbulent/agitated tidal 9. Knudsen M, Hydrographical Tables, (G.M.Manufacturing Co., New York) 1901, p. 63. environmental conditions. Substrate of the study 10. Gaudette, H.E., Flight, W.R., Toner, L. and Folger, D.W., area is sand due to the presence of tide domination An inexpensive titration method for determination of and medium to high energy condition of coast, and organic carbon in Recent sediments, Jour. Sed. Petrol., it appears that sand is the favourable substrate for 44(1974) 249-253. 11. Jackson M L, Soil chemical analysis, (Prentice Hall, New the distribution of the microfauna population, York) 1958, p. 485. whereas the result shows that the distribution of 12. Piper C S, Soil and plant analysis, (University of Adelaide CaCO3 in the area is more and affecting the Press, Adelaide) 1947, p. 368. population of microfauna because of the presence of 13. Krumbein W C and Pettijohn F J, Manual of Sedimentary Petrography, (D. Appleton Century Co. Inc., New York) more shell fragments. In the beach sands of study 1938, p. 549. area, few foraminiferal species were predated due to 14. Trefethen, J. M., Classification of sediments, Amer. Jour. the activities of barnacles. Predation was identified Sci., 248(1950), 55-62. by the presence of holes and breakages on the 15. Loeblich A R and Tappan H, Foram. genera and their surface of foraminifera test and few specimens of classification, (Von Nostrand Reinhold, New York) 1987, pp. 970.

424 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 45, NO. 3, MARCH 2016

16. Hartmann G and Puri H S, Summary of Neontological and Soc.,15 (1997) 33-37. Paleontological Classification of Ostracoda, 21. Annapurna, C. and Rama Sarma, D.V., Sediment-ostracod (Mitteilungen aus dem Hamburgischen Zoologischen relationship in the Bimili backwaters and Balacheruvu Museum und Institute) 1974, pp.7-73. tidal stream, Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci. (Anim. Sci.), 91(1982) 17. Shimp, N. F., Schweicher, J. A., Ruch, R. R., Heck, D. B. 297-303. and Leland, H. V.,Trace elements and organic carbon 22. Odum E P, Fundamentals of Ecology.III Edition, (W.B. accumulation in most recent sediments of southern lake, Saunders, London Toppan Co.Ltd., Japan) 1971, p. 557. Michigen: III Geological Survey. Env. Geol., 41(1971) 25. 23. Sliter, W.V., Upper Cretaceous foraminifera from 18. Schoettle, M. and Griedman, G. M., Organic Carbon in southern California and north Baja California, Mexico. sediments of Lake George, New York : Relation to Univ. Kanasas, Paleont. Inst., (1971) 1-14. morphology of lake bottom, grain-size of sediments and 24. Honappa and Venkatachalapathy, V., Paleontological and man’s activities. Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer., 84(1973) 191- ecological interpretations of sediments of Manglore 198. Harbour area, west coast of India, on the basis of colour 19. Setty, M.G.A.P. and Nigam,R., Foraminiferal assemblages variation of ostracod shells. Curr. Sci., 47(1978) 772-773. and organic carbon resationship in benthic marine 25. Ganesan, P. and S.M. Hussain., Distribution of Recent ecosystem of western Indian continental shelf, Benthic Ostrcoda in Tamiraparani Estuary, Punnaikayal, Ind.Jour.Mar.Sci., 11(1982) 225-232. near Tuticorin, Southeast Coast of India: Implications for 20. Hussain, S.M., Manivannan, V. and Ragothaman, V., Microenvironmets, Gond. Geol. Magz., 25(2010) 103-114 Sediment-Ostracoda relationship in the Gulf of Mannar, off Tuticorin, east coast of India, Jour. Nepal Geol.