Distribution of foraminifera in a macrotidal tropical estuary: Port Darwin, Northern Territory of Australia

Abstract

The foraminifera are distributed throughout Port Darwin and differ according to biotope. The tidal flat and coral reef biotopes are basically undisturbed, and contain species of foraminifera typical of those environments. Turbidity is responsible for a lower diversity of the reefal facies, and particularly affects those species with symbiotic algae. The reworked biotope contains foraminifera more typical of the shallow continental shelf. Strong tidal currents associated with the large tidal range are responsible for the reworking of sediments and foraminifera1 tests from inside and outside Port Darwin.