1 / 2023-05-22 04:06:29

The effect of heavy metals presence on benthic foraminifera in the northern coast of Sfax, Tunisia

Deformed benthic foraminifera, pollution, Coast of Sfax, Southeast Tunisia.

Many studies have used benthic foraminifera as bioindicators because they are very sensitive to the environment parameters variations and heavy metals pollution. The present study investigated the response of benthic foraminiferal to heavy metal pollution and some environmental parameters in the northern coast of Sfax (Gulf of Gabes, mediterranean sea).

examining their relative abundance, diversity and morphological abnormalities, to highlight a possible correlation with oceanographic features and the concentration of heavy metals in sediments from the three cores on the coast.

In conclusion, a positive correlation seems to exist between the abundance of foraminifera and the concentration of heavy metals in the sediment.