DISTRIBUTION OF BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA IN SURFACE SEDIMENTS OF THE LIAODONG BAY AND ITS BEARING ON SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENTS

A total of 433 samples obtained from surface sediments of the Liaodong Bay were analyzed quantitatively. The benthic foraminifera fauna in the studied area was mainly composed of eurythermal-euryhaline and cool-water species.Based on the Q-mode factor analysis,four assemblages are recognized:I.Elphidium magellanicum-Nonion akitaense-Buccella frigida assemblage,Ⅱ.Ammonia beccarii var.-Quinqueloculina akneriana assemblage,Ⅲ.Cribrononion vitreum-Buccella frigida-Protelphidium tuberculatum assemblage,and Ⅳ.Ammoina annectens-Buccella frigida assemblage.Data suggest that the benthic foraminiferal distribution is closely related to the sedimentary environments under the control of temperature, salinity,sediment type and alongshore currents.