title: Assessment of the impacts of trace metals on benthic foraminifera in surface sediments from the northwestern Taiwan Strait.
abstract: The distribution patterns of foraminiferal assemblages in relation to trace metals, sediment grain size, and calcium carbonate were studied in 232 surface sediments collected from the northwestern Taiwan Strait. Multivariate analyses of biotic and abiotic data revealed a separation of near-shore, coastal, and deep-water zones. The modified degree of contamination suggested that the overall contamination was very low to low. Trace metals were enriched in the near-shore and outside bays. Their distribution was likely determined by sediment transport pathways and hydrodynamic conditions. High metal concentrations co-occurred with a low density and diversity of foraminiferal assemblages. Pb, Ba, organic carbon, Ga, Zn, Cu, and Co had a positive correlation with near-shore assemblage, whereas Cr and Ni positively related to the deep-water assemblages. Some calcareous foraminifera were favored by CaCO3, Sr, and sand. This study highlights species' responses that are specific to environmental variables.
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: lukelitao80@163.com.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources, Ministry of Land and Resources, Guangzhou 510760, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xuejie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources, Ministry of Land and Resources, Guangzhou 510760, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guihua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources, Ministry of Land and Resources, Guangzhou 510760, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources, Ministry of Land and Resources, Guangzhou 510760, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hexian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources, Ministry of Land and Resources, Guangzhou 510760, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chupeng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources, Ministry of Land and Resources, Guangzhou 510760, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yongjian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays; D044822:Biodiversity; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000032:analysis; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D056908:Foraminifera / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011156:Population Density; D013624:Taiwan; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002119:Calcium Carbonate
keywords: Benthic foraminifera; Multivariate statistical analysis; Self-organizing map; Taiwan Strait; Trace metals