title: The Interdependency of the Morphological Variations of the Planktonic Foraminiferal Species Globigerina bulloides in Surface Sediments on the Environmental Parameters of the Southwestern Indian Ocean.
abstract: 18 surface sediment samples collected from a north-south transect along the Indian Ocean have been analyzed for planktonic Foraminifera content. Among the other planktonic foraminiferal faunas, Globigerina bulloides was present substantially in all samples. Census data of G. bulloides were measured for different parameters (average size, mean proloculus size, coiling direction, and number of chambers) and a Q-mode cluster analysis was applied on these data. Samples were segregated into two homogeneous clusters, each reflecting particular environmental conditions. Two clusters are as follows: (1) Cluster A, comprised of 6 samples and characterized by the highest range of foraminiferal and ecological parameters, except sea surface temperature and salinity which shows the lowest range, and (2) Cluster B, comprised of 12 samples and characterized by the lowest range of foraminiferal parameters and ecological parameters, except sea surface temperature and salinity which shows the highest range. The study suggests that the ecological parameters are the governing factors for the morphological characteristics of planktonic foraminiferal species G. bulloides.
authors.affiliation: Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India.
authors.forename: Abhijit
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9944-5306
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazumder
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Earth Sciences, Prithvi Bhawan, Near India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110 003, India.
authors.forename: Neloy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khare
authors.affiliation: Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India.
authors.forename: Pawan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Govil