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In this study we report the occurrence of a foraminiferal assemblage dominated by organic-walled agglutinated foraminifera from mangrove swamps located to the east of Abu Dhabi Island, UAE. Mangals in the Abu Dhabi region are characterized by the mangrove tree Avicennia marina. Different sedimentary facies from mangals were sampled for the present study. Samples collected from the upper intertidal area (often dry) in the proximity of Avicennia marina roots and containing leaf material produced an assemblage exclusively composed of small-sized opportunistic Ammonia and Cribroelphidium, together with abundant specimens of agglutinated foraminifera belonging to the genus Trochammina. Where present, the genus Trochammina may comprise up to the 50% of the total foraminiferal assemblage. An assemblage characterized by a high abundance of Trochammina has not been previously reported in the Arabian Gulf.

A non-indigenous species (NIS) of benthic foraminifera was first identified in a core collected in 1993 in San Francisco Bay, California, USA, and subsequently identified as Trochammina hadai Uchio, 1962. Archived samples and literature reviews were used to determine that the species, which is native to Asia, arrived in San Francisco Bay between the early 1960s and 1983. Through molecular analyses of specimens, archived samples and literature reviews from 1930–1983, and site surveys of harbors and estuaries along the western North American seaboard in 1994–2024, in total more than 2500 samples, we documented the presence of T. hadai at 73 locations in the USA and four in Canada. Trochammina hadai has also been recovered at nine sites in Sweden, two in France, three in Brazil, and two locations at one site in Australia. The rapid temporal and geographic spread of the NIS T. hadai in a non-native location is illustrated by a time series from 1930 to 2024 in San Francisco Bay. Between 1980 and 1986, the species' range expanded from low abundance (1.5 %) at a single site to cover nearly the entire South Bay with > 70 % abundance at some locations. By 1995 and continuing into 2010, the species expanded its range into the central and northern portions of San Francisco Bay, commonly with abundances of > 30 % and sometimes exceeding 70 %. This expansion may predate 1995, but a lack of samples makes it difficult to be more precise. Unfortunately, two Pb-210 and Cs-137-dated cores (BC01 and BC02) recovered from northern South Bay and Central Bay did not clarify this point, but additional cores may. Trochammina hadai is an infaunal opportunist that thrives in polluted locations. We surmise the species was introduced along the west coast of the USA in Puget Sound between 1902 and the 1920s, with cultivated oysters and oyster larvae and associated plant matter and residual sediment. This probably also happened in some areas of France, Sweden, and Brazil, where Japanese oysters were introduced in 1966, 1970, and 1975, respectively. After World War II, commercial shipping expanded dramatically and, with it, the release of ballast water and sediment in receiving ports, which introduced NIS worldwide. This primary vector of introduction occurred in large industrial harbors in several countries, sometimes followed by secondary introductions in small industrial centers and marinas by mud attached to the anchors and anchor chains of smaller boats.

The agglutinated foraminifera Trochammina hadai Uchio (1962), a dominant species in Japan, first appeared as an invasive species in San Francisco Bay, US, in 1983. Trochammina hadai´s first appearance in the Brazilian coastal waters of Flamengo Inlet, Ubatuba, São Paulo State, is recorded nearly three decades later, in two of thirty-four sediment samples collected in the western portion known as “Saco do Ribeira” in 2010. By 2014 and 2015, the species was found alive in 78% of the samples with relative abundance reaching 18%.We suggest this recent colonizationwas most likely the result of an introduction by anchor mud on commercial fishing boats and recreational vessels or from fishing bait, and the species’proliferation due to its suitability to live in anthropogenically-induced stressed environmental conditions of the inlet that has affected the ecological dominance of this benthic community.

Small leisure boat harbours have important aesthetic and recreational values in any country with a coastline. In Sweden, there are about 860 000 leisure boats, which is one of the world's highest numbers in relation to the country's population. However, small boat harbours also present a wide range of environmental problems, including the introduction of alien species and high pollution. In this study, we investigated the ecological quality status (EcoQS) of the Hinsholmskilen small boat harbour, located southwest of the city of Gothenburg (Sweden). We performed a reconnaissance survey of the harbour's previously unstudied benthic foraminiferal communities and analysed surface sediment (0–2 cm) samples for potentially toxic elements: copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As). The results show that, based on the total benthic foraminiferal distribution (dead and live specimens), the assemblages in Hinsholmskilen harbour represent a typical European estuarine community with highly abundant Ammonia and Elphidium species. Based on molecular and morphological data, we report the presence of two alien and putatively invasive species likely originating from Asia: Trochammina hadai and Ammonia confertitesta (phylotype T6). Both species have recently been identified elsewhere on the Swedish west coast based on molecular and morphological data but do not have a well-known distribution. The sediment analysis for potentially toxic elements showed that the harbour has good to high EcoQS corresponding to no or little deviation from reference conditions for Cd, Co, Ni, and Pb distribution. Some of the contaminants (Pb, As, Zn, and Cr) showed poor to bad EcoQS in the innermost harbour in proximity to high-pressure cleaning plants, where boats are usually lifted, cleaned, and prepared for winter storage on land. Finally, Cu and Hg showed consistently bad and poor EcoQS all over the harbour, reflecting the use of both metals as biocides in antifouling boat paints.

Studies on benthic foraminifera were conducted in the mangrove forests of Teluk Tempoyak, Pulau Betong and Kuala Sungai Pinang, Penang Island, Peninsular Malaysia to examine species composition and distribution patterns in different intertidal zones. Twenty-eight live benthic foraminiferal species were successfully identified at the study locations, predominantly species with agglutinated tests. Assemblages in Pulau Betong and Teluk Tempoyak were dominated by similar species such as Ammonia aoteana, Elphidium hispidulum, Elphidium neosimplex and Trochammina inflata, while Kuala Sungai Pinang comprises a high number of Trochammina inflata and Arenoparrella mexicana. Three species, Aubignyna perlucida, Elphidium neosimplex and Elphidium sandiegoense, were recorded for the first time in Malaysian mangrove forests. Principal component analysis showed that sediment type and organic matter content were the dominant parameters that explained the variation of environmental gradient. Canonical correspondence analysis of these parameters with benthic foraminiferal species indicated that sand particles influenced distribution of the hyaline tests. Species with agglutinated tests were abundant in sediment with rich organic matter in combination with high silt and clay content. Species with hyaline tests dominated lower intertidal zones, while those with agglutinated tests inhabited the area from the middle to upper intertidal zones. This distribution pattern of benthic foraminiferal species mirrored patterns found at other local and global mangrove locations.

We use benthic foraminifera and hydrography as environmental indicators to characterize the estuarine channel of Bertioga (SP, Brazil). Salinity and temperature measured in four fixed stations (F1–F4) influence differentiation related to species habitat, fluvial discharge, and environmental quality. Tidal oscillation during neap and spring tides changes the Hansen and Rattray stratification-circulation classification from highly stratified (type 2b) to weakly stratified (type 2a). In the northern entrance close to Itapanhaú River, F1 is highly stratified environment (type 2b), with significant difference between bottom and surface salinities, presenting Pararotalia sp., Pseudononion atlanticum , Hanzawaia boueana , and Quinqueloculina lamarckiana as indicator species. F2 in summer is highly stratified (type 2b) with large difference between surface and bottom salinity, whereas in winter is partially mixed weakly stratified (type 2a) with small difference between salinities and the agglutinated Arenoparella mexicana , Haplophragmoides wilberti , and Trochammina inflata thrives . In summer and winter, F3 is partially mixed weakly stratified (type 2a) with A. mexicana , H. wilberti , Trochammina inflata , Ammobaculites sp . , and Ammotium salsum . In the southern entrance, F4 in the winter, is partially mixed, weakly stratified system (type 2a) that changes to highly stratified (type 2b) with large difference between salinities. This indicated low influence of fluvial freshwater and high influence of saline and polluted waters from Santos Channel where Arenoparella mexicana , Gaudryina exilis , and Ammotium cassis inhabits. Presence of Quinqueloculina spp. and Triloculina sp. indicates high saline influence, and presence of Ammonia tepida and Elphidium spp. indicates mixohaline environments which salinity dilution occurs.

A time series of three closely-spaced data sets are used to track the early expansion of the invasive Japanese benthic foraminifera Trochammina hadai in the southern portion of San Francisco Bay known as South Bay. The species initially appeared in 1983, comprising only 1.5% of the assemblage in one of four samples that were dominated by the native species Ammonia tepida and Cribroelphidium excavatum (means = 60.2% and 33.8%, respectively). By 1986, census counts and R- and Q-mode cluster analyses document the explosive growth of the invasive as T. hadai now dominates the assemblage (mean = 42.7%; max = 88.7%) with associated declines in abundance of A. tepida (by greater than one-half; mean = 26.8%) and C. excavatum (by greater than one-third; mean = 20.6%). The invasive continued to dominant the assemblage in 1987, spreading even further to the north and south in South Bay, although its average abundance dropped slightly (~2%) as did those of A. tepida (~3%) and C. excavatum (0.4%). A rare increase in abundance of Elphidiella hannai and the appearance of numerous coastal marine species in the central portion of the bay are thought to be the result of an incursion of marine waters into South Bay due to the prevalent drought conditions in 1987. Clearly, the rapid decline in abundance of the formerly dominant species A. tepida and C. excavatum in South Bay from 1983 to 1986 that continued into 1987 suggests the introduction of T. hadai in the bay severely impacted the native population.

The food spectrum of three fish species from the Mugilidae family in different age groups was studied. The samples were collected in 2019 - 2021 from the river estuaries and the coastal brackish lakes at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. The research aims to establish the food spectrum of mullets and thus make a connection between food components. The results show that the predominant groups in the stomachs of the three mullet species are detritus, zoobenthos (Rissoa sp. And Trochammina inflate - 64.28%) and macrophytes (Cladophoraceae family - 53.14%). Several potential toxic species were also found: Amphora coffeaeformis, Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima, Pseudonitzschia seriata, Prorocentrum cordatum, E. pyriformis, P. minimum, Protoperidinium crassipes. For the first time along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, in the stomachs of mullet fish, the presence of particles (<2.5 cm) from the category \"Artificial polymers\" was observed. The most common in the stomachs of mullet are macrophytes of the family Ulvaceae - 45.5%; family Cladophoraceae - 35.5%; from phytoplankton - Navicula spp (97.09%); of zoobenthos: Nematoda g.sp. - 49.3% and Trochammina inflate - 32.3%.

The ecostratigraphic analysis of foraminiferal assemblages from Upper Pliensbachian to Lower Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) mudstones, siltstones and black shales from northern Siberia allows for a better understanding of the response to the benthic biotic crisis related to the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event in a high latitude context. The assemblages were dominated by agglutinated taxa with extremely low diversity values and dominance of Trochammina. These features suggest that the foraminiferal assemblages were adapted to restricted conditions, where the main limiting factors were salinity and oxygen degree. The opportunist behaviour of Trochammina enabled this genus to survive and adapt to unfavourable conditions. Trochammina proliferated in relation to the sea-level fall and probable changes in salinity in the Arctic palaeobasin during the Margaritatus Chron and at the beginning of the Viligaensis Chron (Late Pliensbachian). Another Trochammina proliferation is associated with the initial development of the restricted oxygen conditions related to the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event.

Microphytobenthos (MPB) and mangrove detritus were labeled with a carbon isotope (¹³C) in separate experiments to quantify their contributions to the nutrition of major faunal components within a mangrove forest. Within 7 d of MPB labeling, crabs (Parasesarma erythrodactyla and Australoplax tridentata) and foraminifera (Ammonia beccarii and Trochammina inflata) were enriched. A. tridentata became more enriched (e.g., hepatopancreas, 522‰) than P. erythrodactyla (110‰), and A. beccarii (245‰) became more enriched than T. inflata (12‰). Addition of labeled mangrove detritus (-11.5‰ final enrichment vs. -28.8‰ for controls) to sediment resulted in enrichment of P. erythrodactyla (hepatopancreas, -21.2‰ vs. -26.6‰ for controls), A. tridentata (hepatopancreas, -24.2‰ vs. -27.1‰) and A. beccarii (-21.0‰ vs. -25.1‰) within 7 d. Compartment modeling showed that MPB contributed 93% of the nutrition for A. tridentata and 33% of the nutrition for P. erythrodactyla and that MPB provided more nutrition to A. beccarii (14%) than to T. inflata (minimal). There was a complementary estimated contribution of mangrove detritus to the diets of P. erythrodactyla (80%), A. beccarii (97%), and A. tridentata (minimal), although these estimates should be viewed with caution, due to low initial enrichment and the apparent short temporal persistence of ¹³C-labeled detritus added to sediments. T. inflata was barely enriched in either experiment and may rely on a carbon source not considered. The combination of isotope labeling and compartment modeling is relatively new to ecology and shows potential for revealing differences in the patterns of use of algae and macrophyte detritus by consumers.