Foraminiferal proxies for environmental monitoring in the polluted lagoon of Santa Gilla (Cagliari, Italy)

The results from scientific literature evidence that the benthic foraminifera are excellent indicators to monitoring the marine-coastal environments (Armynot du Châtelet et al., 2004; Coccioni, 2000; Debenay et al., 2000; Kravchuk, 2006; Murray, 2006; Samir & El- Din, 2001; Scott et al., 2005). This study is based on an analysis of eighteen samples of surface sediment collected in the lagoon of Santa Gilla in October 2006. The physicalchemical characterization of waters, geochemical and sedimentological analysis have integrated the analysis of benthic foraminifera. Statistical analysis revealed a possible control of trace element on the benthic foraminiferal assemblage, faunal density, species diversity and the development of specific morphological abnormalities.