MICROHABITATS OF SALT-MARSH FORAMINIFERA - ST-CATHERINES-ISLAND, GEORGIA, USA

Salt marsh foraminifera of St. Catherines Island, Georgia occupy a ran ge of epibenthic to deep infaunal (to 30 cm) microhabitats. Freshly co llected specimens of Arenoparrella mexicana from 27 to 30 cm below the marsh surface extruded pseudopodial nets and actively collected forei gn material about the aperture. Salt marsh foraminifera may be primari ly epibenthic (0-1 cm), epibenthic to intermediate infaunal (0-10 cm), or deep infaunal (0-30 cm). Most of the twelve commonly occurring spe cies in St. Catherines Island marshes are epibenthic to intermediate i nfaunal. Species distributional patterns differ with regard to: maximu m depth of infaunal occurrences, infaunal microhabitat utilization in different marsh zones and environments, and the presence or absence of subsurface population maxima. Selective preservation impacts both cal careous and agglutinated foraminifera. Intense bioturbation primarily by halophytes and decapod crustaceans may contribute to the deep infau nal occurrences of foraminifera in these environments.