PACIFIC RIM MARSH FORAMINIFERAL DISTRIBUTIONS - IMPLICATIONS FOR SEA-LEVEL STUDIES

New data on marsh foraminiferal distributions are presented for Hokkai do (Japan), Washington State and northern/ central California (USA). T hese data, when compared to recently published information from Britis h Columbia, Oregon, Chile and New Zealand, and older data from souther n California, allow a comprehensive comparison of biogeographic zonati ons around the Pacific Rim. Mast significant is that high marsh faunas change from brackish to more saline at the California border but all high marsh faunas have the same 2-4 species present. In the southern h emisphere, the species Trochamminita salsa becomes an important high m arsh indicator. Their narrow range makes high marsh faunas excellent m arkers for relocating former sea levels. These data can he used to det ect rapid, high amplitude sea-level events associated with earthquakes on the Pacific Rim.