ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATOR POTENTIAL OF FORAMINIFERA FROM SAANICH INLET,VANCOUVER-ISLAND, BRITISH-COLUMBIA, CANADA

Foraminiferal biofacies identified in Saanich Inlet appear to be close ly linked to a variety of environmental parameters, including water qu ality, Five biofacies are defined based on Q-mode cluster analysis and on faunal distribution profiles of foraminifera-bearing surface sedim ent samples. Biofacies 1 (Eggerella advena Biofacies), which occurs in near shore environments near two bays with densely populated shorelin es, appears to have an affinity for areas contaminated by sewage outfa ll and septic system drainage. Biofacies 2 (Eggerella advena-Spiroplec tammina biformis Biofacies) and 3 (Miliammina fusca Biofacies) charact erize shallow, brackish waters, and are distributed in shallow bays ad jacent to Biofacies 1, Biofacies 4 (Lobatula fletcheri Biofacies), the only biofacies dominated by a calcareous fauna, has been subdivided i nto two sub-biofacies: Sub-biofacies 4A (Stainforthia feylingi Sub-bio facies) and 4B (Buccella frigida Sub-biofacies). Sub-biofacies 4A occu rs in deep water, low oxygen environments, whereas Sub-biofacies 4B ch aracterizes shallow water, normal marine environments. The patchy dist ribution of Sub-biofacies 4B samples is probably due to vagaries of wa ter circulation in the restricted basin, Biofacies 5 (Leptohalysis cat ella-Spiroplectammina biformis Biofacies) occupies a relatively deeper muddy environment with a high proportion of plant debris and probably relatively lower oxygen levels. Hence, the main environmental control defining the biofacies is water circulation (or lack thereof), which is influenced by the shape of the fiord (presence of the sill).