Spatial distribution of Holocene benthic foraminifera, northeastern AegeanSea

The distribution of Holocene benthic foraminifera in the Gokceada-Bozcaada- Canakkale triangle was investigated in 31 surface-sediment samples. The sed iments can be classified as muddy to gravelly-muddy sand with rare occurren ces of muddy gravel and gravelly sand. The fauna exhibits high diversity an d richness, and the populations increase in diversity and richness dependin g on the number of specimens. One hundred sixty (160) species were found. E ight benthic fossil assemblages, comprising only calcareous species, were i dentified in the region: Porosononion subgranosum (Egger), Ammonia compacta Hofker, Asterigerinata mamilla (Williamson), Rosalina bradyi Cushman, Elph idium crispum (Linne), Cassidulina carinata Silvestri Brizalina spathulata (Williamson) and Valvulineria bradyana (Fornasini). In order to analyze the samples statistically, the main foraminiferal parameters were calculated, namely, species richness (d'), Shannon-Wiener diversity (IP) and evenness ( J'). Finally, Q-mode cluster analysis was applied to the Bray-Curtis measur e of similarity using the weighted pair-group method, and the ordination of the samples was plotted using an MDS plot. Eight benthic fossil assemblage s, dominated by calcareous, hyaline-wall-bearing species, characterize the northeastern Aegean Sea.