Foraminifera as indicators of reef ecosystem health – an updated perspective from the Florida Keys

Article Article scientifique Article Foraminifera as indicators of reef ecosystem health – an updated perspective from the Florida Keys eng 2026-08-18 2026-07-01 author Cannings Torin 0000-0001-8416-0340 418410 Services communs du département des sciences de la terre (DETCO) author Hallock Pamela author Martínez-Colón Michael author Floeter Sebastian 972202 author Lam Tristan author Antonelli Timothé 938605 author Spezzaferri Silvia author Samankassou Elias 0000-0003-0385-7686 636960 Services communs du département des sciences de la terre (DETCO) 96-104 10.61551/gsjfr.56.3.96 0096-1191 https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/jfr/article/56/3/96/735038/FORAMINIFERA-AS-INDICATORS-OF-REEF-ECOSYSTEM <p>Coral-reef ecosystems have faced escalating global and local stressors over 50 years, including more frequent and severe bleaching events. Bleaching, caused by the loss of algal endosymbionts, results from photo-oxidative stress triggered by high solar radiation, especially in water temperatures exceeding c. 30°C. Sampling benthic foraminifera from the Florida Reef Tract in the early 1990s revealed unusual symbiont loss patterns in Amphistegina, a globally distributed symbiont-bearing foraminifera common on reefs. This and subsequent studies of their biology and ecology, along with other reef condition indicators, led to proposed metrics such as the Amphistegina Bleaching Index (ABI), Foraminifera in Reef Assessment and Monitoring (FoRAM) Index, and Sediment Constituent (SEDCON) Index. In June 2024, we sampled Tennessee Reef in the Middle Keys (Florida Keys, USA) to compare these bioindicators with data from the previous 30+ years. While FoRAM and SEDCON indices suggested somewhat improved water quality, the ABI showed exceptional bleaching in Amphistegina gibbosa, coinciding with earlier onset of water temperatures above 30°C.</p> Dewey 550 42 Département des sciences de la Terre 154 false 671 Sedimentology, Biostratigraphy and Micropaleontology Journal of foraminiferal research 56 3 8c08cad3-027b-4a2b-a2d4-4ed73517aef4 Article (Published version) Restricted Cannings_et_al_2026_JFR.pdf 1081219 application/pdf 5046121ea8ff20c835de4179f5ce04becb1bb1796fad3de69afe9519578775ee restrictedAccess Faculté des sciences / Section des sciences de la Terre et de l'Environnement / Département des sciences de la Terre

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Foraminifera as indicators of reef ecosystem health – an updated perspective from the Florida Keys	Journal of foraminiferal research			2026	2	0

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