A dynamic subtropical coastal hotspot of benthic foraminifera in the Southeastern Mediterranean indicates early-stage tropicalization
This study investigates benthic foraminifera living on vermetid reef platforms along the Israeli coast as a biological signal of warming-driven tropicalization in the Southeastern Mediterranean. Seasonal sampling from confined areas across four sites shows that these reefs host diverse and dynamic foraminiferal assemblages, with pronounced spatial and temporal variability. The results support the idea that subtropical coastal habitats are increasingly accessible to tropical-origin taxa under ongoing ocean warming, making benthic foraminifera a useful indicator group for tracking ecosystem shifts.
PUBMED:
PMID: 38880155Date:
October 1, 2024