Recent Benthic Foraminiferal Genera from Pulicat Lake, East Coast of India: An Apprisal Using Factor Analysis

A total variance explaining 86% of the matrix is consituted by six factors where Florilus-Asterorotalia assemblage (46%) emerged significant. Asterorotalia-Florilus assemblage is more abundant (37%) in monsoon. These faunal assemblages were related to environmental ingredients Viz., texture of sediment substrate, the amount of locked-up organic matter content and bottom water salinity. The cross plot of first two factors for both seasons revealed the common genera found to occur in descending order i.e., Asterorotalia, Florilus, Elphidium and Ammobaculites which are confined especially in normal marine action of sea oscillations are noticed.