Cluster Analysis and Ecology of Living Benthonic Foraminiferids from Inner Shelf off Ratnagiri, West Coast, India

Q-mode cluster analysis explains the spatial distribution data of living benthonic foraminiferids from the inner shelf off Ratnagiri. Two main biotopes and two subbiotopes are recognised within the study area; biotope A, characterised by Trochammina inflata (Montagu), covers the inner shelf north of Ratnagiri and demarcates the influence of fresh-water from Shastri and Vashishti rivers. Biotope B characterised by Nonion and Ammonia covers the inner shelf south of Ratnagiri and represents less influence of fresh water from Rajapur and Vaghotan rivers. Two sub-biotopes in Bare represented by the additional occurrence of Ammobaculites agglutinans and Nonionella respectively. Relatively low and high rate of sedimentations were noted in areas of biotopes A and B respectively.