Seasonal Variations in Foraminiferal Abundance and their Relation to the Substrate in Vellar Estuary, Madras

Seasonal differences in the abundance of the benthic Foraminifera of the estuary are shown to be related to the standardized nomenclature of the sediment types relative to sand silt and clay.

The area with almost sandy substrate in November 1967 yields the lowest foraminiferal number due to the strongest currents caused by the floods observed in October 1967. The finest sediments and weaker currents are associated with the higher foraminiferal numbers in March and April 1968.

The most accommodative substrate for a higher foraminiferal number is found to be silty-clayey-sand, in which silt is dominating over clay.