66
core was reinterpreted and subdivided into three new DIs (Table 2.3; Fig. 2.15). In
the basal 5 cm (DI 3) foraminifera were absent. This interval likely represents the
anthropogenic deposit introduced during the reclamation period that occurred in
this area until approximately the 1960s (Fig. 2.14). The upper 38 cm (DI 2) contained very low numbers of foraminiferal tests (mean 39 tests/50 g). The calcareous
hyaline species A. tepida (average 38%) and E. oceanense (average 15%), together
with the agglutinated species E. macrescens (average 20%) and T. inflata (average
14%) were dominant in those samples containing enough (≥100) foraminiferal
tests. The calcareous hyaline taxa H. germanica (average 6%) and E. williamsoni
(average 3%) were secondary forms. The number of species was very low (average
4 species). This middle interval was deposited during the regeneration process from
the agricultural soil (DI 3) to the regenerated salt marsh (DI 1), as shown by the
upward-increasing number of foraminiferal tests. The clear dominance of calcareous species (average 88%) and the moderate sand content suggest that these sediments were deposited in a low elevation environment such as a tidal flat (Cearreta
1988). In the top 7 cm (DI 1), foraminiferal tests were moderately abundant (mean
632 tests/50 g). Agglutinated forms (average 90%) were more important than calcareous hyaline forms (average 10%). Entzia macrescens (average 42%), T. inflata
(average 29%), and M. fusca (average 13%) were dominant, while A. tepida (average 5%), H. germanica (average 4%), S. moniliformis (average 3%), and A.
Fig. 2.13 General view of the Isuskiza salt marsh characterized by H. portulacoides vegetation.
Location of core (yellow dot) in the Plentzia estuary is shown (top left). Scale bar, 0.5 km
A. García-Artola et al.
core was reinterpreted and subdivided into three new DIs (Table 2.3; Fig. 2.15). In
the basal 5 cm (DI 3) foraminifera were absent. This interval likely represents the
anthropogenic deposit introduced during the reclamation period that occurred in
this area until approximately the 1960s (Fig. 2.14). The upper 38 cm (DI 2) contained very low numbers of foraminiferal tests (mean 39 tests/50 g). The calcareous
hyaline species A. tepida (average 38%) and E. oceanense (average 15%), together
with the agglutinated species E. macrescens (average 20%) and T. inflata (average
14%) were dominant in those samples containing enough (≥100) foraminiferal
tests. The calcareous hyaline taxa H. germanica (average 6%) and E. williamsoni
(average 3%) were secondary forms. The number of species was very low (average
4 species). This middle interval was deposited during the regeneration process from
the agricultural soil (DI 3) to the regenerated salt marsh (DI 1), as shown by the
upward-increasing number of foraminiferal tests. The clear dominance of calcareous species (average 88%) and the moderate sand content suggest that these sediments were deposited in a low elevation environment such as a tidal flat (Cearreta
1988). In the top 7 cm (DI 1), foraminiferal tests were moderately abundant (mean
632 tests/50 g). Agglutinated forms (average 90%) were more important than calcareous hyaline forms (average 10%). Entzia macrescens (average 42%), T. inflata
(average 29%), and M. fusca (average 13%) were dominant, while A. tepida (average 5%), H. germanica (average 4%), S. moniliformis (average 3%), and A.
Fig. 2.13 General view of the Isuskiza salt marsh characterized by H. portulacoides vegetation.
Location of core (yellow dot) in the Plentzia estuary is shown (top left). Scale bar, 0.5 km
A. García-Artola et al.