RECENT FORAMINIFERAL COMMUNITIES IN MAKASSAR STRAIT

Abstract

Makassar strait is the very unique waters, the bottom topography was steep and complex, the waters mass
was also exceptional since Indonesian through flow carried flavor water from Pacific warm pool to the area.
To describe the exceptional of Makassar Strait hydrological characteristics through recent foraminiferal
community structure as a proxy, Oceanographical Expedition in Makassar Strait was conducted in October
2004. Research Vessel of Baruna Jaya VII was used to carry out the research activities. Sediment layers are
an essential tool on recording hydrological information in such period of time, and each certain layer
preserved certain information as a bench mark data at a time period. The result shows that there are 5
genera of planktonic foraminifera which generated a bulk in sediment surface. Deep chlorophyll maximum in
oceanic region of Makassar Strait was prominent factor generated living planktonic foraminifera in research
location. Benthic community was formed by 164 species from 78 genera. Water depth was affected to benthic
foraminiferal diversity, distribution and species diversity, which reveal that water depth was limiting factor
to benthic foraminiferal assemblage. Uvigerinid was the important taxa which make up 46 to 57 % of the
benthic specimen, particularly in river input yield adjacent area. Uvigerina asperula may considered as an
indicator of OMZ (Oxygen minimum zone) in Makassar Strait.