DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF LIVING LARGER BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA FROM CORAL REEF ENVIRONMENTS, SOUTH ANDAMAN ISLAND, INDIA

The waters around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) sustain a rich fauna, including larger benthic foraminifera (LBF), which are presently not well-studied. We documented the diversity and distribution of LBF at six reef sites (4-30 m) in South Andaman. We recorded a total of 16 LBF species belonging to 12 genera and 7 families. Amphistegina lessonii, A. radiata, and Calcarina spengleri were found at five of the sites surveyed. The density of living larger benthic foraminifera was 5-17 specimens per cm(2). The Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H) ranged from 0.90-2.06, the Margalef Species Richness Index (D) from 0.39-1.62 and Pielou's Equitability Index (J) from 0.77-1.12. These relatively high index values reflect the carbonate environment, characterized by a diverse and relatively even distribution of larger benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the South Andaman Islands.