Recent foraminiferal communities in Makassar strait

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 consider as an indicator of OMZ (Oxygen minimum zone) in Makassar Strait.