Bioeroding foraminifera: a review

Twenty species of foraminifera, mainly from turbulent, warm, shallow-water environments, are known to make cavities in hard substrates. They range from Jurassic (Callovian) to Recent in age. Several hypotheses (feeding, protection, and test-building) have been proposed to explain this mode of life and the processes involved in boring. This review indicates further studies on the biology and physiology of these foraminifera should evaluate their role in bioerosion of hard substrates and the subsequent production of grain-sized sediment that may affect the biotopes of sediment dwellers.