Symbiont-bearing benthic foraminifera of Lakshadweep

Eleven genera of symbiont-bearing benthic foraminifera, also known as `larger benthic foraminifera`, are recorded from the lagoon waters of Lakshadweep. The assemblage is comparable to that of any other high diversity reef assemblages of the Indian and Pacific oceans and the diversity may even be higher if a detailed study of fore-reef areas is carried out. The potential of these foraminifera as proxy of sea-surface temperature and a tool to monitor the health of coral reefs need to be explored. Recent studies on stable isotopes and trace elements in some selected species of these foraminifera indicate their usefulness as proxy of sea surface temperature. The longer life spans and larger size of the symbiont-bearing species are advantageous to assess their potential as geochemical proxies of palaeoenvironment. The lagoons of Lakshadweep provide natural laboratory for the same and a major initiative is required in this direction.