Environmental transformation of the Bilbao estuary, N, Spin: microfaunal and geochemical proxies in the recent sedimentary record

摘要

The distribution and abundance of benthic formainifera and a range of elements have been analysed in six long cores (up to 10 m long) from the Bilbao estuary, N. Spain, to document environmental transformation of this estuarine ecosystem and to determine sediment contamination levels. Three different environmental zones could be ditinguished it he recent sedimentary record based on its microfaunal and geochemical contents. Initially, a pre-industrial zone containing very abundant and diverse foraminiferal assemblages together with baseline metal levels.