Dissertation committee:
Αν. Καθηγήτρια Μαρία Β. Τριανταφύλλου (Επιβλέπουσα), Καθηγητής Μιχαήλ Δ. Δερμιτζάκης, Καθηγητής Γεώργιος Αναστασάκης
Summary:
Benthic foraminiferal composition of sedimentary successions during the last
7500 years, was investigated,in the present thesis, from boreholes drilled in
three coastal areas of the Aegean Sea (Thermaikos, Evoikosgulf and Thrace
coasts), in combination with the study of modern ecosystems in the same areas.
Basic aim was to establish benthic foraminifera as environmental health proxies
of Holocene coastal ecosystems, which was accomplished with taxonomy, the
definition of the assemblage’s composition in different environments and the
use of severalmicropaleontological indices. The quantitative analysis of
foraminiferal fauna enabled separation into three different groups (Group A:
closed lagoon assemblage, Group B: open lagoon assemblage, Group C: deeper
marine environment assemblage). The evolution of AlykesKitros and Lafrouda
Thrace coastal plains show a similar trend, with an open lagoonal fauna in the
lower part, transitional upwards to closed lagoonal conditions. This
environmental change has taken place after 6500 calyr BP in AlykesKitros and
around 3000 calyr BP at Lafrouda Thrace. The benthic communities of Vravron
Attica borehole sediments seem to represent continuously an open lagoon/shallow
marine environment from 4700 to 400 calyr BP, which turned afterwards to an
oligoaline to fresh water marsh. In South Evoikos gulf before 5000 years, the
transition from open lagoon/shallow marine conditions to deeper marine
environment took place, related to the sea level rise. The deeper marine
conditions remain stable until today.
Keywords:
Benthic foraminifera, Holocene, Boreholes, Environmental health, Lagoonal Environments
