Local Persistence of Large Benthic Foraminifera (LBF) under Increasing Urban Development: A Case Study from Zanzibar (Unguja), East Africa

Despite increasing urban development and potential water quality degradation, the coastal marine habitats off Zanzibar exhibit resilience with persistent large benthic foraminifera (LBF) assemblages. The study found high abundance of symbiont-bearing LBF, particularly Amphistegina species, alongside moderate diversity and high FoRAM Index values, indicating relatively healthy coral cover. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphate levels from Stone Town's untreated sewage effluent showed variability but rarely exceeded critical thresholds for oligotrophic ecosystems. These findings suggest that LBF can serve as early warning indicators of benthic changes, highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring in vulnerable coastal ecosystems facing rapid development pressures.

Narayan, G. R., Herrán, N., Reymond, C. E., Shaghude, Y. W., & Westphal, H. (2022). Local Persistence of Large Benthic Foraminifera (LBF) under Increasing Urban Development: A Case Study from Zanzibar (Unguja), East Africa. Journal of Earth Science, 33(6), 1434–1450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-022-1702-5