THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MODERN FORAMINIFERAL DATA SET FOR SEA-LEVEL RECONSTRUCTIONS, WAKATOBI MARINE NATIONAL PARK, SOUTHEAST SULAWESI, INDONESIA

We collected modern foraminiferal samples to char- acterize the foraminiferal environments and investigate the role that temporal and spatial variability may play in controlling the nature and significance of foraminif- eral assemblages of the mangroves of Kaledupa, Waka- tobi Marine National Park, Southeast Sulawesi, Indo- nesia. The study of foraminiferal live and dead assem- blages indicates that dead assemblages are least prone to vary in time and space, and furthermore, they accu- rately represent the subsurface assemblages that are the focus of paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Further analyses of the dead assemblages indicate a vertical zonation of foraminifera within the intertidal zone. Zone D-Ia is dominated by agglutinated forami- nifera Arenoparrella mexicana, Miliammina fusca, M. obliqua and Trochammina inflata. Zone D-Ib has mixed agglutinated/calcareous assemblages with species such as T. inflata and Ammonia tepidaa. Zone D-II is dominated by numerous calcareous species including A. tepida, Dis- corbinella bertheloti, Elphidium advenum and Quinquel- oculina spp. Zone D-Ia is found to be the most accurate sea-level indicator and its assemblages are omnipresent world-wide. Zones D-Ib and D-II are subject to both spa- tial and temporal variations which must be included in any sea-level reconstructions.