Quaternary Foraminifera of the Caspian-Black Sea-Mediterranean Corridors: Volume 1, 1st ed. 2022
Ponto-Caspian Foraminifera

This handbook in two volumes offers a heretofore unavailable compilation of detailed information on foraminifera of the Caspian-Black Sea-Mediterranean Corridors (?CORRIDORS?), including their taxonomy, ecology, and applications in the study of Quaternary stratigraphy, paleogeographic reconstruction, and environmental stress. This subject is significant in light of the ongoing debates regarding the Flood Hypotheses because foraminifera can provide more information about many of the disputed questions. Foraminifera are highly reliable paleoenvironmental indicators, ubiquitous in marine environments, and taxonomically diverse, which gives them the potential for a wide range of biological responses to varied environmental factors. Their tests are readily preserved and can record evidence of environmental change through time, thus providing historical baseline data even in the absence of background studies. This book presents taxonomic descriptions for about 500 species and subspecies from the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, Caspian Sea, Aral Sea, Sea of Marmara, and the Eastern Mediterranean. This catalogue is supplemented by ecological remarks, stratigraphic distributions, paleogeography, and environmental/paleoenvironmental applications, including responses to environmental stress, e.g., river discharge, pollution by different contaminants, etc. The book will be useful to specialists in Quaternary history of the ?CORRIDORS? as well as those in environmental monitoring and risk assessment.

Foreword.- Preface.- Introduction.- Acknowledgments.- Chapter 1. State-of-the-art.- Chapter 2. Study area, material and methods.- Chapter 3. Taxonomic classification of foraminifera.- Chapter 4. Modern foraminifera.- Chapter 5. Quaternary bio- and ecostratigraphy, with elements of paleogeography of the Ponto-Caspian Corridors.- Chapter 6. Origin and taxonomy of the Pleistocene Ponto-Caspian benthic foraminifera.- Chapter 7. Benthic foraminifera as indicators of environmental change in the Black Sea in space and time.- Chapter 8. Systematic part.- Conclusions.- Index.

Present-1965 Department of Physical and Marine Geology (renamed in 2020 in Department of Physical, Marine Geology and Paleontology), Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University, Ukraine: Head of the Department (since 2012), Full Professor (since 1990), Associate Professor (1990-1980), Senior Lecturer (1979 – 1977), Assistant Professor (1977-1974), PhD student (1974-1970), student (1970-1965). 2007-present Head of the Scientific and Educational Center of Geoarchaeology, Marine and Environmental Geology, Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University, Ukraine.