The ecological responses of benthic foraminifera were investigated to understand pollution trends in Guanica Bay, Puerto Rico. Foraminiferal species distribution and diversity were determined in surficial sediment samples and related to dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity, and pH as well as with total and bioavailable (exchangeable and organic-bound) potentially toxic element (PTE) concentrations. The elevated PTE concentrations, particularly total Co-Cr-Cu-Ni, and the bioavailable exchangeable (mudPTE) and organic-bound (OMPTE) fractions for Co and Cr, respectively, are attributed to anthropogenic influence in addition to natural sources (i.e., Cu-, Cr- and Ni-bearing rocks and soils). Ammonia beccarii var tepida (phylotype- T1) vastly dominated the species assemblage, which had exceptionally low diversity, and this genus was positively correlated with specific bioavailable PTEs and negatively with DO and pH. The sediments of the bay are mostly “heavily polluted” and of poor quality based on the Foram Stress Index (1.0 ? FSI < 2.0) and the Ecological Quality Status.
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