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The spatial distribution of benthic foraminiferal assemblage of Nayband Bay and Haleh Estuary, North-West of the Persian Gulf, was explored for the first time during March 2011 to March 2012. The most abundant benthic foraminifera species which were found in the studied area include Ammonia beccarii, Eponides repandus, Quinqueloculina sp., Elphidium sp. The two most abundant species belongs to Rotaliidae family.  The specimen groups presented in the studied area were somehow the same, and their relative abundance did not vary tremendously in sites consisting of foraminifera assemblages.  The relationship between spatial pattern of foraminifera assemblages and ambient factors (i.e. sediment grain size distribution, sediment organic content, heavy metals contents) was measured. Background enrichment indices, contamination factor and contamination degree, were used to assess the health status in the studied area based on Nickel, Lead, Cadmium and Mercury contents of the sediments. Background enrichment indices showed that the health of Jafari Creek has not altered over time due to the constant discharge of industrial wastes to the ecosystem. The concentration of four measured elements was lower than the permitted concentrations announced by NOAA و ISQG.  The BIO-ENV analysis identified a negative relationship -0.32 between the concentration of assessed metals and foraminifera assemblages. 

Keywords: Foraminifera, Spatial pattern, Contamination Degree. Contamination Factor

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