Determination of the sediment inputs from the upper shelf towards the beaches and dunes of Maspalomas (Gran Canaria) by foraminifera analysis

Abstract

In this paper the coastal dynamics of the sedimentary system of Maspalomas (Gran Canaria) has been studied by means of micropaleontological tools. To achieve this goal, the analysis of the foraminiferal content in a group of sedimentary samples from 3 different environments was carried out. A total of 19 samples have been studied, 6 of them corresponding to submarine sediments up to 45 meters depth, 10 to beach sediments from the foreshore and 3 to sediments from recent eolian dunes.Results show that the foraminiferal content in submarine samples is much more elevated, both in number of individuals and species, compared to samples from the foreshore and the dunes, which seems to indicate that sedimentary inputs from the upper shelf towards the beach, and from the beach to the dunes are very weak