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.

1: State-of-the-Art 1.1 Foraminifera of the Black Sea and Sea of Azov 1.2 Caspian and Aral Seas 1.3 Our Study References 2: Study Area, Material, and Methods 2.1 Study Area 2.2 Material and Methods 2.3 Statistical Treatment 2.4 Stratigraphic Techniques References 3: Taxonomic Classification of Foraminifera 3.1 General Remarks 3.2 Principles of Taxonomic Classification 3.3 Agglutinated Taxa 3.4 Taxonomic Classification of the Order Miliolida 3.5 Taxonomic Classification of Order Lagenida 3.6 Taxonomic Classification of Order Rotaliida 3.6.1 Test Morphology and Accepted Terminology of Rotaliids 3.6.2 Systematics and Genetic Interrelations 3.7 Taxonomic Classification of Order Buliminida 3.8 Systematics and Comparison with Other Basins References 4: Modern Foraminifera 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Modern Foraminifera of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov 4.2.1 Northwestern Deltas, Limans, and Lagoons. 4.2.2 Northwestern (Including Western Crimean) Shelf 4.2.3 Eastern Crimean Shelf, Kerch Strait, and Sea of Azov 4.2.4 Caucasian Shelf 4.2.5 Bulgarian, Southwestern, and Bosphorus Outlet Shelf 4.3 Modern Foraminifera of the Caspian Sea 4.3.1 North Caspian Sea 4.3.2 Middle Caspian Sea 4.3.3 South Caspian Sea 4.3.4 Bays and Straits of the Caspian Sea 4.4 Modern Foraminifera of the Aral Sea 4.5 Conclusions 4.6 Lateral Rows of Modern Foraminiferal Assemblages 4.7 Quantitative Distribution and Ecology of Benthic Foraminifera 4.8 Bionomic Groups 4.8.1 Black Sea and Sea of Azov 4.8.2 Caspian Sea 4.8.3 Aral Sea 4.9 Ecological Classification of Foraminifera 4.10 Use of Modern Foraminifers for Bio- and Ecostratigraphy and Facies Analysis References 5: Quaternary Bio- and Ecostratigraphy, with Elements of Paleogeography of the Ponto-Caspian Corridors 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Caspian Region 5.2.1 Eopleistocene (Apsheronian Regional Stage) 5.2.2 Lower Neopleistocene (Bakinian Stage) 5.2.3 Middle Neopleistocene (Urundzhikian and Gyurgyanian Stages) 5.2.4 Upper Neopleistocene (Khazarian and Khvalynian Stages) 5.2.5 Holocene (Novocaspian Stage) 5.2.6 Conclusions 5.3 Black Sea Region 5.3.1 Eopleistocene 5.3.2 Lower Neopleistocene 5.3.3 Middle Neopleistocene 5.3.3.1 Old Euxinian Stage 5.3.3.2 Uzunlarian Stage 5.3.4 Upper Neopleistocene 5.3.4.1 Karangatian Stage 5.3.4.2 Tarkhankutian Stage 5.3.4.3 Neoeuxinian Stage 5.3.5 Holocene (ca. 10 ky BP-Present) 5.4 Correlation of Stratigraphic Units 5.5 Pleistocene Intrusions from the Mediterranean and Caspian Seas into the Black Sea: Reconstructions Based on Foraminifera References 6: Origin and Taxonomy of the Pleistocene Ponto-Caspian Benthic Foraminifera 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Caspian Region 6.3 Black Sea Region (Pont) 6.4 Conclusions References 7: Benthic Foraminifera as Indicators of Environmental Change in the Black Sea in Space and Time 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Foraminifera as Indicators of Environmental Stress Caused by Herbicides and Oil Pollution (INCO-COPERNICUS Case Study) 7.3 Foraminifera as Indicators of Environmental Stress Caused by River Discharge (WAPCOAST Case Study) 7.4 Foraminifera as Indicators of Environmental Stress by Methane Emissions (HERMES Case Study) 7.5 Foraminifera as Indicators of Environmental Stress on the Neopleistocene-Holocene Boundary 7.6 Morphological Deformities of Foraminiferal Tests as Indicators of Environmental Stress