Eight foraminiferal ecologic zones in the present Gulf of Mexico can be recognized in the ancient sediments. Each ecologic zone has a characteristic fauna which has its subsurface counterpart. Projection of Recent ecologic zones into older sediments is dependent on the degree to which the fossil assemblages reflect the same environment as their modern counterparts.

Extensive literature on modern and fossil foraminiferal ecology has been published. The selected bibliography lists that literature most pertinent to Gulf Coast paleoecology.

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