180-15 Holocene Coastal Evolution and Palaeoecological Significance of Fossil Assemblages at Wadi Mouths, Tobruk Region, Northeast Libya

Session: Geoscience Outreach Efforts to Broaden Participation (Posters)

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This study investigates the Holocene coastal evolution and fossil distribution across eleven wadi mouths along the Mediterranean shoreline of the Tobruk region, northeastern Libya. These wadis—Abd Elrasol, Bo Elgamel, Bohager, Bo Kremesa, Elaoda, Elsahal, Hasoha, Halmy, Toburag, Um Khail, and Um Elshawash—act as key sediment transport pathways and exert strong control over local depositional dynamics.

Quantitative paleoecological analysis of the Quaternary (Holocene) sediments reveals diverse biotic assemblages, including benthic and planktonic foraminifera, bivalves, echinoderms, bioclasts, and calcareous algae (crustose and frondose). Wadi-specific variations in algal dominance (crustose vs. frondose) correlate with substrate stability, hydrodynamic energy, and nutrient flux. Crustose-algae-rich settings support dense benthic foraminiferal populations, indicative of low-energy, hard-bottom substrates. In contrast, mixed algal environments reflect more dynamic conditions, supporting mixed foraminiferal assemblages.

The integration of biotic data and geomorphological context provides new insights into Holocene shoreline development, sedimentation patterns, and climate-driven coastal processes in eastern Libya. These findings contribute to broader reconstructions of Mediterranean paleoenvironmental change and regional sea-level history.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

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