The effect of thermal pollution on benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the Mediterranean shoreface adjacent to Hadera power plant (Israel)

► Benthic foraminifera (BF) are negatively affected by thermal pollution off Israel. ► Abundance and species richness decrease as SST rises, mainly in summer, above 30 °C. ► Some species (Lachlanella) are better adapted to live in elevated SST than others. ► The thermal plume does not conceal the seasonal changes inherent in these species. ► Thermal pollution has adverse effect on BF irrelevant to the natural seasonality.