Foraminiferal Research Research Articles

2023 Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research Award and Grant Recipients

2023 Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research Award and Grant Recipients

The offshore Foraminifera of the Togean Islands, Tomini Gulf; distribution and ecological significance

The hydrological complexity, the gulf shape, and the undeveloped geological setting of the Togean Islands in the middle of the waters assembled the area to be such an interesting place to discover its ecological uniqueness. Foraminifera was widely used as proxies for various ecological aspects. Real time and retrospective studies of the vertical and horizontal distribution of foraminiferal communities on such waters are the reflection of many ecological factors in the area. The purpose of the Foraminiferal research on the offshore Togean Islands is to discover the ecological roles that directly and indirectly affect the characteristics of the vertical and horizontal distribution. The study was also referring various ecological aspects from previous studies at the research site. Sampling was carried out in September 2015 using the Baruna Jaya VIII RV in the Togean Islands waters, Tomini Gulf, through a gravity core. Foraminifera analysis was carried out at four core samples from the adjacent waters of four reef islands; Una-una, Pengempang, Togean, and Kalla at 5 m to 455 m water depths. Core samples of various lengths, from 8 cm to 34 cm were dominated by planktonic foraminifera. The dominance of planktonic taxa in reef waters indicates a robust oceanic influence to the reef islands. Upwelling events in several locations in the region as well as volcanic processes that are ongoing also play a role in the distribution of the bulk of planktonic taxa in the reef waters of Togean Islands.

Comment on “Larger Benthic Foraminifera and Microfacies of Late Paleocene - Early Eocene Sections in Meghalaya, Northeast India” by Pereira et al. (2022)

Research Article| October 31, 2022 Comment on “Larger Benthic Foraminifera and Microfacies of Late Paleocene - Early Eocene Sections in Meghalaya, Northeast India” by Pereira et al. (2022) Mehdi Hadi Mehdi Hadi * Independent Researcher, Mashhad, Iran *Correspondence author. E-mail: mehdi_hadi_s@yahoo.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Journal of Foraminiferal Research (2022) 52 (4): 202–209. https://doi.org/10.2113/gsjfr.52.4.202 Article history received: 21 Mar 2022 accepted: 13 May 2022 first online: 31 Oct 2022 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Mehdi Hadi; Comment on “Larger Benthic Foraminifera and Microfacies of Late Paleocene - Early Eocene Sections in Meghalaya, Northeast India” by Pereira et al. (2022). Journal of Foraminiferal Research 2022;; 52 (4): 202–209. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gsjfr.52.4.202 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyJournal of Foraminiferal Research Search Advanced Search Herein, the major objective is to discuss the validity of species determination of the larger benthic foraminifera Alveolina from the Umlatdoh Limestone that were used as zonal index markers for applying the shallow benthic zones (SBZs) by Pereira et al. (2022). This group of larger benthic foraminifera (LBF) is widely used in the application of biostratigraphy to Eocene shallow-water successions. It displays a noteworthy diversification rate over the Eocene and a wide geographical occurrence (Samanta, 1993; Hottinger, 2001; Drobne et al., 2011) that extends throughout the tropical and subtropical shelves of the western to eastern... You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

A Scientometric Study of Foraminiferal Research in Brazil

ABSTRACT Scientometrics is a field of study that involves measuring and analyzing scientific literature and can be a valuable tool to assess and reveal major gaps in national scientific production. Among the major challenges for Brazilian science is the development of research in the extensive national marine realm. This paper provides a scientometric survey of papers involving foraminiferal research in Brazil. The metrics utilized were papers listed in “Capes Portal” and “Scopus” databases up to the year of 2019. A total of 324 papers were found and 177 were selected based upon criteria established. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used to establish a relationship between publications and time. Studies involving foraminifera increased in Brazil from 1952 to 2019. Most studies have been conducted in the southeast region. We identified the need for more research on foraminifera to be carried out in the Brazilian continental margin, especially in the north and northeast regions of the country.

The Biodiversity and Distribution of Abyssal Benthic Foraminifera and Their Possible Ecological Roles: A Synthesis Across the Clarion-Clipperton Zone

Benthic foraminiferal research in the North Pacific has a long history, with works published over a century ago providing important information about the taxonomy and distribution of morphospecies. These studies focused mainly on areas outside the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ). Our knowledge of foraminiferal faunas within the CCZ originates largely from recent baseline investigations related to likely future seabed mining of the polymetallic nodule deposits. These have revealed highly diverse assemblages of sediment-dwelling morphospecies among the meiofauna and macrofauna, as well as megafaunal xenophyophores and nodule-attached fauna. Morphological analyses have been complemented by metabarcoding studies that yielded even higher numbers of molecular species (Operational Taxonomic Units - OTUs). Monothalamids, the vast majority undescribed, constitute a substantial proportion of both morphological and molecular datasets, with multichambered agglutinated and calcareous foraminifera being less common. Their importance in this abyssal (>4,000 m depth) habitat likely reflects food limitation combined with carbonate dissolution close to and below the carbonate compensation depth. Literature records, supported in a few cases by genetic data, suggest that many morphospecies found in the CCZ have wide geographical distributions across the Pacific abyss and in other oceans. At smaller spatial scales (several 100s of kilometers) there is a general uniformity in assemblage composition. Nevertheless, many morphospecies are too rare to conclude anything about their geographical distributions. Similarly, the part played by benthic foraminifera in CCZ ecosystems is largely a matter of speculation, although their abundance across different size classes suggests that it is significant. Meiofauna-sized taxa that consume freshly-deposited organic detritus may be important in carbon cycling, particularly at the shallower, more eutrophic eastern end of the CCZ. Megafaunal xenophyophores can provide habitat structure for other organisms, potentially enhancing benthic biodiversity. Foraminifera of all sizes could be among the earliest recolonisers of disturbed or redeposited sediments. Their potential contributions in terms of both ecology and biodiversity make these protists significant members of benthic communities in the CCZ.

2020 Joseph A. Cushman Award to Ellen Thomas

Research Article| January 31, 2021 2020 Joseph A. Cushman Award to Ellen Thomas Laia Alegret; Laia Alegret University of Zaragoza Zaragoza, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Bruce W. Hayward; Bruce W. Hayward Geomarine Research Auckland, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. Mark Leckie; R. Mark Leckie University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Paul N. Pearson Paul N. Pearson Cardiff University Cardiff, Wales, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Laia Alegret University of Zaragoza Zaragoza, Spain Bruce W. Hayward Geomarine Research Auckland, New Zealand R. Mark Leckie University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA Paul N. Pearson Cardiff University Cardiff, Wales, UK Publisher: Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research First Online: 10 Mar 2021 Online ISSN: 1943-264X Print ISSN: 0096-1191 Journal of Foraminiferal Research (2021) 51 (1): 1–3. https://doi.org/10.2113/gsjfr.51.1.1 Article history First Online: 10 Mar 2021 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Laia Alegret, Bruce W. Hayward, R. Mark Leckie, Paul N. Pearson; 2020 Joseph A. Cushman Award to Ellen Thomas. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 2021;; 51 (1): 1–3. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gsjfr.51.1.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyJournal of Foraminiferal Research Search Advanced Search View largeDownload slideView largeDownload slide Ellen Thomas is the recipient of the 2020 Joseph A. Cushman Award for Excellence in Foraminiferal Research for her lifetime dedication to the study of foraminifera and her outstanding contributions in this field. She is a leading authority on deep-sea benthic foraminifera, especially their taxonomy and curation, evolutionary history, and multiple applications. Additionally, the award recognizes her multiple collaborative studies that have been at the forefront of international efforts to reconstruct past climates. Ellen completed her education at the University of Utrecht with a general background in classical geology and micropaleontology and... You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

A memorial to Robert D. Liska (1931-2021)

Robert D. Liska passed away on January 24, 2021. He died peacefully at home in the presence of his much-loved wife of 64 years. Born in 1931, Bob earned his MSc in Geology at San Diego State University. In 1963 Bob joined Texaco in Long Beach, California as a geologist. Two years later he joined Texaco International in Colombia, and in 1973 moved to Trinidad. Bob had a long association with Micropaleontology Press, and published several papers in Micropaleontology and in the Journal of Foraminiferal Research in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Bob leaves behind the legacy of his lifelong passion for micropaleontology and stratigraphy: his extensive and unique microfossil collection which will be housed at University College London, and his equipment which was donated to Texas A&M.

The Current State of Foraminiferal Research and Future Goals

The Current State of Foraminiferal Research and Future Goals

Cushman Special Publications: History and Scope

Abstract The content and scope of the Cushman Laboratory and Cushman Foundation Special Publications are briefly described and summarized in four tables. Seventy-seven Special Publications have been produced over the past 90+ years. Most are taxonomic works, of variable length (up to 661 pages) with copious illustrations (up to 389 plates) in the form of images of foraminiferal taxa (six Special Publications are on radiolaria and one on thecamoebians). The Special Publications underpin all other aspects of micropaleontological (particularly foraminiferal) research ranging from biostratigraphy to paleoceanography to evolutionary studies.

Journal of Foraminiferal Research Statement of Ownership

Journal of Foraminiferal Research Statement of Ownership

Foraminifera in the World Register of Marine Species (Worms) Taxonomic Database

ABSTRACTMost foraminiferal research is founded on sound taxonomy. To clearly communicate such research, similar species concepts and consistent use of names is desirable. As a contribution to this larger goal, the World Foraminifera Database (http://www.marinespecies.org/foraminifera) was set up in 2010 as a subset within the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). The purpose is to provide an authoritative, open-access inventory of all foraminiferal taxonomic names. The inventory is almost complete for both fossil and Recent foraminiferal taxa, containing 4932 generic and 55,884 species (including infraspecies) names. There are ∼61,000 genus-species combinations of which ∼54,600 are currently “accepted” species and infraspecies (with 9600 extant). Associated data includes 14,700 linked foraminiferal literature sources, ∼6600 images, and species-level links to many other databases and images, such as the Cushman Collection (Smithsonian Institution), American Museum of Natural History, Mikrotax (planktic foraminifera), GenBank, and Zootaxon. The WoRMS database is owned by the global taxonomic community and hosted and serviced by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Belgium. We recommend that all researchers working with foraminifera both use and contribute to the World Foraminifera Database, as that will improve the accuracy of the database's content and save investigators many hours of searching elsewhere.

Opportunities and challenges in incorporating benthic foraminifera in marine and coastal environmental biomonitoring of soft sediments: from science to regulation and practice

Scientific studies have demonstrated the usefulness of benthic foraminifera as bioindicators to assess the health of marine, coastal, and transitional ecosystems. Similar to macrofauna, these organisms are reliable proxies for biomonitoring. Despite recent scientific advances, Brazilian official monitoring plans using biotic indices on coastal and ocean environments with soft sediment areas remain mostly restricted to a few types of organisms. Therefore, to include benthic foraminifera in Brazilian biomonitoring routines regulated by national environmental guidelines and standards, the paper presents the challenges, which must be overcome, some recommendations and steps to move forward to implement foraminifera as bioindicators in biomonitoring routines. In light of it, it is essential to consider the contribution of the Brazilian foraminiferal research in this implementation process, improving ecological quality indices, adapting methods, and applying genetics tools. This paper is a step in this direction, which aims to strengthen the role of benthic foraminifera as a reliable tool in Brazilian biomonitoring.

The Russian School of Foraminiferology

Abstract Russian foraminiferal research began in the late 19th century and has continued to the present. Micropaleontology was prominent at two main branches of Soviet research institutions, that in St. Petersburg, known as the Petersburgian (Leningrad) and in Moscow as the Russian foraminiferal school. These two collaborated in well-coordinated cooperative work all around the country. This combined school of foraminiferology included many accomplished scientists whose main achievements are summarized, including highlights of the leadership and the contributions of A. V. Fursenko, G. A. Dutkevich, D. M. Rauser-Chernousova, N. N. Subbotina, and A. Gerke. The sustained focus on evolutionary history and its significance for taxonomy resulted in the revision of higher-level taxonomy and new understanding of the phylogeny of the Foraminifera, as well as positive elaborations of the systematics, biostratigraphy and ecology of the Foraminifera.

Journal of Foraminiferal Research Statement of Ownership

Journal of Foraminiferal Research Statement of Ownership

Journal of Foraminiferal Research Statement of Ownership

Journal of Foraminiferal Research Statement of Ownership

Molecular Studies On Foraminifers: Past, Present, and Future

AbstractApplications of molecular techniques have become integral to most fields of biological research, including evolutionary biology. Over the past two decades, studies of molecular genetics of foraminifers have emerged to enhance taxonomic identification with broad applications, including biodiversity, environmental assessments, and paleoceanographic studies. However, the results are widely scattered across the literature, thereby inhibiting advances in such research on foraminifers, especially regionally. In this review, we discuss the developments and contributions in the field of molecular genetics as applied to foraminifers, offering a guide to beginners in this area of research. Furthermore, this review highlights new opportunities for foraminiferal research that will pave the way for future studies in this field.

Journal of Foraminiferal Research Statement of Ownership

Journal of Foraminiferal Research Statement of Ownership

Foraminiferal research in coastal ecosystems of India during the past decade: A review

Coastal habitats in India, including estuaries, creeks and bays, have degraded to varying degrees, depending on the fluxes of pollutants and flushing characteristics of the area. Bioindicators can provide consistent evidence for degradation or recovery and have proven particularly useful in monitoring and assessment of coastal ecosystems. This paper examines and reviews recent research on modern foraminifers in coastal ecosystems of India. Most of the studies discuss methodologies employed with respect to sampling devices, sample storage, treatment, faunal analysis and documentation. A major goal of this review is to highlight the results of investigations on recent foraminifera carried out to date, and to identify minimally studied topics and geographic regions to thereby recommend areas for future study of coastal environments of the Indian Subcontinent.

2016 JOSEPH A. CUSHMAN AWARD TO HIROSHI KITAZATO

Hiroshi Kitazato was awarded the 2016 Joseph A. Cushman Award for Excellence in Foraminiferal Research at the Annual Cushman Reception on 27 September 2016, in Denver, Colorado. The award was conferred to him due to his pioneering and highly original biological and ecological studies of benthic foraminifera, especially his culturing studies and innovative in situ deep-sea experiments. Additionally, the award recognizes his promotion of integrated foraminiferal research to the forefront of Japanese and global ocean sciences by establishing an integrated biogeochemical research center, by mentoring dozens of students, and initiating and sustaining a plethora of international collaborations. Prof. Kitazato received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in Geology/Paleontology from Tohoku University. His initial fields of study included mapping of volcani-clastics and foraminiferal biostratigraphy. He began studying living foraminifera during his postdoctoral studies at the University of Tokyo. In 1978, he visited Tubingen, Germany, where he met Prof. Karl Grell, who taught him how to maintain and culture foraminifera. On this trip, Hiroshi also met Christoph Hemleben, who became his long-time collaborator. From 1978–2002, Hiroshi rose through the academic ranks at Shizuoka University. During these years, he performed initial culturing studies on foraminiferal behavior and ecology, always with an aim to improve the applicability of fossil foraminifera to paleoecological research. He became involved in almost every aspect of biological research: he quantified the locomotion of foraminifera, described their reproductive cycle and analyzed the relationship between foraminiferal genetic and morphological diversity. At that time, his laboratory …

MEMORIAL TO GEORGE J. VERVILLE (1921–2014)

Obituary| April 01, 2016 MEMORIAL TO GEORGE J. VERVILLE (1921–2014) Gregory Wahlman; Gregory Wahlman Wahlman Geological Services LLC, 8903 Westerkirk Drive, Austin, TX 78750, USA Correspondence author: gregwahlman@aol.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John Groves; John Groves Carmeuse Lime and Stone Technology Center, 6104 Grand Avenue, Suites B and C, Pittsburgh, PA 15225, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Paul Brenckle Paul Brenckle Consultant, 1 Whistler Point Road, Westport, MA 02790, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Gregory Wahlman Wahlman Geological Services LLC, 8903 Westerkirk Drive, Austin, TX 78750, USA John Groves Carmeuse Lime and Stone Technology Center, 6104 Grand Avenue, Suites B and C, Pittsburgh, PA 15225, USA Paul Brenckle Consultant, 1 Whistler Point Road, Westport, MA 02790, USA Correspondence author: gregwahlman@aol.com Publisher: Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research First Online: 13 Jul 2017 Online Issn: 1943-264X Print Issn: 0096-1191 © 2016 Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research Journal of Foraminiferal Research (2016) 46 (2): 97–98. https://doi.org/10.2113/gsjfr.46.2.97 Article history First Online: 13 Jul 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Gregory Wahlman, John Groves, Paul Brenckle; MEMORIAL TO GEORGE J. VERVILLE (1921–2014). Journal of Foraminiferal Research 2016;; 46 (2): 97–98. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gsjfr.46.2.97 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyJournal of Foraminiferal Research Search Advanced Search George Verville, affectionately known as “Verv” and “Uncle George” to many of his colleagues, passed away August 5, 2014, at 93. He had a long and distinguished career in paleontologic research, biostratigraphic studies, and technology group management for Amoco Production Company. He was a well-respected specialist in the taxonomy and biostratigraphy of North American Pennsylvanian and Permian fusulinids. He authored or coauthored more than 25 refereed publications, often in collaboration with his Amoco colleagues, particularly George Sanderson, and wrote numerous company reports on stratigraphy and biostratigraphy supporting exploration projects. George was first and foremost a stratigrapher, and his fusulinid papers... You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.