Arctic benthic foraminifera: the main species commonly used in paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Review of two common genera, Islandiella and Cassidulina
Instructor: Viviana Maria Gamboa Sojo and Katrine Husum
Benthic foraminifera assemblages are extensively used for paleoenvironmental reconstructions. The main impact of foraminiferal studies in the sediment record relates to their small size, large abundance, with readily preserved and highly diagnostic shells, which make them a reliable tool for stratigraphy and paleontology statistical analysis. Foraminifera group has a wide environmental range, from terrestrial to deep sea and from polar to tropical areas. Their ecological sensitivity renders the group particularly useful in studies of recent and ancient environmental conditions.
About the workshop
During this workshop, we will investigate the classification of the Arctic benthic foraminifera species and their ecological significance, focus on the laboratory work.
This course limited to a maximum of 12 participants.
Topics
- General classification of the foraminifera groups, mainly focused on the genus Islandiella, and the taxonomic differences with the genus Cassidulina
- Discussion about other main Arctic benthic foraminifera species (morphological characteristics, picking and classification).
- Highlights about the paleoenvironmental significance of the main Arctic benthic foraminifera.
