ΙΕΜ.1-2 Taxonomy and Biostratigraphy of Calcareous Nannofossils

Instructors: M. Triantaphyllou; E. Skampa; E. Stathopoulou; Ε. Malinverno; Τοm Dunkley Jones

Invited lectures:
Isabella Raffi
The role of calcareous nannofossils for the biostratigraphy and chronology of Cenozoic marine sediments: a review

Jeremy Young
– MIkrotax, Nannotax and included occurrence databases (Neptune, Triton, CASCADE, ForCens) – background, uses, limitations, etc.
– Coccolithophore biomineralisation – how it is reflected in coccolith structure and polarising light images and why it is fundamental to classification and identification of coccoliths.
– the Geological TimeScale and TimeScaleCreator and AgeDepth plots

Cinzia Bottini
Cretaceous Calcareous Nannofossil taxa and Biostratigraphy

SEMESTER: 1st   

LEARNING OUTCOMES 

The course deals with the study of Calcareous Nannofossils and extant Coccolithophores, focusing on Systematic Taxonomy and Mesozoic-Cenozoic Biostratigraphy training.

CONTENT:  

Theoretical content (lectures). 

  • Introduction. Physiology of Coccolithophores, coccospheres and coccoliths, morphology and life-cycle variations 
  • Extant Coccolithophores. Taxonomy, Ecology and Biogeography. Biomineralisation and impacts of climate change 
  • Contribution to sedimentation processes, sediment trap studies and the biological pump 
  • Updated aspects on classification, phylogeny and species-concepts. Evolutionary history and key stratigraphic intervals 
  • Calcareous Nannofossils distribution patterns and paleoenvironmental indicators 
  • Cenozoic Nannofossils groups. Taxonomy and Biostratigraphy.    
  • Cenozoic biomarkers and biozonal schemes 
  • Mesozoic  Nannofossils groups. Taxonomy and Biostratigraphy 
  • Mesozoic biomarkers and biozonal schemes 
  • Applications in hydrocarbon exploration and Industrial Biostratigraphy 

 

Β. Practical exercises: 

  • Sampling and preparation techniques.   
  • Quantitative biostratigraphic methods and statistical treatment of data
  • Comprehensive microscope lab sessions   
  • Coccolithophore study using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)  
  • Calcareous Nannofossils study under the Light Microscope (LM)
  • Biostratigraphic exercises and hands-on applications 

 

BREAKDOWN OF WORKLOAD  

Activity  Semester Workload (hours) 
Face to face (in lectures and practical exercises)   39 
Using computers, tablets, smartphones and specialized software (in lectures and practical exercises)  10 
Laboratory exercises  39 
Questions and Answers   10 
Preparation for final examination and/or project presentation  27 
Total  125  

STUDENT EVALUATION/GRADING 

The evaluation process is conducted in English, either with progress in separate sections of the material or with the final examination of the whole material and includes: 

I. LECTURES (50%)  

  • Oral Examination and/or 
  • Written exam with short answer questions and Multiple choice test and/or 
  • Written examination with extended answer questions and/or  
  • Scientific presentation in a specific topic related to the subject of the course

II. PRACTICAL EXERCISES (50%) 

  • Written examination with exercises and problem solving 

 

SUGGESTED LITERATURE 

  • Agnini, C., Fornaciari, E., Raffi, I., Catanzariti, R., Palike, H., Backman, J. & Rio, D. 2014: Biozonation and biochronology of Paleogene calcareous nannofossils from low and middle latitudes. Newsletters on Stratigraphy 47, 131–181. 
  • Agnini, C., Monechi, S., Raffi, I., 2017. Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy: historical background and application in Cenozoic chronostratigraphy. Lethaia 50, 447–463. 
  • Aubry, M.P., 2014. Cenozoic Coccolithophores: Discoasterales. Micropaleontology Press, American Museum of Natural History, New York. 1–400. 
  • Backman, J., Raffi, I., Rio, D., Fornaciari, E., Pälike, H., 2012. Biozonation and biochronology of Miocene  through Pleistocene calcareous nannofossils from low and middle latitudes. Newslett. Strat., 45, 221–244. 
  • Bown, P., 1998. Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy. British Micropalaeontological Society Publication Series, p. 328. 
  • Bown, P.R., Lees, J.A., Young, J.R., 2004. Calcareous nannoplankton evolution and diversity through time. In: Thierstein H.R. & J.R. Young (Eds), Coccolithophores—From Molecular Processes to Global Impact. Springer Verlag, pp. 481–505. 
  • Malinverno, E., Dimiza, M. D., Triantaphyllou, M. V., Dermitzakis, M. D., Corselli, C., 2008. Coccolithophores of the Eastern Mediterranean sea: A look into the marine microworld. ION editions, 188 pp. 
  • Perch-Nielsen, K., 1985. Cenozoic calcareous nannofossils. In: H. M. Bolli, J. B. Saunders & K. Perch- Nielsen (eds), Plankton Stratigraphy. p. 427–555, Cambridge University Press. 
  • Raffi, I., Backman, J., Rio, D., Shackleton, N.J., 1993. Plio-Pleistocene nannofossil biostratigraphy and calibration to oxygen isotope stratigraphies from Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 607 and Ocean Drilling Program Site 677. Paleoceanography 8, 387–408.  
  • Winter, A., Jordan, R.W., Roth, P.H., 1994. Biogeography of living Coccolithophores in oceanic waters. In: Winter A. & W.G. Siesser (Eds), Coccolithophores, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 161–177. 

 

SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS: 

  • Marine Micropaleontology 
  • Micropaleontology 
  • Revue de Micropaleontologie 
  • Stratigraphy 
  • Journal of Nannoplankton Research  
  • Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology 

Website: 

https://eclass.uoa.gr/courses/GEOL656/   

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Course EVALUTATION