ΙΕΜ.1-3 Taxonomy and Biostratigraphy of Planktonic Foraminifera

Instructors: A. Antonarakou; T. Tsourou; E. Besiou; S. Ahmad.

SEMESTER: 1st   

LEARNING OUTCOMES 

The course deals with the study of Planktonic Foraminifera, focusing on Systematic Taxonomy and Biostratigraphy training.

CONTENT:  

Theoretical content (lectures). 

  • Introduction. Biology, morphology, symbiosis and life-cycle of Planktonic Foraminifera 
  • Taxonomy, Ecology and Biogeographic patterns of modern Planktonic Foraminifera 
  • Contribution to sedimentation processes and global carbon circle. Shell–seawater interaction and paleo/environmental change 
  • Updated aspects on classification, phylogeny and species-concepts. Evolutionary history and key stratigraphic intervals 
  • Cenozoic Planktonic Foraminifera. Taxonomy and Biostratigraphy: The Paleogene 
  • Cenozoic Planktonic Foraminifera. Taxonomy and Biostratigraphy: The Neogene 
  • Mesozoic Planktonic Foraminifera. Taxonomy and Biostratigraphy 
  • Industrial applications 

 

Β. Practical exercises: 

  • Sampling and preparation techniques 
  • Quantitative biostratigraphic methods and data statistical treatment  
  • Comprehensive microscope lab sessions   
  • Planktonic Foraminifera study in Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) 
  • Biostratigraphic exercises and hands-on applications 

 

BREAKDOWN OF WORKLOAD  

Activity  Semester Workload (hours) 
Face to face (in lectures and practice 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 

  • Berggren, W.A., Wade, B.S., Pearson, P.N., 2018. Oligocene chronostratigraphy and planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy: historical review and current state-of-the-art. In: Wade, B.S. et al. (eds), Atlas of Oligocene Planktonic Foraminifera, Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research Special Publication 46, 29-54. 
  • BouDagher-Fadel, M., 2015. Biostratigraphic and geological significance of planktonic foraminifera. 306 pp, UCL Press. 
  • https://www.mikrotax.org/pforams/ Huber, B. T. et al. (2017b). Pforams@microtax: A new online taxonomic database for planktonic foraminifera. Micropaleontology 62(6), 429-438. 
  • Kontakiotis G, Antonarakou A, Besiou E, Skampa E, Triantaphyllou MV. Towards an Integrated and Accurate Planktonic-Foraminiferal-Deduced Bio-Chrono-Stratigraphic Framework of Late Quaternary Mediterranean Marine Cores. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 2023; 11(12):2345. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11122345 
  • Lirer, F., Foresi, L.-M., Iaccarino, S.M., Salvatorini, G., Turco, E., Cosentino, Cl. Sierro, F.J., Caruso, A., 2019. Mediterranean Neogene planktonic foraminifer biozonation and biochronology. Earth-Science Reviews, 196, 102869, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2019.05.013. 
  • Moullade, M., 1966. Etude stratigraphique et micropaleontologique du Cretace´ inferieur de la « Fosse Vocontienne ». Documents des Laboratoires de Geologie de Lyon, 15: 1_369. 
  • Schiebel, R. and Hemleben, C., 2017. Classification and Taxonomy of Extant Planktonic Foraminifers, in: Planktic Foraminifers in the Modern Ocean, edited by: Schiebel, R. and Hemleben, C., Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany 11–110, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-50297-6 
  • Wade, B.S., Pearson, P.N., Berggren, W.A., and Palike, H., 2011, Review and revision of Cenozoic planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and calibration to the geomagnetic polarity and astronomical time scale. Earth-Science Reviews 104, 111-142. 

 

SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS: 

  • Marine Micropaleontology
  • Micropaleontology
  • Revue de Micropaleontologie
  • Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology
  • Journal of Foraminfera Research
  • Journal of Plankton Research
  • Journal of Foraminferal Research

 

Website: 

https://eclass.uoa.gr/courses/GEOL659/   

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