Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/N019024/1
Taxonomy and stratigraphy of Cenozoic planktonic foraminifera
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Dr S Stukins, The Natural History Museum, Earth Sciences
- Grant held at:
- The Natural History Museum, Earth Sciences
- Science Area:
- Earth
- Marine
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Systematics & Taxonomy
- Palaeoenvironments
- Abstract:
- Planktonic foraminifera are a diverse group of calcareous marine zooplankton. They exist in the modern oceans from the tropics to the polar latitudes. Their calcareous shells have left a long fossil record and thus they are extensively used in marine biostratigraphy (age dating) and palaeoceanography. The taxonomy of the group, e.g. how to tell apart 'species A' from 'species B' is critical for palaeoceanographic proxies and dating. We propose to train 12 postgraduate students in the taxonomy, systematics and biostratigraphy of Cenozoic planktonic foraminifera (last 66 million years). This short course will include Recent, Neogene and Paleogene material and will cover both low-latitude and high-latitude assemblages. Focusing on identification of key species from throughout the Cenozoic, it will introduce not only the taxonomy and classification of the group but also its ecology, phylogeny, and the group's key role in biostratigraphy. By the end of the course, attendees will: - Understand the basic morphological types of planktonic foraminifera, how morphology develops during ontogeny, and the terms used to describe it - Be familiar with the morphology and up-to-date classification (and related literature) of the entire Recent diversity of the macroperforate clade and selected larger microperforate taxa - Appreciate the differences between low-latitude and high-latitude assemblages - Appreciate the adaptations shown to different environments - Understand the range of species concepts used in the study of the group - Be able to distinguish excellent 'glassy' preservation from recrystallized material, and appreciate the importance of the difference for palaeotemperature estimates - Understand and be able to apply the basic principles of biostratigraphy - Be competent in the identification of the key zone fossils for the Neogene and selected zone fossils for the Paleogene, allowing the age of a sediment sample to be bracketed based solely on the taxa found - Be aware of ongoing UK-based planktonic foraminiferal research, and know their peers The short course will be based on a successful informal one-week 'foram school' that the same team ran successfully in 2015, for 12 postgraduate students and early career researchers from NHM, Cardiff University, UCL and the University of Southampton. Each day will feature lengthy sessions of intense microscope work (starting with Recent material and working back through time), mixed in with short presentations on important conceptual and technical topics; key literature will also be highlighted. Participants will also be shown the NHM's key reference collections and learn laboratory processing techniques. Participants will also be asked to prepare short presentations on additional key topics, supported by the relevant literature.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/N019024/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Doctoral Training
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Advanced Training
This training grant award has a total value of £30,008
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Other Costs |
|---|
| £30,008 |
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