The Early Evolutionary History Of Planktonic Foraminifera (british Micropalaeontological Society Publications)

The planktonic foraminifera have, for over forty years, been recognised to be the most valuable stratigraphic indices for marine sediments of Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic age. However, their evolutionary origins in the Jurassic and their development, morphological evolution and systematics in the Early Cretaceous have, until now, been poorly understood. This book illustrates for the first time all the published taxa known from the Jurassic, and clarifies and corrects their taxonomy. The taxonomy and stratigraphic distribution of the Early Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera are also revised, and all of the published species are illustrated, using the type specimens. The systematics of the Early Cretaceous forms are clearly set out, both for species and for genera: their evolution is explained as well as the ecological importance of the morphological changes they have undergone. Moreover, by analogy with the Recent Globigerinacea the palaeoenvironmental significance of these Early Cretaceous taxa is discussed. The book deals with 136 species belonging to 26 genera, five of which - Compactogerina , Haeuslerina (of the Jurassic), Lilliputianelloides ; Claviblowiella and Planohedbergella (of the Cretaceous) - are new. Range charts are provided, as are extensive keys for the more important genera. Superbly illustrated, with 65 high-quality plates, this work will be an invaluable reference for all micropalaeontolists and biostratigraphers worldwide, with many species illustrated by SEM for the first time. This is the first book to collate all known information on the early evolutionary origins of the planktonic foraminifera. And Acknowledgements This Book Attempts To Describe The Earliest Known Academy Of Sciences). Without Their Assistance In Planktonic Foraminifera, Of The Jurassic, And To Particular, Our Understanding Of The Early Planktonic Portray Their Evolution Into The Widespread And Foraminifera Would Have Been Much The Poorer. Holoplanktonic Taxa Of The Early Cretaceous. Much Of The Sem Photography Has Been Specially Prepared For The Book By Two Of The In Doing This We Estimate We Have Dealt With Over 135 Species, Belonging To 26 Genera. It Has Authors (m. K. B-f. And J. E. W. ) On The University Been Our Policy To Illustrate, With Sem Imagery College, London (zeiss Dsm 940) And The Natural History Museum's (hitachi S 2500) Whenever Possible, Holotypes Or Other Primary Types, Topotypes And Other Reliable Specimens. To Instruments, Respectively. Many More Illustrations This End, We Have Been Generously Helped By Many Have Been Digitized From The Original Negatives Micropalaeontologists And Other Technical Workers, Held In Both Those Institutions From Earlier Publi Without Whose Assistance The Book Could Not Have Cations Of The Authors And Our Collaborators Been Prepared. The Systematic Taxonomy Is Our (notably Drs Damini Desai, Phil Copestake, Responsibility, However, And We Must Be Blamed Marigold White, Mike Simmons And Tatiana For Any Errors Which May Have Occurred. Gorbachik), Over The Last Decade. Content: Front Matter....Pages i-xii Introduction....Pages 1-15 The Jurassic Favusellacea, the earliest Globigerinina....Pages 17-51 The Early Cretaceous families....Pages 53-56 The Favusellidae - the Cretaceous acme of the Favusellacea....Pages 57-77 The practical taxonomy of the Praehedbergellidae....Pages 79-84 The earliest Praehedbergellidae - Gorbachikella ....Pages 85-101 The flowering of the Praehedbergellidae: Praehedbergella ....Pages 103-119 Blefuscuiana, the longest ranging and most diverse of the Praehedbergellidae....Pages 121-159 The Praehedbergellidae with elongate chambers - Lilliputianella, Lilliputianelloides gen.nov., and Wondersella ....Pages 161-175 The planispiral Schackoinidae (Blowiella, Claviblowiella gen.nov., Globigerinelloides, Leupoldina and Schackoina)....Pages 177-201 The evolution of the Hedbergellidae....Pages 203-207 The evolution of the Planomalinidae....Pages 209-227 Aspects of the probable physiology and ecology of the Praehedbergellidae, aided by studies of living Globigerinacea....Pages 229-243 Back Matter....Pages 245-269