Annual Report 2011 of the Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifera Working Group

The Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifera Working Group held their 9th meeting on the taxonomy and evolution of Oligocene planktonic foraminifera at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., Department of Paleobiology, (National Museum of Natural History, hosted by Brian Huber) in September 2011. Work towards completion of the ‘Atlas of Oligocene Planktonic Foraminifera’ is now at an advanced stage. Syntheses of the taxonomy and plates for a number of groups, such as Globorotaloides/Catapsydrax, Paragloborotalia, which mark the near completion of work for some chapters, were presented by lead authors. Drafts of the text for Oligocene chronostratigraphy, planktonic wall textures, Subbotina, Dentoglobigerina Pseudohastigerina/Turborotalia, biserials and the cancellate walled groups were submitted. Other groups, including Globigerinoides, Globigerinella and Oligocene clavates still require some work, including establishing wall textures and obtaining holotype images. Spring 2012 was set as a deadline for submission of final versions of chapters, including text, phylogenies, range charts and plates. Then will start the process of internal and external review. The working group aim to have the finished atlas ready for FORAMS 2014, which will be held in Chilie.

Report by Helen Coxall (Secretary) and Bridget Wade (Chairwoman).


Annual Report 2010 of the Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifera Working Group

The Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifera Working Group held their 8th meeting on the taxonomy and evolution of Oligocene planktonic foraminifera at the Goldfuß-Museum, Steinmann Institut, Bonn, Germany (hosted by Martin Langer and convened Bridget Wade and Michal Kucera) in early September before the Forams 2010 meeting at the University of Bonn. Updates on research progress were presented by lead authors responsible for writing chapters on individual Oligocene lineages. For some groups a draft phylogeny and list of species with revised diagnoses and range information is at an advanced stage, whereas other groups still require further work to stabilize the taxonomy at the species (e.g. Paragloborotalia) but also genus level (e.g. Dentiglobigerina, Globigerina, Globoturborotalita). Dick Olsson has identified new wall texture groups that may help resolve some of the problems of apparent polyphyly that are responsible for some of these problems. Draft versions of chapter text, plates, phylogenies and range charts are the goal for the next meeting to be held at UMass August 2011. Additionally a subgroup working on Dentoglobigerina and Subbotina met in January 2010 at UMass, Amherst, hosted by Mark Leckie. The whole suite of taxa were discussed with SEM images of well preserved specimens to resolve issues related to wall structures.

Report by Helen Coxall (Secretary) and Bridget Wade (Chairwoman).

Annual Report 2009 of the Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifera Working Group

The Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifera Working Group continued their work towards a major revision of the Oligocene planktonic foraminifera. A meeting attended by 14 members was held at the University of Fribourg in June hosted by Silvia Spezzaferi. Here the group reported on progress and discussed species concepts over first drafts of illustrative taxonomic plates, collated through the hard work of Dick Olsson with members contributing numerous SEM images of representative specimens from around the globe. The inventory of Oligocene type SEM images has also continued to grow, thanks to the efforts of Brian Huber and other members in tracking down as many of these essential reference specimens as possible from far flung official and unofficial repositories. Phylogenetic frameworks for many lineages have now started to crystallize. For the Oligocene, which contains the roots of many modern planktonic lineages, this has been aided by the results of molecular studies on Recent species. Michal Kurcera’s report at the Fribourg meeting this year for example, provided insight into possible relationships among Oligocene Globorotaloides, Globigerinella and microperforates after the recent gene-sequencing of modern counterparts. Responsibilities for individual taxonomic chapters of the future Oligocene Atlas have been defined and the goal for the next meeting (Stockholm University or Amherst, UMAS) is to have draft versions of text. It has been agreed that our Oligocene studies should extend to the base of the early Miocene where necessary to follow the evolution of a number of key lineages that straddle the Oligocene-Miocene boundary.

Report by Helen Coxall (Secretary) and Bridget Wade (Chairwoman).


Annual Report 2008 of the Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifera Working Group

Following the last highly successful meeting of the Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifera Working Group in December 2007, this year we have obtained many missing holotype images and started to prepare taxonomic plates. Chengjie Liu hosted a two day meeting mini working group meeting at ExxonMobil, with participants from Devon, ConocoPhillips, Chevron and BP attending. This meeting gave the opportunity to discuss progress and taxonomic concepts with petroleum industry consultants. Work is continuing on the establishment of senior synonym lists and investigations of well preserved specimens. Our next meeting will be hosted by Silvia Spezzaferri (University of Fribourg).

Report by Bridget. Wade, Chairwoman



Annual Report 2007 of the Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifera Working Group

The Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifera Working Group held two very successful meetings in 2007 concentrating on the review and synthesis of Oligocene planktonic foraminiferal taxonomy. The first was hosted by Vlasta Premec-Fucek and Morana Hernitz Kucenjak in May and the second hosted by Christoph Hemleben and Michal Kucera in December. There are presently 133 species described from or recorded to have occurred during the Oligocene and we continued to work on establishing senior synonym lists. We have attained for the first time Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images of many holotypes. New SEM images have been obtained and were presented from well preserved specimens, allowing significant progress to be made in determining the wall structures of some groups. Translations for original descriptions are being produced. We assigned responsibilities for taxonomic groups with the aim of having draft manuscripts and plates for our next meeting which will be hosted by ExxonMobil (Houston) in October 2008.

Report by Bridget Wade, Chairwoman

Annual Report 2006 of the Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifera Working Group

This year will see the publication of the Atlas of Eocene Planktonic Foraminifera edited by Paul Pearson (UK), Richard Olsson (USA), Brian Huber (USA), Christoph Hemleben (Germany) and William Berggren (USA), with contributions from Helen Coxall (UK), Vlasta Premec-Fucek (Croatia), Isabella Premoli Silva (Italy) and Bridget Wade (USA). This volume details the taxonomy, stratigraphic distributions, evolutionary phylogeny and paleoecology of 168 species of Eocene planktonic foraminifera. Three new genera and 10 new species are described and many holotypes are illustrated by Scanning Electron Microscopy for the first time. The comprehensive taxonomic discussions and 135 plates will provide a fantastic resource for researchers of Eocene climate, evolution and biostratigraphy. The publication is available from the Cushman Foundation of Foraminiferal Research for $50.
Following the successes of the Paleocene and Eocene, the Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifer Working is now concentrating on the revision and synthesis of Oligocene planktonic foraminifera taxonomy, biostratigraphy, phylogeny and paleobiology. We met for the first time in November 2005 at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, hosted by Brian Huber. A compiled list of all previously described senior synonyms of Oligocene Planktonic Foraminifera was presented and discussed. Bridget Wade (Rutgers University) was elected Chair and Helen Coxall (Cardiff University) as Secretary. The group met again at the highly successful Forams 2006 - International Symposium of Foraminifera at Natal, Brazil. Scanning electron micrographs of holotypes and well preserved foraminifera were presented and species concepts were discussed. The next meeting is proposed for Croatia, May 2007 hosted by Vlasta Premec-Fucek and Morana Hernitz Kucenjak.

Report by Bridget Wade, Chairwoman.

Annual Report 2005 of the Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifera Working Group

The Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifer Working Group has continued its researches this year, holding a meeting at Rutgers University in May 2005, hosted by Prof R.K. Olsson. The Atlas of Eocene Planktonic Foraminifera, edited by Paul N. Pearson, Richard K. Olsson, Brian T. Huber, C. Hemleben and William A. Berggren, was finally submitted for publication to the Cushman Foundation after that meeting. It contains a fundamental re-assessment of the taxonomy, paleoecology, evolutionary relationships and stratigraphic distributions of planktonic foraminifera from the Eocene Epoch based on new scanning electron micrographs of most of the type specimens and extensive illustration of exceptionally well-preserved material from around the world. In total 166 species from 36 genera are described in the atlas, of which ten species and three genera are new. Analysis of wall structures provides the basis for the higher taxonomy, dividing the species into microperforate, spinose and non-spinose groups. Several new subtypes of wall microstructure are described for the first time. Detailed range charts and phylogenetic charts of all the species are presented relative to revised biostratigraphic zonation schemes for the tropics and high southern latitudes. The available stable isotope data for each species is synthesized, and some new data are presented.
Following this work on the Eocene, our attention has moved on to a revision of Oligocene planktonic foraminifera. A meeting is scheduled for November 2005 to coordinate this research. It will be organized by Brian T. Huber and interested parties are encouraged to contact him for information if they wish to participate in this or later meetings
Scanning electron micrographs of selected holotypes from the Cushman collection at the US National Museum will be made. Other important Oligocene material from deep sea cores and land sections will be studied, eventually leading (it is hoped) to a new atlas of Oligocene planktonic foraminifera, consistent in scope and taxonomy with the preceding Paleocene and Eocene works.

Report by Paul Pearson, Chairman and Brian Huber, Secretary.

Annual Report 2004:

The Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifer Working Group has nearly completed their work on the Eocene Atlas of Planktonic Foraminifera and will submit it to the Cushman Foundation Special Publication editor during Fall 2004.The biostratigraphy, taxonomy, and phylogenetic systematics of Eocene planktonic foraminifera are treated in an illustrated atlas format including 134 plates, with 11 families, 24 genera (two of which are new), and 162 species of Eocene planktonic foraminifera described and illustrated. Scanning electron micrographs of the type specimens of 127 species are illustrated for the first time, providing new insight to the shell architecture and wall texture, particularly for species that had been poorly illustrated.The phylogenetic relationships of all species of Eocene planktonic foraminifera are reviewed and presented in phylogenetic range charts. Analysis of wall textures, based on well-preserved material, provides the basis for the higher taxonomy.The biostratigraphic occurrences of all species of Eocene planktonic foraminifera are reviewed. New modifications to the standard (sub) tropical and Antarctic zonations, and a new nomenclature for these zones are also proposed.

Report by Paul Pearson, Chairman and Brian Huber, Secretary.