Research Training Program

Sally Adkins
University of Missouri - St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri

Brian Huber, Ph.D.
Project Advisor
Department of Paleobiology

"I feel very lucky to have had this experience. After working here I am more confident about my path toward a career in science. I learned the scientific method, how it works, how to appy and use it, and that it can be applied to many fields of study. This experience has been invaluable to my scientific education!"

Paleohabitat and Morphology of the Foraminifer Bifarina alabamensis

The foraminiferBifarina alabamensis was studied to determine whether this species lived in a benthic or planktonic paleohabitat. Specimens were picked from three samples recovered in Hole 738C (1500-2000 m water depth), located on the southern end of the Kerguelan Plateau (Southern Indian Ocean, 62°43'S) during Leg 119 of the Ocean Drilling Program. These samples date from approximately 62-57 Ma., in the late Danian.

Bifarina alabamensis is found rarely but continuously in higher latitude deep sea sediments. The occurrence of this species in the three samples was found accordingly. Preservation of these late Danian foraminifera was good. Isotopic and morphological comparison with planktonic and benthic species were conducted to find habitat of B. alabamensis.

While morphological observation predicted a planktonic habitat for this foraminifer, isotopic results showed otherwise. It seems safe to say from an obvious data set that B. alabamensis displays benthic characteristics and is therefore benthic.

This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (Award: BIR-9300225).