Research Training Program
Smithsonian
Institution
National Museum of Natural History
PROJECT SUMMARY
2006
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Erin
Saupe Brian Huber, Ph.D. "Being able to study at the Smithsonian has been a life-long dream that I never believed would come true. To have sat in the Cushman room and collaborated with the top foraminiferal researchers in the world was incredible." |
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A Look at the Oceans 64 million years ago Foraminifera
are single celled, ameoba-like microorganisms that secrete a
calcium carbonate test, or shell. They live in a variety of
salt and fresh water environments from the poles to the equator.
Because foraminifera have been present for over 540 million
years and some groups evolve relatively quickly, they are used
as markers in rock beds to tell the age of the sediment. This
project is part of a larger endeavor aimed at restructuring
the classification of Cretaceous age planktonic (floating) foraminifera
so it is based on changes in shape through time. In this investigation,
two species of Late Cretaceous, planktonic foraminifera, Heterohelix
rajagopalani and Gublerina cuvillieri, were studied
from three Deep Sea Drilling Project sites (761B, 762C, 1050C)
to determine if Heterohelix rajagopalani is the ancestor
of Gublerina cuvillieri. Shell growth measurements were
obtained from high resolution x-ray images to quantitatively
measure growth differences between the two species. Scanning
Electron Microscope images were used to look at differences
in shell ornamentation and external morphology. Preliminary
data analysis suggests that H. rajagopalani and G.
cuvillieri's early ontogeny, or growth history, is similar
but that their morphology changes as they grow more chambers.
Stable isotope analyses of the two species will be obtained
to determine if their relative depth ecologies differ. This
project can provide a glimpse into what the climate was like
64 million years ago as well as provide information on current
climate change. This research was supported by a generous donation from Max Berry. |