Table Of ContentEnvironmental Science
Hiroshi Kitazato
Joan M. Bernhard Editors
Approaches to
Study Living
Foraminifera
Collection, Maintenance and
Experimentation
E nvironmental Science and Engineering
Environmental Science
Series Editors
Rod Allan
Ulrich Förstner
Wim Salomons
F or further volumes:
h ttp://www.springer.com/series/3234
H iroshi K itazato • J oan M . Bernhard
E ditors
A pproaches to Study
Living Foraminifera
C ollection, Maintenance and Experimentation
E ditors
H iroshi K itazato J oan M . Bernhard
J apan Agency for Marine-Earth Science W oods Hole Oceanographic Institution
and Technology M assachusetts, U SA
K anagawa, J apan
I SSN 1863-5520 ISSN 1863-5539 (electronic)
ISBN 978-4-431-54387-9 ISBN 978-4-431-54388-6 (eBook)
D OI 10.1007/978-4-431-54388-6
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P refa ce
F oraminifera are eukaryotic micro-organisms that are mainly distributed in oceanic
environments. This protistan taxon plays a major role in nutrient cycling of the oce-
anic hydrosphere and in biogeochemical cycling. Because these microbes sometimes
compose more than 50 % of the biomass in the deep oceans as well as in some high-
latitude settings, they are a key taxon in marine ecosystems. Foraminifera inhabit
both the benthic and the pelagic realms. The skeletal component of foraminifera are
referred to as tests (i.e., shells), which can be composed of calcium carbonate, agglu-
tinated particles, or organic (non-mineralized) material secreted by the foraminifer.
B ecause each foraminifer makes at least one test during its life cycle, foraminif-
eral tests are commonly found in marine sediments. The majority of these tests can
become preserved in marine sedimentary deposits. These shells are major compo-
nents of marine strata. Fossil foraminifera, thus, have long been used, since the
dawn of geological investigations. Foraminiferal index fossils are useful for both
assigning geologic ages and reconstructing paleoenvironments of strata. In this con-
text, an enormous amount of data has been accumulated in terms of modern forami-
niferal distribution in the oceans and stratigraphic records of foraminifera during
the Phanerozoic.
D ata suggest that foraminifera may show rapid rates of morphological evolution
through geologic time. From studies of modern environments, it also can be asserted
that foraminifera are quite sensitive to environmental changes. Thus, interpretations
of the fossil record can lend insights into paleobiology. However, we often lack the
knowledge of living foraminiferal species to clearly understand the paleobiology of
extinct species.
D uring the early history of foraminiferal research, in the late nineteenth and
early twentieth centuries, the natural history of foraminifera was well studied by
naturalists from North America, South America, and Europe. After foraminifera
were established as useful indicators for age determinations and paleoenvironmen-
tal reconstruction of strata, research on foraminifera shifted to method development
for both precise biochronology and paleoceanographic proxies using elemental
v
vi Preface
compositions in their tests. Recently, isotopic and trace elements of foraminiferal
tests are major tools used to interpret paleoceanographic records.
While paleontological and paleoceanographic proxies of foraminifera were
being developed, basic biological research on foraminifera was being conducted by
biologists such as J. Le Calvez, Ernst Meyers, Esteban Boltovskoy, J. S. Bradshaw,
Karl G. Grell, Zach Arnold, Alan Bé, and John J. Lee. They discovered and applied
fundamental knowledge about the natural history of foraminifera. For instance, they
established the life cycles, basic cell anatomy and physiology, food preferences,
ecological niches, and other details on available species. They also developed cul-
turing and observational techniques for working on living foraminifera.
D uring these recent decades, particularly during the twenty-fi rst century, biologi-
cal research on foraminifera has been expanding in the number of scientists involved
as well as in the diversity of taxonomic groups of foraminifera being studied. Both
laboratory and in situ experimental research are being conducted at laboratories
worldwide. Some of these studies are being aided by the development of sophisti-
cated culture systems. On the other hand, basic knowledge of the biological
approaches has not been extensively shared among scientists who are working on
living foraminifera. Sharing basic experiences among scientists from many differ-
ent nationalities is critical in the development of cutting-edge collaborations to
make progress in our science on living foraminifera. Technology and experience
transfer from talented scientists to beginning investigators is also an important and
effective means to propagate biological research of foraminifera on a global scale.
W ith these backgrounds and concepts in mind, in July 2012, we carried out a
fi eld workshop by convening scientists who investigate aspects of living foramin-
ifera. The workshop was held in Japan, where diverse marine environments, from
subtropical to subarctic oceanic realms and from intertidal/littoral to ultra-hadal
depth ranges, exist around the Japanese Islands. Forty-fi ve scientists from 13 coun-
tries and regions gathered in one place, collected, maintained, and observed living
foraminifera, and discussed various research topics related to living planktic and
benthic foraminifera for 1 week. We shared many facts and basic techniques about
the biology of foraminifera through the workshop. In particular, we formed strong
functional research networks among all attendees from around the world. The
agenda of the workshop is included with this preface.
Preface vii
viii Preface
Preface ix
B ecause many researchers who wish to study living foraminifera typically begin
with a geological and/or paleontological background rather than a biological back-
ground, it can be diffi cult for some to begin working on living foraminifera. Also,
due to foraminiferal small size and slow movements, it can be diffi cult to know how
and where foraminifera are living, how they can be collected, and how they can be
maintained in a healthy manner in the laboratory.
On the occasion of this workshop, we planned to publish a book to facilitate
sharing of basic knowledge about how to conduct research on living foraminifera in
the fi eld and in the laboratory. This book is basically composed of papers by
