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INTRODUCTION TO
MICROPALEONTOLOGY
MICROPALEONTOLOGY
• Study of small fossils that must be studied with a microscope.
• Taxonomically diverse & heterogeneous:– Monerans (Bacteria)– Protistans (small Eucarya)– [Review 5-kingdom & 3-domain classifications]
– Parts of
• Animals (e.g., teeth, scales) and
• Plants (e.g., pollen, spores)– Fungi (minor)– Incertae sedis (of unknown taxonomic affinities)
MICROPALEONTOLOGY DEVELOPED FOR PRACTICAL REASONS
• Size of some fossils requires
– microscopic equipment
– different preparation techniques
• Commercial applications in search for mineral and energy resources
• Abundance of microfossils is high
• Small sediment samples are sufficient, e.g., well cuttings
• Rigorous quantitative analyses are possible
• Distribution of microfossils is widespread
– Geographically
– Environmentally
– Lithologically
– Age
MICROPALEONTOLOGY DEVELOPED FOR PRACTICAL REASONS
• Most microfossils are marine & most sedimentary rocks are marine
• But, many occur in otherwise unfossiliferous nonmarine rocks, e.g., pollen and spores of land plants (=palynology), ostracodes, conchostracans, charophytes.
• Microfossils are generally excellent indicators of
– Age
– Paleoecology
– Paleoenvironments
– Paleogeography
– Thermal maturation
EXAMPLES OF TAXONOMIC DIVERSITY• Prokaryotic Bacteria (cosmopolitan, Precambrian-Recent)
[Reading assignment in Brasier = Chapters 1-3 (copied)]
• Protoctistans (~Protista)– Dinoflagellates
– Silicoflagellates
– Coccolithophores
– *Diatoms
– Chlorophyta
– Charophyta
– Rhodophyta
– Tintinnids
– Calpionellids
– *Acritarchs
– Chitinozoa
– Ebridians
– **Radiolaria
– *****Foraminifera
EXAMPLES OF TAXONOMIC DIVERSITY• Animalia
– Micromollusks (Pteropods, tiny prosobranchs & bivalves)
– ***Ostracodes (Arthropoda)
– Branchiopods (Arthropoda)
• Skeletal elements (parts)
– Spicules (Porifera & other invertebrate phyla)
– Sclerites of sea cucumbers
– ***Conodonts (Chordata)
– Scolecodonts (Annelida)
– ***Pollen & spores of Tracheophyta (vascular plants) (palynology)
EXAMPLES OF TAXONOMIC DIVERSITY
• Megafossils that are studied exclusively microscopically
– **Bryozoa (=Ectoprocta)
– **Graptolites
– Stromatoporoids (Porifera)
– Calcareous algae
DIVERSITY OF SKELETAL COMPOSITIONS• *Aragonite
• *Calcite
• *Mg-calcite
• *Opalline silica
• *Apatite
• *Organic
– Chitin
– Cellulose
– Others
• *Arenaceous/agglutinated
• Rare minerals
– Celestite (Sr sulfate)
– Magnetite
– Rhodocrosite (sp?)
DIVERSITY OF SAMPLE PREPARATION TECHNIQUES
• Unconsolidated sediments
– Washing & sieving
– Heavy liquid separations
– Floatation
• Consolidated/cemented sedimentary rocks
– Splitting and crushing
– Chemical solution and disaggregation (e.g., for ostracodes, etc.)
– Acid dissolution and insoluble residue analysis
– Thin section studies (e.g., fusulinids)
GEOL 3213, Micropaleontology• Description:
– Study of selected major groups of microfossils and their morphology, classification, evolution, paleoecology and biostratigraphy. Laboratory work may include field work and a research project.
• Prerequisite:– GEOL 2213, History of Life (or permission of the instructor)
GOALS Survey the major and some of the minor microfossil groups Identify major fossil groups in thin section Prepare samples for microfossil analysis Pick microfossils from prepared samples Prepare micropaleontology slides for study Recognize major kinds of microfossils isolated from
matrix Recognize a population of individuals as representing a
species, genus, etc. Identify genera and species with suitable reference
materials Prepare faunal lists for evaluation Be able to use a faunal list to determine an assemblage's
age Be able to use a faunal list to determine an assemblage's
paleoecology Become familiar with applying the procedures of taxonomy Be able to describe and illustrate fossils Be able to prepare a report on a fossil assemblage
EVALUATION• Laboratory reports on fossil assemblages 35%• Laboratory skill development 5• Written homework assignments 10• Tests:
– Test #1 10– Test #2 [10% each (or 15% high & 5% low)] 10– Test #3 10
• PowerPoint Oral presentation 10• Class participation 5 • Class & laboratory attendance _5 • 100%
• [Optional final examination = 33%]
Outline of Topics in Detail• Lectures – see syllabus
• Laboratories – see syllabus
• ACME “Related Links” provides various files:
– Syllabus
– Powerpoint lecture files
– Assignments
END OF FILE
5 KINGDOMS (Whittaker; Whittaker & Margulis)
Symbiosis Theory for the origin of eucaryotic cell (Margulis)
Broad Cell Categories• Prokaryotic cell evolved first:
– Small cells
– No nucleus
– No organelles (no chloroplasts, etc.)
• Eukaryotic cell evolved ~1.5 Ga ago (?2.7Ga) through symbiosis:– Larger cells
– Has nucleus, organelles, etc.
• Chloroplasts from cyanobacteria
• Flagella from other prokariotes
• Golgi body from other prokariates
Model for Symbiosis Theory for Origin of Eukaryotic cells
DOMAIN CONCEPT• 3 Domains of Carl Woese of Univ. of Illinois (early 1990’s):
MANY MORE KINGDOMS NOW CONSIDERED• 3 Domains of Carl Woese of Univ. of Ill.:
ARCHAEA• Domain Archaea with 3 kingdoms:
• 2.7 Ga molecular data (Australia)
• 3.8 Ga organic matter = chemical fossils?
Methanogens
Thermophiles
Halophiles
Kingdoms vs DomainsA. The new tradition became the 5 kingdom system.
Monera Protista Plantae Fungi Animalia
C. 3-Domain system is widely accepted today
BACTERIA
ARCHAEA
Plantae Fungi Animalia
Domain EUKARYA
But, these were polyphyletic!
ARCHEZOA
EUGLENOZOa
ALVEOLATa
STRAMENOPILa
RhODOPHYTA
+ others
B. Then, 6 (& even 8) kingdoms were proposed:
Monera Protista Plantae Fungi AnimaliaArchae-bacteria
New Version of the Tree of Life
3-Domain Classification• Based on molecular analyses
Domain BacteriaDomain ArchaeaDomain Eucarya
K. ArchaezoaK. EuglenozoaK. Alveolata
DinoflagellatesApicomplexansCiliates
K. StramenopilaDiatomsGolden AlgaeBrown AlgaeWater Molds
K. RhodophytaK. Plantae
ChlorophytaTracheophyta
K. Animalia
Ancestor
MICROPALEONTOLOGY
MICROPALEONTOLOGY