Effect of gross morphology on modern planktonic foraminiferal test strength under compression
Posted on 2017-03-24 - 09:34
Planktonic foraminifera are a source of important geochemical, palaeoceanographic, and palaeontological data. However, many aspects of their ecology remain poorly understood, including whether or not gross morphology has an ecological function. Here, we measure the force needed to crush multiple planktonic foraminiferal morphotypes from modern core top and tow samples. We find significant differences in the resistance of different morphotypes to compressional force. Three species, Globorotalia tumida (biconvex, keeled), Menardella menardii (discoidal, keeled), Truncorotalia truncatulinoides (conical, keeled), require on average 59% more force (1.07 v. 0.47 N) to crush than the least resistant species (Orbulina universa and Trilobatus sacculifer) in core-top samples. Towed samples of pre-gametogenic individuals also show significant differences of the same magnitude (0.693 v. 0.53 N) between the conical (T. truncatulinoides) and globular/spherical morphologies (Globoconella inflata and O. universa). We hypothesize that the greater compressional strength of certain shapes confers a fitness advantage against predators and could contribute to the repeated, convergent evolution of keeled, conical and bi-convex forms in planktonic foraminifer lineages.
CITE THIS COLLECTION
DataCite
3 Biotech
3D Printing in Medicine
3D Research
3D-Printed Materials and Systems
4OR
AAPG Bulletin
AAPS Open
AAPS PharmSciTech
Abhandlungen aus dem Mathematischen Seminar der Universität Hamburg
ABI Technik (German)
Academic Medicine
Academic Pediatrics
Academic Psychiatry
Academic Questions
Academy of Management Discoveries
Academy of Management Journal
Academy of Management Learning and Education
Academy of Management Perspectives
Academy of Management Proceedings
Academy of Management Review
Burke, Janet E.; Hull, Pincelli M. (2017). Effect of gross morphology on modern planktonic foraminiferal test strength under compression. Geological Society of London. Collection. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3725236.v1
or
Select your citation style and then place your mouse over the citation text to select it.
SHARE
Usage metrics
Read the peer-reviewed publication
AUTHORS (2)
JB
Janet E. Burke
PH
Pincelli M. Hull
CATEGORIES
KEYWORDS
truncatulinoidemorphologyplanktonic foraminiferal morphotypescore-top samplescompression Planktonic foraminiferaGloboconella inflataconvergent evolution0.47 NGloborotalia tumidaTrilobatus sacculifer0.53 NOrbulina universapalaeontological datatow samplescompressional strengthfitness advantagebi-convex formspre-gametogenic individualsplanktonic foraminifer lineagesconicalspeciescompressional forceTowed samplesplanktonic foraminiferal test strengthGeology