Effect of gross morphology on modern planktonic foraminiferal test strength under compression
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 pla...
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ftcopernicus:oai:publications.copernicus.org:jm66025 2023-05-15T18:00:50+02:00 Effect of gross morphology on modern planktonic foraminiferal test strength under compression Burke, Janet E. Hull, Pincelli M. 2018-09-27 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.1144/jmpaleo2016-007 https://jm.copernicus.org/articles/36/174/2017/ eng eng doi:10.1144/jmpaleo2016-007 https://jm.copernicus.org/articles/36/174/2017/ eISSN: 2041-4978 Text 2018 ftcopernicus https://doi.org/10.1144/jmpaleo2016-007 2020-07-20T16:23:47Z 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. Text Planktonic foraminifera Copernicus Publications: E-Journals Journal of Micropalaeontology jmpaleo2016-007 |
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Open Polar |
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Copernicus Publications: E-Journals |
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language |
English |
description |
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. |
format |
Text |
author |
Burke, Janet E. Hull, Pincelli M. |
spellingShingle |
Burke, Janet E. Hull, Pincelli M. Effect of gross morphology on modern planktonic foraminiferal test strength under compression |
author_facet |
Burke, Janet E. Hull, Pincelli M. |
author_sort |
Burke, Janet E. |
title |
Effect of gross morphology on modern planktonic foraminiferal test strength under compression |
title_short |
Effect of gross morphology on modern planktonic foraminiferal test strength under compression |
title_full |
Effect of gross morphology on modern planktonic foraminiferal test strength under compression |
title_fullStr |
Effect of gross morphology on modern planktonic foraminiferal test strength under compression |
title_full_unstemmed |
Effect of gross morphology on modern planktonic foraminiferal test strength under compression |
title_sort |
effect of gross morphology on modern planktonic foraminiferal test strength under compression |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1144/jmpaleo2016-007 https://jm.copernicus.org/articles/36/174/2017/ |
genre |
Planktonic foraminifera |
genre_facet |
Planktonic foraminifera |
op_source |
eISSN: 2041-4978 |
op_relation |
doi:10.1144/jmpaleo2016-007 https://jm.copernicus.org/articles/36/174/2017/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1144/jmpaleo2016-007 |
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Journal of Micropalaeontology |
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jmpaleo2016-007 |
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1766170086108823552 |