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