1. INTRODUCTION TO MICROPALEONTOLOGY

2. 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)

3. 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 because of abundance
Distribution of microfossils is widespread
Geographically
Environmentally
Lithologically
Age

4. MICROPALEONTOLOGY DEVELOPED FOR PRACTICAL REASONS
Most sedimentary rocks are marine & most microfossils are marine
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

5. 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

6. EXAMPLES OF TAXONOMIC DIVERSITY
Animalia
Micromollusks (Pteropods, tiny prosobranchs & bivalves)
***Ostracodes (Arthropoda)
Conchostracans (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)

7. EXAMPLES OF TAXONOMIC DIVERSITY
Megafossils that are studied exclusively microscopically
** Ectoprocta (= Bryozoa)
**Graptolites
Stromatoporoids (Porifera)
Calcareous algae

8. 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?)

9. 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)

10. GEOL 3213, Micropaleontology
Description:
 Study of selected major groups of microfossils: their morphology, classification, evolution, paleoecology and biostratigraphy.
Prerequisite:
GEOL 2213 (History of Life), equivalent, or permission of the instructor

11. 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

12. EVALUATION Laboratory reports on fossil assemblages 25%
Laboratory skill development 5
Written homework assignments 10
Tests:
Test #
Test #
PowerPoint Oral presentation 5
Class participation
Class & laboratory attendance
Final examination
TOTAL = 100%

13. Outline of Topics in Detail
Lectures – see syllabus
Laboratories – see syllabus
ACME “Related Links” provides various files:
Syllabus
Powerpoint lecture files
Assignments

14. END OF FILE

15. 5 KINGDOMS (Whittaker; Whittaker & Margulis) Symbiosis Theory for the origin of eucaryotic cell (Margulis)

16. 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 prokaryotes
Golgi body from other prokaryotes
Notes:
Debate about age of 1st appearance
Debate about only symbiosis

17. Model for Symbiosis Theory for Origin of Eukaryotic cells

18. DOMAIN CONCEPT
3 Domains of Carl Woese of Univ. of Illinois (early 1990’s):

19. MANY MORE KINGDOMS NOW CONSIDERED
3 Domains of Carl Woese of Univ. of Ill.:

20. ARCHAEA Domain Archaea with 3 kingdoms:
2.7 Ga molecular data (Australia)
3.8 Ga organic matter = chemical fossils?
Methanogens
Thermophiles
Halophiles

21. Kingdoms vs Domains A. The new tradition became the 5 kingdom system.
Monera
Protista
Plantae
Fungi
Animalia
But, these were polyphyletic!
B. Then, 6 (& even 8) kingdoms were proposed:
Monera
Archae-
bacteria
Protista
Plantae
Fungi
Animalia
C. 3-Domain system is widely accepted today B A C T E R I A R C H E
Domain EUKARYA A R C H E Z O E U G L N O Z a A L V E O T a S T R A M E N O P I L a
R h O D P H Y T A
Plantae
Fungi
Animalia
+ others

22. New Version of the Tree of Life

23. Ancestor Domain Bacteria Domain Archaea Domain Eucarya K. Archaezoa
K. Euglenozoa
K. Alveolata
Dinoflagellates
Apicomplexans
Ciliates
K. Stramenopila
Diatoms
Golden Algae
Brown Algae
Water Molds
K. Rhodophyta
K. Plantae
Chlorophyta
Tracheophyta
K. Animalia
Ancestor

24. 3-Domain Classification
Based on molecular analyses

25. MICROPALEONTOLOGY