Illustrated Glossary of Terms Used in Foraminiferal Research
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Carnets de Géologie / Notebooks on Geology - Memoir 2006/02 (CG2006_M02) Illustrated glossary of terms used in foraminiferal research Lukas HOTTINGER1 Summary: An illustrated glossary of terms used in the analysis of the shells of recent and fossil foraminifera supplemented by a rigorous selection of terms that facilitate an understanding of their biology and their use in ecology and biostratigraphy. The glossary includes some 650 entries illustrated by 83 - often composite – figures many of which are stereographs or 3D models. A taxonomic index lists the 140 taxa illustrated. Key Words: Architecture, comparative anatomy, Foraminifera, hierarchy of terms, glossary, micropaleontology Citation: HOTTINGER L. (2006).- Illustrated glossary of terms used in foraminiferal research.- Carnets de Géologie / Notebooks on Geology, Brest, Memoir 2006/02 (CG2006_M02) Abrégé : Glossaire illustré de termes utilisés dans la recherche sur les Foraminifères.- Ce glossaire des termes utilisé dans l’analyse de l’architecture des tests récents et fossiles de Foraminifères, complété par une sélection rigoureuse de ces termes, facilite la compréhension de leur biologie et leur utilisation en écologie et en biostratigraphie. Il comporte près de 650 entrées accompagnées par 83 figures, souvent composites, dont de nombreuses images stéréographiques ou modélisations en 3D. Un index taxonomique répertorie les 140 taxons illustrés. Mots-Clefs : Anatomie comparée, architecture, Foraminifères, glossaire, hérarchie des termes, micropaléontologie Ubersicht: Illustriertes Glossar der Fachbegriffe in der Foraminiferenforschung.- Ein Glossar von Begriffen zur Analyse der Architektur von rezenten und fossilen Foraminiferenschalen, erweitert mit einer strengen Auslese von Begriffen, die das Verständnis der Biologie sowie der Ökologie und der Biostratigraphie der Foraminiferen fördern. Das Glossar umfasst um die 650 Einträge welche mit 83 meist zusammengesetzten Figuren illustriert werden. Darunter sind viele Modellzeichnungen räumlicher Strukturen oder Bilder von Skulpturen der Schalenarchitektur. Die 140 abgebildeten Taxa werden in einem alphabetischen Verzeichnis aufgeführt. Stichwort: Foraminiferen, Glossar, Hierarchie der Begriffe, Mikropaläontologie, Schalenarchitektur, Vergleichende Anatomie terminology cannot be avoided. Introduction Nature and significance of specialized Most distinctive morphological characters terms have been named through the coinage of Diagnoses and descriptive texts of taxa specialized terms. They may be based only on demand the use of a specialized terminology to geometrical features in the second or third embrace in a reasonably short and manageable dimension, or may include in their concept text the complex morphology of any taxon. biological processes such as growth or Pictures of the object described are necessary reproduction. For example: what is a to supplement its description in words. In many "chamber"? and what is a "chamberlet"? in cases however the "description" is restricted to radial foraminifera (DROOGER, 1993). the specification of diagnostic features, often According to a concept based on the geometry without an indication of their location in the of the cavities in the shell, neighboring lumina illustration or photograph. An ideal description in an annular cycle that are not in direct requires that a reasonable number of communication are called "chambers". A specimens per taxon be illustrated at the same concept including growth would consider that all scale and with the same orientation. This cavities in the annulus have been formed at the procedure helps the eye to distinguish, because same instant and would call them of the repetition of diagnostic characters, those "chamberlets". All cavities of the annulus would features that define the taxon from intraspecific form a chamberlet cycle and correspond to an variations. Desirable descriptive texts support undivided annular chamber. Thus, terms based this process by pointing out what to look for. on common concepts help to avoid comparing But no matter how well illustrated such a "apples and pears". They are the basis for the "description" may be, the use of an explicit comparative anatomy of foraminiferal shell 1 Museum of Natural History, CH 4001 Basel (Switzerland) 1 Carnets de Géologie / Notebooks on Geology - Memoir 2006/02 (CG2006_M02) structures introduced by DOUVILLÉ (1906). accuracy; differences in the methods used to prepare samples for examination (HOTTINGER, Accurate description of foraminiferal 1978). In some cases, the terms are based on architecture began in the second half of the 19th the geometry of shapes as they appear in a century (CARPENTER, PARKER & JONES, 1862) particular orientation of a section rather than on but the biological meaning of many their three-dimensional geometry. The morphological features of the foraminiferal shell employment of such terms may be misleading was discovered only in the second half of the and is not recommended. 20th century. Thereafter a considerable evolution in terminology has taken place. To The terms listed in the following Glossary day, the electronic treatment of data plays an are accompanied [in square brackets] by ever-increasing role in science. As yet, the alternative terms and (in parentheses) by terms machine is not able to recognize the context in considered to be synonymous, partially which these terms are used. synonymous, unclear or to be avoided for other reasons. Where in my own experience the In contrast to Linnean taxonomy, where the translation of a term into French or German is principle of priority contributes enormously to difficult, the translation is indicated in the stability of the taxonomic system, an (parentheses). The plural of terms coined in introduction of priority to morphological terms Latin, such as foramen, are indicated by: , pl. would block all progress in understanding the foramina. Biological terms are selectively complex morphology of the shells, their included in the number considered essential to morphogenesis and their biological, functional an understanding of the foraminifers and the and evolutionary meaning. However, wherever biological significance of their shell structure. it is possible and meaningful the use of the Some specific ecological terms are defined and most widely recognized term is recommended discussed to facilitate understanding of the in order to stabilize, as far as possible, and to increasingly abundant literature concerning the standardize diagnoses and descriptions. ecology and biogeography of foraminifera. There is a major parallelism in the terms Current discussions on the "Paleonet" list used to describe fusulinids of the Late Paleozoic [http://jerwood.nhm.ac.uk/archives/paleonet/] on one hand and of larger nonlamellar- show that the presentation of some basic terms imperforate benthics from the Mesozoic and used in taxonomy, biostratigraphy and Cenozoic on the other. This parallelism was evolutionary theory may be helpful. generated by the traditional specialization of The taxa of a generic or higher level used to the respective researchers; so far, very few portray the meaning of a term or to illustrate have been active in both fields. Although the the range of its application are from LOEBLICH concept of a suborder Fusulinina separating and TAPPAN (1987). For taxa that are not a most of the Late Paleozoic benthic foraminifera generotype, additional specific references are from the later clades is supported by the largest given in the text. Clicking in the alphabetic biological turnover in Earth History at the end index brings up illustrations of the taxon in of Permian times, there is no reason to use question that may help to verify an discrete morphological terms with regard to identification. major divisions of geological time, for throughout the Phanerozoic many The hierarchy of basic architectural characteristics of th shell are common to all elements in benthic foraminifera foraminifera. The present glossary may help to unify some of the parallel terms to a common Using basic concepts of biomineralisation usage. and wall construction (HOTTINGER, 1986; BENDER, 1989) that include the lamellar theory Current terminology used by various authors of SMOUT (1954) and HANSEN (1999), in describing the morphological features of the chamberwise growth, reproduction, foraminiferal test is far from being uniform and comparative anatomy (DOUVILLÉ, 1906; varies greatly from case to case (compare e.g. REICHEL, 1936-1937; HOTTINGER, 1978), and REISS, 1963; HOTTINGER, 1967, 1978; functional morphology including the demands of HOTTINGER et alii, 1993; LOEBLICH & TAPPAN, symbiosis with unicellular algae (HOTTINGER, 1964, 1987). The reasons for the coinage of 1997), a hierarchy of the most important several terms for the same feature are in most morphological terms can be formulated. On cases not at all formal, but due to one or more each hierarchical level, the terms for wall of several factors: differences of opinion with elements, cavities and connections between regard to the significance of a named element them are specific. They should not be used out as it relates to homologies and analogies; of their hierarchical context. differences in the degree of observational 2 Carnets de Géologie / Notebooks on Geology - Memoir 2006/02 (CG2006_M02) 1. Elements not modifying the shape of the living protoplast: 1.1. wall textures indicative of one of the several processes of biomineralization 1.1.1. agglutinated walls with noncalcareous cements binding