Annual Report 2009 of the Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifera Working Group

The Paleogene Planktonic Foraminifera Working Group continued their work towards a major revision of the Oligocene planktonic foraminifera. A meeting attended by 14 members was held at the University of Fribourg in June hosted by Silvia Spezzaferi. Here the group reported on progress and discussed species concepts over first drafts of illustrative taxonomic plates, collated through the hard work of Dick Olsson with members contributing numerous SEM images of representative specimens from around the globe. The inventory of Oligocene type SEM images has also continued to grow, thanks to the efforts of Brian Huber and other members in tracking down as many of these essential reference specimens as possible from far flung official and unofficial repositories. Phylogenetic frameworks for many lineages have now started to crystallize. For the Oligocene, which contains the roots of many modern planktonic lineages, this has been aided by the results of molecular studies on Recent species. Michal Kurcera’s report at the Fribourg meeting this year for example, provided insight into possible relationships among Oligocene Globorotaloides, Globigerinella and microperforates after the recent gene-sequencing of modern counterparts. Responsibilities for individual taxonomic chapters of the future Oligocene Atlas have been defined and the goal for the next meeting (Stockholm University or Amherst, UMAS) is to have draft versions of text. It has been agreed that our Oligocene studies should extend to the base of the early Miocene where necessary to follow the evolution of a number of key lineages that straddle the Oligocene-Miocene boundary.

Report by Helen Coxall (Secretary) and Bridget Wade (Chairwoman).