Larger Benthic Foraminifera Through Space and Time

Foraminifera is a single-celled marine organism, usually less than a millimeter in size, and its fossil records extend back in geological time to 500 million years. Some of them have grown to over 10 centimeters; these are informally called “larger benthic foraminifera” (LBF). Besides their large size, they are also unique in having a longer life span, symbiosis with microalgae, and living in well-lit and nutrient-poor waters of the tropical to temperate shallow seas. Their abundance during warmer periods of the Earth contributed significantly to carbonate formation on shelves and reefs, some of which are significant reservoirs of hydrocarbons. LBF is of outstanding value in field and laboratory experiments to learn about the biology, biomineralization process, and geochemical proxies. It finds wide-ranging geological applications, including the carbonate platforms’ past environmental changes and stratigraphy. The age and correlations of platform deposits are mainly based on the species of LBF. The oil explorations find it helpful to recognize them in drill cuttings at the well site to determine the age of the drilled sections and their more detailed study for basin analysis. The LBF assemblages reconstruct the bathymetry of the shelf carbonates. The presence of LBF indicates tropical to sub-tropical climates. Significant progress has been made in the last decade on climate proxies in LBF tests. Paleoclimate reconstruction, including seasonality and latitudinal temperature gradient, of the geologic past, is made using LBF. The geochemical proxies are also promising for paleobiological interpretation.   There are many textbooks in micropaleontology, fewer on foraminifera and practically none on the LBF. The books on Foraminifera have only marginal reference to LBF. The existing books on LBF are on specific genera meant for specialist researchers. These are too specialized for micropaleontology and carbonate sedimentology doctoral studentsto comprehend. The present book’s goal is to bridge the gap between the two. It will pave the way for a graduate student to pursue a career in research. The book will develop an understanding of the morphology and distribution of LBF in space (environment) and time (evolution). In addition, the isotope and trace metal proxies in LBF are discussed for paleoclimate reconstruction. This book will benefit early-career researchers and professionals in micropaleontology, hydrocarbon exploration, carbonate sedimentology, and paleoclimate.