What is it about?
We analysed specimens of Globigerinella from the recent world oceans genetically and morphologically. We then constructed a phylogentic tree of the genus, on which we projected the morphology of the respective species, and tested the genus for analogue morphologies between tree branches. We find such analogies and consequently rehaul the systematic taxonomy of the genus Globigerinella.
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Why is it important?
Since planktonic Foraminifera are nearly exclusively determined based on their shell morphology, it is important to understand how reliable this is and if different species with potentially different ecological preferences and geochemical markers look similar enough to be confused based on morphology alone.
Perspectives
This work helps to better understand the phylogeny of planktonic Foraminifera and how environmental constraints on morphology can lead to analogue shell morphologies.
Dr Manuel F. G. Weinkauf
Universite de Geneve
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Genetic and morphometric evidence for parallel evolution of the Globigerinella calida morphotype, Marine Micropaleontology, January 2015, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.marmicro.2014.10.003.
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