Application of image analysis to Neogene planktonic foraminiferal bioseries

Conference · Thu Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:5617655

Healy-Williams, N; Cline, C E ^[1]

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1. Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia (United States)

The morphological characteristics of fossil foraminiferal tests are the basis for making phylogenetic and taxonomic, as well as paleoecological inferences about fossil species. A complete understanding of the taxonomic and paleoenvironmental information contained in morphology of foraminifera depends heavily on quantitative methods to describe phenotypic and ecophenotypic variation. Automated image analysis is used to quantify the shape characteristics of planktonic and benthic foraminifera. There are three main components to the authors' quantitative image analysis system: (1) computer based image digitizer; (2) Fourier series analysis in closed form; and (3) multivariate statistical analysis. The advantages of such a system are that shape characteristics can be objectively determined and that large numbers of specimens can be analyzed. The focus of their research has been to improve the utility of foraminifera in paleoenvironmental and biostratigraphic application. The Globorotalia menardii/Globorotalia tumida group and the Globigerinoides obliquus/Globigerinoides extremus complex from Neogene sediments from DSDP Site 502 in the Caribbean have been examined via image analysis. In both groups they were able to determine distinct morphotypes that change relative proportion with time. This information is utilized to define morphotypes within each group that are independent of taxonomically defined zones. Changes in the proportions of each end member are also correlated with paleoceanographic events of the Neogene such as the initiation of Northern Hemisphere glaciation and the Messinian event. Signal processing techniques, such as cross correlation, spectral analysis, and cross spectral analysis are also used in their investigations. Applying these techniques to the data in conjunction with stable isotope record for Site 502 allows them to determine correlations with the isotopic record and the similarities in the frequencies in the morphological records.

• OSTI ID: 5617655
• Report Number(s): CONF-910403--
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Vol. 75:3; ISSN AABUD; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BIOLOGY
CARIBBEAN SEA
CENOZOIC ERA
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CORRELATIONS
DATA
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
EVALUATION
FORAMINIFERA
FOSSILS
GEOLOGIC AGES
IMAGE PROCESSING
INFORMATION
INVERTEBRATES
MANAGEMENT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICROORGANISMS
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
MORPHOLOGY
NUMERICAL DATA
PALEONTOLOGY
PLANKTON
PROCESSING
PROTOZOA
ROCKS
SARCODINA
SEAS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHAPE
SPECIES DIVERSITY
STATISTICAL DATA
STATISTICAL MODELS
SURFACE WATERS
TAXONOMY
TERTIARY PERIOD