Unassigned diversity of planktonic foraminifera from environmental sequencing revealed as known but neglected species.

ABSTRACT: Most research on extant planktonic foraminifera has been directed towards larger species (>0.150 mm) which can be easily manipulated, counted and yield enough calcite for geochemical analyses. This has drawn attention towards the macroperforate clade and created an impression of their numerical and ecological dominance. Drawing such conclusions from the study of such "giants" is a dangerous path. There were times in the evolutionary history of planktonic foraminifera when all species were smaller than 0.1 mm and indeed numerous small taxa, mainly from the microperforate clade, have been formally described from the modern plankton. The significance of these small, obscure and neglected species is poorly characterized and their relationship to the newly discovered hyperabundant but uncharact

SUBMITTER: Morard R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6428320 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature