Image Analysis of Paleogene Calcareous Nannoplankton: Phylogenetic, Biochronologic and Paleoceanographic Applications

安装在扫描电子显微镜上的图像分析系统将被用来获得选定的古近纪钙质超微浮游动物的形态测量结果。这项技术将为研究超微浮游动物的系统发育开辟一种新的方法，此前这些化石的小尺寸一直阻碍着这一研究。结合扫描电子显微镜和图像分析，可以在大量标本上对几个形态参数进行详细测量，从而产生可以根据系统发育趋势进行统计评估的数据集。微型浮游生物的简单形状有助于使用简单和明确的参数进行形状分析。这项研究的目的是构建一个形态计量学/系统发育方案，该方案在很大程度上独立于先前的分类复杂性。这一方案的建立将允许：1)通过古近纪对钙质超微浮游植物的演化模式和节奏进行定量评估，2)将演化趋势与古海洋和古环境事件相关联，以及3)开发“形态生物年代学”，其中可以从少量标本的形态测量获得年龄和误差栏。

An image analysis system attached to a scanning electron microscope will be utilized to obtain morphometric measurements of selected Paleogene calcareous nannoplankton. This technology will open up a new method in studying nannoplankton phylogeny, which has hitherto been hindered by the small size of these fossils. The combination of scanning electron microscopy and image analysis enable detailed measurements of several morphological parameters to be made on a large number of specimens, leading to data set which can be statistically evaluated in terms of phylogenetic trends. The simple shape of nannoplankton lends itself to shape analysis using uncomplicated and unambiguous parameters. The intention of this study is to construct a morphometric/phylogenetic scheme which is largely independent of previous taxonomic complications. Construction of this scheme will allow: 1) Quantitative assessment of the evolutionary mode and tempo of the calcareous nannoplankton through the Paleogene, 2) Correlation of evolutionary trends with paleoceanographic and paleoenvironmental events, and 3) Development of a "morphometric biochronology" in which an age and error bar can be obtained from morphological measurements on a small number of specimens.