Taxonomic, Phylogenetic, and Stratigraphic Studies of Small Globigerinos from the Mayaroensis/Eugubina Interval Zone of Mexico

PI和合作者将对墨西哥的mayaroensis/eugubina间隔区进行古生物学研究。与一般的看法相反，对这一地区南极动物群的认识还处于起步阶段。待研究的剖面含有丰富且保存完好的南极和底栖有孔虫，以及钙质超微浮游生物，这将使两个化石群整合到一个共同的生物地层框架中。墨西哥部分是最完整的北美海湾沿岸平原，这项研究将有助于解决在白垩纪末期动物群变化的性质的争议。它还将为区域内和全球范围内的年代地层对比提供基础。此外，有孔虫类群的定量形态测量将进行，以限制模糊的定义包括在“小globigerinas”组的类群，从而更好地了解它们的系统发育关系。

PI and collaborators will conduct a paleontological study of the mayaroensis/eugubina Interval-Zone of Mexico. Contrary to general belief, knowledge of the planktic fauna of this zone is in its infancy. The sections to be studied contain abundant and well- preserved planktic and benthic foraminifera, as well as calcareous nannoplankton, which will allow an intergration of both fossil groups into a common biostratigraphic framework. The Mexican sections are among the most complete in the Gulf Coastal Plain of North America, and this study will help address the controversy on the nature of faunal change at the terminal Cretaceous. It will also provide the basis for further chronostratigraphic correlations within the region and globally. Furthermore, quantitative morphometrics of foraminiferal taxa will be performed in order to circumscribe the ambiguous definition of the taxa included in the "small globigerinas" group, resulting in a better understanding of their phylogenetic relationships.