High resolution X-Ray Micro-Computed Tomography (Micro-CT): a novel method for biometric quantifications in foraminifera

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High resolution X-Ray micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) is a novel method for generating non-invasive insight into opaque objects. It provides three dimensional images with submicron resolution and allows detailed biometric quantifications of growth rates and of internal and external structures. Microtomography plays an increasingly important role in engineering processes and various natural science applications (including the study of biological and paleontological material). In recent years, imaging of microscopic test has emerged as an innovative and powerful tool to decipher the ontogeny and growth history of microfossils over time and to untangle phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary processes. Additional studies have provided evidence that species exhibit different growth responses to environmental forcing. We have made extensive use of the new Micro-CT to scan a large range of morphotypes of benthic and planktic foraminifera. We have successfully compiled high-resolution images using a nanofocus X-ray radiation source with a 1µm voxel resolution (volumetric pixel) to 1.) study three-dimensional patterns of growth and 2.) quantify rates of volume accretion during ontogeny. This proposal is for the support of novel biometric Micro-CT studies to analyze growth patterns in multilocular foraminifera and to infer the biometric response of foraminiferal shells to environmental constraints. In particular we will analyze modes of growth, volumetric chamber expansions and compute quantitative functions of logarithmic/linear growth or deviations thereof.