Foraminifera: Difference between revisions

The '''Foraminifer''', which is also known as the forams for short, is a large group of ameoboid protists. They contain reticulatin pseudopods, and fine strands of cytoplasm that branch out to form a dynamic net. Forams produce a shell or test, that either consist of one or more chambers. Scientist have discovered about 275,000 species, both fossil and living. They average in size from 0.05 millimeter to the largest recorded 19 centimeters. Data proves that Foraminifera are closely related to [[cercozoa]] and [[radiolaria]], all together they make up the group Rhizaria.

Because of the foraminifera's diversity, abundance, and morphology, they can be used for [[biostratigraphy]], and therefore can accurately give dates on rocks. Industries such as oil, relies much on microfossils to find potential oil deposits. Many fossils such as the calcareous fossil, was formed in seas that they have previously lived in. this gives scientist's a useful tool in [[paleoclimatology]] and paleoceanography. Scientists use these fossils to conduct past climates by examining the ratios of oxygen, carbon cycle, and oceanic productivity. They may also use the planktonic forams to re-create oceanic currents. Another major thing these fossils can do is reveal what type of ancient marine sediments were deposited.