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The silicoflagellate genus Distephanus (Distephanopsis)
Robert Baldwin University Day April 14, 2010
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What is a silicoflagellate?
“Silicoflagellates are protists and claimed both by zoologists (as protozoans) and botanists (as algae). However, due to their autotrophic phytoplanktonic nature it is more logical to regard them as planktonic algae.” “The silicoflagellates are minute (20−50 µm, rarely up to 100 µm), unicellar, marine flagellates with a siliceous skeleton.” Bilal U. Haq et al., 1978 “The silicoflagellates are a group of planktonic protists, exclusively marine, that contain chromatophores for photosynthesis. In that respect they are like other ‘algae’. They possess a single flagellum, presumably to maintain proper orientation to the sun for maximum efficiency in photosynthetic production. Unlike other “algae”, however, they also possess pseudopodia – a fact that led several early scholars to classify them as ‘animals’.” Richard T. Carter, 2008
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How silicoflagellates are used
Silicoflagellates are silica-secreting marine microplankton. “Recent revival of interest in the history of ocean basins and paleoclimates has enhanced their importance in paleooceanographic interpretations, especially in those areas where calcareous microfossils are either relatively scarce or completely lacking (e.g., in higher latitudes and deeper waters).” Bilal U. Haq et al., 1978 The carbonate compensation depth The reason why silica fossils are useful in deeper waters is because calcareous fossils dissolve below the calcite compensation depth. The calcite compensation depth (CCD), at the present time, is about 4200 to 4500 meters and can be 5000 meters deep in some places at the present time. It has not always been the same in the past. (Wikipedia)
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Skeletal Terminology Figure 1. Maximum length = 65 microns.
Richard T. Carter, 2007
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Richard T. Carter, 2007
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Silicoflagellate descriptive terminology
McCartney et al., 1990
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Distephanus speculum has a hollow skeleton
Y. T. Mandra
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Distephanus speculum with a double skeleton
J. A. Barron
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McCartney et al., 1990
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McCartney et al., 1990
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McCartney et al., 1990
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Pseudofibula Plexus map McCartney et al., 1993
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pseudofibulid morphologies
McCartney et al., 1990
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The second column shows the minimum-distance configuration that connects all points (from Almgren and Taylor, 1976; Isenberg, 1976). McCartney et al., 1990
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Scanning electron micrographs of specimens of the pseddofibula plexus from Leg 113, 100x.
McCartney et al., 1990
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Pseudofibula Plexus of Distephanus speculum speculum from ODP Leg 113
McCartney et al., 1990
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Richard T. Carter, 2008
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Richard T. Carter, 2008
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Distribution of Dictyocha and Distephanus
McCartney, 1995 Distephanus
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Multiwindowed morphologies and some many sided types from ODP Leg 113
McCartney et al., 1990
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Cretaceous genera McCartney et al., 1990
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Wide band indicates relative abundance > 50 %.
Narrow band denotes relative abundance = 10 %. Line indicates a regular presence. Small numbers refer to DSDP Leg. McCartney, 1987
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Richard T. Carter, 2008
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Richard T. Carter, 2007
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Corbisema triacantha (Ehrenberg)
McCartney et al., 1990
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Richard T. Carter, 2007
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Richard T. Carter, 2008
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Richard T. Carter, 2007
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Richard T. Carter, 2008
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Richard T. Carter, 2007
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Richard T. Carter, 2008
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Richard T. Carter, 2007
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Dictyocha calida Poelchau,
abapical view McCartney et al., 1990
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Richard T. Carter, 2007
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Richard T. Carter, 2008
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Richard T. Carter, 2007
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Richard T. Carter, 2007
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Richard T. Carter, 2007
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Distephanus bolivensis
McCartney et al., 1990
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Distephanus polyactis
1973
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Cannopilus hemisphaericus
A Bachmann et al., 1963
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Cannopilus hemisphaericus
A Bachmann et al., 1963
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Richard T. Carter, 2008
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Cannopilus sphaericus
A Bachmann et al, 1963
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Cannopilus picassori A Bachmann et al., 1963
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Cannopilus picassori A Bachmann et al., 1963
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References: Silicoflagellate: Distephanus speculum, showing hollow skeleton. Upper Miocene near San Felipe, Baja California. Upper specimen is about 60 microns from spine tip to tip. Scanning electron micrograph. From Y. T. Mandra and H. Mandra, Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Sciences, no. 99. Used with the permission of Y. T. Mandra, San Francisco State University. Silicoflagellate: Distephanus speculum with a double skeleton. Late Miocene. Lompoc, California. Length is 45 microns. Courtesy of J. A. Barron, U. S. G. S. Carbonate compensation depth (Wikipedia) This page was last modified on 21 February 2010
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