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Micropaleontology (also sometimes spelled as micropalaeontology) is that branch of paleontology which studies microfossils. Microfossils are fossils generally not larger than four millimeters, and commonly smaller than one millimeter, the study of which requires the use of light or electron microscopy. Fossils which can be studied with the naked eye or low-powered magnification, such as a hand lens, are referred to as macrofossils. Obviously, it can be hard to decide whether or not some organisms should be considered microfossils, and so there is no fixed-size boundary.
For example, some colonial organisms, such as bryozoa (especially the Cheilostomata) have relatively large colonies, but are classified on the basis of fine skeletal details of the tiny individuals of the colony. Most bryozoan specialists would consider themselves paleontologists, rather than micropaleontologists, but many micropaleontologists also study bryozoa.
Microfossils are a common feature of the geological record, from the Precambrian to the Holocene. They are most common in deposits of marine environments, but also occur in brackish water, fresh water and terrestrial sedimentary deposits. While every kingdom of life is represented in the microfossil record, the most abundant forms are protist skeletons or cysts from the Chrysophyta, Pyrrhophyta, Sarcodina, acritarchs and chitinozoans, together with pollen and spores from the vascular plants.
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micropaleontology: micropaleontology- Slides http://bit.ly/07WGmp0
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micropaleontology: micropaleontology- Slides http://bit.ly/07WGmp0
ppt micropaleontology: micropaleontology- Slides http://bit.ly/07WGmp0
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ppt micropaleontology: micropaleontology- Slides http://bit.ly/07WGmp0
International Nannoplankton Association (INA) - Semi-formal association of scientists worldwide who have an interest in living or fossil nannoplankton - including coccolithophores, nannoliths, and other nannofossils such as silicoflagellates and calcispheres.
Meta Description: [ Home site for the International Nannoplankton Association, with information on the INA, scientific information on coccolithophorids, and a guide to web resources on living and fossil nannoplankton ]
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International Research Group on Ostracoda (IRGO) - An interdisciplinary, international organization of research scientists studying living and fossil Ostracoda.
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North American Micropaleontology Section of the Society for Sedimentary Geology - NAMS promotes all aspects of micropaleontology through application, research and education dealing with morphology, biostratigraphy, ecology/paleoecology, and geologic history of all groups of microfossils occurring in the stratigraphic record.
The Micropalaeontological Society - Organization of micropaleontology workers in the UK. Formerly the British Micropalaeontological Society.
The Pander Society - An international association of palaeontologists and stratigraphers with a common interest in the study of conodonts.
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