Establishment of novel environmental proxies based on synthetical analysis for DNA, isotopes, and morphology of planktonic foraminiferal single-cell

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26400501
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Stratigraphy/Paleontology
• Research Institution: Kochi University (2016); Shinshu University (2014-2015)
• Principal Investigator: Ujiie Yurika 高知大学, 教育研究部自然科学系理学部門, 准教授 (20573041)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 木元 克典 国立研究開発法人海洋研究開発機構, 地球環境観測研究開発センター, 主任技術研究員 (40359162) ; 石村 豊穂 茨城工業高等専門学校, 物質工学科, 准教授 (80422012)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 海洋環境指標 / 浮遊性有孔虫 / 分子系統解析 / 形態分析 / 安定同位体比

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Planktonic foraminifers are the most useful microfossil as ocean environmental proxy. However, the previous biological studies have pointed out that their taxonomic complexity veil the true ecological trait of each biological species. This study aimed to develop and apply the new approach, which comprehensively conduct the molecular, morphometric, and geochemical analyses, on an individual of planktonic foraminifers. First, we precisely examined the DNA extraction method has no physical or chemical damages to the foraminiferal shells, by using the leading-edge technologies. Then, we measured the morphological characters of the shells, and oxygen and carbon stable isotopes for each individual. Finally, we succeeded to detect morphological and isotopic differences between different biological species. Our novel approach is available for broad fossilized organisms to advance the understanding of their ecological characters, which could be worked for development of new multiple proxies.

Free Research Field

分子古生物学