A review of selected aspects of coccolithophore biology with implications for paleobiodiversity estimation

Research Article| October 01, 2005 A review of selected aspects of coccolithophore biology with implications for paleobiodiversity estimation Jeremy R. Young; Jeremy R. Young 1Palaeontology Department, The Natural History Museum London Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Markus Geisen; Markus Geisen 2Alfred Wegener Inst. f. Polar and Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ian Probert Ian Probert 3Algobank-Caen, Universite de Caen Basse Normandie, Caen, France, email: j.young@nhm.ac.uk Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Jeremy R. Young 1Palaeontology Department, The Natural History Museum London Markus Geisen 2Alfred Wegener Inst. f. Polar and Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany Ian Probert 3Algobank-Caen, Universite de Caen Basse Normandie, Caen, France, email: j.young@nhm.ac.uk Publisher: Micropaleontology Press First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 0026-2803 Print ISSN: 1937-2795 © 2005 The Micropaleontology Project, Inc. Micropaleontology (2005) 51 (4): 267–288. https://doi.org/10.2113/gsmicropal.51.4.267 Article history First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Jeremy R. Young, Markus Geisen, Ian Probert; A review of selected aspects of coccolithophore biology with implications for paleobiodiversity estimation. Micropaleontology 2005;; 51 (4): 267–288. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gsmicropal.51.4.267 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyMicropaleontology Search Advanced Search Abstract To help understand potential biases in coccolithophore paleo-biodiversity estimates various aspects of their biology are reviewed based on the recent monographic guide to extant coccolithophore taxonomy and research developed within the CODENET project. The evidence for life-cycles in coccolithophores involving two biomineralized phases is reviewed in detail, and it is shown that these are likely to have been pervasive through the fossil record of coccolithophores. The extent of polymorphism in extant coccolithophores is reviewed and a surprisingly strong correlation with phylogeny is documented, in particular it is shown that there is a very strong correlation between polymorphism in heterococcolith and holococcolith-bearing phases. Recent documentation of (pseudo)cryptic speciation in coccolithophores is discussed and it is argued that this provides considerable support for the rather fine morphological taxonomy adopted by nannofossil paleontologists, but also means that accurate recognition of species in the fossil record is an almost impossible goal. Finally the diversity of extant coccolithophores is compared with that recorded in Holocene sediments and it is shown that the majority of extant diversity is represented by small rare species with very low preservation potential. It is argued that this is the most serious potential biasing mechanism for study of paleobiodiversity changes since estimates of diversity at any time will be strongly influenced by the availability of well-preserved shelf sediments and of the intensity of their study by electron microscopy. Moreover, secular changes in coccolith size in relation to environmental change could significantly affect the preserved diversity of coccolithophores. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.