A DYNAMIC, INTERNET BASED DIGITAL TAXONOMIC ATLAS OF MESOZOIC PLANKTONIC FORAMINIFERA

The first relational taxonomic database to be hosted at the CHRONOS website (www.chronos.org) is an Atlas of Mesozoic Planktonic Foraminifera. This was developed initially at the Smithsonian Institution using standard PC-based database software, and it consists of over 300 senior synonym species records that include original and emended species descriptions, morphologic descriptor fields, biostratigraphic range information, images of the species holotypes and paratypes (with many new SEM images), and SEM images that illustrate the morphologic variability of the species concept. In order to broaden the taxonomic expertise overseeing development of the database and to speed up progress toward database completion, a Mesozoic Planktic Foraminifer Working Group (MPFWG) has been formed. Comprised of 15 foraminifer paleontologists from nine different countries, the MPFWG has met to systematically review and revise all the morphologic descriptor categories, debate the senior synonym list, discuss various phylogenetic hypotheses for the major planktonic foraminifer lineages, and divide responsibility for preparing the Atlas for publication on the CHRONOS web site. After migrating the database to the internet, it is now accessible for all MPFWG participants for editorial revision and for addition of SEM and thin section images. Once thin-section images are added and all the text entries have been completed and reviewed, the database will be published and become available to the research community (~Summer 2005). A “public comment” field has been added to the species records initially to provide a forum for discussion and debate among the WG members and then as a means of recording comments from the internet user community when the database is publicly accessible. These comments will be considered by the MPFWG, who will continue to oversee the database by providing yearly revisions and updates. We anticipate that this dynamic taxonomic database will prove to be invaluable as a continually updated lookup guide for the planktonic foraminifer and paleoceanographic research communities, and it will provide a major step toward stabilizing taxonomic concepts of Mesozoic planktonic foraminifer species.