Laboratory for Foraminiferal Research
Biostratigraphic dating
Our team has many years experience across a wide range of tools related to foraminiferal micropaleontology. Over the past 10 years we gained specific expertise in dating the Late Cretaceous organically rich sediments that are found throughout the Levant Region. Our work includes high-resolution investigation of planktic and benthic foraminiferal assemblages, identification of primary and secondary index taxa, and acme events that are particularly useful for dating and regional correlation. This work is carried out in close collaboration with Dr. Sarit Ashckenazi-Polivoda, a former Ph.D student, and a researcher at the Dead Sea and Arava Sciences Center.
Molecular phylogeny of foraminifera
In a recent collaboration with Prof. Jan Pawlowski and Dr. Maria Holzmann from the University of Geneva, and Prof. Uri Abdu from BGU, our group has acquired expertise in molecular tools to be able to explore fundamental ecological and oceanographic problems that concern the impact of environmental perturbations on the marine ecosystem. Molecular techniques not only contribute to the establishment of a more robust taxonomic subdivision of foraminifera species, but also provide a better understanding of their environments and a more accurate usage of them as bioindicators.
Foraminiferal Stable isotopes
One of the most fundamental contributions of foraminifera to geology concerns the geochemical property of their calcareous shells that has provided much of the foundation for reconstructions of past-oceans climate and environmental conditions. These reconstructions rely on measurements of isotopic and trace element composition of foraminiferal tests and variations in these geochemical records through time and space. The departmental stable isotope mass spectrometry laboratory allows a standard analysis of sub-milligram sized carbonate samples to determine their stable oxygen and carbon isotopic signature.
Marine Biomonitoring
Foraminifera are considered as one of the most powerful tools for marine biomonitoring. Our team is involved in several biomonitoring projects that concern various types of anthropogenic pollution in the Red Sea and the Israeli Mediterranean coast. Our investigations follow the most recent recommendation of the FOBIMO working group, and therefore are comparable to similar cases in the world.
