Atlas of Paleocene shallow larger benthic foraminifera. An introductory note.

A wealth of data on the morphology, biostratigraphy, and paleogeography of Paleogene larger benthic foraminifera (LBF) is available. The taxonomic and stratigraphic revision of the most diverse groups of LBFs (nummulitids, alveolinids, orthophragmines) in the 1970-1980 produced the Tethyan SBZ (Shallow Benthics Zonation) zonation. Recent developments in systematics, isotopic geochemistry, structural analysis of the complex tests, biostratigraphic interpretation of shallow marine sediments, Cenozoic paleogeography and paleoclimate in particular, need to be presented in a way that everyone may easily get up to date information about the species of this particular group of microfossils. In order to obtain full appreciation of recent progress, a group of micropaleontologists (the Working group on Larger Foraminifera, WOLF) working on Paleogene larger foraminifera decided that an useful means for integrating diverse data is to produce atlases. Traditionally, atlases are considered as the most useful tool for the field geologists, regional stratigraphers and paleontologists. Through several meetings (Ankara 2009, Miskolc 2010, Croatia 2011, Austria and Slovenia 2012), guidelines for the atlases, including a time-line, have been defined. The updated taxonomy, paleoecology and biostratigraphy of the diverse Paleogene larger foraminifera (including over 1150 recorded species) will be thus presented through atlases. It is planned to overcome discrepancies in quantity and quality of data between the Central Tethys area (for which monographs exist since the late 19th century, and more recently from Turkey and the Northern Peritethys) and the Middle-, Far East Tethyan and Caribbean bioprovinces, by a) a revision of museum collections; b) inviting micropaleontologists from these regions to join in this collaborative effort. The first stage is an Atlas of Paleocene larger benthic foraminifera, where each species-rank taxon (at least 153 known) will be described with original or emended species descriptions, synonymy, biostratigraphic range information (the S B Z biozonation), paleoenvironmental interpretation, illustrated with original and new images, including the holotype, and whenever possible, with SEM and CT-Scan3D images.