Week 7 - Microfossils and Sea Level Change Flashcards
What are the three main uses of microfossils?
Biostratigraphy, palaeoclimate reconstruction, and sea level studies.
How does biostratigraphy use fossils?
It determines the relative age of rock layers based on species that lived at specific time intervals.
How can microfossils help in palaeoclimate studies?
They provide insights into past ocean conditions, temperatures, and nutrient levels.
Why are nearshore environments important in sea level studies?
It states that vertical sediment profiles can be used to reconstruct past sea levels.
What is a facies in geology?
A body of sediment with distinct characteristics that reflect a specific environment.
What do multiple foraminiferal samples help determine?
They are statistically grouped to reveal environmental trends.
What is a transfer function (TF) in micropalaeontology?
A statistical model used to predict past sea levels based on foram assemblages.
Why are modern foraminifera studies important for transfer functions?
They provide a reference to compare past assemblages with known environments.
