Director: Nicoletta Mancin
Headquarters: Via Ferrata 1 (Floor G, room 6)
The activities carried out in the Foraminifera Laboratory primarily concern the study of marine microorganisms with mineralized cases (primarily Foraminifera) in both the fossil record and modern samples. Part of the work is dedicated to the study of microplastic pollution in benthic foraminifera and sabellariid polychaetes (Annelida) through tank manipulations.
Washed samples are prepared using standard techniques and the resulting residues are analyzed, primarily using a stereoscope, to obtain quantitative and semi-quantitative estimates of foraminiferal content, species picking for geochemical analyses, and certified taxonomic assignment. Regarding benthic macroforaminifera, morphometric and morphological analyses are performed, both on isolated individuals and on individuals embedded in resin and sectioned.
The analyses have various applications in biostratigraphy, paleoceanography, paleoclimate, basin analysis, and marine biomonitoring (invasion of alien foraminiferal species, microplastic pollution). The laboratory supports activities related to the research line "Marine Microorganisms Applied to Fossil and Modern Records" and collaborates on other research lines such as "Climate, Carbon Cycle, and Calcareous Microbiota."
Main Instruments:
- Precision Electronic Balance
- Hot Plate
- Set of stainless steel sieves with mesh sizes of 1.41, 0.5, 0.15, 0.125, and 0.63 mm
- Gilson Precision Microsplitter
- 2 Leica Wild Mz stereoscopic microscopes (one with a transmitted-light base for thin-section analysis)
- Leica Flexacam c5 HD digital camera
The Laboratory is equipped for:
Degree theses, PhD theses, third-party services as per the price list, and scientific collaborations.