Growing need to study foraminifera in the laboratory culture experiments: An attempt from the central west coast of India

Abstract

In recent past much emphasis has been laid on the high resolution reconstruction of the paleoclimatic conditions to help in preparing the futuristic climatic model. Many such efforts have used foraminifera as proxy indicators of the climate. No doubt these proxies were well tested in the modern environmental setup, prior to be considered as climate indicators. Nevertheless, if the same effect is studied under controlled conditions in the laboratory, it will definitely enhance the reliability of the field observations. This necessitated the need to initiate the laboratory culture programme on foraminifera. As a beginning benthic foraminifera, Rosalina leei (as it is abundant among living species collected from Goa Coast) to establish a laboratory culture programme is studied. Initially, the effect of different media (like plain sea water and Erdschreiber medium), food and antibiotic drug on the growth of foraminiferal tests are monitored. The results suggest that Erdschreiber medium is condusive for general growth. Further observation suggests that food is another governing factor for their growth in sea water. However, in case of Erdschreiber medium excess food supply ratards the overall growth. Therefore, this media can be used to harvest second generation specimens for further experiments. Results also suggest that small amount of antibiotic can be used for monitoring effect of physico-chemical parameter through growth studies. But the quantity of antibiotic is yet to be determined to obtain reproduction.