21/01/2021 | ZMT scientists in cooperation with colleagues from the University of South Florida and the China University of Geosciences are putting together a special issue of the Journal of Earth Science titled “Tropical Large Benthic Foraminifera: Adaption, Extinction, and Radiation”. Manuscripts can now be sent in until June 15, 2021.
Professor Hildegard Westphal, head of the working group Geoecology and Carbonate Sedimentology at ZMT, has joined forces with Dr. Claire Reymond, formerly of ZMT and now a researcher at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan, China) and Professor Pamela Hallock (University of South Florida) to guest-edit the special issue. They are putting a focus on tropical large benthic foraminifera (LBF), which they refer to as “one of the most biologically diverse and ecologically fascinating calcium-carbonate producing taxonomic groups globally”.
“The evolutionary history of LBF and their proliferation through geological time is an excellent example of adaptation strategies to environmental change, as well as dynamics of extinction and radiation”, adds Professor Westphal. “They are exquisite bioindicators for reconstructing the past and grasping present change based on their physiology, morphology, geochemistry, and taxonomy.”
The special issue, published by Springer, will centre on original research avenues that explore new findings on the adaptive potential, biomineralisation, as well as advances in the reconstruction of paleoenvironments during extinction events. The leading themes will focus on the properties and strategies of LBFs during such events, which were profoundly affected but ultimately led LBFs to recover and diversify quite rapidly. Submissions from researchers working on an array of new methodologies, geographic regions, and geological ages are especially encouraged to send in their papers.
Papers can be submitted to this special issue anytime on or before 15 June, 2021.
All manuscript types are being considered including original research reports, reviews, and shorter research notes. Additionally, all accepted manuscripts will be published online as open access with no article publishing charges. Also welcome are advance submissions of preliminary manuscript titles and abstracts from research groups as a show of interest, which will also help streamline the publication process. Manuscript submissions can be made by following this link.
For more information about the call see this document or go to the Journal of Earth Science webpage.
Contacts 
Working Groups