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ACRITARCHS [2 records]

Filter results by subject field Alphabetical list of terms

Filter results by subject field

Alphabetical list of terms

Record 1 2010-12-29

English

Subject field(s)
  • Paleontology
DEF

An apparently unicellular microfossil of unknown biological affinity ranging in age from Precambrian to Holocene.

CONT

Acritarchs are organic-walled, acid-resistant microfossils of uncertain biological affinities that are classified on the basis of their morphology.

OBS

... we know practically nothing about plankton in the Proterozoic. Consequently, we’ll talk mostly about acritarchs instead. And what exactly is an acritarch? No one is quite sure. Acritarchs are like sharks’ teeth from the Phanerozoic or cigarette butts from the 1960's. That is, they are found everywhere, are practically indestructible, and come in a variety of interesting shapes and sizes. They look informative, but ultimately tell us rather little about the organisms or ecosystem which produced them--other than the fact that it contained sharks or smokers, as the case may be.

OBS

acritarch: term usually used in the plural.

OBS

acritarch: term used at Natural Resources Canada - Earth Sciences Sector.

Key term(s)
  • acritarchs

French

Domaine(s)
  • Paléontologie
DEF

Forme organique sphérique hérissée d'épines présente dans les sédiments marins et pélagiques (conservation de la matière organique, surtout dans les roches siliceuses), d'origine incertaine (pontes, Protistes, spores ?), parmi les fossiles les plus anciens (Précambrien - Actuel).

CONT

À la fin du Protérozoïque apparaissent les babétosphères, les sporomorphes et les acritarches.

OBS

acritarche : terme habituellement utilisé au pluriel.

OBS

acritarche : terme en usage à Ressources naturelles Canada - Secteur des sciences de la Terre.

Key term(s)
  • acritarches

Spanish

Save record 1

Record 2 2001-03-23

English

Subject field(s)
  • Paleontology
CONT

Extinctions are proposed to have affected even life's earliest organisms. About 650 million years ago, seventy percent of the dominant Precambrian flora and fauna perished in the first great extinction. This extinction strongly affected stromatolites and acritarchs, and was also the predetermining factor that encouraged the diversification of the following Vendian fauna. However, this distinct fauna, resembling modern-day soft-bodied organisms such as sea pens, jellyfish, and segmented worms also perished in a second extinction event at the close of the Vendian. This event, responsible for the demise of the Vendian organisms, may have been responsible for the ensuing diversification of the Cambrian shelly fauna.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Paléontologie
DEF

Formation végétale du fond des mers et des lagunes du Précambrien, constituée d'algues bleues et de bactéries.

Spanish

Save record 2

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