e-Foram Stock
e-Foram Stock is an experimental website for the delivery of e-Specimen over computer networks, and is the new specimen reference system, making use of three-dimensional virtual models developed by Tohoku University Museum.
e-Foram Stock
Internet technologies have revolutionized the way we access and share data. The e-Specimen facilitates specimen sharing over computer networks and offers considerable advantages over the conventional specimen reference system in terms of ease of use, speed of navigation and the inspection of large numbers of specimens. This new system also has provision for morphometrics, which pertains to taxonomy by using three-dimensional geometrical analysis of various specimens.
In this experiment, a small specimen of planktonic foraminifera was scanned using the high resolution X-ray Computer Tomography system (ScanXmate-E090:Comscantecno Corporation), having the capacity to scan objects at about 5 micrometer resolution, with the maximum enlargement ratio. The virtual specimen was reconstructed using 3D computer graphics, based on tomographic images in voxel space.
The e-specimen can be viewed with “Molcer”, which is a freely downloadable software provided by White Rabbit Corporation. With this tool, one can handle e-specimen easily, and inspect it from any direction, and the specimen viewing mode can be selected from either the surface rendering mode used for observing the external shape, or the volume rendering mode for the inner structure.
Our Goal
The planktonic foraminifera are protests living in the marine surface layer, and produce a test made mainly of calcium carbonate. The tests fall down on to the sea floor after death, and are preserved as fossils in marine sediments. Since 1968, the international scientific programs have been drilling up sedimentary rock cores bearing planktic foraminifera fossils from all over the ocean. The almost infinite supply of specimens and the high-precision age-control models available for the cores have produced an high-quality fossil record, thus providing the scientific community with a chance to detail the picture of large scale evolutionary processes associated with this group.
For the purpose, we think it is necessary to construct the cyber infrastructures that allows the vast amount of morphological data on fossils to be integrated as processable forms with the aid of computers.
e-specimen Download
This system provides a database for finding the e-specimen requested by the user from our repository, by using searchable keys like the generic and specific names, locality and the geological age. The user can then obtain detailed information of the real specimen from this database by using the registration number of the individual e-specimen.
[go to Database]
Terms of Use
Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information posted on e-Foram Stock. Nonetheless, we are not to be held responsible for any misuse of the information posted here or for any damages whatsoever.
All content on e-Foram Stock, unless otherwise noted, is copyright Tohoku University Museum, 2008. All rights reserved. You are free to use any content on this site for personal or academic use, or for research purposes. The source of the content must be clearly indicated as e-Foram Stock at Tohoku University Museum. If commercial interests are involved, you must contact Tohoku University Museum to request a license.
The e-specimen copyright belongs to the e-specimen creator. Some rights reserved. The e-specimen are released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.1 Japan License. You are allowed to copy, distribute, display, and perform any e-specimen on this site for personal or academic use, or for research purposes.
This Work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.1 Japan License. Using this work in advertising is allowed.
Cluster I: from Truncorotalia to Globorotalia
Globorotalia tumida
Hirsutella hirsuta
Globoconella inflata
Truncorotalia crassaformis
Hirsutella scitula
Truncorotalia truncatulinoides
Menardella menardii
Globorotalia flexuosa
Menardella multicamerataCluster II:from Globoquadrina to Globigerina
Globigerinella shiphonifera
Candeina nitida
Bolliella adamsi
Pulleniatina obliquiloculata
Neogloboquadrina pachyderma
Neogloboquadrina conglomerata
Neogloboquadrina dutertrei
Globorotaloides hexagona
Globigerinita glutinataCluster III: from Globigerinoides to Orbulina
Orbulina universa
Sphaeroidinella dehiscens
Globigerinoides sacculifer
Globigerinoides ruber
Sphaeroidinellopsis kochi
Hastigerina pelagica
Globigerina bulloides
Globigerinoides conglobatus
Globigerinoides fistulosus[ Team ]
- System concepts and development :
- Dr. Osamu Sasaki / Tohoku University Museum
- Dr. Tomohiro Iwashita / White Rabbit Corporation
- Web design and services :
- Dr. Harumasa Kano / Tohoku University Museum
- Yoshitomo Ishida / Tohoku University Museum
- Harumi Konno / Tohoku University Museum
- Scientific support :
- Dr. Hiroki Hayashi / Shimane University
- Contact us :
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