Uses of Foram Models
The study of Forams has a variety of uses -- they are ideally
suited to serve as environmental quality indicators in coastal
bays and marshes, as index fossils in locating oil and gas reserves,
as paleoclimate indicators, and as evidence of evolution.
The usefulness of forams for a broad spectrum of scientific
observation and analysis is based on their diversity (about 1000
genera and 50,000 species); their correlated ocean habitats (shallow,
deep, warm, cold, brackish, hypersaline, planktonic, benthonic);
the consistency with which they have been preserved in both rocks
and sediments; and the availability of trillions of their shells
through dredging or drilling.
Foram Models, which are enlarged from 100 - 200 x, are invaluable
teaching aids in Geology, Biology, Oceanography, Environment,
Marine Biology, Oil Geology, and Earth Science courses. In Geology
courses, for example, Forams can be used to identify specific
ancient marine rock and sediment layers in the earth. In Ecology
or Paleo-ecology classes, Forams are useful in determining oceanic
environmental zones, ancient climate patterns, ancient ocean environmental
conditions such as temperature, depth, salinity, and pH (acidity
or alkalinity), and pollution influences in coastal waters. The
study of Forams also prepares students to identify more complex
higher organism shell elements such as sponges, corals, echinoderms,
bryozoa, pelecypods, gastropods, and cephalopods.
Teaching and laboratory materials are provided with your order
free of charge. These materials include: (1) Basic and detailed
information and explanations of living and fossil forams; (2)
Comprehensive lesson plans; (3) Identification keys for all specimens;
(4) Morphological diagrams and definitions; (5) Illustrated generic
descriptions; and (6) Bibliography. To view a sample
lesson, click here.