Simple models of agglutinated foraminifera test construction

Abstract

The characteristic grain size distributions observed in the test walls of agglutinated foraminifera can be replicated by numerical simulations. The logistics employed by the model parallel those seen in foraminifera during culturing experiments of test construction. Both fractal and log-normal grain distributions are generated by a simple space-filling algorithm. However, to generate the specific grain distributions observed in foraminiferan tests a strong preference for selecting larger grains from the available sediment must be effected. The exclusion of smaller grains, during selection, produces log-normal grain distributions similar to those previously observed. These and similar modelling techniques may provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of shell construction employed by protists.