Academy Research

My research areas include taxonomy, biostratigraphy and evolution of marine and non-marine fossil diatoms. Most of my research at CAS during the past 12 years has been as a taxonomist compiling the Database of Verified Diatom Names. The database is a large and very complete computerized compilation of names of diatoms (ca. 70,000 diatoms names) at the genus, species, and infraspecific ranks with relevant information such as authorship, place of publication, and nomenclatural status. My work consists in updating the database, verifying the accuracy of the data by consulting the original publications, and assessing the nomenclatural status of the names.  A product of this work, “The Catalogue of Diatom Names” is available online (http://research.calacademy.org/research/diatoms/names/index.asp).  The first 2 volumes of the printed version of this work have been published, and sunsequent volumes are in preparation.

A diatom biostratigrapher by training, I also enjoy occasional research projects on the taxonomy and ultrastructure of fossil marine diatoms.

Research Scientist

Diatom Collection, Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology

California Academy of Sciences

55 Music Concourse Dr.

San Francisco, CA 94118

(415) 379 5260

efourtanier@calacademy.org

 Education

 Université of Paris VI: Maitrise in Geology (1982)

University of Paris VI: Ph.D. in Paleontology (1987)

Experience

 Research Scientist, California Academy of Sciences (since 1998)

Post-Doctoral Researcher, California Academy of Sciences (1993-1994; 1997-1998)

Visiting Scientist (volunteer), United States Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA (1988-1993)

Ship-board paleontologist (diatom biostratigrapher) Ocean Drilling Program Leg 121, Indian Ocean (1988)

Research Assistant, Laboratoire des Diatomées, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France (1983-1986)

Editorial board, Diatom Research (since 2006)

 Most recent significant research accomplishment

 “Catalogue of Diatom Names”

             Background-

Since the last published compilation of diatom names (VanLandingham, 1967-1978: 44,000 names compiled), many new diatom taxa have been described and new names created.  There was a critical need to update the catalogue of VanLandingham (VLC), and to assess its accuracy.  A NSF Grant was awarded to P. Kociolek to accomplish this task.  Staff was hired at CAS to computerize VLC, and staff at ANSP (Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia) was funded to computerize entries from their unpublished file catalogue covering names published in the past 60 years.

            Role-

I had a major part in coordinating the merging of the different data sets: in addition to the original sets (VLC and ANSP),  in 2002 we added the diatoms cards of the INA (Index Nominum Algarum).  My work consists in addressing the discrepancies between the various data sets, assessing the nomenclatural status of the names in light of the ICBN, using the original publications.  In addition, I keep the database updated with taxonomic novelties, and prepare the printed version of the Catalogue.

            Results-

The database is the most complete and accurate compilation of diatom names (64,000 names) that has ever been produced. It is available online in the CAS-diatom webpage (http://research.calacademy.org/research/diatoms/names/index.asp). I am also preparing a printed copy of the Diatom Catalogue, the first two volumes of which have been published in 2009.

            Impact-

The database was very well received by our colleagues when we made it available online in 2007 (http://research.calacademy.org/research/diatoms/names/index.asp).  Diatomists are using it as a resource reference for accurate citation of diatom names and to obtain other information such as nomenclatural synonym lists, and nomenclatural status.  Given the critical role of diatoms in accessing water quality and other environmental parameters, it is especially important that researchers agree on taxonomy and use the correct names.

 Other Research Interests

A diatom biostratigrapher by training, I also enjoy occasional research projects on the taxonomy and ultrastructure of fossil marine diatoms.

 Grants and Awards

Scholarship “DGRST” from the French Ministère de l'Industrie et de la Recherche (1983-1986).

Fellowship “Lavoisier” from the French Ministère des Affaires Etrangères (1984-1985).

JOI awards (ODP Leg 146: 1993; ODP Leg 169: 1999)

 Foreign languages

French – Native speaker

Latin – Studied 4 years in school

FOURTANIER, E. & KOCIOLEK, J.P. (2009). Catalogue of Diatom names. Part 1: Bibliography. Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Sciences, no. 156 (part 1): x + 168 pp.

FOURTANIER, E. & KOCIOLEK, J.P. (2009). Catalogue of Diatom names. Part 2: Abas through Bruniopsis. Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Sciences, no. 156 (part 2): xii + 231 pp.

Kociolek, J.P., Fourtanier, E., Rubenstein, J. and Encinas, A. (2007). Adoneis miocenica, a new species from Chile, with comments on the morphological separation of centric and pennate diatoms.  Diatom Research 22(2):309-316.

Strelnikova, N.I., Kociolek, J.P. & Fourtanier, E. (2006).Two new sigmoid, naviculoid diatoms from the Eocene of Kazakhstan.  In: N. Ognjanova-Rumenova & K. Manoylov (eds.), Advances in Phycological Studies. Festschrift in Honour of Prof. Dobrina Temniskova-Topalova. Pensoft Publishers, St. Kliment Ohridski University Press, Sofia-Moscow. pp. 25-42.

Strelnikova, N.I., Kociolek, J.P. & Fourtanier, E. (2006). The new genus Mycetacanthus (Bacillariophyta) from the Cretaceous and Paleogene.  In: A. Witkowski (ed.), Proceedings of the Eighteenth International Diatom Symposium, Miedzyzdroje, Poland, 2nd-7th September 2004. Biopress Limited, Bristol, U.K. pp. 389-405.

Encinas, A., J.P. Le Roux, L.A. Buatois, S.N. Nielsen, K.L. Finger, E. Fourtanier & A. Lavenu (2006). Nuevo esquema estratigráfico para los depósitos marinos mio-pliocenos del área de Navidad (33°00'-34°30'S), Chile central. Revista Geológica de Chile 33(2):221-246.

STRELNIKOVA, N.I., FOURTANIER, E. & KOCIOLEK, J.P. (2005).  New data on the morphology of Aulacodiscus hirtus (Bacillariophyta).  Bot. Zhurn., 90(7): 1032-1033, 2 pls.

STRELNIKOVA, N.I., FOURTANIER, E. & KOCIOLEK, J.P. (2005).  New data on the morphology of Aulacodiscus kellerii (Bacillariophyta).  Bot. Zhurn., 90(3): 351-353, 2 pls.

Strelnikova, N.I., Fourtanier, E. & Kociolek, J.P. (2004). Morphological studies of Aulacodiscus species from the "Russian Collection" of the California Academy of Sciences. Diatom Research 19(2): 283-310.

Strelnikova, N.I., Fourtanier, E., Kociolek, J.P. & Barron, J.A. ( 2004). A SEM study of the diatom genus Porodiscus Greville: Morphology of the species and comparison with related genera.  Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 35(14): 300-337, 11 plates.

Barron, J. A., Fourtanier, E. & Bohaty, S.  (2004). Oligocene and Earliest Miocene Diatom Biostratigraphy of Site 1220, ODP Leg 199,  Equatorial Pacific,  In Lyle, M., Wilson, Paul W., Janecsek, Thomas R.,  and Firth, J., Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, 199: College Station, TX, Ocean Drilling Program.

Fourtanier, E. & Kociolek, J.P. (2003). Addendum to “Catalogue of the Diatom Genera”. Diatom Research, 18(2), 245-258.

Nikolaev, N.A., Kociolek, J.P., Fourtanier, E., Barron, J.A. & Harwood, D.M. (2001). Late Cretaceous Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) from the Marca Shale Member of the Moreno Formation, California. Occasional papers of the California Academy of Sciences, 152: 119 pp.

FOURTANIER, E. & KOCIOLEK, J.P. (1999). Catalogue of the Diatom Genera. Diatom Research, 14 (1): 1-189.

FOURTANIER, E. & KOCIOLEK, J.P. (1998). Gomphonema pierrebourrellyi sp. nov., un nouveau Gomphonema (Bacillariophyceae) du Miocène de l'Equateur. Cryptogamie, Algologie, 19 (1-2): 75-82.

GAUDANT, J., FOURTANIER, E., LAURIAT-RAGE, A., TSAGARIS, S., VENEC-PEYRE, M.-T. & ZORN, I. (1997). Découverte d'une ichthyofaune marine dans le Messinien préévarotitque de la Messara (Crète centrale, Grèce): interprétation paléoécologique. Géologie Méditerranéenne, 24 (3-4): 175-195.

GAUDANT, J., CAULET, J.-P., DI GERONIMO, I., DI STEPHANO, A., FOURTANIER, E., ROMEO, M. & VENEC-PEYRE, M.-T. (1996). Analyse séquentielle d'un nouveau gisement de poissons fossiles du Messinien marin diatomitique: Masseria il Salto près de Caltagirone (province de Catane, Sicile). Géologie Méditerranéenne, 23 (2): 117-153.

DE WEVER, P., BOURGOIS, J., CAULET, J.-P., FOURTANIER, E., BARRON, J. & DUMITRICA, P. (1995). Stratigraphic significance of Siliceous microfossils collected during NAUTIPERC dives (off Peru, 5°-6°S). Marine Micropaleontology, 24(3/4), 287-307.

FOURTANIER, E. (1995). Neogene diatom biostratigraphy of Site 892, Cascadia margin. In: Carson, B., Westbrook, G.K., Musgrave, R.J., and Suess, E. (eds.), Proceeding ODP, Sci. Results, 146 (Pt. 1): College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), 63-77.

FOURTANIER, E. & CAULET, J.-P. (1995). Siliceous microfossil stratigraphic synthesis of Site 892, Cascadia Margin (Leg 146).  In: Carson, B., Westbrook, G.K., Musgrave, R.J., and Suess, E. (eds.), Proceeding ODP, Sci. Results, 146 (Pt. 1): College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), 369-374.

HEMPHILL-HALEY, E. & FOURTANIER, E. (1995). A 114,000-yr diatom record from Site 893, Santa Barbara basin. In: Kennett, J.P., Baldauf, J.G., Lyle, M., et al., Proceeding ODP, Sci. Results, 146 (Pt. 2): College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), 233-249.

FOURTANIER, E. & OSCARSON, R. (1994). Ultrastructure of some interesting and stratigraphically significant diatom taxa from the upper Paleocene to lower Eocene sediments of ODP Site 752, eastern Indian Ocean. In: J.P. Kociolek (ed.), Proceedings of

the 11th International Diatom Symposium, 1990. Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences, no. 17, 399-410.

FOURTANIER, E., GASSE, F., BELLIER, O., BONHOMME, M. & ROBLES, I. (1993). Miocene non-marine diatoms form the western cordillera basins of northern Peru. Diatom Research, 8 (1), 13-30.

De Wever P., Chamley H., Michaud F., Barron J., Dimitrica P., Fourtanier & Bourgois J., (1992). Diatoms, Radiolarians and Silicoflagellates and clay mineralogy of Cenozoic sediments from Nautiperc cruise (off Northern Peru, 5-11°S), Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, 1992 Spring Meeting , 73 (14), p. 152.

WEIS, D., et al. (including E. Fourtanier) (1991). Ninetyeast Ridge (Indian Ocean); a 5000 km record of a Dupal mantle plume . Geology, 19: 99-102.

GASSE, F. & FOURTANIER, E. (1991). African diatom paleoecology and biostratigraphy. In: Lang, J. & Kobke, C. A. (Eds.), African Continental Sediments, Pergamon Press (Oxford).

FOURTANIER, E., GAUDANT, J. & CAVALLO, O. (1991). La diatomite de Castagnito (Piémont) : une nouvelle preuve de l'existence d'oscillations modérées du niveau marin pendant le Messinien évaporitique. Bolletino della Società Paleontologica Italiana, 30(1): 79-95, 2 pls.

FOURTANIER, E. (1991). Paleocene and Eocene diatom biostratigraphy of eastern Indian Ocean Site 752, ODP Leg 121. In: Peirce, J., Weissel, J., et al., Proc. ODP, Sci. Results, 121: College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), p. 171-187.

FOURTANIER, E. (1991). Diatom biostratigraphy of equatorial Indian Ocean Site 758, ODP Leg 121. In: Peirce, J., Weissel, J., et al., Proc. ODP, Sci. Results, 121: College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), p. 189-208.

LITTKE, R., FOURTANIER, E., THUROW, J. and TAYLOR, E. (1991). Silica diagenesis and its effects on lithification of Broken Ridge deposits, Central Indian Ocean. In: Peirce, J., Weissel, J., et al., Proc. ODP, Sci. Results, 121: College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), p. 261-272.

POSPICHAL, J.J., et al. (including E. Fourtanier) (1991). Cretaceous-Paleogene biomagnetostratigraphy of Sites 752-755, Broken Ridge: a synthesis. In: Peirce, J., Weissel, J., et al., Proc. ODP, Sci. Results, 121: College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), p. 721-741.

PEIRCE, J., WEISSEL, J., et al. (including E. Fourtanier) (1990).  Proceedings of ODP, Initial Reports, 121 : College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program).

GASSE, F., STABELL, B., FOURTANIER, E. & van IPEREN, Y. (1989). Freshwater diatom influx in intertropical Atlantic. Relationships with continental records from Africa. Quaternary Research, 32(2): 229-243.

BELLIER, O., SEBRIER, M., FOURTANIER, E., GASSE, F. & ROBLES, I., (1989). Late Cenozoic evolution of the E-W striking Cajamarca deflection in the Namora basin (Andes of Northern Peru). Annales Tectonicae, Vol. III(2), p. 77-98.

BELLIER, O., SEBRIER, M., GASSE, F., FOURTANIER, E. & ROBLES, I. (1989). Evolution géodynamique mio-pliocène et quaternaire des bassins de la cordillère occidentale du Nord Pérou: les bassins de Cajabamba, San Marcos et Namora (département de Cajamarca). Géodynamique (4):93-118.

FOURTANIER, E. & KOCIOLEK, J.P. (1998). Gomphonema pierrebourrellyi sp. nov., un nouveau Gomphonema (Bacillariophyceae) du Miocène de l'Equateur. Cryptogamie, Algologie, 19 (1-2): 75-82.

 GAUDANT, J., FOURTANIER, E., LAURIAT-RAGE, A., TSAGARIS, S., VENEC-PEYRE, M.-T. & ZORN, I. (1997). Découverte d'une ichthyofaune marine dans le Messinien préévarotitque de la Messara (Crète centrale, Grèce): interprétation paléoécologique. Géologie Méditerranéenne, 24 (3-4): 175-195.

 GAUDANT, J., CAULET, J.-P., DI GERONIMO, I., DI STEPHANO, A., FOURTANIER, E., ROMEO, M. & VENEC-PEYRE, M.-T. (1996). Analyse séquentielle d'un nouveau gisement de poissons fossiles du Messinien marin diatomitique: Masseria il Salto près de Caltagirone (province de Catane, Sicile). Géologie Méditerranéenne, 23 (2): 117-153.

 DE WEVER, P., BOURGOIS, J., CAULET, J.-P., FOURTANIER, E., BARRON, J. & DUMITRICA, P. (1995). Stratigraphic significance of Siliceous microfossils collected during NAUTIPERC dives (off Peru, 5°-6°S). Marine Micropaleontology, 24(3/4), 287-307.

 FOURTANIER, E. (1995). Neogene diatom biostratigraphy of Site 892, Cascadia margin. In: Carson, B., Westbrook, G.K., Musgrave, R.J., and Suess, E. (eds.), Proceeding ODP, Sci. Results, 146 (Pt. 1): College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), 63-77.

 FOURTANIER, E. & CAULET, J.-P. (1995). Siliceous microfossil stratigraphic synthesis of Site 892, Cascadia Margin (Leg 146).  In: Carson, B., Westbrook, G.K., Musgrave, R.J., and Suess, E. (eds.), Proceeding ODP, Sci. Results, 146 (Pt. 1): College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), 369-374.

 HEMPHILL-HALEY, E. & FOURTANIER, E. (1995). A 114,000-yr diatom record from Site 893, Santa Barbara basin. In: Kennett, J.P., Baldauf, J.G., Lyle, M., et al., Proceeding ODP, Sci. Results, 146 (Pt. 2): College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), 233-249.

FOURTANIER, E. & OSCARSON, R. (1994). Ultrastructure of some interesting and stratigraphically significant diatom taxa from the upper Paleocene to lower Eocene sediments of ODP Site 752, eastern Indian Ocean. In: J.P. Kociolek (ed.), Proceedings of the 11th International Diatom Symposium, 1990. Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences, no. 17, 399-410.

FOURTANIER, E., GASSE, F., BELLIER, O., BONHOMME, M. & ROBLES, I. (1993). Miocene non-marine diatoms form the western cordillera basins of northern Peru. Diatom Research, 8 (1), 13-30.

De Wever P., Chamley H., Michaud F., Barron J., Dimitrica P., Fourtanier & Bourgois J., (1992). Diatoms, Radiolarians and Silicoflagellates and clay mineralogy of Cenozoic sediments from Nautiperc cruise (off Northern Peru, 5-11°S), Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, 1992 Spring Meeting , 73 (14), p. 152.

WEIS, D., et al. (including E. Fourtanier) (1991). Ninetyeast Ridge (Indian Ocean); a 5000 km record of a Dupal mantle plume . Geology, 19: 99-102.

GASSE, F. & FOURTANIER, E. (1991). African diatom paleoecology and biostratigraphy. In: Lang, J. & Kobke, C. A. (Eds.), African Continental Sediments, Pergamon Press (Oxford).

FOURTANIER, E., GAUDANT, J. & CAVALLO, O. (1991). La diatomite de Castagnito (Piémont) : une nouvelle preuve de l'existence d'oscillations modérées du niveau marin pendant le Messinien évaporitique. Bolletino della Società Paleontologica Italiana, 30(1): 79-95, 2 pls.

FOURTANIER, E. (1991). Paleocene and Eocene diatom biostratigraphy of eastern Indian Ocean Site 752, ODP Leg 121. In: Peirce, J., Weissel, J., et al., Proc. ODP, Sci. Results, 121: College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), p. 171-187.

FOURTANIER, E. (1991). Diatom biostratigraphy of equatorial Indian Ocean Site 758, ODP Leg 121. In: Peirce, J., Weissel, J., et al., Proc. ODP, Sci. Results, 121: College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), p. 189-208.

LITTKE, R., FOURTANIER, E., THUROW, J. and TAYLOR, E. (1991). Silica diagenesis and its effects on lithification of Broken Ridge deposits, Central Indian Ocean. In: Peirce, J., Weissel, J., et al., Proc. ODP, Sci. Results, 121: College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), p. 261-272.

POSPICHAL, J.J., et al. (including E. Fourtanier) (1991). Cretaceous-Paleogene biomagnetostratigraphy of Sites 752-755, Broken Ridge: a synthesis. In: Peirce, J., Weissel, J., et al., Proc. ODP, Sci. Results, 121: College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), p. 721-741.

PEIRCE, J., WEISSEL, J., et al. (including E. Fourtanier) (1990).  Proceedings of ODP, Initial Reports, 121 : College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program).

GASSE, F., STABELL, B., FOURTANIER, E. & van IPEREN, Y. (1989). Freshwater diatom influx in intertropical Atlantic. Relationships with continental records from Africa. Quaternary Research, 32(2): 229-243.

BELLIER, O., SEBRIER, M., FOURTANIER, E., GASSE, F. & ROBLES, I., (1989). Late Cenozoic evolution of the E-W striking Cajamarca deflection in the Namora basin (Andes of Northern Peru). Annales Tectonicae, Vol. III(2), p. 77-98.

BELLIER, O., SEBRIER, M., GASSE, F., FOURTANIER, E. & ROBLES, I. (1989). Evolution géodynamique mio-pliocène et quaternaire des bassins de la cordillère occidentale du Nord Pérou: les bassins de Cajabamba, San Marcos et Namora (département de Cajamarca). Géodynamique (4):93-118.

FOURTANIER, E. & GASSE, F. (1988). Premiers jalons d'une biostratigrap­hie et évolution des diatomées lacustres d'Afrique depuis 11 Ma. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, t. 306, Série II: 1401-1408.

FOURTANIER, E. & MACHARE, J. (1988). Late Eocene to Pliocene marine diatoms from Peru. In: Round, F. E. (Ed.), Proceedings of the 9th International Diatom Symposium, Bristol, 1986. Biopress Ltd, Bristol and Koeltz Scientific Books, Koenigstein: 151-163.

MEDUS, J., POPOFF, M., FOURTANIER, E. & SOWUNMI, A. M. (1988). Sedimentology, pollen, spores and diatoms of a 148 m thick bore hole from Oku Lake, East central Nigeria. Paleogeogr., Paleoclimatol., Paleoecol., 68 (1): 79-94.

MACHARE, J., DeVRIES, T., BARRON, J. & FOURTANIER, E. (1988). Oligo-Miocene transgression along the Pacific margin of South America: New paleontological and geological evidence from the Pisco Basin (Peru). Géodynamique, 3 (1-2): 25-37.

Leg 121 Shipboard Scientific Party (including E. Fourtanier) (1988). A tale of two ridges. Nature, 335: 593-594.

ODP Leg 121 Scientific Party (including E. Fourtanier) (1988). Leg 121 traces rifting and hot spots. Geotimes, 33: 9-11.

MACHARE, J. & FOURTANIER, E. (1987). Datation des formations tertiaires du bassin de Pisco (Pérou) à partir d'associations de diatomées. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, t. 305, Série II: 407-412.

FOURTANIER, E. (1987). Diatomées néogènes d'Afrique - Approche biostratigraphique en milieux marin (Sud-Ouest africain) et continental. Thèse de Doctorat de l'Université Paris VI. Mémoires des Sciences de la Terre Univ. Curie, no. 87-44, 365 pp.

FOURTANIER, E. (1986). Miocene diatoms of Angola: Occurrence of continen­tal diatoms in marine sediments. In: Ricard, M. (Ed.), Proceedings of the 8th International Diatom Symposium, Paris 1984, Koeltz Scientific Books, Koenigstein, RFA: 713-720.

SEYVE, C. & FOURTANIER, E. (1985). Microfloristic content of a modern aeolian sediment. Bull. Centres Rech. Explor.-Prod. Elf-Aquitaine, 9 (1): 137-154.