Foraminifera and other eukaryotic microfossils play a crucial role in understanding the biology, ecology, and evolution of marine and freshwater ecosystems across geological timescales. These organisms serve as key indicators for reconstructing past environments, deciphering ecosystem dynamics, and assessing the impacts of global change on aquatic systems. This session focuses on the biology, ecology and actuopalaeontology of foraminifera and other microeukaryotes, exploring their functional roles in ecosystems, their responses to environmental changes, and their potential as proxies for past, present, and future aquatic conditions.

We welcome contributions that employ laboratory and field experiments, field studies, genetics/genomics (including eDNA/metabarcoding), imaging and biomineralization studies, isotopic and trace element geochemistry, and quantitative data science, including statistical inference, machine learning, big data synthesis, and modelling.

On one hand, our goal is to develop robust, quantifiable proxies, transparently assess uncertainties, and strengthen the bridge from modern processes to the fossil record. On the other hand, in doing so, microfossils could provide decision relevant baselines for ecosystem function, in addition to informing conservation strategies and future scenarios in changing aquatic environments.