The Foraminifera.eu Project: A paleoinformatics bridge between science and community

Abstract

Foraminifera.eu is a non-commercial international project to foster the interest in foraminifera. A freely accessible image database with an online multi-criteria search facility based on high quality SEM and optical images and drawings has been developed. The website has become a popular resource with more than 5000 monthly unique visitors viewing more than 50000 pages. About 120 scientists and amateurs are contributing samples, images, drawings, ideas and working on projects, publications, exhibitions, talks and collection. Foraminifera from the Oporto Seamount, from the Luz Formation and from the Mem Moniz spongolithic limestone are the first Portuguese contributions to this project.