Editorial MARINE MICROPALEONTOLOGY -- THE OLD AND THE NEW Micropaleontology has changed radically in its approaches and contributions since the foundig of this journal in 1976. It now contrib- utes in significant ways to paleoceanography, tectonics, evolutionary biology, biochronology, as well as many other fields. Marine Micropa- leontology has been a leader in publishing these applications and ideas ever since its very first issue. Of the over 35,000 papers that have been published in the micropaleontological litera- ture since 1976, some of the most important and significant ones have appeared in the pages of Marine Micropaleontology. Its editor through most of this period, Bil Haq, has done a mag- nificent service to our field through his devel- opment and guidance of this journal. Marine Micropaleontology will continue the tradition that Bil started. The journal has published papers dealing with all aspects of micropaleontology, from the biology of fossilizable microorganisms to their biostratigraphy, but chiefly emphasizing the solution of geologic problems using microfossils, broadly con- strued. We see no reason to change that tradition. We think that significant gaps do exist in the discipline of micropaleontology, both in fields of interest and in applications. The ecology and life histories of microorganisms need to be understood over times long enough to have had a geologic imprint or evolutionary impact. The taphonomic overprint on microfossils must be deciphered. Little is published about biologic interactions between species or groups. In the geologic realm, physicists and geologists tell us what caused the major extinctions, when in fact the paleontology of these events could place close constraints on acceptable physical models. Another trend parallel to the solution of geologic problems has developed to use microfossils to solve biologic problems, particularly in evolutionary studies. There are many such ex- amples of areas in need of study, but this journal cannot publish them if they are not done. One of our objectives, then, is to try to increase the scope of micropaleontology so that inno- vative approaches and ideas are developed. Ma- rine Micropaleontology can solicit and publish such ideas even when they are not in the main- stream of the science today, but the work must first be done. We will continue the successful past ap- proach of Marine Micropaleontology, but we ex- pect to broaden its scope through the publication of more diverse topics, especially those that are well conceived and presented but quite con- troversial. The cover and scope of the journal have thus been redesigned and rewritten to re- flect not only the successes of the past but the expectation for the future. Marine Micropa- leontology will maintain rapid publication of both short and long papers, profusely illus- trated or not, as long as they are well presented, sound and interpretative or provocative. Mi- croorganisms that have any relation, past or present, to sea water are suitable subjects for publication in Marine Micropaleontology. JERE H. LIPPS HANS R. THIERSTEIN

Marine micropaleontology — The old and the new

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Editorial

MARINE MICROPALEONTOLOGY - - THE OLD AND THE NEW

Micropaleontology has changed radically in its approaches and contributions since the foundig of this journal in 1976. It now contrib- utes in significant ways to paleoceanography, tectonics, evolutionary biology, biochronology, as well as many other fields. Marine Micropa- leontology has been a leader in publishing these applications and ideas ever since its very first issue. Of the over 35,000 papers that have been published in the micropaleontological litera- ture since 1976, some of the most important and significant ones have appeared in the pages of Marine Micropaleontology. Its editor through most of this period, Bil Haq, has done a mag- nificent service to our field through his devel- opment and guidance of this journal.

Marine Micropaleontology will continue the tradition that Bil started. The journal has published papers dealing with all aspects of micropaleontology, from the biology of fossilizable microorganisms to their biostratigraphy, but chiefly emphasizing the solution of geologic problems using microfossils, broadly con- strued. We see no reason to change that tradition.

We think that significant gaps do exist in the discipline of micropaleontology, both in fields of interest and in applications. The ecology and life histories of microorganisms need to be understood over times long enough to have had a geologic imprint or evolutionary impact. The taphonomic overprint on microfossils must be deciphered. Little is published about biologic interactions between species or groups. In the geologic realm, physicists and geologists tell us

what caused the major extinctions, when in fact the paleontology of these events could place close constraints on acceptable physical models. Another trend parallel to the solution of geologic problems has developed to use microfossils to solve biologic problems, particularly in evolutionary studies. There are many such ex- amples of areas in need of study, but this journal cannot publish them if they are not done. One of our objectives, then, is to try to increase the scope of micropaleontology so that inno- vative approaches and ideas are developed. Ma- rine Micropaleontology can solicit and publish such ideas even when they are not in the main- stream of the science today, but the work must first be done.

We will continue the successful past ap- proach of Marine Micropaleontology, but we ex- pect to broaden its scope through the publication of more diverse topics, especially those that are well conceived and presented but quite con- troversial. The cover and scope of the journal have thus been redesigned and rewritten to re- flect not only the successes of the past but the expectation for the future. Marine Micropa- leontology will maintain rapid publication of both short and long papers, profusely illus- trated or not, as long as they are well presented, sound and interpretative or provocative. Mi- croorganisms that have any relation, past or present, to sea water are suitable subjects for publication in Marine Micropaleontology.

JERE H. LIPPS HANS R. THIERSTEIN