Recent shallow marine ostracods from high latitudes: implications for latePliocene and Quaternary palaeoclimatology

information about modem high-latitude marine ostracod faunas and about thei r occurrence in late Pliocene and Quaternary sequences promotes the applica tion of these microfossils to palaeoenvironmental, palaeobiogeographical an d palaeoclimatological problems. Five poorly known species (Cluthia cluthne , Finmarchinella logani, Roundstonia globulifera, Roundstonia macchesneyi a nd Semicytherura complanata) from North Atlantic, North Pacific and Arctic areas are confirmed as extant and are used to demonstrate the potential of marine ostracods as tools for palaeoclimate studies. The genus Bonnyannella Athersuch, 1982 is shown to be a junior synonym of Roundstonia Neale, 1973 .