We wish to thank the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) who have provided the major funds for the Coasts Under Stress (www.coastsunderstress.ca) project through the SSHRC Major Collaborative Research Initiatives (MCRI) and NSERC Research Networks programs. Also, additional funding has been provided from the University of Victoria and Memorial University of Newfoundland. Special thanks are given to the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) for making the study materials available. B.E.B. Cameron's (retired, GSC) extensive collection of samples and geological data are much appreciated, and his former assistants are thanked for sample processing and microfossil picking. The British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources, Victoria, provided helpful access to and some copies of the Shell Canada Limited reports and data. Illustration of ichthyoliths was completed using a microscope digital image capture system and scanning electron microscope at the University of Victoria; SEM imaging by Dr. C. Singla is appreciated. Photographs of larger ichthyoliths are by R.E. Johns. Two anonymous critical reviewers provided important suggestions, which helped to improve the quality of this manuscript. Their time put into reviewing this large manuscript is commendable.
In the 1970’s and 1980’s William Riedel foresaw the importance of computerizing microfossil identification. He and his students (e.g. Patricia Doyle, Linda Tway, and others) developed the original coded utilitarian ichthyolith identification system. Important to identifying ichthyoliths are the descriptors and illustrations, and the coded linkages which are essential to systemize the process and organize the information. Linda Tway contributed three dimensional descriptions of ichthyoliths, updated the identification system, and developed an early computer key, database and image system. The hard work by Patricia Doyle and Linda Tway, led by William Riedel, has raised awareness of ichthyoliths. This fossil group now has valuable utility in biostratigraphy, paleoceanography, and deep-sea to basin and coastal studies.
Jennifer Rumford and the editors of Palaeontologia Electronica recognized the importance of ichthyolith studies and have given us the opportunity to bring part of the original and revised coded ichthyolith identification system to the Internet so that anyone may have the opportunity to explore the system’s utility. This was no easy task. Jennifer Rumford spent many volunteer hours adapting this paper to the Internet, creating hyperlinks between the ichthyolith types, images, key, and references, and partitioning the paper into hyperlinked chapters. Her time, dedication, and tenacity to get the job completed are admirable. Her skills in communication and presentation are substantial, as is her knowledge.
M.J. Johns completed all Tofino Basin ichthyolith research, systematics, identifications, descriptions, illustrations, and modifications to the original coded utilitarian ichthyolith identification system. C.R. Barnes developed the proposal for micropaleontologic and stratigraphic studies of the offshore basins, secured funding for this study through the Coasts Under Stress Project, and provided initial critical review of the manuscript. Y.R. Narayan provided an updated foraminifer zonation and included Tofino Basin foraminifer results from her M.Sc. thesis research (University of Victoria).