This special issue celebrates the life of Professor Emeritus John Murray (University of Southampton), a world-leading benthic foraminiferalogist, who sadly passed away in October 2021. It comprises articles that reflect the wide range of John’s research and teaching on benthic foraminifera from both the modern and the fossil record and from all marine environments (salt marches to the abyss), including (but not limited to) contributions that focus on ecology and biological–palaeontological interactions.

Review process: all papers of this special issue underwent the regular peer-review process of the Journal of Micropalaeontology handled by guest editors designated by the JM editor-in-chief.