A stratigraphy of marine bioerosion

Bromley, Richard G.

doi:10.1144/gsl.sp.2004.228.01.20

Cited by 134 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 159 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In the literature, there appears to be a wide consensus in following this original interpretation (e.g., Clarke 1921;Fenton & Fenton 1932;Solle 1938;Bromley 2004;Tapanila 2006;Wilson et al 2010;Furlong & McRoberts 2014), even though there is neither direct evidence, such as reports of specific sponge spicules inside the traces, nor has a modern counterpart of Clionolithes been identified. Nevertheless, some workers even considered Clionolithes as a biotaxon within the phylum Porifera (Branson 1937;Hyde 1953;Easton 1962;Talent 1963).…”

Section: The Tracemakers Remain Enigmaticmentioning

confidence: 99%

Taming an ichnotaxonomical Pandora's box: revision of dendritic and rosetted microborings (ichnofamily: Dendrinidae)

Wisshak¹

2017

EJT

818

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dendritic and/or rosetted microborings in calcareous and osteic skeletal substrates have a diverse trace fossil record, spanning most of the Phanerozoic, whereas the ichnodiversity of comparable bioerosion traces produced in modern seas is rather limited. The most prominent occurrences are known from Devonian brachiopods and from Upper Cretaceous belemnite rostra. Ichnotaxonomically, they are comprised within one of the few ichnofamilies established to date, the Dendrinidae Bromley et al., 2007. As an outcome of the present revision of this ichnofamily, the plethora of 84 ichnospecies established within 25 ichnogenera since the erection of the type ichnogenus Dendrina Quenstedt, 1849 was considerably condensed to 22 ichnospecies included in 7 ichnogenera, based on a coherent morphological categorisation and ichnotaxobasis assessment. The suite of ichnogenera now subsumed within the Dendrinidae includes Dendrina Quenstedt, 1849; Clionolithes Clarke, 1908; Calcideletrix Mägdefrau, 1937; Dictyoporus Mägdefrau, 1937; Abeliella Mägdefrau, 1937; Nododendrina Vogel et al., 1987; and Pyrodendrina Tapanila, 2008. New combinations thereby concern Dendrina dendrina (Morris, 1851) comb. nov., Clionolithes pannosus (Solle, 1938) comb. nov., C. alcicornis (Vogel et al., 1987) comb. nov., C. convexus (Hofmann, 1996) comb. nov., Calcideletrix anomala (Mägdefrau, 1937) comb. nov., C. fastigata (Radtke, 1991) comb. nov., Dictyoporus balani (Tavernier et al., 1992) comb. nov., Nododendrina europaea (Fischer, 1875) comb. nov., N. incomposita (Mägdefrau, 1937) comb. nov. and N. paleodendrica (Elias, 1957) comb. nov. Investigation of new material and a reassessment of 63 dendrinid microborings previously addressed in informal nomenclature allowed the establishment of two complementing ichnogenera, Rhopalondendrina igen. nov. and Antodendrina igen. nov., and eight new ichnospecies, comprising Pyrodendrina arctica isp. nov., P. belua isp. nov., P. villosa isp. nov., Rhopalondendrina avis igen. et isp. nov., R. acanthina igen. et isp. nov., R. contra igen. et isp. nov., R. tigris igen. et isp. nov. and Antodendrina ligula igen. et isp. nov. In densely bioeroded calcareous substrates, different dendrinids and other bioerosion traces may be found in direct contact with each other, forming composite trace fossils, but some of these associations appear rather systematic in nature and could be the work of the same tracemaker under different behavioural modes, thus forming compound trace fossils. In these cases, however, the distinction between the two concepts remains largely equivocal. Dendrinid microborings are primarily found in living and dead calcareous skeletal substrates of bivalves, brachiopods, belemnites and corals, with complementing records from six other substrate types. Facing considerable sampling artefacts, evidence for true substrate specificity or symbiotic relationships is inconclusive as yet, whereas there is direct evidence for post-mortem infestation in several cases, such as the diverse dendrinid associations in Upper Cretaceous belemnite guards. Despite a wealth of available interpretations, the actual biological identity of the dendrinids’ tracemakers remains largely speculative. The most convincing evidence has been put forward in support of foraminiferans as the producers of Nododendrina, and excavating micro-sponges producing Clionolithes and some Calcideletrix. Since most of the dendrinids are found in aphotic (palaeo-)environments, these two principal types of organotrophic tracemakers are also potential candidates for the other ichnogenera. With regards to evolutionary patterns through geologic time, strong adaptive radiations are evident from the ichnodiversity of dendrinid ichnospecies in the Early to Mid-Palaeozoic, reflecting the “Ordovician Bioerosion Revolution” (sensu Wilson & Palmer 2006) and the “Mid-Palaeozoic Precursor of the Mesozoic Marine Revolution” (sensu Signor & Brett 1984), respectively, and in the Mesozoic, coinciding with the prominent “Marine Mesozoic Revolution” (sensu Vermeij 1977). This pattern mimics that of other micro- and macro-bioerosion trace fossils and is interpreted as a reflection of increased predation pressure and consequent infaunalisation. For extinction events, in turn, a differential effect is recorded in that the first four of the “Big Five” mass extinctions appear not to have had any noticeable effect on dendrinid ichnodiversity, whereas the end-Cretaceous mass-extinction resulted in a 77% drop following the Cretaceous peak ichnodiversity of 13 dendrinid ichnospecies.

show abstract

Section: The Tracemakers Remain Enigmaticmentioning

confidence: 99%

Taming an ichnotaxonomical Pandora's box: revision of dendritic and rosetted microborings (ichnofamily: Dendrinidae)

Wisshak¹

2017

EJT

818

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Bromley 2004). They can preserve evidence for cellular morphology, microbial behaviour, ecology and metabolism in their selection and modification of rock substrates.…”

Section: Endoliths and The Warrawoona 'Microtubes'mentioning

confidence: 99%

A fresh look at the fossil evidence for early Archaean cellular life

Brasier

McLoughlin

Green

et al. 2006

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

257

154

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The rock record provides us with unique evidence for testing models as to when and where cellular life first appeared on Earth. Its study, however, requires caution. The biogenicity of stromatolites and 'microfossils' older than 3.0 Gyr should not be accepted without critical analysis of morphospace and context, using multiple modern techniques, plus rejection of alternative non-biological (null) hypotheses. The previous view that the co-occurrence of biology-like morphology and carbonaceous chemistry in ancient, microfossil-like objects is a presumptive indicator of biogenicity is not enough. As with the famous Martian microfossils, we need to ask not 'what do these structures remind us of ?', but 'what are these structures?' Earth's oldest putative 'microfossil' assemblages within 3.4-3.5 Gyr carbonaceous cherts, such as the Apex Chert, are likewise self-organizing structures that do not pass tests for biogenicity.There is a preservational paradox in the fossil record prior to ca 2.7 Gyr: suitable rocks (e.g. isotopically light carbonaceous cherts) are widely present, but signals of life are enigmatic and hard to decipher. One new approach includes detailed mapping of well-preserved sandstone grains in the ca 3.4 Gyr Strelley Pool Chert. These can contain endolithic microtubes showing syngenicity, grain selectivity and several levels of geochemical processing. Preliminary studies invite comparison with a class of ambient inclusion trails of putative microbial origin and with the activities of modern anaerobic proteobacteria and volcanic glass euendoliths.

show abstract

“…A plethora of macroboring organisms are capable of penetrating into the hard skeletons of colonial animals (see Bromley, 2004;Wilson, 2007). Benthic colonies with calcareous skeletons, particularly corals (e.g.…”

Section: Boringsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differentiating Parasitism and Other Interactions in Fossilized Colonial Organisms

Taylor

2015

Fossil Parasites

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A stratigraphy of marine bioerosion

Cited by 134 publications

References 159 publications

Taming an ichnotaxonomical Pandora's box: revision of dendritic and rosetted microborings (ichnofamily: Dendrinidae)

Taming an ichnotaxonomical Pandora's box: revision of dendritic and rosetted microborings (ichnofamily: Dendrinidae)

A fresh look at the fossil evidence for early Archaean cellular life

Differentiating Parasitism and Other Interactions in Fossilized Colonial Organisms

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About