Submarine caves in a Jurassic reef (La Rochelle, France) and the evolution of cave biotas

Taylor, Paul D.; Palmer, Tim

doi:10.1007/bf01136225

Cited by 46 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 11 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The specimen described here comes from the lower Kimmeridgian (Cymodoce Zone, Chatelaillonensis Subzone) of the cliff of Les Boucholeurs at Châtelaillon, south of La Rochelle (Charente‐Maritime, northern Aquitaine Basin) in western France. The beds of this Upper Jurassic section, called Marnes de Châtelaillon, overlie the reefal deposits of the Pointe du Chay (Cymodoce Zone, Achilles Subzone) (Hantzpergue & Maire 1981; Hantzpergue 1989; Taylor & Palmer 1994; Olivier et al. 2003) (Fig.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An ammonite–fish association from the Kimmeridgian (Upper Jurassic) of La Rochelle, western France

Vullo

Cavin

Clochard

2009

LET

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

International audienceA partially disarticulated actinopterygian fish preserved in a large three-dimensional ammonite body chamber is described from the Kimmeridgian of western France. Taphonomic observations on the degree of preservation of the fish and the development of epibiont organisms on the inner wall of the shell indicate a rather long time interval before sediment totally filled the body chamber. The fish, referred to an indeterminate Macrosemiidae, probably used this empty ammonite (Rasenioides, Aulacostephanidae) shell as a refuge, or possibly for spawning and/or brooding. It can be assumed that ammonite shells may have constituted common shelters for demersal fishes living in an open-marine shelf environment, near to a muddy bottom devoid of rocks

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An ammonite–fish association from the Kimmeridgian (Upper Jurassic) of La Rochelle, western France

Vullo

Cavin

Clochard

2009

LET

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the fossil record, comparable bioconstructions are known from Jurassic to Cretaceous shallow‐water caves and reef cryptic environments in Europe (Reitner ; Taylor & Palmer ,b; Bertling & Insalaco ; Olivier et al . , ; Olivier ; Reolid & Molina ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Metazoan/microbial biostalactites from present‐day submarine caves in the Mediterranean Sea

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Biostalactites formed by metazoan-microbialite associations from three submerged marine caves in the Plemmirio Peninsula (south of Syracuse, Ionian Sea) are randomly distributed and show different sizes and morphologies, as well as variations in surface roughness/smoothness. The biostalactites consist of crusts a few centimeters thick of small serpulids and other metazoans, associated with fine-grained carbonate; the larger ones often include a nucleus of serpulid tubes (Protula). The metazoans include mainly serpuloideans, sponges, bryozoans and foraminifers but microbial carbonates are also significant components. The composition of both the living communities and thanatocoenoses on the outer surfaces, as well as the composition and fabric of the internal framework, were analysed and used to reconstruct the history of the caves. All of the identified sessile faunas mainly consist of cryptic and sciaphilic dwellers that reflect cave conditions and their variations through time. The distribution pattern, composition and abundance of the present-day dwellers largely depend on the degree of roughness of the biostalactite surfaces and their positions within the caves. It has been suggested that the Protula specimens in the nuclei represent pioneer populations that formed aggregates during the early cave colonization phase, in response to relatively high food supply from seawater inflow and intruding continental waters. By contrast, the outer metazoanmicrobialite carbonates reflect more confined conditions in the caves caused by Holocene sea-level rises. Hypotheses are proposed for biostalactite growth, taking into account information about the growth rates of some constituents, and evidence of dissolution effects. Similarities and differences between these biostalactites and other Holocene deposits previously described from submarine caves in the Mediterranean Sea and in tropical reefs are discussed.

show abstract

“…More precisely, in modern environments, they are typical for shallow water crevices, submarine caves, undersides of sponges and/or corals or other marine invertebrates and are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical seas 64,68–70 at a depth ranging from a few meters to about 150 m 68,71–76 ). In the fossil record, thecideoid brachiopods often used lower surfaces of sponges as hard substrate 19,56,77 , coral-reef cavities 78 , empty shells on the sea floor 79 , and small cryptic spaces resulting from the disintegration of hardgrounds 62,80–84 . They also incrusted surfaces of Jurassic brachiopods (Oxfordian lacunosellids 19 ), bivalves (Kimmeridgian oysters Actinostreon 85 ; Callovian Ctenostreon 57 ), sclerosponges (Oxfordian Neuropora 19 ), oncoids (Bajocian 86 and Bathonian 87 ) or bored cobbles 83,88 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palaeoecology of Voulteryon parvulus (Eucrustacea, Polychelida) from the Middle Jurassic of La Voulte-sur-Rhône Fossil-Lagerstätte (France)

Audo

Robin²,

Luque

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Exceptional and extremely rare preservation of soft parts, eyes, or syn-vivo associations provide crucial palaeoecological information on fossil-rich deposits. Here we present exceptionally preserved specimens of the polychelidan lobster Voulteryon parvulus , from the Jurassic of La Voulte-sur-Rhône Fossil-Lagerstätte, France, bearing eyes with hexagonal and square facets, ovaries, and a unique association with epibiont thecideoid brachiopods, giving insights onto the palaeoenvironment of this Lagerstätte. The eyes, mostly covered in hexagonal facets are interpreted as either apposition eyes (poorly adapted to low-light environment) or, less likely, as refractive or parabolic superposition eyes (compatible with dysphotic palaeoenvironments). The interpretation that V. parvulus had apposition eyes suggests an allochthonous, shallow water origin. However, the presence of thecideoid brachiopod ectosymbionts on its carapace, usually associated to dim-light paleoenvironments and/or rock crevices, suggests that V. parvulus lived in a dim-light setting. This would support the less parsimonious interpretation that V. parvulus had superposition eyes. If we accept the hypothesis that V. parvulus had apposition eyes, since the La Voulte palaeoenvironment is considered deep water and had a soft substrate, V. parvulus could have moved into the La Voulte Lagerstätte setting. If this is the case, La Voulte biota would record a combination of multiple palaeoenvironments.

show abstract

Submarine caves in a Jurassic reef (La Rochelle, France) and the evolution of cave biotas

Cited by 46 publications

References 11 publications

An ammonite–fish association from the Kimmeridgian (Upper Jurassic) of La Rochelle, western France

An ammonite–fish association from the Kimmeridgian (Upper Jurassic) of La Rochelle, western France

Metazoan/microbial biostalactites from present‐day submarine caves in the Mediterranean Sea

Palaeoecology of Voulteryon parvulus (Eucrustacea, Polychelida) from the Middle Jurassic of La Voulte-sur-Rhône Fossil-Lagerstätte (France)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About