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Recognizing Fossil Assemblages: Spatial and Temporal Fidelity Exercise

Learn to differentiate among Biocoenosis, Thanatocoenosis, and Taphocoenosis assemblage types using biostratinomic features, bioclast fabrics, and sedimentologic characteristics. Solve a puzzling case of unique fossil preservation in Hamilton Group rocks from New York State.

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Recognizing Fossil Assemblages: Spatial and Temporal Fidelity Exercise

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  1. An Exercise at Recognizing Good vs. Poor Spatial and Temporal Fidelity The Fidelity of Fossil Assemblages

  2. Assemblage Types • Biocoenosis: All members of the community are represented. • Thanatocoenosis: All fossils present were members of the community, but some members are missing. • Taphocoenosis: Some fossils present were not members of the community – time averaged (poor temporal fidelity) or transported (poor spatial fidelity) assemblage

  3. How Do You Distinguish Among Assemblage Types? • Each should have some predictable set of biostratinomic features. • Each should have different bioclast fabrics. • Each should have different sedimentologic characteristics.

  4. Problem: Case of Unusual Preservation • Find a strangely preserved fossil assemblage in Hamilton Group rocks (Middle Devonian, 350 Ma) from western New York State. • Found in thin limestone beds. • A large interior seaway sat on the interior of North America at this time. • Your task: Determine which type of assemblage is represented. • The following slides and associated notes will guide you through the problem.

  5. c a b

  6. C A B

  7. c A b a B C d

  8. A

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