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A Late Silurian Hardground:
VINN & WILSON

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Abstract

Introduction

Material and Methods

Results

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Acknowledgments

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Microconchid-dominated hardground association from the late Pridoli (Silurian) of Saaremaa, Estonia

Olev Vinn and Mark A. Wilson

Abstract

A hardground fauna of moderate diversity from normal marine (shoal to open shelf ) of the late Pridoli of Saaremaa (Estonia) contains: microconchids (Palaeoconchus cf. tenuis, and P. sp.), Anticalyptraea calyptrata, sheet-like trepostome bryozoans, discoid crinoid holdfasts, encrusting graptolites, Aulopora sp., Cornulites sp. and Conchicolites sp. Microconchids are most abundant in the association and form the second most prominent group by encrustation area in the association after trepostome bryozoans. There is a taxonomic polarity between sclerobionts on the upper surface of the hardground and the cryptic fauna beneath. This hardground community shows that the high abundance of microconchids characteristic of Devonian hard substrate communities had been achieved by at least the Pridoli. Microconchids preferred hardground upper surfaces and were able to symbiotically grow within bryozoans when overgrown.

Olev Vinn. Department of Geology, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
Mark A. Wilson. Department of Geology, The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH 44691, USA

Key words: hardground, encrustation, bioerosion, paleoecology, Silurian, Baltica

PE Article Number: 13.2.9A
Copyright: Paleontological Society July 2010
Submission: 17 August 2009. Acceptance: 18 April 2010

 

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A Late Silurian Hardground
Plain-Language & Multilingual  Abstracts | Abstract | Introduction | Materials and Methods
Results | DiscussionAcknowledgments | References
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