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Mass Extinctions and Changing Taphonomic Processes

Fidelity of the Guadalupian, Lopingian, and Early Triassic Fossil Records

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Taphonomy

Part of the book series: Aims & Scope Topics in Geobiology Book Series ((TGBI,volume 32))

Abstract

The biotic crisis of the Middle Permian through Early Triassic is unmatched in the Phanerozoic in terms of taxonomic diversity losses and paleoecological reorganization. However, the potential taphonomic bias from post-mortem diagenesis for this crucial time has not been evaluated. We assessed the quality of the fossil record during this interval by quantifying the number of Lazarus taxa using our own database, data available in the Paleobiology Database and previous compilations. We also quantitatively tested for paleoecological differences between silicified versus non-silicified faunas. Herein we report that there is no major taphonomic bias due to skeletal mineralogy or fossil preservation affecting the Middle and Late Permian fossil record, but that aragonite-shelled molluscs may exhibit a significant Lazarus effect during the Induan. We propose that a variety of mechanisms affected the fossil record of the Paleozoic/Mesozoic transition, including ocean chemistry, paleobiology of the examined groups, and human influences on taxonomic and sampling practices.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, 53203, USA

    Margaret L. Fraiser

  2. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA

    Matthew E. Clapham

  3. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-0740, USA

    David J. Bottjer

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  1. Margaret L. Fraiser
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Correspondence to Margaret L. Fraiser .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Science & Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ, London, UK

    Peter A. Allison

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, 90089-0740, Los Angeles, California, USA

    David J. Bottjer

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Fraiser, M.L., Clapham, M.E., Bottjer, D.J. (2011). Mass Extinctions and Changing Taphonomic Processes. In: Allison, P.A., Bottjer, D.J. (eds) Taphonomy. Aims & Scope Topics in Geobiology Book Series, vol 32. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8643-3_16

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