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Taphonomy in the light of intrinsic shell properties and life habits: Marine bivalves from the Eemian of northern Russia

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Abstract

A taphonomic analysis of the bivalvesArctica islandica (Arcticidae),Astarte borealis (Astartidae),Mytilus edulis (Mytilidae), andSpisula elliptica (Mactridae) from shallow-marine last interglacial Sediments exposed along the Pyoza river, Arkhangelsk region, shows that they differ in preservation, probably because of differences in shell shape, shell structures, and life habits. The Shells indicate that the temporal sequence of taphonomic processes was as follows: (1) pre-mortem bioerosion and dissolution; (2) post-mortem bioerosion; (3) abrasion, disarticulation, and fragmentation; and (4) dissolution. A new graphic Illustration, the taphonomic constituent diagram (TCD), is proposed to illustrate the sequences of taphonomic processes. It is inspired by the ichnofabric constituent diagram used in ichnology and integrates the shell surface coverage of different taphonomic features by graphically plotting them against relative time. The taphonomic constituent diagram may display differences in the Chronologie order of paleoenvironmental processes. Also, the diagram enables a combination of both microscopic and macroscopic taphonomic features, and eases comparative studies of fossil assemblages.

Kurzfassung

Eine taphonomische Analyse der BivalvenArctica islandica (Arcticidae),Astarte borealis (Astartidae),Mytilus edulis (Mytilidae) undSpisula elliptica (Mactridae) aus flachmarinen Sedimenten des letzten Interglazials, die entlang des Pyoza in der Region Archangelsk aufgeschlossen sind, zeigt, dass sie in ihrer Erhaltung Unterschiede aufweisen, wahrscheinlich bedingt durch Unterschiede in ihrem Klappenumriss, der Schalenstruktur und ihrer Lebensweise. Die Gehäuse belegen eine zeitliche Abfolge taphonomischer Prozesse wie folgt: (1) prä-mortale Bioerosion und Lösung; (2) post-mortale Bioerosion; (3) Abrasion, Disartikulation und Fragmentation; und (4) Lösung. Eine neue graphische Darstellungsweise, das sog. „Taphonomische Bestandteil-Diagramm“ (Taphonomy Constituent Diagram; TCD) wird vorgestellt, um die Abfolge der taphonomischen Prozesse zu verdeutlichen. Es ist angelehnt an das „Spurengefüge Bestandteil-Diagramm“ (Ichnofabric Constituent Diagram), das in der Ichnologie verwendet wird, und verdeutlicht den Schalenoberflächen-Schutz verschiedener taphonomischer Phänomene durch graphische Gegenüberstellung zum relativen zeitlichen Ablauf. Das Taphonomic Constituent Diagram kann Unterschiede in der chronologischen Abfolge von Paläoumweltprozessen aufzeigen. Außerdem ermöglicht das Diagramm eine Kombination von mikroskopischen und makroskopischen taphonomischen Vorgängen und erleichtert vergleichende Studien fossiler Vergesellschaftungen.

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    Jan Kresten Nielsen

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Nielsen, J.K. Taphonomy in the light of intrinsic shell properties and life habits: Marine bivalves from the Eemian of northern Russia. Paläont. Z. 78, 53–72 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03009130

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