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Foraminiferan tests and dasycladalean thalli as cryptic microhabitats for thaumatoporellacean algae from Mesozoic (Late Triassic–Late Cretaceous) platform carbonates

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Abstract

Thaumatoporellacean algae are widespread constituents in Middle Triassic–Cretaceous shallow-marine carbonates of the Tethyan realm. Based on various examples from Mesozoic limestones of Mediterranean platforms (e.g., Dinaric, Apenninic, Apulia) and rare records of Iberia (Pyrenees), Saudi Arabia and Mexico, it is shown that thaumatoporellaceans commonly dwelt as cryptoendoliths in the tests of larger benthic foraminifera and the thalli of dasycladalean algae. Their high morphological plasticity allowed the test invasion and the adaptation to the available interior spaces (chambers, apertures). The temporal distribution of cryptoendolithic thaumatoporellaceans with first records in the Late Triassic, shows acme intervals in Early–Middle Jurassic and Early–Late Cretaceous times. Within the foraminiferans, the thaumatoporellaceans were erroneously considered as an integral part of the test, respectively, phrenoteca-like structures (species Biokovina gradacensis) in the Lower Jurassic and trematophore (species Scandonea? mediterranea) in the Upper Cretaceous. Therefore, the presence of phrenoteca-like structures in the Biokovinidae, being part of the family diagnosis, is challenged. The comparably thin walls of the cryptoendolithic thaumatoporellacean algae are interpreted as an adaptation to the poorly illuminated microhabitats (photoadaptation) in order to maximize light capture for photosynthesis.

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Acknowledgments

Thin-sections from Albania and Montenegro were kindly provided by Hans-Jürgen Gawlick (Leoben) and Rajka Radoičić (Belgrade). Filippo Barattolo (Naples) is thanked for providing literature and Marc Conrad (Cologny) for commenting the manuscript. Helpful suggestions for improving the manuscript have been provided by an anonymous reviewer and Ioan Bucur (Cluj-Napoca). The investigations of Ivo Velić were partly financed by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia entitled “Microfossil assemblages in carbonate deposits of the Karst Dinarides”(project no 195-1953068-0242). For the kind permission to illustrate figurations of their original works, we thank Ivan Gušić (Zagreb) and Rajka Radoičić (Belgrade).

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  1. Lerchenauerstr. 167, 80935, Munich, Germany

    Felix Schlagintweit

  2. Croatian Geological Survey, Sachsova 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Ivo Velić

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  1. Felix Schlagintweit
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Correspondence to Felix Schlagintweit.

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This work is dedicated to Piero De Castro (Naples) for his numerous and outstanding contributions to the micropaleontology of Mesozoic platform carbonates of Italy.

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Schlagintweit, F., Velić, I. Foraminiferan tests and dasycladalean thalli as cryptic microhabitats for thaumatoporellacean algae from Mesozoic (Late Triassic–Late Cretaceous) platform carbonates. Facies 58, 79–94 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-010-0263-8

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