Drilling Predation on Serpulid Polychaetes (Ditrupa arietina) from the Pliocene of the Cope Basin, Murcia Region, Southeastern Spain

We report quantitative analyses of drilling predation on the free-living, tube-dwelling serpulid polychaete Ditrupa arietina from the Cope Cabo marine succession (Pliocene, Spain). Tubes of D. arietina are abundant in the sampled units: 9 bulk samples from 5 horizons yielded ∼5925 specimens of D. arietina. Except for fragmentation, tubes were well preserved. Complete specimens ranged from 3.1 to 13.4 mm in length and displayed allometric growth patterns, with larger specimens being relatively slimmer. Drilled Ditrupa tubes were observed in all samples. Drillholes, identified as Oichnus paraboloides, were characterized by circular to elliptical outline (drillhole eccentricity increased with its diameter), parabolic vertical profile, outer diameter larger than inner diameter, penetration of one tube wall only, narrow range of drill-hole sizes, and non-random (anterior) distribution of drillholes. A total of 233 drilled specimens were identified, with drilling frequencies varying across horizons from 2.7% to 21% (3.9% for pooled data). Many tube fragments were broken across a drillhole suggesting that the reported frequencies are conservative and that biologically-facilitated (drill-hole induced) fragmentation hampers fossil preservation of complete serpulid tubes. No failed or repaired holes were observed. Multiple complete drillholes were present (3.9%). Drilled specimens were significantly smaller than undrilled specimens and tube length and drill-hole diameter were weakly correlated. The results suggest that drillholes were produced by a size-selective, site-stereotypic predatory organism of unknown affinity. The qualitative and quantitative patterns reported here are mostly consistent with previous reports on recent and fossil Ditrupa and reveal parallels with drilling patterns documented for scaphopod mollusks, a group that is ecologically and morphologically similar to Ditrupa. Consistent with previous studies, the results suggest that free-dwelling serpulid polychaetes are preyed upon by drilling predators and may provide a viable source of data on biotic interactions in the fossil record

Calcareous algae: Introduction to contributions from the 5th Regional Symposium of the International Fossil Algae Association

Following the Regional Symposium of the International Fossil Algae Association which has been held in Ferrara (Italy) in 2005, this paper introduces the meeting proceedings

Calcareous algae from the Lower Oligocene Gornji Grad beds of Northern Slovenia

This paper presents the first systematic account of calcareous algae from the limestones of the Lower Oligocene Gornji Grad beds of northern Slovenia. These bioclastic limestones are dominated by different coralline algal assemblages as well as corals, large and small benthic foraminifera as well as bivalves. The taxonomy and growth-forms of eleven species of seven non-geniculate coralline algal genera are described: Lithoporella, Neogoniolithon, Spongites, Lithothamnion, Mesophyllum, Sporolithon, Subterraniphyllum. Additionally, the genera Polystrata (Peyssonneliaceae), Halimeda (Halimedaceae), and Cymopolia (Dasycladaceae) are present. The taxonomic interpretation of fossil coralline material in a manner consistent with generic and specific concepts currently in use for Recent material is, at present, difficult. In the absence of comparative studies on type material, only limited comparisons are possible, and in most cases definitive taxonomic conclusions cannot be reached. Most of the species designations are thus made following an open nomenclature pending the rigorous taxonomic revision of historically established, fossil coralline algal species. The present study reveals a considerable variation of growth-form morphologies at both genus and species levels. This demonstrates the difficulties in using this feature as a diagnostic character in the identification of fossil coralline red algal taxa

Larger foraminifera from the Upper Oligocene of the Venetian area, North-East Italy

A moderately diverse larger foraminiferal fauna from the north-east Italian ‘Arenarie e calcari di S. Urbano’ formation with important stratigraphic, palaeoecological and palaeobiogeographical implications is described with respect to its position in the Western Tethys area. The fauna is dominated by hyaline perforated and porcellaneous forms including Amphistegina, Archaias, Austrotrillina, Miogypsinoides, Neoplanorbulinella, Neorotalia, Nummulites, Operculina and Spiroclypeus. The presence of Miogypsinoides complanatus allows the age of the formation to be determined as late Chattian (Shallow Benthic Zone SBZ 23). The palaeoenvironmental setting is interpreted as a shallow ramp environment ranging from (1) well lit, highly translucent, shallowest part of the photic zone characterized by Archaias and Austrotrillina, the deeper part of the inner ramp with Nummulites, to (2) the shallow part of the middle ramp with Spiroclypeus and miogypsinids and Operculina, to (3) a deeper middleramp setting dominated by coralline rhodoliths along with lepidocylinids. The presence of Archaias hensoni Smout and Eames shows that members of much more diverse Middle Eastern associations of shallow-water larger porcellaneous foraminifera are also present in the north-western parts of the Western Tethys, and reveals a corresponding diversity gradient among larger foraminiferal faunas in the Western Tethys, which is related to a decrease in temperature

Microfacies analysis and palaeoenvironmental interpretation of Lower Oligocene, shallow-water carbonates (Gornji Grad beds, Slovenia)

The microfacies and palaeoenvironment of Lower Oligocene carbonates of the Gornji Grad beds from Slovenia are investigated. These beds form part of a transgressive succession overlying both terrigenous sediments (sandstones and conglomerates) and marine carbonates of Eocene age as well as transgressing directly over Triassic limestones. They are followed by foraminiferal rich marls. The carbonates were investigated using multivariate statistical techniques on point counts of thin sections. They are dominated by poorly sorted biogenic rudstones with pack-/wackestone matrix; pack- and grainstones are subordinate. The biogenic components of the carbonates are dominated by coralline red algae (9 genera with 11 species), corals, small benthic, large benthic, and encrusting foraminifera as well as bivalves. Gastropods, bryozoans, brachiopods, echinoderms, serpulids, and green algae are subordinate. The well preserved components allow details pertaining to taxonomy, growth-forms and taphonomic features to be observed. The following carbonate facies are distinguished: 1) nummulitic, 2) bivalve, 3) foraminiferal - coralline algal, 4) grainstone, 5) coralline algal, 6) coralline algal - coral, and 7) coral facies. All the carbonate facies represent fully marine conditions within the photic zone. They are interpreted with respect to substrate composition and stability, water turbulence, terrigenous input and light

Facies dynamics in Eocene to Oligocene circumalpine carbonates

changes of specific carbonate facies types in time and space, which are controlled by phylogenetic, ecological and geological parameters), is introduced. This concept aims to define and interpret spatial and temporal changes of carbonate facies patterns. It is based on Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene shallow-water carbonate facies types from the circumalpine area (north-eastern Italy, northern Slovenia, Austria and southern Bavaria), which are compared with respect to dominating biogenic components and their distributions along a shelf gradient. This comparison has lead to the distinction and definition of 14 Major Facies Types (MFTs), which are dominated by coralline algae, larger and smaller foraminifera, corals and bryozoans. The presence and distribution of these MFTs from three different time slices (Middle Eocene, Late Eocene and Early Oligocene) is compared. Nine aspects of facies dynamics are distinguished: origination, extinction, immigration, emigration, expansion, reduction, stasis, shift, and replacement of MFTs. These changes are controlled by regional changes in ecological parameters, but also by global events, especially extinction patterns at the Middle/Late Eocene boundary and at the Eocene/Oligocene boundary

Taxonomic and biostratigraphical re-assessments of Subterraniphyllum Elliott (Corallinales, Rhodophyta)

A taxonomic and biostratigraphical re-assessment of Subterraniphyllum Elliott (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) is presented. Results from studies of the type collection and of newly collected material from north-eastern Italy and northern Slovenia have shown that this taxon is not a geniculate coralline red alga as originally suggested by Elliott and most subsequent authors. Vegetatively, Subterraniphyllum most closely resembles certain living members of the Corallinales; however, the phenetic and phylogenetic relationships of Subterraniphyllum to other Corallinales cannot be determined with greater certainty. The exclusion of Subterraniphyllum from any group of Corallinaceae with genicula is based on unequivocal evidence that branch formation does not involve the occurrence of genicula. Subterraniphyllum seems to be restricted to the Oligocene. Reports of occurrences in Upper Eocene and Lower Miocene sediments cannot be substantiated. Subterraniphyllum, however, cannot be considered a useful stratigraphical marker until further data on its occurrence in well-dated carbonate sequences are acquired. This study illustrates the problems associated with placing fossil coralline algal specimens into geniculate genera without the preservation of relevant morphological characters. This is especially true in the absence of the careful assessment of fossil material with respect to current taxonomic concepts of geniculate coralline genera, all of which are based on studies of living species. According to the current concepts for geniculate coralline genera, the placing of fossil specimens into geniculate genera without appropriate evidence must be avoided by grouping all potentially geniculate fragments under the informal group ‘Geniculate sensu lato’. Furthermore, for all those many fossil specimens where unequivocal evidence is not present, it is possible to utilize ‘form genera’ based on characters that are normally preserved. This leads to creating a consistent, workable system of applying names to most fossil corallines so that they can be reliably used in relation to stratigraphical and palaeoecological studies