Analytical Bias in Taphonomic Studies of Macro-invertebrates: (Paleo)Environmental and (Paleo)Ecological Implications

Recente revisão da literatura revelou que nos estudos com macroinvertebrados (fósseis e holocênicos) não há padronização dos métodos empregados na análise tafonômica. Assim, muitos dos resultados disponíveis não são comparáveis entre si, mesmo entre pesquisas que envolvem o mesmo grupo taxonâmico, de mesma idade e ambiente deposicional. O efeito que variáveis, tais como tamanho (= fração granulométrica) dos bioclastos, tem na análise tafonômica não é ainda totalmente conhecido. A fim de entender esse aspecto, as assinaturas tafonômicas (articulação, tipo de valva, fragmentação, abrasão, corrosão, modificação da margem, alteração da cor, bioerosão e incrustação) de conchas de braquiópodes [Bouchardia rosea (Mawe)] da enseada de Ubatuba, costa norte do Estado de São Paulo, foram investigadas, segundo diferentes frações granulométricas. Na área de estudo, o substrato de 14 estações de coleta foi amostrado via pegador Van Veen, ao longo do gradiente batimétrico de 0 a 35 m de profundidade. As amostras foram peneiradas com malhas de 8 mm, 6 mm, e 2 mm, totalizando 5.204 conchas de braquiópodes. Os resultados indicam que as assinaturas tafonômicas, quando investigadas independentemente para as conchas de cada fração (8 mm, 6 mm e 2 mm), são registradas de maneira complexa e aleatória. Em adição, análises de agrupamento para a distribuição das assinaturas mostram que a similaridade entre os grupos varia segundo a fração. Portanto, a escolha da fração granulométrica apresenta importante papel nas análises tafonômicas. Os resultados sugerem que a decisão metodológica de concentrar a análise tafonômica em uma única classe de tamanho não, necessariamente, é a melhor opção. Desse modo, o uso da fração total (todas as frações incluídas) forneceu os resultados mais acurados à análise tafonômica das acumulações bioclásticas estudadasA review of recent literature shows that most taphonomic studies of Holocene and fossil macrovertebrates are not methodologically standardized. Hence, results from distinct studies are not comparable, even among researches sharing virtually identical goals, targeting the same biological group of similar age and depositional environment. The effects of the shell size in the taphonomic analysis are still poorly understood. In order to study this issue, the taphonomic signatures (articulation, valve type, fragmentation, abrasion, corrosion, edge modification, color alteration, bioerosion and encrustation) of brachiopod shells [Bouchardia rosea (Mawe)], from Ubatuba Bay in the northern coast of São Paulo State, were investigated according to the sieve sizes. In the study area, 14 collecting stations were sampled via Van Veen grab sampler, along a bathymetric gradient, ranging from 0 to 35 m of depth. Bulk samples were sieved through 8 mm, 6 mm, and 2 mm mesh sizes, yielding a total of 5.204 shells. The results indicate that, when taphonomic signatures were independently analyzed per size classes (8 mm, 6 mm, and 2 mm), the taphonomic signatures are recorded in a complex and random way. Additionally, cluster analysis showed that the similarity among the clusters vary according to the considered sieve size. Thus, the sieve size plays an important role in the distribution of taphonomic signatures in shells of distinct sizes. These results suggest that the concentration of the taphonomic analysis on one class (e.g., the largest sieve size, 8 mm) is not always the best method. Rather, the total data (all sieves included) seems more accurate in recording the whole spectrum of taphonomic processes recorded in shells of a given assemblage

Paleogeography of Paracatu high: the geological record from bone-beds of the Sanfranciscana basin, Brazil

Rochas mesozóicas do Brasil contêm registros relativamente abundantes de tetrápodes fósseis continentais, particularmente triássicos e cretáceos, alguns de importância internacional. Embora estudos paleontológicos de caráter taxonômico sejam relativamente comuns, são ainda escassos os estudos tafonômicos de alta resolução, especialmente das ocorrências com dinossauros cretáceos. Entretanto, a Tafonomia e a Estratigrafia constituem ferramentas indispensáveis para a determinação dos processos deposicionais, dos paleoambientes e das relações ecológicas entre os fósseis. A presente contribuição fornece a primeira análise estratigráfica e tafonômica de detalhe, de três bone-beds de dinossauros que ocorrem no Alto de Paracatu, Bacia Sanfransiscana, na região de Montes Claros, município de Coração de Jesus, MG. A sucessão sedimentar portadora das ocorrências fósseis é, provavelmente, coeva às rochas do Grupo Areado (Formação Abaeté, Barremiano-Aptiano). Entretanto, tanto a sucessão sedimentar, quanto a ocorrência de dinossauros são novas para a Bacia Sanfranciscana e aqui descritas pela primeira vez. Para estudar as ocorrências fossilíferas acima, procedimentos padrão para mapeamento geológico e levantamentos estratigráficos foram empregados, culminando com a análise de fácies e determinação da arquitetura dos depósitos. Arenitos e siltitos, dentre outros litótipos, forneceram amostras para as análises petrográficas. As análises tafonômicas incluíram a exposição e o mapeamento das ocorrências. A direção e o mergulho dos elementos ósseos alongados foi plotada em estereogramas. As feições tafonômicas dos ossos e as evidências de deformação litostática, composição mineral e alteração da textura superficial dos ossos foram analisadas tanto no campo, como no laboratório. Os dados obtidos indicam que as três acumulações estudadas ocorrem em sedimentos de leques aluviais, em ambiente lacustre marginal, representando concentrações parautóctones/autóctones, de ossos de poucos indivíduos saurópodes e terópodes, com mistura temporal. Na sucessão sedimentar, as concentrações apresentam distribuição vertical e horizontal restrita. De acordo com os dados disponíveis de momento, a história tafonômica dos restos de dinossauros de Coração de Jesus pode ser sumariada da seguinte forma: Fase bioestratinômica incluiu (1) biodegradação subaérea de carcaças de saurópodes, às margens do sistema lacustre, (2) desarticulação parcial ou total dos esqueletos de alguns indivíduos, (3) necrofagia de algumas carcaças de saurópodes, provavelmente por terópodes, e (4) pré-soterramento (recobrimento) e reorientação dos ossos, por fluxos de detritos atingindo o sistema lacustre. Os processos relativos à diagênese dos fósseis incluíram: (1) deformação plástica dos ossos, devido à pressão litostática, (2) perminaralização inicial, (3) fraturamento dos ossos devido ao rearranjo dos depósitos, pela deposição final das cunhas clásticas, associadas aos fluxos de detritos distais, e (4) exposição natural, subaérea, de alguns espécimes e intemperismo em ambiente atual. Finalmente, o tipo de concentração acima descrito e a sucessão sedimentar sugerem que as fácies sedimentares associadas às porções distais dos leques aluviais podem acumular carcaças de grandes saurópodes, titanossaurídeos, em excelente estado de preservação. Essas ocorrências chamam a atenção para o potencial dos depósitos de leques aluviais, em sistemas de lagos tectônicos, como repositório de importantes dados paleontológicos do Mesozóico.The Mesozoic rocks from Brazil exhibit a particularly abundant record of Triassic and Cretaceous tetrapod fossils, some with worldwide relevance. Although paleontological studies are relatively numerous, high resolution taphonomic information about the Cretaceous dinosaur occurrences are normally missing. However, both taphonomy and stratigraphy are necessary for reconstructing paleoenvironments and original ecological relationships among fossil organisms. The present contribution provides the first detailed stratigraphical and taphonomical analyses of three dinosaur bone-beds from the Montes Claros region, Coração de Jesus County, State of Minas Gerais. The fossiliferous sedimentary succession at the Paracatu-High, Sanfranciscana Basin, is probably coeval to rocks of the Areado Group (Abaeté Formation, Barremian-Aptian). Both the sedimentary deposits and the bone concentrations are entirely new to the stratigraphic record of the Sanfranciscana Basin. To study these occurrences conventional stratigraphic sections were measured and detailed logs taken after field-based facies analysis. Lateral mapping and photographs indicate the lateral continuity of beds and sedimentary architecture. Sandstones and mudstones, among others provided samples for petrographical analysis. Taphonomical methods included bone deposit mapping using grid squares and photographs. The strike and dip of long axes of appendicular bones were plotted in stereoplots. Taphonomic signatures of bones and evidence of pre-burial disturbance, lithostatic deformation, mineral composition, and bone surficial texture were analyzed in the field and laboratory. Data gathered indicate that the three bone-beds are localized (stratigraphically and geographically) time-averaged, parautochthonous/autochthonous accumulations of articulated, disarticulated/associated, and disarticulated bones that represent a few sauropod and teropod individuals. The bone concentrations are found in alluvial fan sediments within a lake system. The taphonomic history can be briefly summarized, as follow: Biostratinomic processes included (1) subaerial biodegradation of sauropod carcasses on lake margins, (2) partial or total skeletal disarticulation of some specimens, (3) scavenging or necrophagy of sauropod carcasses by teropod dinosaurs, and (4) pre-burial and reorientation of all bones by sporadic debris flows. Fossil-diagenetic processes included: (1) plastic deformation of bones due to lithostatic pressure, (2) initial permineralization, (3) fracturing during the final burial and deposition of clastic edges associated to debris flows, and (4) exposure of some individuals, and postfossilization, subaerial bone weathering. The type of bone concentrations and the sedimentary succession, herein described, suggests that debritic facies in distal-fan environments can accumulate large titanosaur bones, some in excellent preservational state. This taphonomic mode outlines the potential of alluvial fans as important sources of paleontological data in Mesozoic tectonic controlled lake systems

Viés Analítico em Estudos Tafonômicos com Macroinvertebrados: Implicações (Paleo)Ambientais e (Paleo)Ecológicas

A review of recent literature shows that most taphonomic studies of Holocene and fossil macrovertebrates are not methodologically standardized. Hence, results from distinct studies are not comparable, even among researches sharing virtually identical goals, targeting the same biological group of similar age and depositional environment. The effects of the shell size in the taphonomic analysis are still poorly understood. In order to study this issue, the taphonomic signatures (articulation, valve type, fragmentation, abrasion, corrosion, edge modification, color alteration, bioerosion and encrustation) of brachiopod shells (Bouchardia rosea (Mawe)), from Ubatuba Bay in the northern coast of São Paulo State, were investigated according to the sieve sizes. In the study area, 14 collecting stations were sampled via Van Veen grab sampler, along a bathymetric gradient, ranging from 0 to 35 m of depth. Bulk samples were sieved through 8 mm, 6 mm, and 2 mm mesh sizes, yielding a total of 5.204 shells. The results indicate that, when taphonomic signatures were independently analyzed per size classes (8 mm, 6 mm, and 2 mm), the taphonomic signatures are recorded in a complex and random way. Additionally, cluster analysis showed that the similarity among the clusters vary according to the considered sieve size. Thus, the sieve size plays an important role in the distribution of taphonomic signatures in shells of distinct sizes. These results suggest that the concentration of the taphonomic analysis on one class (e.g., the largest sieve size, 8 mm) is not always the best method. Rather, the total data (all sieves included) seems more accurate in recording the whole spectrum of taphonomic processes recorded in shells of a given assemblage

Analytical Bias in Taphonomic Studies of Macro-invertebrates: (Paleo)Environmental and (Paleo)Ecological Implications

A review of recent literature shows that most taphonomic studies of Holocene and fossil macrovertebrates are not methodologicallystandardized. Hence, results from distinct studies are not comparable, even among researches sharing virtually identical goals, targetingthe same biological group of similar age and depositional environment. The effects of the shell size in the taphonomic analysis arestill poorly understood. In order to study this issue, the taphonomic signatures (articulation, valve type, fragmentation, abrasion, corrosion,edge modifi cation, color alteration, bioerosion and encrustation) of brachiopod shells [Bouchardia rosea (Mawe)], from UbatubaBay in the northern coast of São Paulo State, were investigated according to the sieve sizes. In the study area, 14 collecting stationswere sampled via Van Veen grab sampler, along a bathymetric gradient, ranging from 0 to 35 m of depth. Bulk samples weresieved through 8 mm, 6 mm, and 2 mm mesh sizes, yielding a total of 5.204 shells. The results indicate that, when taphonomic signatureswere independently analyzed per size classes (8 mm, 6 mm, and 2 mm), the taphonomic signatures are recorded in a complex andrandom way. Additionally, cluster analysis showed that the similarity among the clusters vary according to the considered sieve size. Thus, the sieve size plays an important role in the distribution of taphonomic signatures in shells of distinct sizes. These results suggest that the concentration of the taphonomic analysis on one class (e.g., the largest sieve size, 8 mm) is not always the best method. Rather, the total data (all sieves included) seems more accurate in recording the whole spectrum of taphonomic processes recorded in shells of a given assemblage