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Time-averaging, taphonomy, and their impact on paleocommunity reconstruction: Death assemblages in Texas bays

1986; Geological Society of America; Volume: 97; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1130/0016-7606(1986)97 2.0.co;2

1943-2674

George M. Staff, Robert J. Stanton, Eric N. Powell, Hays Cummins,

Coastal and Marine Dynamics

Research Article| April 01, 1986 Time-averaging, taphonomy, and their impact on paleocommunity reconstruction: Death assemblages in Texas bays GEORGE M. STAFF; GEORGE M. STAFF 1Department of Geology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ROBERT J. STANTON, JR.; ROBERT J. STANTON, JR. 1Department of Geology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ERIC N. POWELL; ERIC N. POWELL 2Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar HAYS CUMMINS HAYS CUMMINS 2Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information GEORGE M. STAFF 1Department of Geology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 ROBERT J. STANTON, JR. 1Department of Geology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 ERIC N. POWELL 2Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 HAYS CUMMINS 2Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1986) 97 (4): 428–443. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1986)97 2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation GEORGE M. STAFF, ROBERT J. STANTON, ERIC N. POWELL, HAYS CUMMINS; Time-averaging, taphonomy, and their impact on paleocommunity reconstruction: Death assemblages in Texas bays. GSA Bulletin 1986;; 97 (4): 428–443. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1986)97 2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The death assemblages in upper Copano Bay and upper Laguna Madre, Texas, were compared with the living communities as sampled over a two-year period in order to determine how taphonomy and time-averaging affect paleocommunity reconstruction. The living and death assemblages were compared using taxonomic composition, numerical abundance, diversity, biomass, and trophic and habitat proportions. Taxonomic composition, particularly adult taxonomic composition, and the biomass of the death assemblage more accurately reflect the characteristics of the living community than do numerical abundance and other community attributes based upon numerical abundance such as diversity. Taxonomic composition and biomass are less modified by taphonomy and time-averaging, because they are temporally more persistent characteristics of the community. Community and paleocommunity attributes are not equivalent, because the paleocommunity is described using time-averaged data. Ecological theory must be supplanted by paleoecological theory that takes into account this temporal component. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.