Palaeoecology of Jurassic encrinites: reconstructing crinoid communities from the Western Interior Seaway of North America

Jurassic crinoid communities in North America are poorly known. However, encrinites (rocks chiefly composed of crinoid debris) are surprisingly common in North America, and represent some of the best examples of post-Palaeozoic crinoid accumulations. These rocks are highly significant for understand...

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Main Authors: Hunter, Aaron, Zonneveld, J.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier BV 2008
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/6471
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author Hunter, Aaron
Zonneveld, J.
author_facet Hunter, Aaron
Zonneveld, J.
author_sort Hunter, Aaron
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Jurassic crinoid communities in North America are poorly known. However, encrinites (rocks chiefly composed of crinoid debris) are surprisingly common in North America, and represent some of the best examples of post-Palaeozoic crinoid accumulations. These rocks are highly significant for understanding the ecology of early isocrinid crinoids, and provide an insight into the wider crinoid communities of North America. Within this reanalysis of Jurassic crinoids of the Western Interior Seaway, a number of non-endemic forms are reported, together with some highly specialized crinoids. Encrinites are varied, with distinct marine and lagoonal communities recognized. These ecological associations are comparable to those seen in the European Jurassic, with many of the classic European genera being present. This new data, and existing data from the Jurassic shallow seas of Europe, demonstrates that crinoid distribution patterns are largely facies influenced while geographical factors are of limited importance. Even within the same region, taxa in lower energy offshore facies contrast strongly with those found in more restricted facies. However, very similar crinoid communities characterize comparable facies in North America and Europe.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-64712019-05-21T06:38:37Z Palaeoecology of Jurassic encrinites: reconstructing crinoid communities from the Western Interior Seaway of North America Hunter, Aaron Zonneveld, J. Jurassic crinoid communities in North America are poorly known. However, encrinites (rocks chiefly composed of crinoid debris) are surprisingly common in North America, and represent some of the best examples of post-Palaeozoic crinoid accumulations. These rocks are highly significant for understanding the ecology of early isocrinid crinoids, and provide an insight into the wider crinoid communities of North America. Within this reanalysis of Jurassic crinoids of the Western Interior Seaway, a number of non-endemic forms are reported, together with some highly specialized crinoids. Encrinites are varied, with distinct marine and lagoonal communities recognized. These ecological associations are comparable to those seen in the European Jurassic, with many of the classic European genera being present. This new data, and existing data from the Jurassic shallow seas of Europe, demonstrates that crinoid distribution patterns are largely facies influenced while geographical factors are of limited importance. Even within the same region, taxa in lower energy offshore facies contrast strongly with those found in more restricted facies. However, very similar crinoid communities characterize comparable facies in North America and Europe. 2008 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/6471 10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.01.027 Elsevier BV restricted
spellingShingle Hunter, Aaron
Zonneveld, J.
Palaeoecology of Jurassic encrinites: reconstructing crinoid communities from the Western Interior Seaway of North America
title Palaeoecology of Jurassic encrinites: reconstructing crinoid communities from the Western Interior Seaway of North America
title_full Palaeoecology of Jurassic encrinites: reconstructing crinoid communities from the Western Interior Seaway of North America
title_fullStr Palaeoecology of Jurassic encrinites: reconstructing crinoid communities from the Western Interior Seaway of North America
title_full_unstemmed Palaeoecology of Jurassic encrinites: reconstructing crinoid communities from the Western Interior Seaway of North America
title_short Palaeoecology of Jurassic encrinites: reconstructing crinoid communities from the Western Interior Seaway of North America
title_sort palaeoecology of jurassic encrinites: reconstructing crinoid communities from the western interior seaway of north america
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/6471