Taphonomy of Holocene cryptic biotas from St. Croix, Virgin Islands: Information loss and preservational biases

Abstract

Research Article| August 01, 1985 Taphonomy of Holocene cryptic biotas from St. Croix, Virgin Islands: Information loss and preservational biases Kenneth A. Rasmussen; Kenneth A. Rasmussen 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Carlton E. Brett Carlton E. Brett 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Kenneth A. Rasmussen 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627 Carlton E. Brett 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1985) 13 (8): 551–553. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1985)13<551:TOHCBF>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 Email Permissions Search Site Citation Kenneth A. Rasmussen, Carlton E. Brett; Taphonomy of Holocene cryptic biotas from St. Croix, Virgin Islands: Information loss and preservational biases. Geology 1985;; 13 (8): 551–553. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1985)13<551:TOHCBF>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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Surveys of submarine caves and overhanging ledges from St. Croix, Virgin Islands, provide new insights into the preservational processes active therein and into the taphonomy of ancient counterparts. Comparisons of preservable, skeletonized versus nonpreservable, unskeletonized components of these modern cryptic communities indicate that there is significant information loss in areals coverage, taxonomic richness, and diversity of fossilized examples. Quantitative estimates of such losses have been made. In addition, skeletal differences between early and late stage successional groups suggest biased representation of the former in the geologic record. Nonpreservable later colonizers may further erase the record of skeletonized forms through destructive life processes. Such forms of taphonomic information loss are probable in ancient counterparts and must be considered in accurate reconstruction of cryptic paleocommunities. 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.