1. The Fidelity of the Fossil Record: An Inquiry-based Activity Stressing the Interpretation of Taphonomic Data
Michael Savarese
Florida Gulf Coast University
Whitaker Center for STEM Education

2. Overview Interpretation and application of taphonomic data.
Concepts of: temporal & spatial fidelity, assemblage types, paleoenvironmental reconstruction & depositional history.
Designed for collection-poor situations.
Multi-phase activity that engages higher level thinking, involves collaboration, and promotes both oral and written communication.

3. Activity’s Goals
Gain an appreciation of taphonomy’s value to paleoenvironmental reconstruction.
Become acquainted with aspects of biostratinomy and assessment of preservational states.
Designed as an exemplar of the scientific method: hypothesis generation & testing, making predictions, analyzing qualitative data.
A collaborative exercise stressing communication.

4. The Audience . . .
Upper class undergraduate majors in Marine Science, Environmental Studies, Biology.
Not a geology course / no geology major.
Geoscience as a supportive discipline for environmental science.
An “applications of paleontology” course.
Offered once every 2 years as an elective.

5. Description & Design, Part I
Enter with background in taphonomy.
Introduce assemblage types: biocoenosis, thanatocoenosis, taphocoenosis.
Compile a list of biostratinomic predictions for each assemblage type.
Provided with a questionnaire to guide their thinking.
Do in small groups, groups report back, & master set of predictions compiled.

6. Handout Provided Defines assemblage types.
Guide for compiling predictions.
IPCC 2001

7. Description & Design, Part II
Fossil assemblage is presented.
The stratigraphic context is presented in a short PowerPoint presentation.
The fossils are presented with a series of images on each group’s laptop. Slides annotated with observations.
Each group tasked with interpreting the assemblage type with supportive evidence.

8. The Fidelity of Fossil Assemblages
An Exercise at Recognizing Good vs. Poor Spatial and Temporal Fidelity
The Fidelity of Fossil Assemblages
The Fidelity of Fossil Assemblages: An Exercise at Recognizing Good vs. Poor Spatial and Temporal Fidelity

9. Assemblage Types
Biocoenosis: All members of the community are represented.
Thanatocoenosis: All fossils present were members of the community, but some members are missing.
Taphocoenosis: Some fossils present were not members of the community – time averaged (poor temporal fidelity) or transported (poor spatial fidelity) assemblage
Assemblage Types:
1. Biocoenosis: All members of the community are represented.
2. Thanatocoenosis: All fossils present were members of the community, but some members are missing.
3. Taphocoenosis: Some fossils present were not members of the community – time averaged (poor temporal fidelity) or transported (poor spatial fidelity) assemblage

10. How Do You Distinguish Among Assemblage Types?
Each should have some predictable set of biostratinomic features.
Each should have different bioclast fabrics.
Each should have different sedimentologic characteristics.
How Do You Distinguish Among Assemblage Types?
Each should have some predictable set of biostratinomic features.
Each should have different bioclast fabrics.
Each should have different sedimentologic characteristics.

11. Problem: Case of Unusual Preservation
Find a strangely preserved fossil assemblage in Hamilton Group rocks (Middle Devonian, 350 Ma) from western New York State.
Found in thin limestone beds.
A large interior seaway sat on the interior of North America at this time.
Your task: Determine which type of assemblage is represented.
The following slides and associated notes will guide you through the problem.
Problem: Case of Unusual Preservation
Find a strangely preserved fossil assemblage in Hamilton Group rocks (Middle Devonian, 350 Ma) from western New York State.
Found in thin limestone beds.
A large interior seaway sat on the interior of North America at this time.
Your task: Determine which type of assemblage is represented.
The following slides and associated notes will guide you through the problem.

12. Shown is an outcrop of the Centerfield Member of the Middle Devonian Hamilton Group at Brown’s Creek in Genesee County, western New York State. The Centerfield is composed of shales, mudstones, and limestones. The red arrow points out the mud-rich rocks (shales and mudstones), and the blue arrows denote the thin limestones. It is within the thin limestones that the unusually preserved fossil assemblages occur. The mud rocks exhibit more typical fossil preservation (shown in a subsequent slide).

13. This is a stratigraphic section showing the stratigraphy of the Centerfield Member. The Brown’s Creek outcrop exposes the lower half of the section, including sampling intervals (or horizons) The thin limestones containing the unusual fossil assemblage are represented by horizons 11 and 13.

14. a b c
Upper surface of a mudstone, rather than a limestone, that shows the typical preservation of fossil assemblages within the Centerfield Member. Fragments of crinoids (belonging the Phylum Echinodermata; labeled “a”) and bryozoan colonies (“b”) are common; brachiopods (bi-valved organisms) are typically disarticulated; molluscs composed of aragonite are preserved as molds; and trilobites (Phylum Arthropoda) are found as isolated, disarticulated segments (“c”).
Upper surface of a mudstone, rather than a limestone, that shows the typical preservation of fossil assemblages within the Centerfield Member. Fragments of crinoids (belonging the Phylum Echinodermata; labeled “a”) and bryozoan colonies (“b”) are common; brachiopods (bi-valved organisms) are typically disarticulated; molluscs composed of aragonite are preserved as molds; and trilobites (Phylum Arthropoda) are found as isolated, disarticulated segments (“c”).

15. This and all subsequent slides show various styles of preservation within the thin-bedded limestones. Shown is a proetid trilobite (Phylum Arthropoda) preserved in the orientation seen here. The cephalon or head is at a right angle to the thorax and pygidium (the main body and tail). The cephalon rests on the upper surface of the limestone with the remainder of the body positioned vertically down into the limestone. A trilobite thorax is composed of numerous articulated segments.
This and all subsequent slides show various styles of preservation within the thin-bedded limestones. Shown is a proetid trilobite (Phylum Arthropoda) preserved in the orientation seen here. The cephalon or head is at a right angle to the thorax and pygidium (the main body and tail). The cephalon rests on the upper surface of the limestone with the remainder of the body positioned vertically down into the limestone. A trilobite thorax is composed of numerous articulated segments.

16. This bivalve mollusc’s shell (belonging the Class Bivalvia, Phylum Mollusca) was originally composed of aragonite, but is preserved as recrystallized calcite. Both valves are articulated and the shells have not been laterally compressed. The specimen is positioned in the same orientation it was found within the limestone; the umbo (beak) is oriented up in the limestone. The matrix of the limestone is seen adjacent to the fossil.
This bivalve mollusc’s shell (belonging the Class Bivalvia, Phylum Mollusca) was originally composed of aragonite, but is preserved as recrystallized calcite. Both valves are articulated and the shells have not been laterally compressed. The specimen is positioned in the same orientation it was found within the limestone; the umbo (beak) is oriented up in the limestone. The matrix of the limestone is seen adjacent to the fossil.

17. A B C
Shown is a polished cross section of one of the thin-bedded limestones. The slab is oriented as found; up in the limestone was up in the outcrop. Within the limestone are fossil brachiopods (Phylum Brachiopoda). Brachiopods secrete calcitic shells; these fossils are still composed of calcite. The two valves composing the brachiopods are found still articulated. Most articulated specimens have coarse crystalline calcite infillings (seen at “A”), while a small number are filled with sediment (labeled “B”). One specimen still shows preservation of the lophophore support structure (labeled “C”).
Shown is a polished cross section of one of the thin-bedded limestones. The slab is oriented as found; up in the limestone was up in the outcrop. Within the limestone are fossil brachiopods (Phylum Brachiopoda). Brachiopods secrete calcitic shells; these fossils are still composed of calcite. The two valves composing the brachiopods are found still articulated. Most articulated specimens have coarse crystalline calcite infillings (seen at “A”), while a small number are filled with sediment (labeled “B”). One specimen still shows preservation of the lophophore support structure (labeled “C”).

18. Shown is a Greenops trilobite (Phylum Arthropoda) preserved as a molt
Shown is a Greenops trilobite (Phylum Arthropoda) preserved as a molt. Trilobites, like all arthropods, grew by molting; this species shed its cephalon and then crawled out of its thorax and pygidium. The surface upon which the trilobite is preserved is a bedding plane of the limestone.
Shown is a Greenops trilobite (Phylum Arthropoda) preserved as a molt. Trilobites, like all arthropods, grew by molting; this species shed its cephalon and then crawled out of its thorax and pygidium. The surface upon which the trilobite is preserved is a bedding plane of the limestone.

19. This is another limestone bedding plane surface with trilobites
This is another limestone bedding plane surface with trilobites. This is a grouping of at least 3 individuals of the genus Otarion, but these specimens are not molts. Some paleontologists have suggested that trilobites gathered for copulatory events (a phenomenon known as a coterie), similar to behaviors exhibited by chelicerate arthropods like modern horseshoe crabs.
This is another limestone bedding plane surface with trilobites. This is a grouping of at least 3 individuals of the genus Otarion, but these specimens are not molts. Some paleontologists have suggested that trilobites gathered for copulatory events (a phenomenon known as a coterie), similar to behaviors exhibited by chelicerate arthropods like modern horseshoe crabs.

20. A B C a b c d
Four other unusual fossil occurrences. (1) Shown are 2 specimens of fossil crinoids (Phylum Echinodermata); these animals are composed of numerous articulated plates that make up the stem (a), calyx (b), arms (c), and pinnules (d). All structures are seen here intact. (2) A number of different fossils are shown on this upper surface of a limestone bedding plane. “A” is a spiriferid brachiopod with its two valves still articulated, resting with its commissure (the valve opening) up and its broad hinge area down. “B” is a gum-drop-shaped colonial tabulate coral (Phylum Cnidaria) resting with its flat lower surface down. Lastly, at “C” is an encrusting tabulate coral that appears to rest directly upon the upper surface of the limestone. (3) This is a possible coterie of the trilobite Phacops; these specimens are not molts. (4) A collection of articulated fossil blastoids (Phylum Echinodermata), which, like crinoids, are composed of numerous skeletal plates. Only calyces are shown; stems and arms are not preserved.
Four other unusual fossil occurrences. (1) Shown are 2 specimens of fossil crinoids (Phylum Echinodermata); these animals are composed of numerous articulated plates that make up the stem (a), calyx (b), arms (c), and pinnules (d). All structures are seen here intact. (2) A number of different fossils are shown on this upper surface of a limestone bedding plane. “A” is a spiriferid brachiopod with its two valves still articulated, resting with its commissure (the valve opening) up and its broad hinge area down. “B” is a gum-drop-shaped colonial tabulate coral (Phylum Cnidaria) resting with its flat lower surface down. Lastly, at “C” is an encrusting tabulate coral that appears to rest directly upon the upper surface of the limestone. (3) This is a possible coterie of the trilobite Phacops; these specimens are not molts. (4) A collection of articulated fossil blastoids (Phylum Echinodermata), which, like crinoids, are composed of numerous skeletal plates. Only calyces are shown; stems and arms are not preserved.

21. Fossil rugose corals (Phylum Cnidaria) are common within the limestone, but can have variable preservational qualities. Some corals have a well-preserved epitheca (the exterior wall of the coral), like the one preserved on the left; others have had their epitheca corroded away, like the specimen seen on the right.
Fossil rugose corals (Phylum Cnidaria) are common within the limestone, but can have variable preservational qualities. Some corals have a well-preserved epitheca (the exterior wall of the coral), like the one preserved on the left; others have had their epitheca corroded away, like the specimen seen on the right.

22. A
Yet other rugose corals can have one half, in this case the lower, well preserved with the epitheca of the other half stripped away. This specimen was oriented like this in the outcrop. This specimen has encrusting tabulate corals (labeled “A”) on the upper surface; no encrusters are found on the lower half.
Yet other rugose corals can have one half, in this case the lower, well preserved with the epitheca of the other half stripped away. This specimen was oriented like this in the outcrop. This specimen has encrusting tabulate corals (labeled “A”) on the upper surface; no encrusters are found on the lower half.

23. Description & Design, Part III
Optional: Ask students to propose a mechanism leading to this preservation.
Done as a class-wide discussion.
Introduce obrution deposits.

24. The obrution mechanism is described here
The obrution mechanism is described here. A storm event higher up on the continental shelf in shallower water causes erosion and resuspension of fine-grained sediments (muds). These suspended muds then are transported downslope to deeper water by offshore storm currents (storm ebb tidal flows of sorts) and these sediments smother an entire benthic community quickly with little disturbance. Smothering leads to anoxic (low oxygen) conditions and decay which generates a microreducing environment within the sediments. This ultimately causes carbonate to come out of solution as an early cement. A limestone is formed soon after burial. This combination of sudden burial and early lithification leads to the excellent preservation and high fidelity. If this mechanism can be applied to this Hamilton Group fossil assemblage, then the assemblage is best classified as a thanatocoenosis.

25. Assessment
Writing exercise. Essay with answers to the following questions:
Does this fossil assemblage represent a biocoenosis, thanatocoenosis, or taphocoenosis?
If the latter, a taphocoenosis, does it appear to be a transported or time-averaged assemblage?
And lastly, what is your assessment of the assemblage’s spatial and temporal fidelity?
Tried both as an individual and collaborative writing assignment.
Reflections on both.

26. Adaptability
Because this exercise is specimen free, it’s adoptable by anyone.
Can be used with or without coverage of fossil groups.
Doesn’t require any out of the ordinary resources.

27. Whitaker Center for STEM Education at FGCU
Acknowledgments
Science Education Research Center
Whitaker Center for STEM Education at FGCU
Carl Brett, Stephen Speyer, and Gordon Baird, colleagues at University of Rochester in early 1980s
Photo by D. Graff

28. Questions for Discussion
How handicapped is your teaching by having inadequate collections? Does having digital alternatives help?
As a complete exercise, this is very time consuming. How much time do you commit to these types of engaging exercises?
Have you experimented with collaborative writing? How have you overcome the difficulties of assessing collaborative products?