Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Paleobiology and Taphonomy of Exceptionally Preserved Organisms from the Brandon Bridge Formation (Silurian), Wisconsin, USA

Wendruff, Andrew J
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1468844814

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Geological Sciences.
The Waukesha Lagerstatte in the Brandon Bridge Formation (Silurian: Llandovery Series, Telychian Stage) hosts a diverse, exceptionally preserved fauna. Similar to a number of other Silurian Lagerstatten in Laurentia, it was deposited on a warm, shallow-marine carbonate platform. The Waukesha Biota includes an interesting assemblage of organisms, some of which are characteristic of Silurian epeiric seas, others of which are expected but rare in the Silurian, and still others that could be considered “holdovers” of groups more characteristic of the Cambrian. The Waukesha Lagerstatte hosts a diverse biota of metazoans that are mostly marine but also probably some terrestrial forms. Taxa include biomineralized trilobites, conulariids, Sphenothallus, and a variety of non-biomineralized or lightly skeletonized arthropods, lobopodians, `worms,’ a cubozoan, chordates, and graptolites. Echinoderms, cephalopods, brachiopods, gastropods, bivalves, bryozoans, and corals, which are biomineralized and normally common in Silurian shelf lithofacies, are rare or unknown. The Waukesha Lagerstatte substantially increases our understanding of the biota of Silurian carbonate platform ecosystems. Many of the taxa are represented by similar organisms in other less well-known Silurian Lagerstatten. The existence of the diverse Waukesha Biota is the result of specific taphonomic processes related to localized and atypical depositional conditions. Microbial processes contributed in important ways to exceptional preservation in this deposit.
Loren Babcock, PhD (Advisor)
William Ausich, PhD (Committee Member)
Hunter John, PhD (Committee Member)
Lower Steven, PhD (Committee Member)
Feldmann Rodney, PhD (Other)
253 p.
Biology; Earth; Ecology; Geology; Microbiology; Paleontology
Silurian; Llandovery; Telychian; Lagerstatten; Lagerstatten; Brandon Bridge Formation; Waukesha; Waukesha Biota; Exceptional Preservation; arthropods; fossils; paleontology; microbial; microorganisms; microbial mat;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Wendruff, A. J. (2016). Paleobiology and Taphonomy of Exceptionally Preserved Organisms from the Brandon Bridge Formation (Silurian), Wisconsin, USA [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1468844814

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Wendruff, Andrew. Paleobiology and Taphonomy of Exceptionally Preserved Organisms from the Brandon Bridge Formation (Silurian), Wisconsin, USA. 2016. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1468844814.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Wendruff, Andrew. "Paleobiology and Taphonomy of Exceptionally Preserved Organisms from the Brandon Bridge Formation (Silurian), Wisconsin, USA." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1468844814

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1468844814
376
© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.