Local variability of taphonomic attributes in a parautochthonous assemblage: can taphonomic signature distinguish a heterogeneous environment?
Local variability of taphonomic attributes in a parautochthonous assemblage: can taphonomic signature distinguish a heterogeneous environment?
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近地组合中埋藏学属性的局部变异性：埋藏学特征能否区分异质环境？
DOI：
10.1017/s0022336000042682
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发表时间：
1990
影响因子：
1.4
通讯作者：
E. Powell
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
George M. Staff;E. Powell
埋藏相基于以下可能性：不同环境之间的埋藏过程存在相当大的变异性，并且这种变异性在组合之间的埋藏学特征中产生可预测的变化。在德克萨斯州中部内陆架上对风暴波基底以上的三个沉积物结构和深度差异不大的站进行了采样。埋藏学分析揭示了沉积物粒度和水深的微妙梯度，这是大多数其他分析无法揭示的。这些梯度可能存在于非常小的空间尺度上，相当于单个广泛露头内的梯度。并非所有埋藏学属性都同样有可能保存在化石记录中。在我们的研究区域中，那些随深度而变化的信息，例如碎裂和铰接，比那些记录沉积物结构变化的信息（例如贝壳上溶解特征的频率变化）更有可能被保留下来。然而，在表征地相时，选址和采样方案很重要，因为栖息地内的变化可能与栖息地之间的变化一样大。对环境平均埋相的描述必须包括采样区域内埋藏属性变化的记录，因为保守的埋藏属性很少存在。碎片，即使是那些无法识别的碎片，也保留着重要的埋藏信息，不应被忽视。仔细的采样应允许同时描述一般地相以及检测环境中重要但未预料到的梯度。
Taphofacies have been based on the likelihood that considerable variability exists in taphonomic processes between different environments and that this variability produces predictable variations in taphonomic signature between assemblages. Three stations above storm wave base that differed little in sediment texture and depth were sampled on the inner continental shelf of central Texas. Taphonomic analysis revealed subtle gradients in sediment grain size and water depth that would not be revealed by most other analyses. These gradients may exist over very small spatial scales, equivalent to those within a single extensive outcrop. Not all taphonomic attributes are equally likely to be preserved in the fossil record. Those varying with depth in our study area, such as fragmentation and articulation, are more likely to be preserved than those documenting changes in sediment texture, such as variation in the frequency of dissolution features on the shells. Nevertheless, siting and sampling protocols are important when characterizing a taphofacies because within-habitat variation is potentially as large as between-habitat variation. Description of the average taphofacies for an environment must include documentation of the variation in taphonomic attributes within the sampled area because few conservative taphonomic attributes exist. Fragments, even those that are unidentifiable, retain significant taphonomic information and should not be ignored. Careful sampling should permit the simultaneous description of general taphofacies as well as the detection of important but unsuspected gradients in the environment.