Taphonomy and paleobiology

• DOI: 10.1017/s0094837300026907
• Publication Date: 2019-03-07T10:22:55Z
• Authors: Anna K. Behrensmeyer; Susan M. Kidwell; Robert A. Gastaldo
• Keywords: Taphonomy; Paleobiology; Cladogenesis; Paleoecology; Geologic record; Biota; Temporal scales; Earth history

Taphonomy plays diverse roles in paleobiology. These include assessing sample quality relevant to ecologic, biogeographic, and evolutionary questions, diagnosing the of various taphonomic agents, processes circumstances generating sedimentary fossil records, reconstructing dynamics organic recycling over time as a part Earth history. Major advances past 15 years have occurred understanding (1) controls on preservation, especially ecology biogeochemistry soft-tissue dominance biological versus physical agents destruction remains from all major taxonomic groups (plants, invertebrates, vertebrates); (2) scales spatial temporal resolution, particularly relatively minor role out-of-habitat transport contrasted with effects time-averaging; (3) quantitative compositional fidelity; that is, degree which different types assemblages reflect species composition abundance source faunas floras; (4) large-scale variations through preservational regimes (megabiases), caused by evolution new bodyplans behavioral capabilities, broad-scale changes climate, tectonics, geochemistry surface systems. Paleobiological questions regarding trends biodiversity, extinctions recoveries, timing cladogenesis rates evolution, environmental forcing entail issues appropriate for analysis, wide range strategies are being developed minimize impact incompleteness bias. taphonomically robust metrics paleontologic patterns, gap equalizing samples via rarefaction, inferences about preservation probability, isotaphonomic comparisons, control taxa, modeling artificial based modern analogues. All this work is yielding more assessment both positive negative aspects paleobiological samples. Comparisons syntheses patterns across wider present challenging exciting agenda taphonomy coming decades.