Title: Palaeozoic calcareous plankton: evidence from the Silurian of Gotland
Abstract: LethaiaVolume 41, Issue 2 p. 185-194 Palaeozoic calcareous plankton: evidence from the Silurian of Gotland AXEL MUNNECKE, AXEL MUNNECKESearch for more papers by this authorTHOMAS SERVAIS, THOMAS SERVAISSearch for more papers by this author AXEL MUNNECKE, AXEL MUNNECKESearch for more papers by this authorTHOMAS SERVAIS, THOMAS SERVAISSearch for more papers by this author First published: 28 June 2008 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1502-3931.2008.00113.xCitations: 35 Axel Munnecke [[email protected]], GeoZentrum Nordbayern, Fachgruppe Paläoumwelt, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Loewenichstr. 28, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany; Thomas Servais [[email protected]], Laboratoire de Paléontologie et Paléogéographie du Paléozoïque, UMR 8157 du CNRS, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, F-59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France; manuscript received on 30/11/2006; manuscript accepted on 20/07/2007. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Abstract In order to investigate whether or not equivalents to modern calcareous plankton existed in Palaeozoic times, extremely well-preserved successions have to be investigated. The Silurian strata on Gotland (Sweden) are exceptionally well preserved because they have not experienced deep burial conditions and tectonic stress, due to their position on the stable Baltic Shield. Scanning electron microscope investigations of polished, slightly etched rock surfaces revealed the presence of a variety of calcareous micro- and nannofossils. Among these organisms, many can be termed 'calcispheres' (60–100 µm in diameter), whereas others due to their size range (nannofossils) are informally termed herein as 'nannospheres' (10–25 µm in diameter). The systematic attribution of these fossils is unknown (incertae sedis). Mesozoic calcispheres are usually attributed to calcareous cysts of dinoflagellates following comparisons of ultrastructure with modern species. The abundance of different calcispheres in the Silurian sediments of Gotland and the observation that many of the calcareous microfossils occur in distinctly different facies as well as their spherical shape indicate that they probably belong to calcareous micro- and nannoplankton. We therefore conclude that calcareous plankton most probably existed already during the Palaeozoic, but can only be observed under conditions of exceptional preservation. Citing Literature Volume41, Issue2June 2008Pages 185-194 RelatedInformation
Publication Year: 2008
Publication Date: 2008-06-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 45
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