Paleoecology of Upper Triassic reef ecosystems and their demise at the Triassic-Jurassic extinction, a potential ocean acidification event ...

• Main Author: Martindale, Rowan Clare author
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Southern California Digital Library (USC.DL) 2012
• Subjects: Geological Sciences degree program; Doctor of Philosophy degree; College of Letters, Arts and Sciences school; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c3-51409; https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/asset-management/2A3BF16D6J1W

The Triassic, 251-201.3 million years ago (Ma), is considered to be the period in Earth history when modern-style reefs, constructed by scleractinian corals (modern stony corals) evolved. Modern corals began calcifying (building a stony skeleton) in the Middle Triassic (245?241 Ma) and reefs built by these newly evolved corals and hypercalcified sponges began to appear in the fossil record, becoming large, extensive structures through the Late Triassic (235?201.3 Ma). This dissertation focuses on the ecology of these new reef ecosystems in the Late Triassic, particularly the zonation of reef constructors, organisms, and ecosystems, as well as how Upper Triassic reefs varied across the globe and through time. Five Upper Triassic reef localities were investigated (three from North America and two from Europe) and these reefs show distinct differences between regions. The southernmost North American reef (Nevada) is built by plate-like stony corals and other coral forms similar to modern reef corals. The reefs ...