Conodont Paleoecology of Lower Triassic Thaynes Formation: ABSTRACT

Abstract

The Lower Triassic (Smithian) Thaynes Formation represents a broad spectrum of paleoenvironments. Samples arranged along a generalized depth-salinity environmental gradient from tidal flats to a relatively deep, commonly dysaerobic, basin yielded a conodont fauna of 30 form elements. Association and similarity analysis were used to group the conodont elements into eight conodont entities, reflecting both biologic association (multielement apparatuses) and ecologic association (biofacies). Simple chi-square tests and discriminant analyses, using the eight conodont entities, and indicate presence of three distinctive conodont biofacies related to the generalized environmental gradient. The restricted inner shelf biotope was characterized by a conodont fauna dominated by Par chirognathus. The outer shelf biotope was distinguished by a diverse conodont fauna including the distinctive form Furnishius. The biotope farthest offshore consists of a low diversity conodont fauna composed primarily of species of Neogondolella. Some early Triassic conodonts such as Neospathodus and Ellisonia triassica are ubiquitous, and provide the foundation for a inter-basinal conodont zonation. Early Triassic conodont biotopes can be arranged along a generalized environmental gradient that probably reflects changes in hydrographic factors (e.g., salinity, temperature, and energy) which affected the distribution of conodonts. End_of_Article - Last_Page 437------------