Abstract
Bulk skeletal composition of Silurian benthic marine faunas was measured by phylum/class-level point counts of 162 samples from Europe and North America. Data for percent of skeletal material were plotted on triangular coordinates, using brachiopods, molluscs and arthropods as one axis, stromatoporoids, corals, and bryozoans as a second axis, and echinoderms as a third axis. This plot shows discrete fields of skeletal composition that correspond to major sedimentary environments. Faunas of nearshore clastic shelves and carbonate tidal flats are dominated by brachiopods, molluscs and arthropods and show relatively low diversity and little or no epifaunal tiering. Faunas of offshore clastic shelfs are dominated by the former three groups and also contain moderate amounts of echinoderms, corals and bryozoans, resulting in higher diversity and variable development of tiering. Reefs and level-bottom faunas of subtidal carbonate sediments are dominated by echinoderms, stromatoporoids, corals and bryozoans and show high diversity and extensive epifaunal tiering.
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