Other| June 01, 2003 Paleoecology of Sponge-?Hydroid Associations in Silurian Microbial Reefs CONSTANCE M. SOJA; CONSTANCE M. SOJA 1Department of Geology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, csoja@mail.colgate.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar MEGAN MITCHELL; MEGAN MITCHELL 1Department of Geology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, csoja@mail.colgate.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ALICIA J. NEWTON; ALICIA J. NEWTON 1Department of Geology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, csoja@mail.colgate.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JANN VENDETTI; JANN VENDETTI 1Department of Geology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, csoja@mail.colgate.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar CHRISTY VISAGGI; CHRISTY VISAGGI 1Department of Geology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, csoja@mail.colgate.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ANNA I. ANTOSHKINA; ANNA I. ANTOSHKINA 2Institute of Geology, Komi Science Centre, 54 Pervomayskaya Street, Syktyvkar 167982, Russia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar BRIAN WHITE BRIAN WHITE 3Department of Geology, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information CONSTANCE M. SOJA 1Department of Geology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, csoja@mail.colgate.edu MEGAN MITCHELL 1Department of Geology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, csoja@mail.colgate.edu ALICIA J. NEWTON 1Department of Geology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, csoja@mail.colgate.edu JANN VENDETTI 1Department of Geology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, csoja@mail.colgate.edu CHRISTY VISAGGI 1Department of Geology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, csoja@mail.colgate.edu ANNA I. ANTOSHKINA 2Institute of Geology, Komi Science Centre, 54 Pervomayskaya Street, Syktyvkar 167982, Russia BRIAN WHITE 3Department of Geology, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063 Publisher: SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology Accepted: 08 Feb 2003 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1938-5323 Print ISSN: 0883-1351 Society for Sedimentary Geology PALAIOS (2003) 18 (3): 225–235. https://doi.org/10.1669/0883-1351(2003)018<0225:POSHAI>2.0.CO;2 Article history Accepted: 08 Feb 2003 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation CONSTANCE M. SOJA, MEGAN MITCHELL, ALICIA J. NEWTON, JANN VENDETTI, CHRISTY VISAGGI, ANNA I. ANTOSHKINA, BRIAN WHITE; Paleoecology of Sponge-?Hydroid Associations in Silurian Microbial Reefs. PALAIOS 2003;; 18 (3): 225–235. doi: https://doi.org/10.1669/0883-1351(2003)018<0225:POSHAI>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyPALAIOS Search Advanced Search Abstract Microbial boundstones from Alaska and Russia yield new insights into the paleoecology of Silurian biotas that inhabited stromatolite reefs. These high-energy reefs were built along the Uralian Seaway in the Late Silurian by a diverse suite of microorganisms in association with accessory metazoans, predominantly sphinctozoan sponges. Within the stromatolite framework, three species of small, solitary, sphinctozoans (aphrosalpingids) encrusted a variety of hard substrates, mostly skeletal remains but also microbial laminae and cavity surfaces. Fossils encrusted by the sponges include the problematic hydroid Fistulella, possible stromatoporoids (recrystallized), crinoids, the possible cyanobacterium Ludlovia, corals, and unidentifiable shelly debris. In addition to the ubiquitous microbial laminae, the sponges, Fistulella, and ?stromatoporoids were less commonly encrusted by Ludlovia, Renalcis, or crinoids.Well-developed attachment surfaces, including enlarged holdfasts, allowed the sponges to achieve stability on the seafloor after larvae settled randomly on available hard surfaces. A greater incidence of sponge encrustations on Fistulella than on other organisms indicates that some of the sponges may have enjoyed a commensalistic relationship while attached as juveniles to a living substrate. The sponges’ orientation on Fistulella in the sediment suggests that the relationship between the two taxa may have become parasitic, whereby the weight of the sponges caused Fistulella to collapse into the muddy substrate. Recognition of the intimate growth relationships shared by Silurian sphinctozoans, Fistulella, and other organisms expands the fossil record of encrusting sponges, identifies a novel sponge-?hydroid association, and reveals organismal responses to competition for space in mid-Paleozoic microbial reefs. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.