Fossil analogues of present-day Cladocora caespitosa coral banks: Sedimentary setting, dwelling community, and taphonomy (Late Pliocene, W Mediterranean) |
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Authors: | J Aguirre A P Jiménez |
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Institution: | (1) Departamento de Estratigiafia y Paleontología Universidad de Grahada 18071 Grahada, Spain, ES |
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Abstract: | Cladocora caespitosa is a common zooxanthellate, ahermatypic, constructional scleractinian coral in shallow waters of the present-day Mediterranean.
Extensive coral banks in Upper Pliocene shallow marine deposits of the Almería-Níjar Basin (SE Spain) contain the same species.
These banks occur on debris-flow conglomerates deposited in a fan delta, or on bioclastic accumulations interpreted as storm
deposits. Direct relationships of coral beds with coastal facies indicate that C. caespitosa colonized shallow settings near the paleocoast, probably not deeper than 20–30 m. Low turbulence allowed corals to colonize
substrates, which remained stable for long periods. Activity of organisms in the coral community, storms, and detritic discharges
from the fan delta were the most significant mechanisms disturbing the coral development. The hard substrata provided by coral
banks promoted colonization by cemented and epibyssate organisms. Coral banks marked maximum flooding surfaces at the end
of transgressive systems tracks. They were suddenly buried by sediment input into the basin. Taphonomic signatures measured
on components of the coral bank communities indicate a low turbulence environment, probably a bay. The low hydraulic energy
further inhibited post-burial reworking, thus promoting the in situ preservation of a great part of the organisms inhabiting the bioconstructions.
Accepted: 2 December 1997 |
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Keywords: | Cladocora caespitosa Coral Banks Taphonomy Late Pliocene SE Spain |
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