Response of triassic reef coral communities to sea-level fluctuations, storms and sedimentation: Evidence from a spectacular outcrop (Adnet, Austria) |
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Authors: | Dr Michaela Bernecker Dr Oliver Weidlich Prof Dr Erik Flügel |
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Institution: | 1. Institut für Pal?ontologie, Universit?t Erlangen, Loewenichstr.28, D-91054, Erlangen 2. Institut für Angewandte Geowissenschaften II, Sekr. EB 10, TU Berlin, Ernst-Reuter Platz 1, D-10587, Berlin
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Abstract: | Summary The Upper Rhaetian coral limestone of Adnet, southeast of Salzburg Austria has been repeatedly referred to as one of the most
spectacular examples of an ancient ‘autochthonous’ coral reef structure. The ‘Tropfbruch’ quarry is probably the best outcrop
for interpreting the distributional patterns of biotic successions and communities of a late Triassic patch reef. Our study
is based on the interpretation of a) outcrop photographs, b) reef maps resulting from quadrat transects, and c) the analysis
of quantitative data describing the distribution and frequency of reef organisms and sediment. A new methodological approach
(combination of reef mapping and photo-transects) is used to obtain quantitative field data which can be compared in greater
detail with data from modern coral reefs investigated by corresponding quantitative surveys.
Three unconformities and three well-defined ‘reef growth stages’ reflecting the vertical and lateral development of the reef
structure were differrentiated using transects:
Stage 1, representing the reef growth optimum, is characterized by laterally differentiated coral reef knobs with corals in
growth position. Criteria supporting this interpretation are the extraordinary size of the corals, their preservation in situ
and the great thickness of this interval. The massive coralPamiroseris grew under higher energy conditions at the rim of the reef knob, whereas branchingRetiophyllia colonies preferred less agitated water in the center. Vertical changes are reflected by an increase in frequency of the dasycladacean
algaDiplopora adnetensis and by the decreasing size ofRetiophyllia. These sedimentological and biological criteria together with the unconformity above indicate a fall in the sea level as
a major control mechanism.
Stage 2, separated from stage 1 by an unconformity caused by partial subaerial exposure and karstification, is characterized
by vertically stacked coral successions with diverse reef debris. Facies heterogeneity is reflected by differences in the
diversity, taphonomy and packing density of reef-building organisms as well as by differences in sediment input from the platform.
Water depths and accommodation space were lower, therefore minor sea level fluctuations had a stronger effect on the biotic
composition. The high percentage of coral debris and corals reworked by storms and the increase in the input of platform sediment
led to a reduction of reef growth.
Stage 3, again separated at the base by an unconformity associated with karstification, is characterized by bioclastic sediments
with isolated reefbuilders forming a level-bottom community. The distribution of different coral morphotypes suggests that
sea level fluctuations were not the only controlling factor. Variations in the substrate were caused by differences in the
input of platform sediment.
The three-step development seen in Adnet documents the response of low-diverse coral associations to variations caused by
small-scale sea level changes, storm activity and sedimentation. The vertical changes in reef community structures correspond
to a sequence of ‘allogenic replacements’.
The Adnet reef structure should not be regarded as a general model of Alpine Upper Rhaetian reefs, because of the particular
setting of the patch reef. Only the ‘capping beds’ of the Upper Rhaetian Reef Limestone of the Steinplatte exhibit criteria
similar to Adnet.
Potential modern analogues of features seen in the coral communities of Adnet are the internal structure of theRetiophyllia thickets, the key role of branching corals within the communities, the scattered distribution and low and even diversity
of corals subsequent to breaks in settlement, segration patterns of corals indicating ‘contact avoidance’, toppling of large
coral colonies by intensive boring, and decreasing coral coverage from deeper and sheltered settings to more shallower water
depths. |
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Keywords: | Coral Reef Ecology Quantitative Field Analysis Reef Communities Paleokarst Austria Late Triassic (Rhaetian) |
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