An illustrated guide to the fossil barnacles (Cirripedia) from the Crags (Plio-Pleistocene) of East Anglia

Global biodiversity patterns in deep time can only be understood fully when the relative preservation potential of each clade is known. The relative preservation potential of marine arthropod clades, a diverse and ecologically important component of modern and past ecosystems, is poorly known. We tackled this issue by carrying out a 205-day long comprehensive, comparative, taphonomic experiment in a laboratory by scoring up to ten taphonomic characters for multiple specimens of seven crustacean and one chelicerate species (two true crabs, one shrimp, one lobster, one hermit crab, one stomatopod, one barnacle and one horseshoe crab). Although the results are preliminary because we used a single experimental setup and algal growth partially hampered observations, some parts of hermit crabs, stomatopods, swimming crabs and barnacles decayed slowly relative to other parts, implying differential preservation potentials within species, largely consistent with the fossil record of these groups. An inferred parasitic isopod, manifested by a bopyriform swelling within a hermit crab carapace, decayed relatively fast.We found limited variation in the decay rate between conspecifics, and we did not observe size-related trends in decay rate. Conversely, substantial differences in the decay rate between species were seen after c. 50 days, with shrimps and stomatopods decaying fastest, suggesting a relatively low preservation potential, whereas the lobster, calico crabs, horseshoe crabs and barnacles showed relatively slow decay rates, suggesting a higher preservation potential. These results are supported by two modern and fossil record-based preservation potential metrics that are significantly correlated to decay rate ranks. Furthermore, we speculate that stemward slippage may not be ubiquitous in marine arthropods. Our results imply that diversity studies of true crabs, lobsters, horseshoe crabs and barnacles are more likely to yield patterns that are closer to their true biodiversity patterns than those for stomatopods, shrimps and hermit crabs.

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“…Darwin ; Buckeridge ; Zullo ; Carriol & Schneider ; Collins et al . ; Gale & Sørensen ; Klompmaker et al . ; Kočí et al .…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Comparative experimental taphonomy of eight marine arthropods indicates distinct differences in preservation potential

2017

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“…It is also possible that all of these boreholes were the product of a single predatory snail. The largest boreholes are of a consistent size, about 0.5 mm or a little less, but smaller boreholes may indicate entry into a longitudinal tube in the shell wall (Collins et al 2014, fig. 1N, O), rather than a narrow boring through the full thickness of the wall.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Comparison with descriptive guides to these taxa (Buizer ; Zullo ; Southward ; Collins et al . ; amongst others) suggests that the barnacles discussed herein are close to B. perforatus , although referred to Balanus sp. herein because of a lack of opercular valves.…”

Section: Identification and Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Aguirre et al (2008) discussed the palaeoecology of barnacle concentrations in the slightly older (Lower Pliocene) deposits of the study area and noted three common species, Concavus concavus (Bronn), Balanus perforatus Brugui ere and Megabalanus sp. Comparison with descriptive guides to these taxa (Buizer 1978;Zullo 1992;Southward 2008;Collins et al 2014; amongst others) suggests that the barnacles discussed herein are close to B. perforatus, although referred to Balanus sp. herein because of a lack of opercular valves.…”

Section: Locality and Horizonmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Site selectivity of predatory borings in Late Pliocene balanid barnacles from south-east Spain

Donovan

Novak

2015

LET

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“…Clearly the PGA is making a significant contribution to this field of Earth Science research with a substantial body of new information and ideas.The PGA has a long tradition of publishing important work on aspects of Quaternary geology and climate change in the form of building-block papers that underpin the subject, and this tradition is continued in the issues considered here. Methodological papers includeFindlater et al (2014) who use sodium and strontium in mollusc shells to help determine the palaeosalinity and palaeotemperature of the Middle Pleistocene of eastern England;Collins et al (2014) who present an illustrated guide to the cirripedes from the Plio-Pleistocene of East Anglia, andBanks and Jones (2014) who report the results of measurements on the rates of surface lowering in limestone terrain in the southern Pennines. Within the classic Quaternary stratigraphy modeMurton et al (2015) provide the latest information on the interglacial and periglacial climates and environments of Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 7 to 5 in south Midland England.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association (PGA) Volume 126, Issue 1

Rose

2015

Proceedings of the Geologists' Association

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An illustrated guide to the fossil barnacles (Cirripedia) from the Crags (Plio-Pleistocene) of East Anglia

Cited by 9 publications

References 14 publications

Comparative experimental taphonomy of eight marine arthropods indicates distinct differences in preservation potential

Comparative experimental taphonomy of eight marine arthropods indicates distinct differences in preservation potential

Site selectivity of predatory borings in Late Pliocene balanid barnacles from south-east Spain

Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association (PGA) Volume 126, Issue 1

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