The Four Principal Megabiases in the Known Fossil Record: Taphonomy, Rock Preservation, Fossil Discovery and Fossil Study

Abstract

The Known Fossil Record represents museum collections and the published literature, and it is subject to multiple large-scale megabiases grouped into four major categories: (1) taphonomy; (2) rock preservation; (3) fossil discovery; and (4) fossil study. Taphonomic megabiases are largescale patterns in the quality of the fossil record that affect paleobiologic analysis at provincial to global levels and at timescales usually exceeding ten million years. Taphonomic megabiases are intrinsic (form and behavior) and extrinsic (biotic and abiotic controls on preservation). Other megabiases are the preservation and exposure of rock strata, kyreonomy (discovery) and concipionomy (study). Kyreonomy megabiases include location of fossil sites, mineral evaluation, mineral extraction and colonialism. Concipionomy megabiases include the Taxophile Effect, language and development and distribution of technology.