Models for simulating the fossil record

Research Article| June 01, 1999 Models for simulating the fossil record Steven M. Holland; Steven M. Holland 1Department of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2501, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mark E. Patzkowsky Mark E. Patzkowsky 2Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-2714, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Steven M. Holland 1Department of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2501, USA Mark E. Patzkowsky 2Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-2714, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1999) 27 (6): 491–494. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)0272.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Steven M. Holland, Mark E. Patzkowsky; Models for simulating the fossil record. Geology 1999;; 27 (6): 491–494. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)0272.3.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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Computer modeling of the distribution of fossils within depositional sequences provides a means for generating hypotheses and increasing understanding of the fossil record. The simulation presented here joins the basin-scale stratigraphic modeling program STRATA, a random-branching model of species origination and extinction, and a model relating the probability of species occurrence to sedimentary facies. Model results indicate that facies sensitivity of species has the strongest control on range offset, i.e., the time between last appearance in a stratigraphic column and the time of extinction within a basin or the time between first appearance in a column and time of origination in a basin. Model results also predict the distribution of zones of increased range offset within depositional sequences. In the results presented here, increased range offset occurs within the transgressive systems tract of the deep basin, in far updip settings, and near the shelf break of the late highstand to early lowstand. The model also demonstrates how incompleteness of the fossil record is partitioned among sampling bias, facies bias, and unconformity bias. In this simulation, sampling bias and facies bias are roughly equal in magnitude and constant across the basin, but unconformity bias increasingly dominates over these two in updip positions. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.