Epifaunal Zonation on an Upper Cretaceous Rocky Coast

Research Article| November 01, 1974 Epifaunal Zonation on an Upper Cretaceous Rocky Coast Finn Surlyk; Finn Surlyk 1Mineralogisk Museum, Østervoldgade 7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Walter Kegel Christensen Walter Kegel Christensen 1Mineralogisk Museum, Østervoldgade 7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Finn Surlyk 1Mineralogisk Museum, Østervoldgade 7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark Walter Kegel Christensen 1Mineralogisk Museum, Østervoldgade 7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1974) 2 (11): 529–534. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1974)2<529:EZOAUC>2.0.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 Finn Surlyk, Walter Kegel Christensen; Epifaunal Zonation on an Upper Cretaceous Rocky Coast. Geology 1974;; 2 (11): 529–534. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1974)2<529:EZOAUC>2.0.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 In Cenomanian time, the deeply weathered Precambrian bedrock of southern Sweden was transgressed by a shallow sea, resulting in the formation of an archipelago with low islands and peninsulas during early Campanian time. On one of these islands, a high-diversity fauna characteristic of a rocky coast ecosystem is found comprising nearly all levels of the food pyramid from phytoplankton and zooplankton to reptiles. The fauna is dominated by bivalves, especially oysters, and includes the northernmost Upper Cretaceous reef corals and rudists. Three distinct epifaunal zones exist: the lowest zone is characterized by large numbers of serpulids and occupies the underside of the boulders; the next higher zone is found on the vertical sides of the boulders and is characterized by oysters and a large, vertically orientated craniacean brachiopod; and the highest zone occupies the upper part of the vertical sides and the rounded upper surfaces of the boulders and is characterized by spondylid bivalves. All species normally had a clumped distribution. The zonation is interpreted as a result of the combined effect of negative phototropism (serpulids), protection against sedimentation (craniaceans), and tolerance of strong turbulence, occasional exposure, and limited competition by other species for space (spondylids). 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.