Early history of scleractinian corals and its geological consequences

Research Article| November 01, 1981 Early history of scleractinian corals and its geological consequences George D. Stanley, Jr. George D. Stanley, Jr. 1Department of Paleobiology, U.S. National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information George D. Stanley, Jr. 1Department of Paleobiology, U.S. National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1981) 9 (11): 507–511. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1981)9<507:EHOSCA>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 MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation George D. Stanley; Early history of scleractinian corals and its geological consequences. Geology 1981;; 9 (11): 507–511. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1981)9<507:EHOSCA>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 Conventional views have implied that scleractinian corals were hermatypic and thus were potentially reef building from the onset of their appearance in early Mesozoic time in shallow-shelf carbonate environments. However, for almost 25 m.y. they held rather subordinate positions and generally did not participate in extensive ecologic reef framework. Evidence from both North America and Europe demonstrates that Triassic corals had ecologic preferences quite different from those in the Cenozoic. A key step in the evolutionary success of these corals may have been the advent of a symbiotic association with algae. This association, believed to have developed at the end of the Triassic, could have been responsible for thrusting scleractinians into prominent positions as reef builders and may account for their dramatic radiation in Mesozoic time. 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.