Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T03:20:44.722Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Upper Silurian heliolitine corals, Canadian Arctic: Taxonomic method, keys to identification, and biogeographic relationships

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2016

Owen A. Dixon
Owen A. Dixon*
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Ottawa and Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Centre, Ottawa KIN 6N5, Canada
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Taxonomy of heliolitine corals, and tabulate corals in general, benefits from analysis of larger assemblages of coralla that approximate populations. Quantitative data derived from such assemblages allow intraspecific variation to be tested rigorously and illustrated, and similar, co-occurring species to be discriminated using normal patterns of continuous population variation. Field collection and analysis necessarily involve recording and comparing assemblages from the full spectrum of sedimentary facies available at any one stratigraphic level and from the maximum available stratigraphic range. The large published taxonomic literature on heliolitine corals is a daunting obstacle to identification at the species level because a substantial part appears to involve taxonomic splitting to a degree inconsistent with variation known in modern coral species. The heliolitine corals studied occur in Ludlow-age ramp and shelf carbonate facies in the Boothia Uplift region in the southern Arctic archipelago of Canada. The “population” approach resulted in discrimination of 18 morphotaxonomic species, belonging to five genera and four families. A few select morphologic characters, incorporated in simple identification keys, are particularly helpful in distinguishing the 11 heliolitid and four stelliporellid species present, and are useful in screening the voluminous literature on species of Heliolites. Six of the species compare closely to Silurian species reported from central Kazakhstan, West Siberia, and North China; few are shared with other regions. The principal affinities are consistent with occurrence in the Uralian-Cordilleran paleogeographic region in the Silurian northern hemisphere. Eight species do not appear to be recorded in published literature elsewhere and are apparently endemic.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 73 , Issue 6 , November 1999 , pp. 1002 - 1014
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barskaja, V. F. 1963. Ordovikskie i siluriyskie korally Gornogo Altaya. Paleontologicheskiy Zhurnal, 1963(3):27–38 (Ordovician and Silurian corals of the Altai Mountains. Translation in International Geology Review, 7:898-909).Google Scholar
Bondarenko, O. B. 1966. Geliolitoidey isen'skoy svity, p. 145–197. In Chetverikova, N. P. (ed.), Stratigrafiya i fauna siluriyskikh i nizhnedevonskikh otlozheniy Nurinskogo sinklinoriya. Materialy po geologii tsentral'nogo Kazakhstana, 6 (Heliolitoids of the Isen Suite, in Stratigraphy and fauna of the Silurian and Lower Devonian deposits of the Nurin synclinorium. Geological Survey of Canada Translation Series No. 614).Google Scholar
Bondarenko, O. B. 1975a. Ob astogeneticheskom metode izucheniya kolonial'nykh kishechnopolostnykh (na primere geliolitoidey). Paleontologicheskiy Zhurnal, 1975(2):17–27 (The astogenetic method of studying colonial coelenterates (with particular reference to the Heliolitoidea). Paleontological Journal, 1975(2):145-154).Google Scholar
Bondarenko, O. B. 1975b. Geliolitoidey, p. 50–61. In Menner, V. V. (ed.), Kharakteristika fauny pogranichnykh sloev silura i devona tsentral'nogo Kazakhstana. Materialy po geologii tsentral'nogo Kazakhstana, 12 (Heliolitoids, in Characteristic faunas of the Silurian and Devonian boundary beds of central Kazakhstan).Google Scholar
Bondarenko, O. B. 1981. Izmenchivost' i morfogenez nekotorykh pozdnesiluriyskikh geliolitoid Podol'skogo Pridnestrov'ya. Paleontologicheskiy Sbornik, 18:8–20 (Variability and morphogenesis of some Late Silurian heliolitoids from Podolian Pridnestrovya).Google Scholar
Bondarenko, O. B. 1991. Novye vidy Stelliporella iz silura Mongolii (korally geliolitoidei). Paleontologicheskiy Zhurnal, 1991(3):20–27 (New species of Silurian Stelliporella (heliolitoid corals) from Mongolia. Paleontological Journal, 1991(3):23-32).Google Scholar
Bondarenko, O. B. 1992. Sistema Geliolitoidey (The system of heliolitoids). Moskovskoe Obshchestvo Ispytateley Prirody, Moscow, 206 p.Google Scholar
Chekhovich, V. D. 1975. K istorii razvitiya pozdneordovikskikh i siluriyskikh korallov Tuvy (Sayano-Altayskaya gornaya oblast'), p. 113–120. In Sokolov, B. S. (ed.), Drevnie Cnidaria, Volume II. (On the history of development of Late Ordovician and Silurian corals from Tuva (Sayan-Altai mountain region), Ancient Cnidaria) Izdatel'stvo “Nauka,” Sibirskoe otdelenie, Novosibirsk.Google Scholar
Zhan-Qiu, Deng, and Dao-Rong, Yang. 1983. Silurian and Devonian tabulate corals from Darhan Mumingan Joint Banner, Inner Mongolia, p. 103–143. In Wen-guo, Li, Jia-yu, Rong, and De-yuan, Dong (eds.), Silurian and Devonian rocks and faunas of the Bateaobao area in Darhan Mumingan Joint Banner, Inner Mongolia. The People's Publishing House, Inner Mongolia.Google Scholar
Dixon, O. A. 1979. Late Silurian plasmoporid and stelliporellid corals (Heliolitidae) from the Canadian Arctic. Journal of Paleontology, 53:642–656.Google Scholar
Dixon, O. A. 1989. Species definition in heliolitine corals of the lower Douro Formation (Upper Silurian), Canadian Arctic. Journal of Paleontology, 63:819–838.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dixon, O. A. 1993. Coral communities and implications for paleoenvironments: Silurian heliolitine corals in a carbonate ramp setting, Canadian Arctic. Palaios, 8:18–30.Google Scholar
Dixon, O. A. 1996. Heliolitine corals of the upper Douro Formation (Upper Silurian), Canadian Arctic islands. Journal of Paleontology, 69:718–740.Google Scholar
Dixon, O. A. 1998. Heliolitine corals of the topmost Douro and overlying formations (Upper Silurian), Canadian Arctic islands. Journal of Paleontology, 71:937–966.Google Scholar
Dubatolov, V. N., Chekhovich, V. D., and Yanet, F. E. 1968. Tabulyaty pogranichnykh sloev silura i devona Altae-Sayanskoy gornoy oblasti i Urala, p. 5–109. In Ivanovskiy, A. B. (ed.), Korally pogranichnykh sloev silura i devona Altae-Sayanskoy gornoy oblasti i Urala (Tabulates of the boundary beds of the Silurian and Devonian in the Altay-Sayan mountain region and Urals, in Corals of the boundary beds of the Silurian and Devonian in the Altay-Sayan mountain region and Urals). Akademiya nauk SSSR, Sibirskoe otdelenie, Institut geologii i geofiziki, Izdatel'stvo “Nauka,” Moscow.Google Scholar
Hill, D. 1981. Supplement 1, Rugosa and Tabulata, 762 p. In Teichert, C. (ed.), Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Pt. F, Coelenterata. Geological Society of America and University of Kansas Press, Lawrence.Google Scholar
Hill, D., and Stumm, E. C. 1956. Tabulata, p. F444–F477. In Moore, R. C. (ed.), Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Pt. F, Coelenterata. Geological Society of America and University of Kansas Press, Lawrence.Google Scholar
Chun-Tai, Jin. 1978. Subclass Heliolitoidea, p. 88–95. In Chengdu Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources (ed.), Atlas of Fossils of Southwest China, Sichuan Volume, Pt. 1: From Sinian to Devonian. Geological Publishing House, Peking.Google Scholar
Chun-Tai, Jin. 1984. Silurian tabulate coral succession in Huanggexi of Daguan, Yunan. Acta Palaeontologica Sinica, 23(1):1–19.Google Scholar
Jones, O. A., and Hill, D. 1940. The Heliolitidae of Australia, with a discussion of the morphology and systematic position of the family. Royal Society of Queensland, Proceedings 51:183–215.Google Scholar
Klaamann, E. 1961. Tabulyaty i geliolitidy Venlocka Estonii (Tabulates and heliolitids of the Wenlock of Estonia). Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia Geoloogia Instituudi Uurimused, 6:69–112.Google Scholar
Klaamann, E. 1984. Geliolitidy v pozdnesiluriyskikh korallovikh soobschchestvakh Pribaltiki (Heliolitids in Late Silurian coral communities of the Prebaltic). Izvestiya Akademii nauk Estonskoy SSR, Geologiya, 23(2):63–69.Google Scholar
Kovalevsky, O. P. 1975. Tabulyaty, p. 41–50. In Menner, V. V. (ed.), Kharakteristika fauny pogranichnykh sloev silura i devona tsentral'nogo Kazakhstana (Tabulates, in Characteristic faunas of the Silurian-Devonian boundary beds of central Kazakhstan). Materiali po geologii tsentral'nogo Kazakhstana, 12.Google Scholar
Wei-Hua, Liao. 1990. The biogeographic affinities of east-Asian corals, p. 175–179. In McKerrow, W. S. and Scotese, C. R. (eds.), Palaeozoic Palaeogeography and Biogeography. The Geological Society Memoir 12.Google Scholar
Bao-Yu, Lin, and Hong-Ping, Huang. 1987. Some Late Silurian to Early Devonian tabulate corals from southern Gansu and northwestern Sichuan and their stratigraphic significance, p. 203–242. In Late Silurian-Devonian strata and fossils from Luqu-Tewo area of West Qinling Mountains, China, Volume 1. Xi'an Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources and Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Academia Sinica.Google Scholar
Lindström, G. 1899. Remarks on the Heliolitidae. Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens, Handlingar, 32:1–140.Google Scholar
Lonsdale, W. 1839. Corals, graptolites, and nondescripts, p. 675–698. In Murchison, R. I., The Silurian System, Pt. 2. John Murray, London.Google Scholar
Mckerrow, W. S., and Scotese, C. R. (eds.). 1990. Palaeozoic Palaeogeography and Biogeography. The Geological Society Memoir 12.Google Scholar
Milne-Edwards, H., and Haime, J. 1855. A monograph of the British fossil corals, Pt. 5, Corals from the Silurian Formation. Palaeontographical Society (London), Monograph, p. 245–299.Google Scholar
Mironova, N. V. 1961. Tabulyaty i geliolitidy tom'chumyshskikh (ostrakodovykh) sloev Salaira (Tabulates and heliolitids from the Tom'chumysh (ostracode) beds of Salair). Sibirskii nauchno-issledovatel'skiy institut (geologii, geofiziki i mineral'nogo syr'ya), Trudy, 15:148–163.Google Scholar
Preobrazhenskiy, B. V. 1975. Nadotryad Heliolitoidea, p. 49–55. In Nikolaev, A. A., Oradovskaya, M. M., Preobrazhenskiy, B. V., Abushik, A. F., Mjagkova, E. I., Obut, A. M., Sobolevskaya, R. F., and Kovekhov, V. V., Polevoy atlas siluriiskoy fauny severo-vostoka SSSR (Superorder Heliolitoidea, in Field atlas of Silurian faunas of northeastern U.S.S.R.). Magadanskoe Knizhnoe Izdatel'stvo.Google Scholar
Scotese, C. R. 1986. Phanerozoic reconstructions: a new look at the assembly of Asia. University of Texas Institute for Geophysics Technical Report, 66.Google Scholar
Scotese, C. R., and McKerrow, W. S. 1990. Revised world maps and introduction, p. 1–21. In McKerrow, W. S. and Scotese, C. R. (eds.), Palaeozoic Palaeogeography and Biogeography. The Geological Society Memoir 12.Google Scholar
Yong-Yi, Tchi. 1976. Tabulata, p. 101–129. In Paleontological Atlas of North China, Volume 1, Paleozoic, Fossils of Inner Mongolia. Geological Publishing House, Peking.Google Scholar
Yong-Yi, Tchi. 1980. Tabulata, p. 153–188. In Shenyang Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources (ed.), Paleontological Atlas of Northeast China, Paleozoic Volume. Geological Publishing House, Beijing.Google Scholar
Trettin, H. P., Mayr, U., Long, G. D. F., and Packard, J. J. 1991. Cambrian to Early Devonian basin development, sedimentation, and volcanism, Arctic Islands, Chapter 8. In Trettin, H. P. (ed.), Geology of the Innuitian Orogen and Arctic Platform of Canada and Greenland. Geological Survey of Canada, Geology of Canada, 3.Google Scholar
Veron, J. E. N. 1995. Corals in space and time: the biogeography and evolution of the Scleractinia. UNSW Press, Sydney.Google Scholar
Wilde, P., Berry, W. B. N., and Quinby-Hunt, M. S. 1991. Silurian oceanic and atmospheric circulation and chemistry, p. 123–143. In Bassett, M. G., Lane, P. D., and Edwards, D. (eds.), The Murchison Symposium, Proceedings of an International Conference on the Silurian System. The Palaeontological Association, Special Papers in Palaeontology, 44.Google Scholar
Yanet, F. E. 1977. Novye tabulyaty i geliolitoidey silura vostochnogo sklona Urala, p. 20–38. In Sapel'nikov, V. P. and Chuvashov, B. I. (eds.), Paleontologiya nizhnego Paleozoya Urala (New tabulates and heliolitoids from the Silurian of the eastern slopes of the Urals, in Paleontology of the lower Paleozoic of the Urals). Akademiya nauk SSSR, Ural'skiy nauchniy tsentral'nyi, Instituta geologii i geokhimii, Trudy, 129.Google Scholar
Sheng-Wu, Yang, Chun-Tai, Jin, and Xi-Yun, Zhou. 1978. Paleontological Atlas of Southwest China, Guizhou Province, Volume 1, Cambrian-Devonian Tabulata and Heliolitida. Geological Publishing House, Peking.Google Scholar
Young, G. A., and Noble, J. P. A. 1990a. Silurian Heliolitidae (Anthozoa, Tabulata) from the Chaleurs Bay region, Canada. Journal of Paleontology, 64:44–60.Google Scholar
Young, G. A. 1990b. Silurian Proporidae and Plasmoporidae (Anthozoa, Tabulata) from the Chaleurs Bay region, Canada. Journal of Paleontology, 64:184–199.Google Scholar
Xi-Yun, Zhou. 1983. A preliminary study on the biostratigraphy of Silurian Tabulata in Guizhou Province. Acta Palaeontologica Sinica, 57:344–357.Google Scholar