Taphonomy of Ammonia beccarii (Linné, 1758) (Protozoa: Foraminiferida) in the Quillaipe Inlet, Chile

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Abstract

Foraminifers are being used to reconstruct changes in sea level during the Holocene. This is done by comparing the distribution of current communities with the fossils ones. However, calcareous taxa may be affected by taphonomic processes that cause deterioration and/or disappearance, which may lead to erroneous paleoenvironmental interpretation. The aim of this paper is to register the vertical and horizontal distribution and taphonomic effect produced by the pH in situ over the calcareous foraminifera Ammonia beccarii. Considering A. beccarii as a paleoenvironmental tool has the advantage of having a clear vertical and horizontal distribution, which is consistent with the patterns found around the world. On the other hand, it has the disadvantage of being affected by taphonomic processes that can cause the complete disappearance of the shell. This should be taken into consideration when their populations are used for paleoenvironmental reconstructions.

Fernández, L., & Zapata, J. (2011). Taphonomy of Ammonia beccarii (Linné, 1758) (Protozoa: Foraminiferida) in the Quillaipe Inlet, Chile. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research, 38(2), 286-291. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3856/vol38-issue2-fulltext-15

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