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Article
Biozonation of Deep-Water Lithoherms and Associated Hardgrounds in the Northeastern Straits of Florida
PALAIOS
  • Charles G. Messing, Nova Southeastern University
  • A. Conrad Neumann, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
  • Judith C. Lang, University of Texas - Austin
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-1990
Keywords
  • Lithoherms,
  • Florida
Abstract

Elongated carbonate mounds ("lithoherms") oriented parallel to prevailing northerly bottom currents at moderate depths (500-700 m) along the western margin of the Little Bahama Bank exhibit a consistent faunal zonation characterized by attached, suspension-feeding invertebrates. The four most abundant macroepibenthic groups (alcyonarians, crinoids, sponges and stylasterid hydrocorals) dominate all hard substrates examined except upcurrent ends and crests of lithoherms. We recognize three faunal zones on these mounds: a Coral Zone (Lophelia prolifera) restricted to the upcurrent end; a Zoanthid Zone (?Gerardia sp.) along upcurrent crests, and a Crinoid/Alcyonarian Zone along lithoherm flanks and downstream crests. Taxa characteristic of the latter also occur on surrounding, low-relief hardgrounds but are accompanied by additional taxa usually absent from mounds. Intervening unconsolidated sediment is largely barren. Biozonation appears chiefly dependent on current flow regime and secondarily on substrate. The observed zonation occurs over a much smaller areal scale than previously reported for deep-water (non-hydrothermal) hard bottoms. Abrupt, small-scale faunal zonation can no longer automatically be considered as evidence of a shallow-water environment in interpreting fossil assemblages.

DOI
http://www.jstor.org/stable/3514994
Comments

©1990, SEPM

Additional Comments
NSF grant #: OCE-8315203; National Cancer Institute contract #: N01-CM-67919
Citation Information
Messing, Charles G., A. Conrad Neumann, and Judith C. Lang. "Biozonation of deep-water lithoherms and associated hardgrounds in the northeastern Straits of Florida." Palaios (1990): 15-33.