Fossils in Strata (Chapter 2)

Question 1

stratotype

Answer 1

• reference section for a member or a formation
• usually found in a specific location

Question 2

assemblages

Answer 2

• collections of fossils found together
• combinations of fossils might be natural communities or together due to sedimentary accumulation

Question 3

biofacies

Answer 3

• fossil assemblages indicating depositional environment
• some assemblage are more useful for chronostratigraphic correlation, especially those occur in a short time but were widespread (e.g. trilobites)

Question 4

(bio)zone

Answer 4

occurrance of a particular species as it occurs within the rock

Question 5

range zone

Answer 5

biostratigraphic interval defined by 2 appearance data (as single or collection of biozones)

Question 6

first appearance datum

Answer 6

lowest stratigraphic point a fossil is found in rock

Question 7

last appearance datum

Answer 7

highest/youngest stratigraphic point a fossil is found in rock

Question 8

chronostratigraphy

Answer 8

• “time-stratigraphy”
• division of geological time into intervals based on type sections in the field

Question 9

“golden spike”/marker point

Answer 9

• a particular geologic event preserved in rock
• “instant” in geologic time
• e.g. volcanic eruption

Question 10

biotas

Answer 10

• living fauna & flora + microorganism of a particular region
• ex: biota in desert - includes cactus & species of reptiles
• in paleobiology, limited to fossil assemblages

Question 11

endemic species

Answer 11

limited to geographic distribution

e.g. cheetahs

Question 12

cosmopolitan species

Answer 12

more widespread geographic distribution

e.g. humans