Reef expansion during the Triassic: Spread of photosymbiosis balancing climatic cooling

Kießling W (2010)


Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2010

Journal

Publisher: Elsevier

Book Volume: 290

Pages Range: 11-19

DOI: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2009.03.020

Abstract

The PaleoReefs Database indicates that reef abundance increased profoundly during the Triassic period, from a pronounced low in the Early Triassic to a major peak in the Norian. This expansion is also evident when standardizing for sampling. Corresponding to the reef expansion is a relative increase of scleractinian corals as reef builders, whereas the contribution of hypercalcifying sponges and microbes decreased during the Triassic. The numerical expansion of corals is paralleled by a proportional increase of morphological features that are suggestive of photosymbiosis, such that the Norian reef boom might be explained by the spread of photosymbiosis in corals. The geographical expansion of reefs was far less pronounced especially concerning palaeolatitude. Late Triassic reef growth was limited to more or less the same latitudinal range as modern reefs. As oxygen isotope data and new modeling results indicate declining temperatures and CO2 concentrations during the Late Triassic, the lack of latitudinal expansion might be attributed to global cooling. Reef development during the Triassic can thus be explained by the evolutionary spread of photosymbiosis balancing the effects of climatic cooling. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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How to cite

APA:

Kießling, W. (2010). Reef expansion during the Triassic: Spread of photosymbiosis balancing climatic cooling. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 290, 11-19. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2009.03.020

MLA:

Kießling, Wolfgang. "Reef expansion during the Triassic: Spread of photosymbiosis balancing climatic cooling." Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 290 (2010): 11-19.

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