Bioerosion and Paleobathymetry: Results

Start • Research group • What are microborings? • Microborings & Paleobathymetry • Results • Publications

Members of the Frankfurt research team investigated the taxonomy and paleobathymetry of microborings in many sedimentary basins of different periods (see following pictures).
Distribution of microendoliths in some Permian and Triassic reefs (Balog 1996).
Distribution of microendoliths in different facies of the SW-German Muschelkalk (H. Schmidt 1993).
Palaeoconchocelis starmarchii in a Jurassic Pygope/brachiopod (Glaub 1994). Frame size: 150x150 µm.
In the Upper Cretaceous chalk of Northern Germany different dendritic microendoliths similar to this one are abundant (Hofmann 1996).

An Eocene boring system (Polyactina araneola) with a fungus (Conchyliastrum) as presumed producer (Radtke 1991).

Growth of reefs of different geological ages in shallower or deeper water as reconstructed by their inventory of microendoliths (Vogel et al. 1999).

In 1991, we extended our research to modern environments (bathymetry and quantification of bioerosion), see following pictures.
Bioerosion rates of microborers in experimental substrates at Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas (Vogel et al. 2000).
One of our frames with tablets carrying experimental substrates planted on a stromatolite reef at Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas.
One of the patch reefs in the lagoon of One Tree Island, Great Barrier Reef, which was used for nutrient experiments (Kiene 1997, Vogel et al. 2000).
Distribution of microendoliths in the bioerosional "notch" along tropical limestone coasts (Radtke et al. 1996).

Bioerosion by microendoliths in the deep water coral Lophelia (N Norway) (Krutschinna 1997). Arrow: "Tubulare Spur".

Earlier publications relate to tropical and subtropical realms. Presently we investigated the influence of low (non-tropical) temperature, high latitude position at Recent sites (North Atlantic, Krutschinna 1997, Vogel et al. 1999, Glaub et al. 2002, Glaub 2004) and in fossil strata (Tertiary of Alaska, Vogel & Marincovich 2004). Additionally we started analyzing the impact of low salinity in the Neogene of the Vienna Basin (Austria) (Vogel, Radtke). K. Vogel and C. Brett (Cincinnati, Ohio/USA) investigated the first appearance of important microendoliths and the evolution of bathymetrically interesting microendolithic ichnocommunities in the Ordovician of Ohio and Kentucky (Vogel & Brett 2009). I. Glaub´s research concentrates on endolithic micro-organisms in the Tertiary of Australia.
Microendolithic ichnospecies in Tertiary cold water sediments of Alaska (Vogel & Marincovich 2004).
Position of photic and aphotic zones at some localities of the N-Atlantic resulting from the microendolith ichnocoenoses observed in mollusc shells and balanid skeletons at these places (Glaub et al. 2002).
Some ichnotaxa from recent and sub-recent shells off Mauritania (West Africa), Glaub 2004.

Start • Research group • What are microborings? • Microborings & Paleobathymetry • Results • Publications