The Burgess Shale and the Nature of HistoryLast LectureOutlineLectureMarginal reefLandBS FaunaFailure of platform edge“adbration: deposit“Stagnation fossil-lagerstaette”EES 1040 1st Edition Lecture 13The Burgess Shale and the Nature of HistoryLast LectureRocks, Fossils, and FossilizationOutlineI. LagerstaettenA. The Burgess ShaleB. BiotaC. Species of faunaD. ControversyLectureI. LagerstaettenA. Extraordinary preservationB. The Burgess Shale1. Middle Cambrian, Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Western Canada2. Charles Walcott 1910-19213. Harry Whittington 1966a. Simon Conway Morrisb. Derek Briggs4. Des Collins 1980s C. Limestone deposit1. Cathedral Formation2. Stephen FormationD. Biota1. No bioturbation of scavenging2. 98% soft-bodied 3. Most animals were alive at start4. Most were killed really quicklya. Died before defenses could be raised or before they knew what was happening5. Preserved iron aluminum silicates and pyriteE. Species of fauna Species usually preserved1. 13 species of Sponges 0 species (no information)2. 6 species of Brachiopods 6 species3. 1 monoplacopharan mollusk 14. 1 hyolithid 05. 5 priapalids 06. 5 polychaetis 07. 2 onychopharans 08. 2 cnidarians 09. 1 chordate 010. 3 echinoderms 211. 29 arthropod 1112. By numbers, only 2% normally preservable F. Controversy1. Stephan Jay Goulda. “Cone of Increasing Diversity”b. OR “Diversification and Decimation”2. Anomalocarisa. “Anomaly” b. Whiteaves 1892c. VS. Appendage Fi. Briggsd. Peytoiai. Walcott 1911ii. Jellyfish?e. Lagganiai. Walcottii. 1911iii. Sea cucumberf. 1978 Conway Morris prepares Laggania, exposes a Peytoia fossilg. 1982 Conway Morris publishes paper of Peytoia, considers it “peculiar: medusoidh. Whittington finds Anomalocaris attached or on top of Lagganiai. Also finds Peytoia on top of Anomalocaris with j. Peytoia = mouth Anomalocaris = pincers Laggania = Body/shell3.
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