Growth rates of pterobranchs and the lifespan of graptolites

Rigby, S and Dilly, P.N (1993) 'Growth rates of pterobranchs and the lifespan of graptolites.' Paleobiology, 19 (4). pp. 459-475. ISSN 0094-8373

Abstract

Pterobranchs are the closest living relatives of graptolites. Their skeleton is constructed from the same material, and in a homologous manner. Growth rates of the pterobranch Cephalodiscus gracilis are described for the first time and, along with rhabdopleuran growth rates, they are used to estimate the amount of time invested by a graptolite colony in growing its rhabdosome. This is a measure of minimum age. The significance of age calculations is shown for individuals and large communities of graptoloids. Large individuals can be shown to be much older than the time it would have taken them to settle through seawater and so it is shown that graptoloids moved up, as well as down, through the water column. Life tables constructed for biserial graptoloids from the Utica shale in Quebec, Canada, suggest that these graptoloids died from constant environmental stress. Graptoloid length can thus be a function of environment and should only cautiously be considered to be of taxonomic significance.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Chancelry and Research Management
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0094837300014081
Date Deposited:	07 Jan 2018 23:45
Last Modified:	07 Jan 2022 19:15
URI / Page ID:	https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/10591

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