Population dynamics of shoreface to upper offshore occupation of the lower Ordovician brachiopod Tarfaya purmamarcaensis (Benedetto)

Abstract

Occupation of shallow environments by rhynchonelliform brachiopods is rare during the early late Tremadocian (Tr2). However, in the NW Argentina basin the plectorthoidean Tarfaya purmamarcaensis occupied high-energy environments during this time interval. This species forms up to 15 cm thick monospecific concentrations in shoreface and offshore transition settings, and polytypic pavements in relatively deeper water offshore environments. Generation of such concentrations could be linked to the population dynamics of T. purmamarcaensis. A geometric morphometrics analysis allowed us to recognize four growth stages in the ontogeny of the species. The juvenile phases are absent in high-energy proximal environments and are scarce in the shoreface; in contrast, no representatives of the fourth phase (hypermature adults) have been found in the open platform deposits, and adults are almost absent. Although shell concentrations are usually linked to physical processes (i.e., storm events), the low taphonomic alteration of the shells suggests that transport was not a highly influential factor. Morphological differences (i.e., development of cardinal canals, ribs incurved posterolaterally) in specimens from different environments suggest that the population dynamics could have been the main cause in generating different concentrations. According to the source-sink model, high productivity of brachiopods in the shoreface environment and a passive transport of larvae to the offshore might explain not only the thicker shallow-water concentrations but also the differences in shell growth of populations inhabiting these environments.