Fossil plankton depth zones

Varied evidence from the known depth correlated distribution of benthic shelly facies communities in the Ordovician and Silurian clearly shows that graptolite taxonomic diversity increased from the nearshore regions to the shelf margin regions, as well as into the deeper portions of epicontinental basinal areas. We then consider a method for determining the depth distribution of individual graptolite taxa. This method depends on correlating the first appearance of graptolite taxa as one departs from shoreline in terms of the underlying benthos, arrayed in benthic assemblages. The first appearance departing from shoreline corresponds with the upper depth limits of each taxon in terms of the underlying depth indicated by the underlying, associated benthos. The depth of maximum abundance for each taxon should correspond to that point in the increasing relative abundance of that taxon where relative increase in abundance ceases. The lower depth limit of each taxon should correspond to that point on the relative abundance curve where increase in total relative abundance ceases.Using information about the stratigraphic ages indicated by the graptolite faunas, zone-by-zone, combined with that provided by the communities present within the associated and formerly underlying benthic assemblages should provide a more refined stratigraphic zonation than that obtained without combining both.