Tafonomía y paleoecología de una secuencia turoliense de Tolosa (Albacete)

Abstract

A general taphonomic description and of some paleoecological aspects of a sequence from the Turolien of Tolosa (Albacete) is realized. A methodological model based on the sedimentological analysis and on six fossil related criteria: habitat-faunistic coherence, articulation, breaking degree, surface weathering, density and orientation, has been used, before a critical study , for the taphonomic interpretation. As results of these, the fossiliferous levels of the sequence have been separated in two groups. The former will consist of marly levels corresponding to a low energy sedimentary environment, with short times of exposure of the shells and with assemblages near to the theoretical concept of paleobiocenose. The latter shows highly biodetritic levels corresponding to a low sedimentary rate environment with long periods of shells exposure and with assemblages far away of the paleobiocenotic model. From a paleoecological viewpoint some observations about similitude, characteristic species and diversity in both groups are made, discussing the reliability of the results according with their respective taphonomic features. Finally, an interpretation of some species distribution by means of the study of their survivorship curves is attempted.