Disarticulation and Preservation of Fossil Echinoderms: Recognition of Ecological-Time Information in the Echinoderm Fossil Record

af William I. (Ohio State University) Ausich

The time-sensitivity and predictability of echinoderm disarticulation makes them model organisms to determine post-mortem transportation and allows recognition of ecological-time data within paleocommunity accumulations. The patterns present in crinoids and echinoids can be used to develop a more thorough understanding of all echinoderm clades.