Late Triassic charophytes around the bone-bearing bed at Krasiejów (SW Poland) – palaeoecological and environmental remarks

Abstract

Thousands of Late Carnian (Late Triassic) charophyte gyrogonites belonging to four species [Stellatochara germanica KOZUR & REINHARDT, Stomochara starozhilovae (KISIELEVSKY), Stenochara kisielevskyi BILAN and Porochara triassica (SAIDAKOVSKY)] occur in the beds around the vertebrate-bearing level at Krasiejów, SW Poland. The abundant and wellpreserved gyrogonites generally attest to fossilization in situ. Information about the habitat of recent charophytes is useful for reconstruction of their past environments. The factors limiting the habitat of modern charophytes suggests that these algae, and other micro- and macrofauna sedimented within the bone-bearing bed, lived in a shallow, freshwater environment (probably lacustrine). Above the bone bed, there is a rapid drop in gyrogonite abundance. This could have been caused by changes in environmental conditions: increase in salinity, or increase in water energy. The preliminary mineralogical data suggest arid to semi-arid climate.