A micro X-ray computed tomography dataset of fossil echinoderms in an ancient obrution bed : a robust method for taphonomic and palaeoecologic analyses.

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dc.contributor.authorReid, Mhairien_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBordy, Emese M.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorTaylor, Wendy L.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLe Roux, Stephan G.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDu Plessis, Antonen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2021-09-20T07:20:23Z
dc.date.available2021-09-20T07:20:23Z
dc.date.issued2019-03
dc.descriptionCITATION: Reid, M., et al. 2019. A micro X-ray computed tomography dataset of fossil echinoderms in an ancient obrution bed: a robust method for taphonomic and palaeoecologic analyses. GigaScience, 8(3):1-8 doi:10.1093/gigascience/giy156
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at https://academic.oup.com/gigascience
dc.description.abstractBackground: Taphonomic and palaeoecologic studies of obrution beds often employ conventional methods of investigation such as physical removal and extraction of fossils from their host rock (matrix) by mechanical preparation. This often-destructive method is not suitable for studying mold fossils, which are voids left in host rocks due to dissolution of the original organism in post-depositional processes. Findings: Microcomputed tomography (µCT) scan data of 24 fossiliferous rock samples revealed thousands of Paleozoic echinoderms. Digitally "stitching" together individually µCT scanned rock samples within three-dimensional (3D) space allows for quantifiable taphonomic data on a fossil echinoderm-rich obrution deposit from the Devonian (Emsian) of South Africa. Here, we provide a brief step-by-step guide on creating, segmenting, and ultimately combining sections of richly fossiliferous beds to create virtual models suited for the quantitative and qualitative taphonomic analyses of fossil invertebrate assemblages. Conclusions: Visualizing the internal features of fossiliferous beds in 3D is an invaluable taphonomic tool for analyzing delicate fossils, accounting for all specimens irrespective of their preservation stages and with minimal damage. This technique is particularly useful for analyzing fossiliferous deposits with mold fossils that prove to be difficult to study with traditional methods, because the method relies on the large density contrast between the mold and host rock.en_ZA
dc.description.versionPublisher’s version
dc.format.extent8 pages
dc.identifier.citationReid, M., et al. 2019. A micro X-ray computed tomography dataset of fossil echinoderms in an ancient obrution bed: a robust method for taphonomic and palaeoecologic analyses. GigaScience, 8(3):1-8 doi:10.1093/gigascience/giy156
dc.identifier.issn2047-217X (online)
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.1093/gigascience/giy156
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/123054
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherOxford University Press
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain rights
dc.subjectMicrocomputed tomographyen_ZA
dc.subjectThree-dimensional imaging in taphonomyen_ZA
dc.subject3D imaging in taphonomyen_ZA
dc.subjectVirtual reality in paleoecologyen_ZA
dc.subjectObrution deposit -- Tomographyen_ZA
dc.subjectEchinoderms -- Tomographyen_ZA
dc.titleA micro X-ray computed tomography dataset of fossil echinoderms in an ancient obrution bed : a robust method for taphonomic and palaeoecologic analyses.en_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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