Wetlands through Time
Sedimentology and taphonomy of the Early to Middle Devonian plant-bearing beds of the Trout Valley Formation, Maine
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Published:January 01, 2006
The Trout Valley Formation of Emsian–Eifelian age in Baxter State Park, Maine, consists of fluvial and coastal deposits that preserve early land plants (embryophytes). Seven facies are recognized and represent deposits of main river channels (Facies 1, 2), flood basin (Facies 4), storm-influenced nearshore shelf bars (Facies 3), a paleosol (Facies 5), and tidal flats and channels (Facies 6, 7). The majority of plant assemblages are preserved in siltstones and are allochthonous and parautochthonous, with only one autochthonous assemblage identified in the sequence above an apparent paleosol horizon. Taphonomic analysis reveals that plant material within allochthonous assemblages is highly fragmented, poorly preserved, and decayed. Plant material within parautochthonous assemblages shows evidence of minimal transport, is well preserved, and shows signs of biologic response after burial. The one autochthonous assemblage contains small root traces. Trimerophytes (Psilophyton and Pertica quadrifaria), rhyniophytes (cf. Taeniocrada), and lycopods (Drepanophycus and Kaulangiophyton) are the most common taxa in estuarine environments. Psilophyton taxa, Pertica, cf. Taeniocrada, and Drepanophycus are found also in fluvial settings. The presence of tidal influence in deposits where parautochthonous and autochthonous assemblages occur shows that these plants occupied coastal-estuarine areas. However, the effects on the growth and colonization of plants of the physical conditions (e.g., salinity) that exist in these settings in the Early to Middle Devonian are unknown.
- bedding
- biogenic structures
- biostratigraphy
- bioturbation
- coastal environment
- depositional environment
- Devonian
- Eifelian
- Emsian
- estuarine environment
- fluvial environment
- intertidal environment
- lithofacies
- lithostratigraphy
- Lower Devonian
- Lycopsida
- Maine
- Middle Devonian
- paleobiology
- Paleozoic
- paludal environment
- planar bedding structures
- Plantae
- Pteridophyta
- sedimentary rocks
- sedimentary structures
- species diversity
- taphonomy
- terrestrial environment
- United States
- northern Maine
- Trout Valley Formation
- Baxter State Park